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Post by tortuga on May 13, 2010 21:23:24 GMT -5
I've been vibe lapping, and I have to be obnoxiously attentive with my spray bottle to make sure the thing doesn't dry up, especially with the finer grits. I'm going to start building a DIY gravity drip system, and would like some ideas from those who have done it. I'd like to do it right first time rather than spend several hours and a dozen trips to lowe's to make it happen I'm thinking a simple design using gallon jugs of water i can just mount on the wall. Some questions before I start: 1. what parts will I need as far as tubing, attachments, etc. I'm not an idiot, but I've never been a handyman by trade either, so whatever advice you can give would help. 2. should i consider a drip system that also drops some fresh grit with the water drops, what modifications will need to be made when compared to a purely water drip system? i.e. what size hoses, how concentrated to make the grit in the gallon jug, etc? I use 60/90->120/220->600->polish. 3. any pictures of your homemade systems would be great to picture the task before doing. Thanks, hopefully you guys can save me some $ and time by teaching me how to do it right the first time
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Post by jakesrocks on May 13, 2010 22:16:41 GMT -5
Go to your local pet store and get an air control valve for a tropical fish tank. A good brass one is better than the plastic valves. Also get tubing to fit the valve. This will cost less than a hardware store valve and tubing. Optional would be a valve for a drip watering system. I use one on my Inland flat lap. You should be able to poke a hole slightly smaller than the tubing in your water container and force the tubing through. Seal it with silicon sealer. An even better drip system would be a 2 gallon pump up sprayer for garden use. Remove the original hose and spray wand, and replace it with plastic tubing and a valve to fit the hose. Pump up the pressure and adjust the valve to give you 3 or 4 drops of water per minute. If you put enough pressure in the tank, you can run it all night without worrying about your flat lap running dry. I use a spray tank on my 20" Vibro Lap. Don
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Post by parfive on May 13, 2010 22:43:44 GMT -5
Why not just cover the lap to minimize evaporation.
Saran wrap w/rubber band Plastic bag I use one of those clear plastic lids from a supermarket cake package – fits my 10” lap perfectly. No slurry splashing out the lap either.
Rich
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Post by tortuga on May 14, 2010 6:59:33 GMT -5
ive been covering it with a shower cap, but i'm still needing to water it at least every 1:15 or so, especially with finer grits.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on May 14, 2010 10:13:57 GMT -5
Know anyone that works in a hospital? IV drips work good, since it's hard to create a slow drip. Measure how much you ad (spray?) each time so you can duplicate it in drip form (which will change constantly with humidity ). Dr Joe .
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Post by jakesrocks on May 14, 2010 10:39:31 GMT -5
Those old fashioned glass IV bottles with the rubber stopper used to work great, but are almost impossible to find now. Don
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bambooprincess
spending too much on rocks
I call him Foo Foo...
Member since April 2009
Posts: 318
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Post by bambooprincess on May 15, 2010 9:10:35 GMT -5
I have a big round water cooler that I popped the center plug out of, fit the tube into the nozzle then sealed around it. That runs from up on a shelf next to my grinder down to a set of valves that I use to control which wheel gets the water. Gravity and the valves do all the work. I have to get on a ladder to fill the cooler but it holds a lot of water so I don't have to fill it often.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 19, 2010 16:37:20 GMT -5
Hi I use 1/4" garden irigation plastic pipe comes in a kit over here
It is a compleate set of conectors, T's , drips and tap fixing , and 25 meters pipe! cheap only thing missing is a control tap
I have seen other RTH people get over this difficultie by using small clamps ect !
Jack Yorkshire uk
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Post by tortuga on May 19, 2010 16:40:17 GMT -5
well, i've used a gallon water jug, gorilla-glued some 1/4 inch clear tubing into a rubber grommet in the bottom, and used a brass control tap to control drip. unfortunately after battling leaks in the grommet area and finally conquering them, the tap is now leaking from the handle. taking that back to the hardware store to try another, hopefully it will resolve!
Tried using aquarium airline tubing with the control valve but the valve, being made for air, leaked.
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waltonr
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2010
Posts: 11
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Post by waltonr on May 19, 2010 23:30:53 GMT -5
I have had good luck with the 1/4" tubing and the plastic fittings for irrigating patio plants from the local hardware store. The valves work great and give me a range from off to slow drip to a stream. Cheap and it works for me.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on May 21, 2010 23:03:50 GMT -5
I use a refrigerator water / icemaker kit. Cost me a tad over 10 bucks for the kit. I mounted it into a coffee can and it works great! Nate Edit - here's the photo
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joemojave
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 133
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Post by joemojave on Jul 4, 2010 10:55:41 GMT -5
I have used a needle valve attached to a garden hose. I never have to make more than one trip to lowes for plumbing because I dry fit the entire fixture I am building in the isle before I pay for it.
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petrox
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2010
Posts: 10
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Post by petrox on Jul 29, 2010 14:39:48 GMT -5
I used to use a nice fluffy sponge with my expandable drum sanders, sitting in the pan (with plenty of water in it) and the drums would run across the surface of the sponge, the sponge was too heavy to get sucked up and it kept the wheels nice and wet all the time, that was real hillbilly ingenuity at the time!
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