Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 26, 2013 13:25:14 GMT -5
Good day folks,
I just received my UV-10 on Monday, I have run a batch of pre-tumbled (rotory) stones through the 220 grit stage using Randy's method. (Thanks Randy) I have started another batch of 220 grit stage (wow are these things fast). Now I have read a bunch of info on vibe tumbling and there sure are some different opinions on whether or not to use plastic media in all the stages, just the polish stage, don't bother with them I have got quite confused. I am not really trying to start a huge debate here on whats the best way to tumble, but a few opinions all put into one thread would be nice. (Looked but I couldn't find one). I have a separate bowl for polish and will use the original for 220 and pre-polish. I have lots of plastic pellets on hand but no ceramic media.
Anyway what are you pro's thoughts on this,
Thanks for the help
Tom
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
Posts: 36
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Post by bwinslow on Sept 26, 2013 15:23:57 GMT -5
still a newbie, but the feeling I got was the ceramic was the way to go cause they, when cleaned, wont carried grit to the next stages from the previous. But I could be completely wrong with that too. I bought small and large ones from the rock store and I am very happy with them. It's much easier to work with something that is a tiny bit larger too.
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Sept 26, 2013 16:43:38 GMT -5
I have a new UV-10 as well and use plastic media as filler to help "cushion". I also feel like it increases the surface area in contact, improving the grind. I have dedicated bags of media for different grits. But what do I know I am new to this too.... There seems to be a fairly strong opinion from more experienced folks who dont use any filler. So experiment and enjoy. Cheers.
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Post by Peruano on Sept 26, 2013 18:05:25 GMT -5
I'm a noob too, but in discussions with the instructor of my lapidary class (a guy who has run his own lapidary business for years), he says avoid plastic. It may not hurt anything except that it tends to create a haze on your stones that prevent that perfect polish that you are looking for (oils, solvents, I don't know). He says if you need surface area and or need to cushion things use the trimmings from the same material you are tumbling. Just collect those scraps that accumulate around your saw or use the tiny discards. Use the same hardness or a bit softer but don't use anything harder than what you are tumbling. Hey scraps are free. Carrying grit forward is less of a problem than most of us assume, unless we are moving between stages rapidly. Ideally grits are breaking down and moving with the increasingly smoother surface of the material. I was using the rubberlike tile spacers, but they are too light for the vibe, and probably also carry films that reduce shine as well. Now I use tiny, to small rock trims and it seems to work for me. Tom
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 26, 2013 19:48:22 GMT -5
Depends on the vibe maybe but most good vibes need a full load to work properly. Plastic is too light but may be the choice for underpowered vibes. Small scraps work fine as does pea gravel. The ceramics are what I use at about 30% by volume for normal rocks and 70% by volume for flats.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 26, 2013 19:55:51 GMT -5
Everything I've read says that plastic pellets are only for rotary tumblers. I have a Lot-O vibe and I always use ceramic in it. It seems to last for a really long time, so it's not expensive. I use a mix of large and small sizes. I've had good results doing this.
I have only used plastic pellets a few times in my rotary tumbler and I always end up with a bunch of unused grit after a week with plastic. I'm not using it anymore. I just had the same thing happen a few weeks ago and posted a question about it here. Jamesp, who uses really fast homemade rotary tumblers did some experiments and tells me that if I want a more gentle tumble for fragile rocks (I was doing quartz), I should just overfill the tumbler so the rocks don't free fall so far. That's exactly what I'm doing.
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Sept 26, 2013 20:47:23 GMT -5
My bad... I am using ceramic pellets. Scratch my two bits on the plastic pellets.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 26, 2013 23:31:54 GMT -5
Thanks everyone, I am a noob as well but more so with the vibe. John you actually hit on a answer I was looking for but did not ask directly, that being how much ceramic\plastc media one uses. On my first tumble and the one that is running right now there are a lot of flats in the mix (no media). I notice that they can stick together and that is why I brought this post up. Even though the flats are stuck together I think there is movement between the flats, but if they never separate then no fresh grit would get between them, also the edges would not get as much attention, so separation is very important. So a healthy amount of media (70%) makes sense to keep separation. 30% seems reasonable for a normal load.
You guys feel that plastic can carry forward a courser grit to the next stage and I believe that, but dedicated plastic should be ok? John says too light, Rob says they end up with unused grit. Makes sense but if used over and over with the same mesh grit should not be an issue, unless I am missing something??? General consensus suggests that ceramic media is the way to go and this makes good logic too
Tom suggests using scrap trimmings and I do this and think its a great idea.
So bottom line whether plastic pellets, ceramic media or small rocks the idea is to grt the best distribution of grit over the rocks in the vibe? So I could get away with using a handful of tiny/small rocks for this and they should carry the grit fine?
In the final polish stage would plastic pellets not be better than ceramics just because they are softer than ceramic so less chance of scratching rocks?
Do any of you finish polish rocks or cabs 100% total in the vibe and if so do you use a ton of filler or just fill the vibe with a lot of tiny rock?
Anyway lots of questions and thank for al the suggestions, unless I here other wise I think this load will get no media just to see
Thanks everyone for the great info. I will post a pic of the mess on Monday. I realy appreciate your have and suggestions
Tom
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Post by pghram on Sept 27, 2013 10:34:15 GMT -5
Ceramic or pea gravel in the vibe, not plastic.
Rich
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 27, 2013 12:59:28 GMT -5
The ceramics take the place of tiny rocks. If you have enough tiny rocks to use as a grit carrier and filler go for it. Most people tumbling don't have enough saw scraps and don't necessarily want to tumble tiny rocks.
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mibeachrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2013
Posts: 198
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Post by mibeachrocks on Sept 27, 2013 14:12:36 GMT -5
For what it is worth, I've been using plastic in the last two stages and have not had any problems. I tried sawdust and small wood shavings, but I had a really hard time seperating them from the rocks. I had a jar of airsoft bb's laying around so I started using them. Easy to seperate and re-use.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 27, 2013 14:19:48 GMT -5
I'd be afraid to use pea gravel unless it was tumbled to the point of having no voids that could hold grit. You'd also have to make sure that the pea gravel was the same hardness (or softer) than the rocks you were tumbling. With ceramic, you don't have those problems.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 27, 2013 16:10:56 GMT -5
Thanks for all the tips guys, I just started my first batch of pre-polish rocks in the UV10. Tried to use my best rocks from 220 batches from both the UV10 and my rotory. I used plastic pellets in this batch as thats what I had on hand. The pellets seem to move up the wall and drop off onto the rocks as they tumble, kind of cool to watch. I will keep you posted.
Damb "o" key is not working good on the laptop, time for a new one.
Thanks
Tom
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 27, 2013 16:25:41 GMT -5
Update,
My 'o' key is working again thanks to canned air:) More money for rock stuff now LOL. I just went to the garage and checked the load, it was very slow so I gave it several spritzes of water and movement is great now. I forgot to pre-wet the rocks so had to spritz them from the get go and did not get them wet enough I guess. anyway the rocks are moving nice, the plastic pellets seem to be doing a pretty good job (I will order some ceramic media and suggestions on a good place to buy some?
I am going to get this monkey of my back and get some shiny rocks!
Thanks again
Tom
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 27, 2013 19:08:29 GMT -5
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Post by pghram on Sept 28, 2013 10:29:22 GMT -5
Jugglerguy, you are absolutely right. I start them w/ the 60/90 course grind & take them all the way through the stages, pulling anything that might cause contamination. I use them, w/ the extra effort, to save $$$ and they work just as well as when I used ceramic.
Rich
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 28, 2013 10:32:04 GMT -5
Thanks Juggler, I should have thought of them
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Marie
starting to shine!
Member since March 2013
Posts: 40
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Post by Marie on Sept 30, 2013 22:46:03 GMT -5
Probably already mentioned, but you can't use plastic media since it likes to float. If you do use ceramics be sure to have a set dedicated to each grit, or in the very least one just for polish.
Personally, I take my lesser quality or heavier pitted material and take a rock hammer (mini sledge hammer) to it to make smalls. Don't do this to any special material, since it does cause some cracks, but it does make very pretty gravel.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Oct 2, 2013 21:10:55 GMT -5
Right now I have a batch (very first) on day 3 polish using UV10. I am using plastic pellets and looking at the action they look to be working great, moving down the center to the bottom and up the side to the top. I guess I will pul a rock or two in the morning and see if I am getting a shine. Wish me luck. I do have ceramic pellets on order
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Oct 2, 2013 21:14:23 GMT -5
Right now I have a batch (very first) on day 3 polish using UV10. I am using plastic pellets and looking at the action they look to be working great, moving down the center to the bottom and up the side to the top. I guess I will pul a rock or two in the morning and see if I am getting a shine. Wish me luck. I do have ceramic pellets on order
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