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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 18, 2006 17:28:37 GMT -5
hi all kim grabbed a double lotto vibe tumbler and i started a buncha rough shapes like randy has been doin and they are all and i mean every one gettin chipped on the edges they didnt look to bad last nite but we added more rough because it said run full barrels i had them around half full now there three quarter full and i just ckeck and there all chippin any ideas what im doin wrong?? could it be the sharp thin pieces that where added to fill the barrels chippin the preforms i made ??
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Post by Toad on Jul 18, 2006 19:37:04 GMT -5
5600 posts and you're asking us for advice on chipping? Not sure other than the generic - thickening the slurry, bad rock, running the vibe at too high a setting. Don't know, no experience with that vibe.
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Post by snowdog on Jul 18, 2006 19:43:45 GMT -5
Sands, -- all I run is vibs --- sounds like they are viberating too much -- do they have the counterweights on the shaft to cause the vibs ? --on mine they have an allen wrench set screw that I can loosen then turn the counter weight back and retighten --then they are smoother running ----- also when I have a bunch of preforms I want to run and make sure they don't get hurt I put in maybe a 1/4 barrel of ceramic pellets , turn it on and if the pellets are rolling and dropping down then I add the preforms ---if they look like they are hitting each other too much then I add some more pellets (maybe to 1/2 full ) --------- rough rounded (tumbling stones) added to flat slab type preforms will beat them up pretty bad------- hope this helps
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 18, 2006 19:45:53 GMT -5
haha me eather i never used a vibe before
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 18, 2006 19:49:46 GMT -5
yea thanks snowdog im gonna take out all the preforms and make a barrel of just them
does the barrel have to be full or can i run a half full barrel with the preforms in it?
and im thinking i cant just grab rough pieces and mix them in
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 18, 2006 19:51:14 GMT -5
forgot ill look for the weights it said they where set at the factory but you know how that goes they cant even get two pullys in line hahaha
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offbeat
no posts
Member since May 2010
Posts: 0
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Post by offbeat on Jul 18, 2006 20:37:17 GMT -5
Hey John, If I remember right on the Lot O it has two plastic "fan" type deals that the motor spins. The way I adjust the amount of vibration is to grab both fan deals and twist them. I don't know if there is a locking screw or what ever that you might have to loosen before you do this. Mine is about 10 years old, a while back it must have gotton bumped and I had to "adjust" it this way.
Hard to believe that it is chipping your stones. I have a Gy Roc vib too and the Lot O seems to be a much more gentle vib of the two. Try adjusting the fans and see if you can smooth out the ride that way. I do get the best action with the barrel about 3/4 full. Doesn't seem to work as well if only at 1/2 or full capacity. Good luck, Bill
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 18, 2006 20:44:23 GMT -5
thanks bill im gonna redo it tomorrow ill have to reshape the pre forms and start over haha hey ya gotta start somewear
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jul 18, 2006 21:36:12 GMT -5
Vibes are really touchy until you get used to them. I run plastic pellets in all stages of the tumble because I used to chip alot of rocks as well. Also, make sure that you're not using too much water. You only want to use just enough so that the grit will cling to the rocks. Using the correct amount of grit will help to cushion the rocks as well, but too much grit and they won't move at all.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jul 18, 2006 22:27:02 GMT -5
sands i just added some more rough in our barrel & brought it up to full. the barrel weighs about 1.25 lbs and the instructions say to put 4.5 lbs of rocks in and keep it full by adding rough as needed. we brought ours up to proper weight and it looks like it's running better.
if the only ones i'm worried about are the agate slabs, when is it time to move to the next grit? they've been in 120/220 since sunday evening. should i take the filler rocks out and use pellets after this or move it all through the stages?
kim
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jul 18, 2006 23:07:02 GMT -5
John, Call Uncle Tom in Owatonna and he will help you out. 507 451 2254
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Post by gaetzchamp on Jul 18, 2006 23:18:54 GMT -5
Offbeat- I have a Lot-O also and if my counterweights get outta whack the whole neighborhood knows about it cause it sounds like a freight train. Sands- I too add pellets to my loads just to be on the safe side as I've cracked/chipped many a load. One thing to look for, do you have a rock in there that is considerably larger than the other ones? One time I put a rock in the batch that was about twice the size as all the rest and I think it beat the others up. My suggestion is to add some cushioning material like pellets or even a bunch of smaller chips, shavings etc. W/ all that equipment you guys have around there, there's got to be some sludge and chips to put in the vibe. ************************************************* Me laughing at Kimi posting to Sands. Did you ground him and send him to his room so you now communicate thru posts? J/K.....LOL. Let us know how it works out. gaetz
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Post by gaetzchamp on Jul 18, 2006 23:25:24 GMT -5
Kimi-
As for your question on moving them on. Keep the filler gravel in, pull out your 120 pellets and put them in a bag for next time. Use new pellets for 500 and put them in a bag after. I use separate pellets for all stages including burnishing. A ziploc baggy labelled w/ a magic marker works great. But keep all the little gravel pieces in there throughout. After I use my Workforce, I let the "sludge" dry in the bottom of the pan, then scrape it all in a bottle and whenever I recharge, I put in a heaping spoonful. Wouldn't consider this gospel, but it's been working for me.
Hope this is helpful.
gaetz
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Jul 19, 2006 5:47:27 GMT -5
I had the opposite problem with my LotO. Daughter put in a load and 3 weeks later they still looked like they did when they went in. That is how I ended up with the equipment. She kept saying "But Mom, the directions say it should all be done in a week....." I'll have th check the counter weight thing next time I use it.
June
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 19, 2006 10:12:31 GMT -5
ok i just woke up a bit ago and what im gettin is we should be usein pellets in 120-220 and the rest -- or ceramic pellets? --- cause the rock and preforms where movin around pretty good they where actually rollin in the barrels
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Post by gaetzchamp on Jul 19, 2006 10:23:42 GMT -5
June-
Just make sure the weights line up w/ each other. Were your rocks agitating well? Maybe you didn't put in enough grit, or you didn't recharge daily. If your load is working properly, you should have to recharge (rinse and add more grit) daily.
gaetz
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Post by deb193 on Jul 19, 2006 10:50:48 GMT -5
In the Lot-O I use ceramic pellets in all stages and move the pelets with he rocks. Sometimes I have a bit of trouble getting the slurry to start, but no real problems with chipping.
I look for a good roll initially, if needed I put a little more water or grit. I look again after 30 minutes when the grit is spread out. IF the barrel is too heavy or not emough rounded pellets, the grit may have setteled. I may just shake or add water or on occasion I restart.
later stages no problem, but I may need to add a teaspoon or two of water after 12 to 15 hours if it seems too dry.
I have gotten a little bit of face chipping in AO if it is too wet.
Still have not got the Gy-ROc up an running.
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Jul 19, 2006 11:18:16 GMT -5
gaetz, I'm not sure what it looked like. My daughter was doing it and I was not there. I know by the time I went and picked her up from school, she had shut it off and it was dry. I know she was checking them everyday because she was impatient and texting me that it wasn't working right. That is how I stumbled on this website, trying to research tumbling of rocks. I have not used the LotO myself and don't have enough time left at home to start a load now. Thanks for the advice.
June
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 19, 2006 11:34:27 GMT -5
I love the Lot-O. I've never touched the counterweights, since I have no idea what one would look like. I think maybe putting the really rough rocks in there is causing the problem. Ceramic pellets are helpful, plastic ones aren't recommended. Water level is tricky. In short, I agree with other people's observations.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jul 19, 2006 20:40:40 GMT -5
ok here's what we have in: agate slabs/rough/pebble filler sands cabs/rough/pebble filler joe this one's for you - granny's got a gun do we pull them as they get ready just like in a rotary and keep on until we have enough to move to the next stage? or can we move it on with just pellets? the rough is not ready to move on but the pebbles could go forward if needed. kim
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