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Post by chucktherocknut on Mar 27, 2020 23:12:02 GMT -5
Hi. Just I just sat up my Raytech #5...I’ve read that I should leave it going 7 days. And that I should change out the slurry after 12hours for the first grit. I’ve also read that I should only let it go 2 days... so I’m a bit confused.. Also if I turn it off at night, with water and slurry in with rocks. Will it be ok? And can I start it a new the next day? And what’s the best recipes for the slurry. I followed some instructions and it’s to wet I think. It’s not coating the rocks like it says it should. But less water, the rocks didn’t seem to move as well... Ok. That’s all for now, thanks
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Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
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Post by Trylobyte on Mar 28, 2020 12:55:09 GMT -5
Hmmm, 7 days in a vibrator? Your course grit should be done in maybe 3 or 4 days tops, and subsequent grits probably 2. You might let the polish go longer. These are running continuously with the correct action. I suppose you can turn it off at night, if your marriage or neighbors demand, without any adverse effects, but make sure when you turn it back on you have the correct turnover action. Action is critical, or you're just wearing a hole in your barrel.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Mar 29, 2020 12:04:31 GMT -5
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doublet83
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 118
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Post by doublet83 on Mar 29, 2020 12:39:00 GMT -5
Personally I've never found there to be a problem with too much water in a vibe (I use a UV-18). I pour half a cup of water in there which lasts more than 3 days..enough to finish the whole stage. Supposedly using too much water might prevent the grit from sticking to the surface of the rock..however, I've never run into an issue with the amount of water I use and the result I get.
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Post by broseph82 on Mar 29, 2020 16:12:48 GMT -5
Personally I've never found there to be a problem with too much water in a vibe (I use a UV-18). I pour half a cup of water in there which lasts more than 3 days..enough to finish the whole stage. Supposedly using too much water might prevent the grit from sticking to the surface of the rock..however, I've never run into an issue with the amount of water I use and the result I get. How about you set up and experiment where you DO pour 2-3x more water in your vibe and watch what happens. Please inform yourself so you know what not to do in the future. There can be indeed too much water! The movement tends to halt and they just chatter around when too much water is used. At that point grit movement is moot.
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doublet83
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 118
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Post by doublet83 on Mar 29, 2020 18:16:17 GMT -5
Personally I've never found there to be a problem with too much water in a vibe (I use a UV-18). I pour half a cup of water in there which lasts more than 3 days..enough to finish the whole stage. Supposedly using too much water might prevent the grit from sticking to the surface of the rock..however, I've never run into an issue with the amount of water I use and the result I get. How about you set up and experiment where you DO pour 2-3x more water in your vibe and watch what happens. Please inform yourself so you know what not to do in the future. There can be indeed too much water! The movement tends to halt and they just chatter around when too much water is used. At that point grit movement is moot. I guess I mean you can put a decent enough of water in there so you don't need to add water everyday, which is quite convenient. I put in quite a bit of water each time and never fail to get ta great polish.
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Post by Peruano on Mar 30, 2020 8:15:15 GMT -5
There are many factors at play here, but too much water can slow the action and more importantly without a carrier for the grit cause the grit to stay in the bottom of the tub and wear the tub excessively. My rule is if I can see water pooling between the stones when its running, I may have a bit too much. If my action is too violent when I start it, I either add more rocks, or filler, or more water to calm things, but importantly I use soap at every stage to help the grit cling to the stones as the move from the bottom to the top. This may be where folks with sugar, cat litter, etc are trying to build a slurry in rotaries and "vibratories?"??". Multiple days may be necessary, but not without monitoring progress and probably renewing grit for long runs. I would not turn off a vibe and leave the contents inside without flooding it and planning for a complete washout before restarting. I'd suspect that the gritand slurry would be close to concrete in the bottom when I peered inside again. Watching the action of your stones when the machine is running should guide your mixtures. If its just moving, you have a problem; if the stones are churning like your fav cocktail mixer, you are in business. BTW you can run the Vibe5 without the top, to watch things more closely, but evaporation will mean more attention to minor water additions. Your results may vary.
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Post by joshuamcduffie on Mar 30, 2020 8:21:59 GMT -5
Watching this discussion as I'm setting up a Thumbler UV-18.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Mar 31, 2020 15:36:57 GMT -5
I check our vibratory tumbler a couple times a day and add a couple tablespoons of water as needed.
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,978
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Post by victor1941 on Mar 31, 2020 16:52:25 GMT -5
I run a UV-18 for mostly preformed cabs and can tell you there is a sweet spot for movement. Sometimes I need to add water and use a spray bottle to get the correct motion (faster movement) but occasionally I need to remove water because I over sprayed during the rough grind. I add and remove paper towels to the bowl to remove the extra moisture and add extra grit if needed. I definitely agree with Peruano and others that the correct amount of water is important.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Mar 31, 2020 17:43:19 GMT -5
Hi. Just I just sat up my Raytech #5...I’ve read that I should leave it going 7 days. And that I should change out the slurry after 12hours for the first grit. I’ve also read that I should only let it go 2 days... so I’m a bit confused.. Also if I turn it off at night, with water and slurry in with rocks. Will it be ok? And can I start it a new the next day? And what’s the best recipes for the slurry. I followed some instructions and it’s to wet I think. It’s not coating the rocks like it says it should. But less water, the rocks didn’t seem to move as well... Ok. That’s all for now, thanks If you are using the Raytech TV-5 vibe, moisture is critical......To much, stones will just swim around in a circle. To little, stones will just stick to the sides of the bowl and chatter.
Depending on the grinding (phase) cycle, moisture requirements also change. It's not recommended to perform a 1st stage 60/90 grind in that bowl. Stick with 120/220 to polish cycles.
The most success I have had with the vibe...... to start is load a dry bowl +3/4 full. Start with damp to moist stones no larger than 2", turn on the vibe, add 120/220 Sic a little (1/4 tsp) at a time until all the stones have a layer of grit on their surface. It helps to add a clay product made for such (no more than 1/4 tsp total) to early grinding stages like 120/220 thru 500 cycles)...once the stones start rotating around the bowl in a tumbling motion, let the vibe run (lid on) for an hour or so, then turn it off, remove the lid, turn back on and watch the action. if the stones are clinging together but not rotating or tumbling, use a spray bottle and give the stones a couple of quick sprays, continue to watch while running, make sure everything is now tumbling and spinning around the bowl at a good but not fast pace.
If your first hour or so check-up results in stones just floating around in a circle fairly fast, more than likely to much water was added in the beginning. Removing a little water (less than 1/4 tsp) with a measuring spoon, and adding a little grit or clay (-1/4 tsp) will help. To much water in a vibe is the most difficult to remedy. More often than not it's just better to dump the load and start over with less water........vibes operate more efficiently on the dryer side, once a slurry build up like a "lite smoothy" starts to develop, it can take several hours depending on the stone type, you're finally on your way.
Vibes do take an amount of practice and baby-sitting. In the beginning learning stages, checking it every 2 to 3 hours is not uncommon. To many folks tend to dabble with the mix to often. If you start to get a slurry build-up, just check it occasionally for moisture. Once you develop a method and recognition of a good slurry, checking the vibe every 4 to 6 hours is quite enough. The amount of time it will take for the stones to move on to the next stage (cycle), will depend on the stone type and what your personal preference of smoothing and shape you desire........vibes do not shape stones extremely well, but will provide a very good surface texture if left at longer time frames with a good slurry mix.
Last, but not least, no two slurry's will develop in the same manner. Depending on many factors. Regardless of stone type and or stage (cycle), the goal is to develop an efficient slurry for every stage. Some will start early, some will start later..........just check it occasionally and remember the steps you took with like stones. Over time you will develop a method that works for YOU.......We all do this a little differently, but most of us who have been at it for sometime, end up with really nice polishes and a confidence builder with each success..........!
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Post by RocksInNJ on Apr 1, 2020 8:44:48 GMT -5
I run a UV-18 for mostly preformed cabs and can tell you there is a sweet spot for movement. Sometimes I need to add water and use a spray bottle to get the correct motion (faster movement) but occasionally I need to remove water because I over sprayed during the rough grind. I add and remove paper towels to the bowl to remove the extra moisture and add extra grit if needed. I definitely agree with Peruano and others that the correct amount of water is important. Instead of removing water, you can add some sugar to thicken and slow things down. A lot easier than trying to remove water.
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Post by joshuamcduffie on Apr 1, 2020 8:49:35 GMT -5
I run a UV-18 for mostly preformed cabs and can tell you there is a sweet spot for movement. Sometimes I need to add water and use a spray bottle to get the correct motion (faster movement) but occasionally I need to remove water because I over sprayed during the rough grind. I add and remove paper towels to the bowl to remove the extra moisture and add extra grit if needed. I definitely agree with Peruano and others that the correct amount of water is important. Instead of removing water, you can add some sugar to thicken and slow things down. A lot easier than trying to remove water. Ants.
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