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Post by phil on Apr 29, 2012 14:56:04 GMT -5
Hi. I've never vibe tumbled before, but use to rotary tumble years ago. Rotary takes too long so I want to switch to vibe. I'm looking to buy a vibe tumbler (and extra bowl) to polish up agates and also stabilised turquoise (separately). A local store has the Raytech 3.5 for $102, but I think maybe that's kinda high? Any suggestions on where to buy to get best pricing, and perhaps which type is best for small loads of 3 to 5 pounds. Also, which filler should I buy and which assortment of grits?
Thanks! Phil
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
Posts: 3,101
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Post by Thunder69 on Apr 29, 2012 19:32:21 GMT -5
Hey Phil...Try the Rockshed....I bought my UV-10 there ,extra bowls too...John
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Apr 29, 2012 23:42:43 GMT -5
Check out this thread: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tottumb&action=display&thread=52101If you are looking to handle loads that size, two choices are the Mini-Sonic or the Lot-O-Tumbler. Also, I think Gyroc has a 2.5lb model that let's you piggyback another 2.5 lb barrel on top of that. All three of those models I think are sold by "johnjsgems", member of this forum. You do need to know however that you cannot rough grind your rock in a vibratory tumbler. The coarsest grit abrasive you can use in a vibratory tumbler is 120/220. Unless you have very smooth rock in the first place, you really need to start it in 60/90 grit in a rotary tumbler. Contrary to the instructions that come with the tumblers, you usually have to do several runs using 60/90 before the rock are ready for the vibratory tumbler. I do agates mostly, and it usually takes 6 weeks or more before the rough is ready for the 120/220. From then on it's fast, but until then you usually still have to slug it out with a rotary tumbler. The "instruction for vibes..." thread at the top of the list will give all the details about the grit and polish etc.
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Post by talkingstones on Apr 30, 2012 20:29:13 GMT -5
Two and a half words... Rockshed, Lot-O.
Cathy
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Post by phil on May 1, 2012 14:51:32 GMT -5
Thanks Daniel, I intend on rough polishing into a cab shape on a 100 grit diamond wheel, then into the vibe.
John, Carol, 10-4. I guess a search on the net will find "rockshed"?
Thanks again!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 1, 2012 15:05:04 GMT -5
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jukerocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 154
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Post by jukerocks on May 1, 2012 15:41:55 GMT -5
Shawn Kuhnell at The Rockshed goes out of his way to help. Fast and affordable. Prices are better than most others. Highly recommend.
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Post by helens on May 1, 2012 19:30:49 GMT -5
DEFINITELY get the Lot-O if you are looking for a great polishing machine! But it will NOT shape your rocks, so what goes in is what comes out, slightly rounded and polished, but not shaped:).
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jean
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by jean on May 1, 2012 22:04:24 GMT -5
I agree with all the folks who said Rockshed. You can't go wrong there. I wore out a couple Raytech vibes years ago before I learned that you can't start with rough rocks in a vibe. The Home Depot tile saw is a great buy for beginners (like me) and you can slab and trim enuf to then go to the vibe. Enjoy.
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Post by phil on May 1, 2012 22:44:04 GMT -5
Thanks. Looks like he's out of stock on extra barels for the smaller unit... I'll keep watching.
Thanks again! Phil
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Post by phil on May 3, 2012 16:35:57 GMT -5
Another question.... looked at a thumler vibe unit today, it says for dry tumbling only.... is that the right kind of unit? Thanks, Phil
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on May 3, 2012 21:42:00 GMT -5
Hi Phil, I opted to go with a uv10 made by Thumler, bought from therockshed. Ditto to what everyone says about them.
The advantage the uv10 offers me is larger loads. I can still do small loads using ceramic as filler, but when I get 8 or so pounds I can do them all at once.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 4, 2012 7:49:10 GMT -5
The "dry polish" is the standard light duty model for metals. For rock you need the "Industrial" model.
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Post by phil on May 4, 2012 14:01:49 GMT -5
Thanks. That's the only unit they had. I'll keep looking. If I can't find one locally, I'll just have to wait till the rockshed gets some stuff back in stock. Unless you have some in stock John??? I need a spare bowl (I think I need one for grind, one for polish), filler, grit and polish too.
Thanks again! Phil
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on May 4, 2012 14:17:28 GMT -5
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Post by phil on May 4, 2012 22:03:38 GMT -5
Thanks fingers.... I need a spare bowl same time, need to hit the ground running. Will keep watching!
Phil
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Post by gingerkid on May 25, 2012 20:00:05 GMT -5
Hi, I've been looking at tumblers and feel like a fish out of water-what to buy? Thought at one time that maybe I could use a tumbler and share it with my hubby if he polishes brass for reloading, but, I read that's not a good idea, even though I think they use the "vibe" for brass reloads? Does anyone have the Diamond Pacific sonic tumbler? Found a couple of Rolling Stones tumblers, lol, and searched the forum for information pertaining to them but couldn't find anything. Has anyone ever used one? Is the "vibe" the best route to take for stones such as obsidian, agate, jasper and maybe opal? Also wanted one that would preferrably "shape" a stone or round it (hope that makes sense ) Looked at the rockshed site (which I love all their stuff!!) and looked at the tumblers and don't have any idea of what to look for. Looking forward to hearing your advices!! Thanks!!
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Post by NatureNut on May 25, 2012 20:38:17 GMT -5
Hi Ginge, I'd stay away from the Rollilng Stones tumbler, there are some threads about them somewhere on here. I don't know much about the Diamond Pacific Sonic Tumbler, so maybe someone here has some knowledge and advice for you on them.
The best way to go would be a rotary tumbler, Lortone is a brand that has been pretty reliable, to do the rough grind and round the stones. Then, if you want to finish stones faster, a vibe such as a Lot-o or Thumlers would be nice reliable ones to consider.
Vibe or Rotary, each is a little different. The rotary takes longer but, with plenty of cushion, tends to be a little more gentle, but can take months for one load. Vibe action is a little more aggressive, rolling the rocks faster, thus speeding up the process to about 2 weeks.
If you want your stones rounded, then I guess a rotary is a good one to start with.
Hard stones such as agate and jasper should do well in either. Don't know much about tumbling opal but I can tell you I just ran a piece of Boulder Opal and all the opal was ground out by the grit. I've seen Obsidian do real well in a rotary and I think I've seen others run it in a vibe. It can be a tiny bit tricky but those who get the knack of polishing Obsidian do a killer job. Ask Krystee (Tntmom) how she runs it, I'm sure she will share some tips and secrets.
Hope this at least helps. Great to see you here again! Jo
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Post by gr on May 25, 2012 20:52:34 GMT -5
Phil, steer clear of the Raytech - you won't like it. I had one (my first) and it died in less that a year
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Post by gingerkid on May 25, 2012 20:52:38 GMT -5
Hi, Jo, and thank you for a warm welcome and a wealth of information!! I think I need to save my pennies and maybe try to get one of each, and thanks for recommending the Lortone. Would it be best to tumble with a single or dual barrel on the Lortone? I hope I'm using the nomenclature for tumblers properly, or would a single barrel be okay and then use the Vibe? LOL, I wondered about the Rolling Stones tumbler and appreciate that you letting me know it's a no-go. Oh gosh, that's terrible that the boulder opal didn't cooperate with you while being tumbled. Boulder opal can be quite expensive, too. Thanks for suggesting asking Krystee, too, for tips. I downloaded a file Krystee wrote instructions for tumbling a couple of weeks ago. Thanks, Jo!!
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