meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Feb 24, 2011 10:42:42 GMT -5
Hello: I have been using a rotary now for several years and am still not that happy with the final results I'm getting. I get upset when I see all the beautiful rocks done in the Lot O' tumbler that I get jealous! Does it really work that well as it seems people rough in the rotaries first and then tranition to the vibratory for the final stages. Can I get some real users opinions before I take the plunge? Thanks!
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2011 13:23:27 GMT -5
You won't get better results in a vibe tumbler, only faster results. I would recommend you master the rotary first. It is easier to transition to the quirks of a vibe once you master the rotary.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Feb 24, 2011 14:52:47 GMT -5
What he ^^^ said. What exactly is you don't like about your finished stones? Start by looking with some magnification, scratches, however fine, if they are different sizes could be cross-contamination between grits, just not long enough in a certain stage to get all the previous stages' scratches gone, or not enough filler/cushioning( or those particular stones if it's not the whole batch). Post some pix and lets see whatcha got . Dr Joe .
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charles kuchar
spending too much on rocks
getting ready for the second coming
Member since November 2010
Posts: 300
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Post by charles kuchar on Feb 24, 2011 15:03:58 GMT -5
when i was using my rotary tumbler for polishing stones, i was not satisfied with my results, maybe because i was too hasty in changing grits, etc. last fall i got my lot-O vibe and i am much more satisfied with my polishing method. first, you use less polish. when i used ao1000 in my tumbler, i used an eighth of a cup and i ran it for a week. same thing with polish and tripoli. now i use 1/2 teaspoon of each and each stage usually takes 2 days. sometimes i need to prepolish stones from the tumbler and i do then in another barrel for two days with ao500 or sic 500 for two or three days. the lot-O is quiet but you need to check if it needs water sometimes. usually when you add more grit in the polish stage or if the cap comes off. sometimes it comes off in the night and i then add water to get the stones moving nicely again. hope this is information to help you choose. charlie
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meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Feb 24, 2011 16:33:42 GMT -5
Thanks all for the advice. I don't have any photos at the moment, maybe when I start a new batch soon. I don't have so many scratches per say it's just the fact that they are not as shiny as all the great photos I see on this forum, which are beautiful! It might be not enough cusioning etc, but not sure as they are left in the polish usually a week. Maybe I need to go longer? The main thing I don't like is they are just not shiny enough! Any more suggestions? I do like the fact that the vibratory is faster and uses much less grit as well.(cost savings and all)
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 24, 2011 16:45:01 GMT -5
two or three weeks in rotary polish is not uncommon. I think 1 week is the minumum. Also, if they could have used a little more time in the prior stage, then polish is not going to make a great shine.
what kind of rock? some shine mor ethan others.
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meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Feb 24, 2011 17:18:15 GMT -5
I ran the rough stage about 4 weeks, re-charging every 7 days with 46/70, then went to 120/220 for another 2 weeks, then the 500 for about 7 days and then the polish for one week. That particular batch was mostly rose quartz and amethyst and a handful of Jasper. Again, the big thing is the quality of the shine was not there, as compared to the finished rocks you all are getting.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 24, 2011 17:24:33 GMT -5
Patience is so key in a rotary. How long in course? I often run certain stones in the course stage for 8 to 12 weeks! All my other stages run for 2 weeks. Also a lack of shine could be contamination. Do you have a seperate barrel just for polish? I actually have a seperate barrels for all the stages. What stones are you using? Are all your rocks dull or are/there just certain ones. Some softer stones just don't take a shine like others. There are so many varriables involved it is really difficult to say for certain whether you will get better results. Oh another thing is what polish are you using? I find tha cerium oxide just does not shine stones like alum., tin or titanium.
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meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Feb 24, 2011 18:11:45 GMT -5
Stefan: As I said above I ran for 4 weeks in coarse grit then 10 days in 120/220 and then 7 days in polish. I think I used aluminum oxide at the time. No, I don't have a dedicated barrel for polish, maybe I should try that option. Most of the stones were dull and a few were somewhat shiny. I guess I'll have to try a new batch and see what happens along the way. Thanks for all the tips!
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Post by tntmom on Feb 24, 2011 18:32:18 GMT -5
Hi meskhov!
I completely agree with what the others are saying! Anything that can be done in a vibe can be done just as nicely in a rotary and vice versa.
One thing I noticed from your post though is that you only run 500 for a week. In a Lot-O the grit will break down in 1/2 every 24 hours, so basically after 24 hours it becomes 1000 grit. The longer you leave it in the finer the sanding becomes. Same with a rotary except it takes a week or more for the grit to break down. If you are pulling it out of 500 after only 7 days then it never gets that 1000 grit pre-polish. It's just a thought and you might want to give it a try and see if it changes your final results! Also a dedicated polish bowl makes a HUGE difference. My favorite polish is aluminum oxide.
~Krystee
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 24, 2011 19:01:13 GMT -5
I like my lot-o so much,I had a new one arrive today. I use my rotaries now for the coarse stage,run a week longer after the last weeks charge, usually 2-3 weeks,then 3 days 1000,and 3 days ao both in the lot-o. The savings in grit is huge in the lot-o, as in any vibe. Anyway,thats my opinion.
snuffy
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 24, 2011 19:08:49 GMT -5
those stones should shine.
possibly put them back in 500 and run it for 10-12 days, then polish for 14 days. you might also do a 1200g, but that is usually only needed for softer rock.
if it was chipping, it would agre about more padding, but dull is not co clear cut. still, once you get to polish is would not hurt to add a few extra plastic pellets.
also make surt the polish slurry is not too watery to be effective.
when you can take pics, maybe we can be more specific
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Post by tntmom on Feb 24, 2011 20:33:41 GMT -5
I was re-reading your post and thought I should add a couple other things here that haven't been addressed yet.
Vibes don't round the stones the way rotaries do. That is why most people rough in rotaries first. The vibe maintains the shape and fine tunes it.
That being said, I adore my Lot-O and personally can't imagine myself finishing tumbled stones without it, that's just me though. I do rough for up to a couple of months in the rotaries and then use my Lot-O from graded 220 on. (I used to use a RayTech vibe and think the Lot-O is much better!) When I pre-shape stones then they go into the vibe to begin with because the rotaries would ruin the shape.
Just my :2cents: ...again. ~ Krystee
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ksk
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 69
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Post by ksk on Feb 25, 2011 7:38:32 GMT -5
Get the Lot-O. As stated earlier, if you like rounded stones you will need to rough in a rotary, For me, I prefer the as found shape and can process a batch in my Lot-O in one week. Some of the minor imperfections remain, but I don't find them objectionable.
I run at least 50% by weight of mixed size ceramic filler in each batch. It's also easy to run mixed hardness stones in the Lot-O with lots of ceramic.
Good luck!
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 25, 2011 7:48:12 GMT -5
Sorry I missed your post above mine! I see we posted close to the same time! I think your pretty close to the shine you desire. After course I run my stages for 2 weeks each. I add pellets to the loads from 500 to the end. Alum. Oxide is a very hard polish and takes 2 weeks to give a good shine (I re-use my polish all the time and only add enough to make up for what is lost. Also a dedicated polish barrel is a must for polish. After time a course grit (and your using a REAL course grit) works its way into the barrel (take a look at your barrel under a 10x loupe- you maybe able to see the embedded grit) It only takes a couple of grains of 46/70 in the polish stage to lessen your chances of a good shine. That being said- SHould you get a LOT-O? Yes you should! You have the rotary down and only a few technical details are standing in your way of that perfect stone. Get the Lot-O and an extra barrel for it (for polish only!!) You can course stuff out in the rotary and finish it up in the Lot-O. Soon you'll have that shine you have been searching for.
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meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Feb 25, 2011 8:41:07 GMT -5
Stefan and others: Thanks to all for the great advice! I think I will try out all your tips on the next batch I run and see what happens. I will also look into getting a Lot O' tumbler as I see all the great results. I will do all the hard work in the rotaries, then transfer to the vibratory for the final steps. Thanks to all, I really appreciate your assistance!
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Mar 8, 2011 0:13:11 GMT -5
I ran through all the messages a couple times, and I didn't see it brought up (though I may have missed it) so I'll ask, you are burnishing the stones after the polish, right?
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meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Mar 8, 2011 6:44:36 GMT -5
Daniel; Yes, I did a burnishing run after polish with some burnishing soap that I got from a commercial abrsive dealer. I think its just dry soap flakes to tell the truth. Thanks Mike
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Post by coloradocliff on May 9, 2017 23:21:03 GMT -5
Hi meskhov! I completely agree with what the others are saying! Anything that can be done in a vibe can be done just as nicely in a rotary and vice versa. One thing I noticed from your post though is that you only run 500 for a week. In a Lot-O the grit will break down in 1/2 every 24 hours, so basically after 24 hours it becomes 1000 grit. The longer you leave it in the finer the sanding becomes. Same with a rotary except it takes a week or more for the grit to break down. If you are pulling it out of 500 after only 7 days then it never gets that 1000 grit pre-polish. It's just a thought and you might want to give it a try and see if it changes your final results! Also a dedicated polish bowl makes a HUGE difference. My favorite polish is aluminum oxide. ~Krystee That was a wise observation. You have been paying attention. Do you have a son in the forum? Also HAve you ever had the thought of having a larger homemade unit for more volume and larger rocks> Thank You Cliff
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petrifried
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 100
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Post by petrifried on May 9, 2017 23:53:10 GMT -5
I say u can't go wrong with getting a lot-o tumbler! I just got one and am running my first load through and love this little thing so far!
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