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Post by puppie96 on Jul 4, 2004 4:26:03 GMT -5
I put a batch of yard rock into polish this afternoon and it had a spectacular mirror finish about 12 hours later. Obviously I'm pleased with speed and quality. This may be the result of using a Raytech product I found on their site, called Glossine (3 oz. for $3.35). Their site describes it as a cushioning agent used at a ratio of one teasp. to 3 teasp. of polish. In that wonderful uninformative style for which Raytech must be famous, that was it, as far as any further enlightenment. Nothing on the package labeling -- just "Glossine Polish." For polish I've been getting the best results with Raybrite TL, which comes with the TV-5 starter kit. Apparently it's aluminum oxide but it works better than cerium in my vibe. I added the recommended ratio of Glossine and I do think that it boosted the results, especially the speed.
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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 4, 2004 16:48:31 GMT -5
i just got some "Raycool" as coolant for my new saw, so hopefully it will be a good product as you have described....i'm pleased to get feedback from "users" as opposed to endless spam ads or people that get your address
KD
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jul 4, 2004 21:54:45 GMT -5
OK Pup, I'm definately taking notes cookie
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 20, 2004 9:59:57 GMT -5
puppie, I just got some of that Glossine from Raytech. Immediately got out my ziploc bag of rocks ready for polish and started them in 1 tsp of Glossine and 3 tsps Raytech polish. If I hadn't read your post on how much Glossine to use, I wouldn't have had the slightest idea because NOTHING in the way of instructions was enclosed! This is my first batch to have gone through 1000 grit and the first time I have used the Raytech polish. I am anxious to see them finished.
This is a batch that had already been through the 4 stages; the first three stages in the rotary, then polished in the vibe. I wasn't happy with the end results. I started them over in the vibe will the 100 grit for 3 days, 120/220 for 3 days, then 500 for 2 days, 700 for 2 days, 1000 for 2 days with a 24 hr. wash in Cascade between each stage. They had a bit of a shine when I took them out of the 1000 so they should be lookin' really good when they come out of polish. Hope so anyway - it's been a while since I finished a load I was happy with.
llana
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 21, 2004 1:49:02 GMT -5
Hi Llana--The only directions at all that I found was on the Raytech site where I bought the product. I bought another polish I haven't tried yet, and again the only description or directions is on the site. It's been a while and I don't remember the name, even. It's red-orange.
I do different experimental stuff with vibe & polishes. I never worry too much about thorough washing between grit. No point, I think, since the way I do it I wash it out about every 12 hours and recharge, so the previous one should break down if any is left. I do wash well before polish, though, and even then, sometimes my first polish go-round is a flop and I redo. I'm guessing this probably is carryover grit problem, so my new trick is I save old polish, then after the prepolish in the vibe I wash the rocks well and return them to the same bowl (not the polish bowl) and run them 12 hours or so with reused polish, some borax or dish soap, wash it out and THEN put it in the polish bowl with the Raytech combo. It's been working for me, FAST too.
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 21, 2004 1:51:48 GMT -5
Llana, also, if you don't get a truly mirror finish, wash it out and run through polish a second time. That almost always does the trick. I figure you are using so much less product with the vibe that you can afford to be less frugal than with the barrels.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 21, 2004 8:50:17 GMT -5
It just checked the rocks in the polish and they looked really good. Some that didn't take a polish before - the sodalite - is nice and shiney. I cleaned the bowl and recharged. just to make sure I get that mirror shine! I do like the vibe. It is so fast and much easier to mess with than the rotary. I have finally got the water/grit ratio down and haven't had any more rocks stuck to the bottom. I started cleaning the bowl then recharging every 24 hours instead of just adding more grit and water. That solved the problem. As you said, it uses such a small amount of grit/polish compared to the rotary that ya' don't need to be as frugal. Have a feeling I'm gonna be shopping for another vibe tumbler in the future! LOL! llana
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 22, 2004 2:48:15 GMT -5
Llana, you've got a TV-5, right? Interesting because I've been doing them on a 12 hour cycle for a while and it seems the grit is broken down by 12 hours. Also, in 12 hours mine definitely need water and I start with somewhat more than Raytech says -- seems to dry out fast and not a good idea to add too much water to start out; it splashes around and slows the grind.
Are you watering them between 24 hour washouts?
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 22, 2004 8:32:52 GMT -5
Yes, I have the TV5. After 12 hrs. it seems that the grit is gone. I usually pick through the rocks and feel them and rarely can I feel any grit, but I usually keep them going another 12. When in the coarse stage, I usually have to add a bit of water, in the later stages they don't seem to dehydrate as much.
I just started the batch I ran in a second polish in a Cascade wash for the day. Can't wait to get home this afternoon and see them. Sure hope they are as nice and shiney as I think they will be. I need them for a crafts project I'm working on for the apple fest next weekend!
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 22, 2004 12:59:35 GMT -5
I hope they are great and that you can post a picture. My impression also is that the grit is pretty much gone after 12 hours so that's why I started the recharge cycle I'm using. If I don't have time, at 12 hours I add some water and about 1 teas. of grit.
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 22, 2004 13:01:57 GMT -5
BTW, I love this during the summer!! It is HOT here and that good old Raytech gives me an excuse to go outside and squirt the hose twice a day!
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jul 22, 2004 14:56:03 GMT -5
Hi Llana and puppies, I've been washing out and changing the works every 12 hours when I can, some times 24,. Sometimes, in coarser grind, there's still alot of grit left so I just rechage, but not often. Mostly cause I like to rinse them completely off and let them dry to see where the stand. I'm doing flint, jasper and a pretty blue/white lace agate right now and the agate it giving me fits I'm 2 days into pre ploish and trying to decide wether to move on or not. I'm almost out of 600 grit. Plus I need to go to the car wash to wash the bowl, then I'll have to move on. cookie
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Boiler
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2004
Posts: 6
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Post by Boiler on Jul 27, 2004 14:54:26 GMT -5
I'm just getting started and have just ordered a vibe tumbler from Rock Shed. What is a cascade wash?
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Post by connrock on Jul 27, 2004 18:25:58 GMT -5
Hi boiler,, Cascade is a comercial dishwasher soap that some "tumblers" use to wash and or burnish their polished rocks. Burnishing is done by putting your rocks in the tumbler with a cushioning material,, such as plastic pellets to keep the rocks from crashing into each other,,,and a soap of your choise and of course water. This step in the polishing process gets all of the polish off of the rocks and shines them up like glass. Some "tumlers" do this for only a few hours and others may burnish for over a week.It depends on the material you're tumbling and how much patience you have!!! Hope this helps. Tom
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Boiler
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2004
Posts: 6
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Post by Boiler on Jul 28, 2004 7:33:26 GMT -5
Thanks Tom... I guess it's an experimental thing.... I can't wait to get my tumbler... It's supposed to be here on Friday.
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Post by connrock on Jul 28, 2004 17:24:37 GMT -5
OK Boiler,,,, One word of caution with a vibe unit. Don't use too much water in it.If you do the grit will just wash off and sit on the bottom of the barrel. It's better to start out by washing the rocks off,draining them and then put them in the vibe.You can then add water a little at a time using a squirt bottle until you get the "slurry" (mixture of grit and water),just right. I'm POSSITIVE you'll have problems but don't give up and ask away,,,,,we'll get you back on the right track... Tom
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 28, 2004 22:09:47 GMT -5
Hi Boiler, welcome aboard! Tumbling is much fun and you'll learn SOOOOOOOO much here. I think Puppies is our resident Vibe tumbler expert! I love my Vibe tumbler. I used to use it for polishing in one bowl and the coarse run in the other bowl. Then I ordered a couple extra bowls and now use it for everything. My coarse grinds I alternate between the vibe and the rotary. The vibe just doesn't shape them like I want, but it does help get the junk off faster. Once I get the rocks shaped and smoothed like I want them, it is great to be able to toss them in the vibe for the other stages and have them finished in a week or less. I am going to do some driveway gravel and flint from start to finish in the vibe as soon as I get the load out of polish and Cascade wash tomorrow. Have never done a load start to finish in the vibe, so figure it's time to experiment. BTW, I usually do a 2 to 3 hour wash with either Ivory soap shavings or Cascade between each stage and about a 8 to 12 hour burnishing wash. I am usually so excited and anxious to see them finished I can't stand to wait longer than a day! llana
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 28, 2004 22:18:01 GMT -5
Boiler, Tom is right. Don't use too much water. I have a Raytech TV5 and it calls for 2 teaspoons of grit and 4 tablespoons of water if the rocks are dry and 2 tablespoons if they are wet. Until I got wise and actually followed the directions, I put too much water in and did not get the results I get with using less water.
Also, I have learned I get better results if I clean the rocks and bowl and recharge instead of just adding grit and water. When I just added more grit and water, alot of the time the rocks ended up stuck on the bottom of the bowl. So, I recommend running the grit for 24 hrs., then cleaning and recharging. Be sure to keep an eye on it though and make sure it doesn't get dehydrated during that 24 hrs. That's what works best for me. You will just have to experiment to see what works best in your particular tumbler.
Happy tumbling!
llana
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 29, 2004 2:42:41 GMT -5
Llana, Thanks for the compliment. Really, I've just been muddling through the same learning process that you have, only I had about a 6 month head start. You seem to be rediscovering all the stuff that I did.
One clarification though: I think you mistyped -- the Raytech's directions call for 4 Teaspoons if rock is dry and 2 teaspoons if it's wet, not tablespoons as you typed. Weren't you trying to say that you had them too watery until you cut back to Raytech's recs? We shouldn't confuse our newest viber.
I very much agree with you as to the uses for the vibe and I move them back and forth for much the same reasons that you do. It would be hard to go back to exclusively barrel tumbling at this point.
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Boiler
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2004
Posts: 6
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Post by Boiler on Jul 29, 2004 7:52:45 GMT -5
Thanks you all.... It's great to have a place to come to ask questions... right now, I don't know enough to ask anything.... I'm sure I will soon.
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