abalonehound
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2021
Posts: 14
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Post by abalonehound on Jan 20, 2021 10:05:56 GMT -5
Hi fellow rockhounds, I just got back from a rockhounding trip ready to start a new load in my Thumler UV-10 vibratory tumbler. With my latest batch, however, the tumbling action seems to be stalling; I'm not seeing any of the roiling/tumbling movements to these rocks, they seem to mostly be just vibrating in place without much movement (see video imgur.com/a/deU84Rc ). I have tried restarting this load three times, including emptying and washing out the whole load before restarting with new grit. Each attempt has yielded the same results. My question for y'all is, what am I doing wrong? This is not my first rodeo, and I've done batches with a couple bigger rocks that didn't have this problem. |
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stewdogg
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 388
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Post by stewdogg on Jan 20, 2021 10:10:43 GMT -5
The video link doesn't seem to work for me...
Does it sound like the vibe is making the "normal noise" you are used to hearing while it's running?
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 20, 2021 10:16:03 GMT -5
stewdogg delete the end paren on the link and then you can see it.
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stewdogg
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 388
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Post by stewdogg on Jan 20, 2021 10:38:26 GMT -5
stewdogg delete the end paren on the link and then you can see it. Thanks hummingbirdstones!! There wasn't any sound on the video... I would look under the "hood" of the tumbler and make sure everything is functioning properly under there. Just a thought, if you keep adding a little water (maybe via a spray bottle) does that change the speed at all? |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 20, 2021 10:49:23 GMT -5
stewdogg delete the end paren on the link and then you can see it. Thanks hummingbirdstones !! There wasn't any sound on the video... I would look under the "hood" of the tumbler and make sure everything is functioning properly under there. Just a thought, if you keep adding a little water (maybe via a spray bottle) does that change the speed at all? I'm far from an expert, but that's what I noticed. It doesn't seem to have enough moisture. Mine will do that on "start-up", but after I spritz it with the spray bottle, I start to get action. |
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pizzano
Cave Dweller 
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jan 20, 2021 12:20:22 GMT -5
Hi fellow rockhounds, I just got back from a rockhounding trip ready to start a new load in my Thumler UV-10 vibratory tumbler. With my latest batch, however, the tumbling action seems to be stalling; I'm not seeing any of the roiling/tumbling movements to these rocks, they seem to mostly be just vibrating in place without much movement (see video imgur.com/a/deU84Rc). I have tried restarting this load three times, including emptying and washing out the whole load before restarting with new grit. Each attempt has yielded the same results. My question for y'all is, what am I doing wrong? This is not my first rodeo, and I've done batches with a couple bigger rocks that didn't have this problem. I'm not able to watch the vid......but have a few questions...:
First off, are the stones being processed for the first time as rough like in a 1st stage 60/90 grit......or have the stones been through a rough grind stage (rotary) previously......?
What type of stones are being processed.....and is the bowl at least 3/4 full.......?
Have you added any type of binder (product like clay) to help start the slurry development....?
What percentage of small to larger stones have been mixed and are you using any type of fillers (ceramics, pea gravel, ect).....?
Just to mention a few.........It's always a little tricky to rough grind (1st stage) stones in a vibe. It is not recommended and will take time to develop a slurry for that stage in a vibe.....! Getting the stones to circulated properly at this stage will take a little more liquid at first while still adding small increments of grinding compound until you get both circulating and rolling stone action..........the learning process with vibes takes lots of practice.
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abalonehound
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2021
Posts: 14
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Post by abalonehound on Jan 20, 2021 19:44:27 GMT -5
Hi fellow rockhounds, I just got back from a rockhounding trip ready to start a new load in my Thumler UV-10 vibratory tumbler. With my latest batch, however, the tumbling action seems to be stalling; I'm not seeing any of the roiling/tumbling movements to these rocks, they seem to mostly be just vibrating in place without much movement (see video imgur.com/a/deU84Rc). I have tried restarting this load three times, including emptying and washing out the whole load before restarting with new grit. Each attempt has yielded the same results. My question for y'all is, what am I doing wrong? This is not my first rodeo, and I've done batches with a couple bigger rocks that didn't have this problem. I'm not able to watch the vid......but have a few questions...:
First off, are the stones being processed for the first time as rough like in a 1st stage 60/90 grit......or have the stones been through a rough grind stage (rotary) previously......?
What type of stones are being processed.....and is the bowl at least 3/4 full.......?
Have you added any type of binder (product like clay) to help start the slurry development....?
What percentage of small to larger stones have been mixed and are you using any type of fillers (ceramics, pea gravel, ect).....?
Just to mention a few.........It's always a little tricky to rough grind (1st stage) stones in a vibe. It is not recommended and will take time to develop a slurry for that stage in a vibe.....! Getting the stones to circulated properly at this stage will take a little more liquid at first while still adding small increments of grinding compound until you get both circulating and rolling stone action..........the learning process with vibes takes lots of practice.
I edited the original post so the video link should work now. That being said, I think ultimately the issue is that I finally need to get a rotary tumbler. Before now, I've pretty much only been polishing ocean-tumbled rocks that didn't really need rough grinding. Now that I'm advancing in this hobby, I think it's time to invest in a rotary tumbler as well. |
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tomg
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 103
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Post by tomg on Jan 20, 2021 20:27:18 GMT -5
Looks like a water issue to me. Too much or not enough. Are you starting with just moist rocks, then spritzing them to the right moisture?
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 20, 2021 20:33:27 GMT -5
I'm not able to watch the vid......but have a few questions...:
First off, are the stones being processed for the first time as rough like in a 1st stage 60/90 grit......or have the stones been through a rough grind stage (rotary) previously......?
What type of stones are being processed.....and is the bowl at least 3/4 full.......?
Have you added any type of binder (product like clay) to help start the slurry development....?
What percentage of small to larger stones have been mixed and are you using any type of fillers (ceramics, pea gravel, ect).....?
Just to mention a few.........It's always a little tricky to rough grind (1st stage) stones in a vibe. It is not recommended and will take time to develop a slurry for that stage in a vibe.....! Getting the stones to circulated properly at this stage will take a little more liquid at first while still adding small increments of grinding compound until you get both circulating and rolling stone action..........the learning process with vibes takes lots of practice.
I edited the original post so the video link should work now. That being said, I think ultimately the issue is that I finally need to get a rotary tumbler. Before now, I've pretty much only been polishing ocean-tumbled rocks that didn't really need rough grinding. Now that I'm advancing in this hobby, I think it's time to invest in a rotary tumbler as well. You don't have to try and justify getting another tumbler to any of us on here...just your significant other! LOL  |
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,160
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Post by dshanpnw on Jan 24, 2021 14:56:09 GMT -5
I haven't filled my bowl with that much media before, but maybe it was just too much mixed media. I don't know what else it could have been besides not enough water. I think you'd still see the toroidal motion though. I have been tumbling mostly beach rocks too. They don't require a lot of shaping.
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Post by rmf on Jan 24, 2021 16:23:23 GMT -5
Since there is no mud. I would say too much water.
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