artifacto
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2022
Posts: 3
|
Post by artifacto on Nov 4, 2022 18:12:47 GMT -5
I've been shopping around for a vibratory tumbler to polish cabs and preforms, the ones first on my list are unavailable or having some quality control problems. Thumler uv 10 and lot o.
The rock shed and Kingsley both reccomended the diamond pacific mini sonic. Seems reliable and popular. I noticed people saying they can become jammed if a stone is the wrong shape or too big.
I'm wondering what shape/size of stone will cause the jamming problems in the dp minisonic mt 4, and likewise if the mt 10 with an 8lb hopper may work better.
Other disadvantages to this tumbler?
It seems small, and read here from another user they typically only run a couple pounds of stone to prevent jamming. How many cabs could I expect to finish in a batch?
Any other Reccomendations for 4 to 10 lb vibratory tumblers?
I've also looked into the raytech tumble vibes and gyroc a bit.
Thank you in advance for reccomendations, tips, and insights.
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,033
|
Post by rockbrain on Nov 4, 2022 19:27:55 GMT -5
I've only had my mt4 for a short time but so far I love it. I've only run a few loads and only on polish but I've not had any issue getting good action and haven't had a jam yet. I was surprised how much material fits in the tub and it doesn't seem to be real critical as to how full it is. I had a pretty decent polish happening after 1 day. I've use too little water, the polish was sticky and hard to rinse off. They still polished and got good action. I've used more water, still get good action. I'm actually amused by the Lot-O. I always thought it looked like something from the 60's that would have an ad in a comic book next to the sea monkeys! I think it's crazy how you have to get that dowel just right and secure the whole thing to a foundation and don't forget your rubber bands! I'm also impressed by the quietness of the MT4. It's sitting right beside a rotary and the rocks in the barrel of the rotary are louder.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 4, 2022 20:23:58 GMT -5
The choice is one of learning to use whichever machine you have. I have several of the small gyrocs, a raytech vibe 5 and an old minisonic. All are totally useful machines, even tho occasionally looked down upon by folks. They all process a lot of rocks in typical loas and can accommodate moderately sized stones in a mixed load. Vibes are like potato chips, one is not enough once you start. The raytech is the best value on the market in my view.
|
|
jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
|
Post by jimmie on Nov 5, 2022 5:58:13 GMT -5
I have a lot-o and thumler 10lb vib. The thumler works fine, it’s also noisy. The noise doesn’t bother me, it’s in my shop so no problem. If you were doing cabs it would take 6 days to go from 120 to polish, it’s pretty quick and works good. I bought mine for bigger lot-o clogging rocks. It does eat more grit, but you’d be satisfied with it. I stopped using ceramic media in it, wasn’t satisfied with the performance. They get “flat sided” and stick to the bowl , hindering tumbling. Good luck in your search, I recommend both vibes.
|
|
artifacto
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2022
Posts: 3
|
Post by artifacto on Nov 5, 2022 17:03:09 GMT -5
Thank you everyone! I went ahead and ordered the mt 4 to try out and get started. Seems reliable and I've seen some members post good results with it.
There was/is what looks to be an older raytech 10 locally for $75 in Thomasville pa that I was considering but likely to need a new motor sooner then later, and bowl looks to have some good wear on the inside. Anita and Kevin Meyers have it listed on Fb if anyone else sees this and is interested. I think I'll hold out for restock on thumler uv 10 if I decide I want a larger vibe. Kind of want a little rotary to play with too for my scrap pieces of rock. I can see I'm going to get into this lol.
|
|
vickster
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2022
Posts: 13
|
Post by vickster on Nov 8, 2022 18:25:16 GMT -5
I bought a Ray-Tech and then purchased Thumbler’s mini bowl and I’m using that on the Ray-Tech base. The combo works great. The Ray-Tech bowl was less than satisfactory but using Thumbler’s works great. I purchased two Thumbler’s mini bowls from Kingsley North but I see they list them as out of stock now. Glad I moved fast. The stones are coming super shiny.
|
|
billy1
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2022
Posts: 8
|
Post by billy1 on Nov 10, 2022 17:51:42 GMT -5
I also made the decision to purchase a vibratory tumbler. I have been waiting for a lot o but gave up today and ordered a, Diamond Pacific Mini-Sonic Vibratory Tumblers. I even had trouble finding a source. Diamond Pacific has it on back order. I found one with SUVA Lapidary Supply. A little confusing on how to order because they show it as shipped from the vendor, Diamond Pacific! However, they claim to have some in stock if ordered as a RUSH. It is scheduled to arrive 11/17/2022. Per the SUVA web site it has not shipped yet. Just cross my finders and see what happens.
11/25/2022 - Update: I am still waiting for the tumbler. The "RUSH" order with SUVA did not work the way I understood it should. My order is now on a standby list, with many others. I also paid 4$ or so for some kind of package tracking. It has not added any value to my transaction with SUVA only another level of complexity. Needless to say I am a little put out with SUVA at this point. I will just keep waiting and see what happens. Hopefully the next update will be more positive.
12/11/2022 - Update: Still waiting!
12/29/2022 - The unit was delivered today. Really happy to get it. A tough process when the instructions or somewhat mixed. I will give it try starting tomorrow.
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,033
|
Post by rockbrain on Nov 10, 2022 19:52:27 GMT -5
Someone steered me to Minnesota Lapidary Shop. They had them in stock. Looks like the probably still do. Lot-o's too. I paid a premium for the in stock one. Also got a tumbler shaft that no one else had. The entire transaction was wonderful. The person that took my order was great and knew his stuff.
|
|
lapidarycentral
starting to spend too much on rocks
(Brian Rhode) LapidaryCentral.com - Fueling your Lapidary Addiction.
Member since August 2021
Posts: 218
|
Post by lapidarycentral on Nov 11, 2022 14:17:02 GMT -5
Have any of you worked with the minisonic and obsidian? Even on slow settings I seem to get a glaze effect. Trying to figure it out as I love the action of the machines, just not sure why they aren't polishing obsidian but the lot-o polishes the obsidian great.
|
|
quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,237
|
Post by quartzilla on Nov 11, 2022 18:06:20 GMT -5
Have any of you worked with the minisonic and obsidian? Even on slow settings I seem to get a glaze effect. Trying to figure it out as I love the action of the machines, just not sure why they aren't polishing obsidian but the lot-o polishes the obsidian great. I’ve only run a couple loads of obsidian so maybe others can chime in, but I will tell you what I noticed. I run stage 1,2,3 in rotary, 4 ( 1000 ao) and 5 (8000) ao in the mini sonic. I had similar results to yours doing one week runs in stage 2 and 3 and 48 hour runs in 4 and 5. I extended all the later runs in the next batch and got better results: 2 weeks in 2, 3 weeks in 3, and about 4 to 5 days each in stages 4 and 5. On the final polish I kept pulling 1 out and drying it off only to put it back in and run them longer. I think my next obsidian run I will extend the later stages even longer. The slurry was troublesome in all stages, seemed too watery so I kept adding cat litter and that seemed to help too.
|
|
lapidarycentral
starting to spend too much on rocks
(Brian Rhode) LapidaryCentral.com - Fueling your Lapidary Addiction.
Member since August 2021
Posts: 218
|
Post by lapidarycentral on Nov 18, 2022 20:29:30 GMT -5
Have any of you worked with the minisonic and obsidian? Even on slow settings I seem to get a glaze effect. Trying to figure it out as I love the action of the machines, just not sure why they aren't polishing obsidian but the lot-o polishes the obsidian great. I haven't personally but I just saw this playlist today of a girl polishing obsidian in the MT-4. Looked pretty frosted matte at first but turned out good. Yeah, this is about the results I got. The frosted look went away some, but the final polish was still not nearly as good and it still showed a hazy appearance under closer examination.
|
|
billy1
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2022
Posts: 8
|
Post by billy1 on Dec 5, 2022 14:12:42 GMT -5
Just got off the phone with Diamond Pacific concern the delay of their vibratory tumbler. As of today, 12/05/2023, I was told it would be at least two to three weeks addition before they would have units to ship. MT-4 Mini-Sonic Vibratory Tumbler. I placed my order through SUVA Lapidary for several items, including the MT-4 Mini-Sonic Vibratory Tumbler, about a month ago. I guess we should just hang tight.
|
|
lapidarycentral
starting to spend too much on rocks
(Brian Rhode) LapidaryCentral.com - Fueling your Lapidary Addiction.
Member since August 2021
Posts: 218
|
Post by lapidarycentral on Dec 8, 2022 23:34:51 GMT -5
I will have two used minisonics with 4 barrels available in the near future. They aren't working for our obsidian so we will be selling them. If you are open to used, shoot us a message and we will work something out for you.
Otherwise though, our minisonics did great with harder material. In that regard we loved them.
|
|