meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Mar 20, 2014 10:38:26 GMT -5
I just got the 5 lb. vibe tumbler from Harbor Freight. I filled it 3/4 full with rock and ceramics. I put in some 120/220 grit and sprayed with water. I kept looking for the rocks to turn all grey but it didn't happen so I kept adding grit. Now I realize I probably put in more grit than I needed. I've been opening it up every few hours and spraying it with water. The first 24 hrs went well but now the slurry is very thick and the movement is not rolling anymore. When I take a rock out the slurry doesn't move, just a blob on the rock. I used a spoon to dig down to the bottom of the bowl and it was hard to do. I kept reading not to add too much water so I didn't. Should the movement of the rock be rolling through the whole 48 hours or does it slow down? Also, should slurry be just coated on the rocks or thick on the rocks?
Thanks, Andrea
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 20, 2014 11:36:28 GMT -5
Hi Andrea,
It takes a while to get the hand of a vibe tumbler for sure. At first I was so afraid of too much water from reading all the posts that I actually used too little water! The grit formed cement in the bottom. So in desperation the next time I used quite a bit more water and presto, it didn't form the cement. For me at least, I want a little bit of sludge in the bottom (like a melted milk shake, maybe a bit thinner). But just a little, say 1 tablespoon.
When you first add grit it takes about 1/2 hour for it to get worked around so it will turn the rocks grey. So you have to give it time or else you will add too much grit.
BTW, I thought the HF tumbler specifically states it is not for rocks. I am not sure the barrel is durable enough.
Hope this helps. Keep with it and you will get the hang of your tumbler and develop your own technique that works for you.
Best wishes, Mark
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Mar 20, 2014 12:01:53 GMT -5
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the help. Cement is what I had at the bottom of the bowl. I will add more water. As for the HF tumbler, I just read the instructions and it does say it's not for rocks…oops! Oh well I will use it til I can't and then I'll have to look into a better one. I bought it because I wanted to try out a vibe and it was cheap. I knew I would want something better.
Thanks again for the help.
Andrea
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Mar 20, 2014 13:25:53 GMT -5
Hi Mark, Thanks for the help. Cement is what I had at the bottom of the bowl. I will add more water. As for the HF tumbler, I just read the instructions and it does say it's not for rocks…oops! Oh well I will use it til I can't and then I'll have to look into a better one. I bought it because I wanted to try out a vibe and it was cheap. I knew I would want something better. Thanks again for the help. Andrea I use an Eastwood vibe and have already burned through a bowl for lack of water. (The entire area around the tumbler looked like someone poured dry cement on the ground!!) I use 1 tablespoon of grit and wet rocks. I put the rocks to be tumbled in a bucket of water let sit for a minute, then scoop them out with my hands and add to the tumbler with ceramic, also wet, turn it on and check for good movement and then add grit while its going, if the grit dries it out you'll see it right away as the rock will really slow down, and then I just give it a squirt or 2 with my spray bottle and its all set and good to go for another 2-4 hours, at which time I check it again. (I actually keep my ceramics in a separate bucket of water all the time so they are there when I need them!) I check it every 2-4 hours, 2 if I'm in the shed right next to it, 4 if I'm in the house and have to cross the yard to get to it, for the first day then twice a day after that morning and night time to make sure it didn't dry out, summer in Florida is really hot in that shed so for the summer I check it 3 times a day when I can!
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Post by Peruano on Mar 20, 2014 18:07:03 GMT -5
Meviva, You are getting good advice, but let me try to couch it in different words perhaps to clarify some points. First, I'd start over, even if it does cost you the grit invested so far, better that than ruin a bowl or your entire vibe. Wash everything and ditch everything you wash off except the rocks. Typically I put the rock in the bowl, add water to cover and then pour off as much as can be poured off by tipping the bowl a few seconds. Much like you would drain that salad makings. Then add a teaspoon of Dawn liquid, and for that size of a vibe, 1-2 teaspoons of 200 grit. Now start up the vibe and watch the rocks dance. You don't want them to dance as much as churn so after a few minutes add just a bit of water (e.g. a tablespoon at a time to calm the rocks somewhat). You want them to move (probably up from the middle and down on the sides of the bowl and around the circumference slowly. You will only see the grey film come up on the rocks after a few minutes or 1/2 hour as already noted. Don't, I repeat don't, keep adding water unless you feel the movement of your stones is too violent (if it is you either need more stones or water, but if you add too much water your grit washes off and stays in the bottom. Use pea gravel as filler if your stones are hard, or if you have tiny stones of the same sort as you are tumbling add those to make filler if needed. Think of the movement you are wanting as a slow moving frozen margarita (even slower hopefully). If your stones are dancing like water on a hot griddle you have to add more water or ballast. I feel the soap helps carry the grit up and also buffers the stones slightly but you are not trying for a frothy mix, just a bit of a thicker coating than you would have with only grit and water. I hope this helps. You may have to watch the movement and if things get too thick you will want a T or 2T of water to lubricate things, but don't go overboard. If your grit stays in the bottom, you will wear a hole in the bowl. If you have a stone that is too large to move with the rest it will wear a hole as well. Don't ask me how I know this, but I do. Good luck and watch your stones and make adjustments slowly until you have the concept. Cheers. Tom
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Mar 20, 2014 18:41:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the info everyone. I may have messed up the vibe already. I turned it off at 44 hours when I last checked it. I did add quite a bit of water earlier because it didn't seem like it was moving much. It was getting really hot. It seemed like the bigger stuff was stuck on top and the smaller stuff had compacted on the bottom. The last few times I checked it I had to use pliers to tighten the wing nut because the whole bowl would spin. I'm going to dump everything out now and see how the bowl is and if the rocks are ready to move on to the next step. I now know this vibe isn't meant for rocks….I just wish I didn't buy the extra bowl for polish.
Andrea
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mrbouldersmash
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2014
Posts: 12
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Post by mrbouldersmash on Mar 27, 2014 21:32:16 GMT -5
is it too full? too much like ceramic cement (never understand ceramics use) nut shells all the way did you say 120+220 grit's together??? coz thats way to coarse 120, but never two grades together. trade secret here 120 is tooo coarse, 220 a little longer then the written word/400/600/polish. 400 or 600 depends on how long and how hard your starting material is and if it looks like it can skip a few grades. also the longer your rocks are tumbling, the finer the starting grit will have become, if left for longer in 220, harder agates that can take it, will have turned it into 400 to near 600, in this case you can skip a few grades and jump from 220 to 600. but lets walk first, run later, keep an example or we could start a thread on pictures of the differant hardness stones and what they look like after being in a 180/220/400/600/800/levagated alumina (al oxide)/ceriuym oxide, this way you can see where your at. but I was concerned at the 120/220 grit you mentioned. ^^^you have an extra pot now^^^ twice the pleasure b4 you have to get another glass half full not empty
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