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Post by snowdog on Jul 19, 2006 23:55:27 GMT -5
Kim, those quartz slabs (the 6 with a whiteish skin) you have will tend to come apart because they are more of a crystalized agate --- the slabs in general will take longer because of the flat sides --the edges will get alot more action than the flat part --by using alot of ceramic pellets they tend to slide on the flat part more --where on a rounded stone it will go all around ---I usually have trouble with the crystalized ones --by the time the flats are ready they start coming apart ---if you have a flat lap, that would be the easiest way to do them --otherwise the rest of those brazilian slabs can be pulled at any time -- I often pull one or two when I recharge or just check to see how they are doing I generally don't put slabs in with other rough rock as the bigger ones tend to hit the flat slabs and make dings ( on the flat part-not the edges) --- I just use alot of ceramic pellets ( to let the slabs slide in them ) instead of any pebble filler --- like on sands preforms --I would prob separate them from the pebbles --fill the barrel with ceramic pellets & preforms from here on out in each stage --that way you don't have to try picking out the pebbles from the ceramic --- I don't think the pebbles are big enough to cause the damage he was talking about --- was prob more from not having the barrel full enough (maybe more and finer pebbles)-- the preforms are more like slabs --it's better to have them sliding than to tumble down and hit each other don't know if any of this makes sense to you but hope it helps --- one other thing about the ceramic pellets --- they don't em-bed the grit like plastic does ---but some of the gray ones do have grit in them ----use only the white , rinse them and move to the next stage --- the only ones I keep separate are the ones I use for polish ----will try to post a couple pics tomarrow
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jul 20, 2006 1:09:44 GMT -5
dave i don't have a flat lap but i do have a vibrating lap. i don't want them to fall apart! should i try them in the vib lap?
kim
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Post by snowdog on Jul 20, 2006 8:14:20 GMT -5
;D it was getting late last night !! ---that's what I meant --a viberating lap . ;D ;D -- those real big brazilians I got in kansas about 2 months ago were almost all like that -- crystalized-- ( I usually throw them in the junk pile --) --they just won't work for what I usually do !!---but they cut really fast
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Post by snowdog on Jul 20, 2006 20:44:54 GMT -5
Rocky, here's what happens alot of times with those quartzy ones --- the crystals are loose enough that some bumps by another rock will jar them loose and they start falling out this next one ,you can kinda tell how many pellets I have, against how many slabs-- think I have about 25 slabs in this one --maybe 1/2 are bigger (3-5" ) ---but that allows the pellets to slide across the face of the slabs --thus grinding/polishing them faster , also with that many pellets the slabs don't hit each other very much either
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Post by connrock on Jul 22, 2006 7:04:32 GMT -5
John, I'm VERY sorry for this VERY late reply.
As you've already been advised,the counter weights MUST be lined up or the unit won't work right.
Another thing is the volume of the load.If you don't have enough weight in the barrel the unit vibrates violently and "will" chip and or crack the material being polished and may cause the springs to break.
I see that some of the folks use plastic and ceramic pellets but I try to not use either in my vibes.If you read the instruction sheet it will give you specific instructions on how to do a batch of obsidian and this is how I do "temperamental" materials.
The Lot-O-Tumbler,in my opinion,is by far the best unit on the market today but "Ole Uncle Tom"(the manufacturer) really lacks in his instruction department!!
I wish he would visit our board and help all of us "Lot-O-People" out of some of our dilemmas!!!
connrock
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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 22, 2006 8:03:19 GMT -5
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 23, 2006 7:41:19 GMT -5
Okay I pasted these out of the instructions referenced above. I bought mine from Shawn and asked him right away about accuracy of quantities, since the "1/2 cupful" of water in #3 appears to be an obvious mistake. Sure enough, they really meant "1/2 capful," which is VERY different! Actually, 1/2 capful is often too much, especially if the rocks are good and wet. The rock shed has their own set of directions for the lot-o which are very helpful.
So these are the instructions and the mistake in number 3:
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Fill barrel with agates - about four pounds of stone. These can be mixed sizes. (Action is fast, but gentle.) It is important to keep the barrel full. If after grinding it is not full, add some from a previous batch to keep it full.
2. Rinse agates with water to remove mud. (Submerse filled barrel in container of water. Remove, shake and drain off water.
3. Replace barrel in frame firmly. Add 2 Tbls. medium 180 to 220 grit size. Place cap on barrel.
(Punch small hole in cap to relieve pressure.) Add 1/2 cupful of water to keep a creamy consistency.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 at 12 hour intervals until desired amount of agate has been removed. Average time: 3 to 4
days. Add 1 capful of water after 12 hours if rocks cannot be washed.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for 24 hrs.
6. Repeat steps 2 and 3, substituting 600 grit. Tumble 24 hours or less. Use only ½ teaspoon of 600 grit.
7. Repeat steps 2 and 3 using only ½ teaspoonful of tin oxide, Rapid Polish No. 61, or Lusterite Formula II.
Tumble 24 hours, and no more. Rinse thoroughly and admire.
Suggestion for easy clean-up: About 15 minutes before cleaning out each time, add 1 cap full of water and about 2 drops of liquid detergent. Let run for 15 minutes and your rocks will wash off sparkling clean.
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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 23, 2006 8:41:51 GMT -5
Hmmm, wonder why if the bad directions is why my daughter had so much trouble getting anything done with the tumbler. I have not used this one. Guess I'll have to try it with the modified directions and see what happens. Now, by full, how full do they mean?
June
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Post by LCARS on Jul 23, 2006 11:27:37 GMT -5
I'm glad I started with rotaries... Sorry, but a vibe never was, isn't now & won't soon be on my "want" list. Remember, I don't even have a SAW yet so I have to focus on those sorta things & not waste $$$/time messing with vibes... yet.
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 23, 2006 22:32:01 GMT -5
June, if she was using that excessive water she was probably getting no action at all. You should start with the rocks wet, let it run for a couple of minutes and then add a splash of water at a time and watch it. You want the grit to be sticking to, but not caked on the rocks. Then it needs to be checked after a few hours to see if it needs more water. You don't want these to go dry. Some loads of fresh rock will make a lot of really thick mud, quickly. By full, you can fill them all the way to the top and they run great, probably best that way. If there are too many or too many big ones, they sometimes knock the lid off the top making it dry out too fast. I've used a variety of lower levels and they really don't perform best until they are 3/4 or more full. The polishes are awesome. Really.
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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 24, 2006 8:05:36 GMT -5
Thanks for the information. She was following the directions, changing things every 12 hours and never got past the rough stage. She got disgusted and turned them off. I had got this one because I thought it would be quieter, not knowing that a good rotary can be just as quiet. In fact, I barely here the Lortone 33B run. Now she's not interested, but I am. so hopefully, this will have resolved the issues. Thanks again.
June
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