Help please - what is all this black stuff in my UV-10
Aug 15, 2019 11:42:49 GMT -5
RocksInNJ likes this
Post by lthornton on Aug 15, 2019 11:42:49 GMT -5
Greetings! I have been tumbling now for about 8 months. I started with a Lortone 33B and tumble mostly beach rock from Lake Ontario and river rock. I guess I would say I am after color more than shine, although shine is nice! I’ve been very happy with my results so far. Of course, I got tired of waiting weeks for a batch to finish so I decided to get a vibrator tumbler to finish them off.
I’m sorry this is so long – wanted to try to give as much information as possible. I hope that someone has seen this problem or has some ideas because right now I’m about ready to smash my new tumbler with a sledge hammer.
This is my second attempt/first batch ever in my brand new UV-10. I am using the grit/polish that we bought with the tumbler from The Rock Shed.
First attempt: Ran step 1 (6 oz/T of 120/220 SC) for three days; followed by a 4 hour borax cleaning run. Step 2 (3 oz/T of 500 AO) for two days; followed by a 4 hour borax cleaning run. Step 3 (3 oz/T of AO Polish) – I intended to run for 2-3 days. On day 2 I opened up the tumbler to find all of this black stuff everywhere - even embedded in some of the rocks! Dried a couple of rocks and they were hazy and looked like maybe I had a problem with crazing? These weren’t even the rocks with the embedded black stuff. I was running this batch with a 2 pound bag of the ceramic pellets. I bought more pellets because of the crazing issue, washed everything thoroughly, and then washed again.
I have no idea what this black stuff is, so reaching at straws thought maybe it was from the lid of the tumbler. I wrapped the lid in press-n-seal just in case and started again.
Second attempt: Adjusted the load to use 4 pounds of the ceramic pellets (instead of 2 lbs) and set aside about 2 lbs of rocks in a bowl of water to wait for batch 2. I can tell that made a huge difference in the way things were running. Ran Step 1 for two days; borax run; checked the rocks and they were looking good - all of the embedded black stuff was gone so I started step 2. About halfway through the second day I opened the tumbler and there is all of the black stuff back again. And it’s embedded in some of the rocks again. Well, at least I know it’s not from the lid – so I’m thinking it’s got to be from the bowl?
I have been reading/watching videos on this site on how much water to use and I feel like I got it right? Dumped off the water, added grit, started tumbler, use a spray bottle of water until the grit is sticking to the rocks, checking it about 4 times a day because I am a newbie.
Now I am extremely frustrated – ready to forget about the vibe all together and just go back to my rotary for all steps.
Here are some pictures I took showing this black stuff after adding water to the bowl, as well as stuck to the lid (thanks to the press-n-seal you can actually see it), the screen on my cleaning bucket after dumping it out, and a couple of the rocks with the embedded black stuff.
Any ideas?
Also, my rocks and just sitting in a bowl of water because I don't know what to do. Start all over again? Continue with Step 2? Move on to step 3 and just live the the embedded black stuff?
I’m sorry this is so long – wanted to try to give as much information as possible. I hope that someone has seen this problem or has some ideas because right now I’m about ready to smash my new tumbler with a sledge hammer.
This is my second attempt/first batch ever in my brand new UV-10. I am using the grit/polish that we bought with the tumbler from The Rock Shed.
First attempt: Ran step 1 (6 oz/T of 120/220 SC) for three days; followed by a 4 hour borax cleaning run. Step 2 (3 oz/T of 500 AO) for two days; followed by a 4 hour borax cleaning run. Step 3 (3 oz/T of AO Polish) – I intended to run for 2-3 days. On day 2 I opened up the tumbler to find all of this black stuff everywhere - even embedded in some of the rocks! Dried a couple of rocks and they were hazy and looked like maybe I had a problem with crazing? These weren’t even the rocks with the embedded black stuff. I was running this batch with a 2 pound bag of the ceramic pellets. I bought more pellets because of the crazing issue, washed everything thoroughly, and then washed again.
I have no idea what this black stuff is, so reaching at straws thought maybe it was from the lid of the tumbler. I wrapped the lid in press-n-seal just in case and started again.
Second attempt: Adjusted the load to use 4 pounds of the ceramic pellets (instead of 2 lbs) and set aside about 2 lbs of rocks in a bowl of water to wait for batch 2. I can tell that made a huge difference in the way things were running. Ran Step 1 for two days; borax run; checked the rocks and they were looking good - all of the embedded black stuff was gone so I started step 2. About halfway through the second day I opened the tumbler and there is all of the black stuff back again. And it’s embedded in some of the rocks again. Well, at least I know it’s not from the lid – so I’m thinking it’s got to be from the bowl?
I have been reading/watching videos on this site on how much water to use and I feel like I got it right? Dumped off the water, added grit, started tumbler, use a spray bottle of water until the grit is sticking to the rocks, checking it about 4 times a day because I am a newbie.
Now I am extremely frustrated – ready to forget about the vibe all together and just go back to my rotary for all steps.
Here are some pictures I took showing this black stuff after adding water to the bowl, as well as stuck to the lid (thanks to the press-n-seal you can actually see it), the screen on my cleaning bucket after dumping it out, and a couple of the rocks with the embedded black stuff.
Any ideas?
Also, my rocks and just sitting in a bowl of water because I don't know what to do. Start all over again? Continue with Step 2? Move on to step 3 and just live the the embedded black stuff?