txwaterbird
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2019
Posts: 2
|
Post by txwaterbird on May 4, 2021 21:07:30 GMT -5
I've been tumbling with a rotary tumbler for a couple of years and recently gotten a vibratory tumbler.
I'm having trouble getting the water right. When I check the tumbler right before bed, everything looks good. But by the time I get up in the morning, the top rocks are dry and there is a dry sludge in the bottom.
Any suggestions?
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on May 4, 2021 21:35:57 GMT -5
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,647
|
Post by Tommy on May 5, 2021 10:13:11 GMT -5
I've been tumbling with a rotary tumbler for a couple of years and recently gotten a vibratory tumbler. I'm having trouble getting the water right. When I check the tumbler right before bed, everything looks good. But by the time I get up in the morning, the top rocks are dry and there is a dry sludge in the bottom. Any suggestions? Hi and welcome to the forum! I agreed with Robin's suggestion that your post will get a lot more specific attention in the Rock Tumbling board so I moved it over there for you.
|
|
|
Post by rmf on May 5, 2021 10:35:55 GMT -5
Does the Vib have a lid? The water level is the biggest issue with a vib. To much it slows the movement. Too little and it dries out. I always try to get to the max water without flooding, put the lid on and go to bed. Check first thing when I get up. If I hear a tone change in the night I get up and check it.
|
|
standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
|
Post by standles on May 5, 2021 11:31:46 GMT -5
I've been tumbling with a rotary tumbler for a couple of years and recently gotten a vibratory tumbler. I'm having trouble getting the water right. When I check the tumbler right before bed, everything looks good. But by the time I get up in the morning, the top rocks are dry and there is a dry sludge in the bottom. Any suggestions? So I use a Lot-O tumbler and the process I use is this: 1. Fill bbl with water 2. Fill bbl 3/4 to full with rocks and ceramic media. Ceramics account for about 15-20% of load. 3. Dump water out and put in vibe. 4. Put grit in bbl according to stage you are on. I do this with motor off to avoid grit dust getting into motor/bearings by accident 5. Make sure the vibe weights are in right place 6. Turn on vibe and make sure action is good. 7. Let run 4 or 5 hours and check slurry Slurry should be like loose pancake batter 8. Slurry should be like loose pancake batter 9. Check every 8 hours or so and adjust slurry with water via 2 or 3 spritzes from a water bottle if too thick and leave top off a few hours if too thin Occasionally, I loose control and Just dump bbl rinse and start again. Hope that is helpful.
|
|