andyiii
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2024
Posts: 21
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Post by andyiii on May 14, 2024 15:09:16 GMT -5
Hello folks,
I'm recently returning to rock hunting and tumbling, and to these forums!
Looking at gear, I'm seeing that some of the old stand-bys are gone or extremely hard to find (Lortone, Lot-O).
Does anyone know if the Raytech Tumble Vibe products are worthwhile? TV-5, TV-10, etc. They seem readily available on Amazon, etc.
Thanks for your help!
Andy
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Post by pebblesky on May 14, 2024 15:28:32 GMT -5
Welcome Andy!
I have a Raytech TV-5. It is cheap compared to the other vibe tumblers, and free shipping from Amazon. While I still don't like its noise, after I replaced its plastic bowl with a UV mini bowl (from rockshed.com), I am quite satisfied with its performance and have produced more polished batches than before. It is also relatively low maintenance (knocking the wood), and I know I can always get another Raytech TV-5 pretty easily if the current one retires.
For noise suppression, I notice if I load the bowl with slightly more water than recommended, the vibe is not only quieter, but also doing a slightly better polishing work. Cleaning afterwards also is a bit easier. Need to try more runs to verify that though.
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andyiii
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2024
Posts: 21
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Post by andyiii on May 14, 2024 15:48:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the quick reply!
I'm looking for the vibratory just as a final polisher, so it sounds like this could work!
As to the UV mini bowl, did it fit right on or did it need modification? Pictures look like it's hard rubber vice plastic, hence quieter?
Thanks again,
Andy
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Post by pebblesky on May 14, 2024 16:46:56 GMT -5
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on May 15, 2024 6:21:53 GMT -5
I use bubble mailers (Amazon) to insulate the lid. I push it over the center shaft, put lid on and tighten down the lid. Helps.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,179
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Post by rockbrain on May 15, 2024 9:07:52 GMT -5
Don't forget about the Diamond Pacific Mini Sonic. A solid contender. It's priced more like the Lot o with the MT4 coming in at just under $300 but it's simple, high quality, does a good job and is quiet. Typically it's quieter than my rotary.
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andyiii
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2024
Posts: 21
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Post by andyiii on May 15, 2024 9:42:26 GMT -5
Thanks for that info rockbrain! That MT-4 and MT-10 do look like very nice units, unfortunatley it looks like they have the same supply-chain issues as (seemingly) all the others. Even Diamond Pacific themselves list them as out of stock and make no mention of lead times.
Just have to be patient I guess!
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,179
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Post by rockbrain on May 15, 2024 15:02:06 GMT -5
andyiii Kingsley North, Rio Grande, Suva Lapidary, Johnson Brothers all show them in stock. Looks like prices have gone up a bit though. Minnesota Lapidary had them in stock when everyone else was out. It's where I bought mine. Great folks but you have to call them to check stock and order. You can't do it online.
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