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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 18, 2004 20:41:55 GMT -5
Hi all, Think I've finaly hit on something. Last night I checked my agates and decided to let the slurry and water seperate (just started all new 80 grit the day before) and I took out about 1/2 the water. I checked them now and I'll be damed if they haven't progressed more in the last 24 hours than in the last three weeks combined ;D The sharp edges are very dull now and even the sharp pointed parts are more like a well used pencil, not a needle. Apparently, less is more. I don't want the slurry to get too thick (in this vibe, everything works it's way down to the bottom) so I'll keep a close eye on it. This is soooo coool! cookie
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Post by Harry on Jun 18, 2004 21:46:21 GMT -5
Very happy for you for sure!!!!! I am going to change out one of mine and I will be sure to not add as much water. I do however have a rotary tumbler and will have to watch and check it daily. I can not wait to see this Brazilian Agate finished!
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Jun 18, 2004 22:30:03 GMT -5
Congratulations, Cookie! Glad you've made such good progress in so short a time! That sure doesn't seem to happen very often in this hobby.
I'm really glad that we all have each other to learn from. This rock tumbling thing would not be nearly as much fun or as rewarding without all of you to share with!
BE
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 18, 2004 22:33:00 GMT -5
I just looked back on a web site I saved on a vibratory tumbler (not my brand) that recomends just having the agates wet, then add grit. Says there are results in 2-5 days. Think I'm getting this vibe thing. Just need to really cut back on the water, might even get brave enough to go dry The tumbler just makes so much noise when I use less water, it kinda scares me. But hell, it's in the basement, I can't really hear it unless I'm close to the door. I'll deal with it ;D cookie
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 18, 2004 22:35:54 GMT -5
Me 2 BE. Even if I do feel like a dummy sometimes. At least someone is listening ;D
cookie
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Jun 18, 2004 23:12:37 GMT -5
I just got a used vibe off of eBay last week. Haven't used it yet, but I'm really trying to pay attention to what all you vibe users are saying. Planning to use it for polish. It's clean, used previously for polishing shell casings. It's a 4 qt. model, but didn't come with any instructions, so I can use all the help I can get. All I've done so far is clean it with a bunch of pellets, grated Ivory bar soap, and some rough. At least, it doesn't smell like Brasso anymore!
BE
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 18, 2004 23:20:09 GMT -5
Be my vibe didn't come with instructions either and it was the first thing I got. Didn't even have this website then. All I know at this point is: everything goes to the bottom check it every day use less water than a rotary it has been suggested that pellets don't help much as they are going in a circle, not tumbling per say. I've decided to order a new tub for pre polish-polish befoe I get to that point, think cross contamination was a problem. Good Luck ;D
cookie
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Jun 18, 2004 23:42:27 GMT -5
Thanks, Cookie! I'm really trying to get a grasp on the very small amount of water thing with the vibes. I know I've gotta try it, and I'm planning to do as suggested and just use a very small amount along with the small amount of polish, but it's very hard to understand.
Oh yeah, I have a question. With rotary tumblers, they have to be loaded to the proper level to be effective. Are vibes the same, or can smaller than capacity loads be run successfully in them?
BE
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jun 18, 2004 23:47:58 GMT -5
Hmmmmmmm, a vibe thing? I believe that I will let that sleeping dog alone
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 19, 2004 0:00:43 GMT -5
Warren, that's so wrong dude BE, I'm thinking, since the rocks don't actually tumble but vibrate against each other in the vibe, that as long as the water grit proportions are correct, it should be OK to use a smaller load. Anyone with more expirience with vibes, let us know. cookie
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Jun 19, 2004 0:03:56 GMT -5
What did I miss, Warren? Just guessing, but are you strictly rotary?
BE
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jun 19, 2004 0:17:53 GMT -5
a small bump of humor, I look at things on sort of a tilt- must be the paint fumes. just rolling along
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 19, 2004 0:23:36 GMT -5
;D
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Post by puppie96 on Jun 19, 2004 3:18:49 GMT -5
Hi Cookie, I just left a long post in the Ivory thread about vibes, again. Glad you are getting more success! Here's a couple more things: 80 grit is too coarse for a vibe. They start 'em at 100/120 or 120/220. The reasons I've read for this are that the coarser grit will damage the bowl, it is not as effective in sticking to the rocks and tends to sink, and it will not speed up the process.
Re: Load size -- like barrels, vibes need to be loaded to capacity to perform best, and my own experience confirms this. This is really pretty easy provided that you have enough rough rocks to toss in, because the whole process is so fast. Just take out the ones that look like they are ready to go ahead and throw in some raw ones when you recharge. Doesn't take long to build up sufficient amount to move ahead.
With vibes you don't have to be as careful between grinds as you do with barrels, probably because of the more frequent recharging, only between grinding and going to polish. When I decide they are ready to polish, I've been running them for a while in water with some liquid dish soap (you don't have to be fussy about the soap vs. detergent issue with the vibes) and then sometimes, still using the grinding bowl, run it for a half a day or so with a few teas. of saved-to-recycle polish. This is kind of like an extra prepolish. Then wash it down again and put in the polish barrel with the Raybrite product. Not unusual to have a great finish in less than 2 days. Again, even doing all this recharging, it's very economical in terms of consumption of supplies. So you really only need two bowls. My backyard rock that appears in a post in the photos section was done this way.
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Post by puppie96 on Jun 19, 2004 3:22:45 GMT -5
BTW I've been starting mine with 100/120 and just like with a barrel, this is the grind that takes the longest. Then I go to 120/220 (I start there with stones that are already rounded, like beach stones), use it for a couple of days or so, then go to 500, then to Iolox prepolish (Raytech sells this with their starter kit.) The latter stages only take a couple of days tops. Once you're past the rough grind you can generally have them done within a week. Works for me.
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duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
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Post by duke on Jun 19, 2004 18:09:29 GMT -5
hey cookie...what brand and size vibe do you have? Does your manual give you and directions as to how much water/grid to use? You ever use a rotary tumbler? I think my next purchase will be a vibe...any recommendations?.. duke
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 19, 2004 20:05:35 GMT -5
Hey Duke, My vibe didn't come with a manual so I'm flying by the seat of my pants. Sounds like Puupies knows what it's all about so I'm inclinded to go with that. It's a Rayoteck number 5, 3 pound capacity. When I called the place I ordered it from to get a manual and grit, the idiot, er ah person we spoke to said nobody used them for rocks and didn't know what we were talking about. Puppiies, do you have the website for Rayotech? Sounds like Ineed a good manuel and their recommended grit if I'm gonna get any where. I'm gonna keep going with the 80 for now since this is only my third batch in this bowl and try 200 next time. And I'm gonna save your posts, Thanks ;D
cookie
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Post by puppie96 on Jun 21, 2004 3:40:47 GMT -5
Hi Cookie, Going to Lyman is confusing. I am not great with computers and I am not sure whether I've been getting to their site or a second party's. The site I've seen says they only sell through their distributors but there's still an ordering function. Weird. It's not hard to find their products. It's too late and I'm too tired to try to find the sites now. I'm so sloppy I forget to bookmark them. But if you Google on the Raytech name & products, or Google on Iolox -- a very distinctive name that only gets about 18 hits -- you'll find places selling both the vibe and the accompanying products. As far as a manual goes, to my knowledge THERE ISN"T ONE! Isn't that appalling? When I received mine, there was a front and back sheet of instructions and that was IT. Basically all it tells you is the proportions. It's a real joke. Only by searching through a lot of material about vibes & tumblers in general did I find out some of the basics I've been telling you, and there's a lot of bad info out there, especially about water quantities. Of course, I suspect the design of the vibe makes a big difference. After running this little sucker 24/7 since last November or so, I've figured out a few things, no thanks to Raytech. It's really been pretty frustrating, especially since there are so few vibe users here. I asked Q's about them months ago and nobody said much. Cookie, I'm concerned about the 80 grit. I have worn out 3 Raytech bowls since November. I haven't used any grit that coarse because the one thing that EVERYBODY agrees on is that you shouldn't and that it can damage the bowl. Also, I am pretty much absolutely certain that the instances when it got itself muddied up probably are the main reason I damaged my bowls. It's hard to avoid that happening especially with new rocks! When it's really stuck you can actually feel the heat build up from the friction at the bottom. Normally you don't get that. This is not a good thing. Again, good luck!
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duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
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Post by duke on Jun 21, 2004 7:41:45 GMT -5
Hey cookie...I looked on rocksheds web site (rockshed.com) to see their selection of vibe tumblers. They have a guide to tumbling for vibe tumblers that looked pretty informative. They don't handle the Raytech brand, but seems like the instructions would be for all vibe tumblers....(not sure, tho)...check it out and see if it helps..
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 21, 2004 18:50:19 GMT -5
Thanks Duke, I will! Puppies, I cleaned out the load yesterday and now I' using 2 teaspoons 200 and 1 of 80. Only because I just bought 5 lbs of 80 and it cost more than a replacement bowl. I'm keepinf a photo journal now, including what my slurry looks like so someone (you, maybe?) can tell me if it has the right consitancy. thanks, cookie
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