rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Aug 29, 2008 21:43:21 GMT -5
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Post by Lady B on Aug 29, 2008 22:22:02 GMT -5
I'd be wary of purchasing that one, Ozzy, as it looks too much like the ones that are made for tumbling shot not rocks. The 10# vibes that are safe for rocks are a much sturdier machine.
And now I expect a member to come along and post how wonderful their vibe from Harbor Frieght is! ;D
If their vibe is like their rotaries - it will be difficult to get replacement parts and the system is likely to fail quickly - unless you just happen to be the lucky purchaser of the 11, 756th model to come off the production line. That one always seems to work! ;D ;D ;D
LB
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 29, 2008 23:14:47 GMT -5
Once upon a time their vibes said for dry tumbling only.
Now the do mention rocks, but I hear the barrel wears out in months. If you buy a new sturdy barrel, the motor will go in about a year.
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Aug 29, 2008 23:24:57 GMT -5
Lady Bea and Daniel...glad I asked, because I was on my way to HF tomorrow to get one...what do you guys recommend? I'm looking for a 10 lb or 15lb model.
Thanks again.
Ozzy
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Post by Lady B on Aug 30, 2008 9:19:36 GMT -5
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 30, 2008 13:57:43 GMT -5
Thumlers are build solid. Get the right color stripe to mean heavy-duty.
Vibra-sonic are great but higher dollar.
Used Gy-ROc can be a great bargan, but they can be a little agressive for polish, and the bowl wears kinda fast if you do a very course grind. I tried 46/70 and ruined my bowl in about 30 hours.
Polish batches are generally much smaller, so also consider a Lot-O to continually run polish and use the 10lb Thumlers to get stuff ready for polish.
Still might want a rotary for initial rough grind.
Hard to make one machine do everything well - but I have done batches start to finish in my LOt-O and in my two Gy-Roc.
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tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
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Post by tombodc on Aug 30, 2008 14:00:20 GMT -5
I guess it is my lack of experience but that sounds backwards Deb... I thought the vibratory ones were better for rough grit because they work so mach faster than a tumbler and that the rotary tumblers were better for polishing because they work slower... Do I have it backwards?
I am sorry for the newb question, lol. But, I was considering the vibratory for my next purchase just specifically so I could get through the rough grit faster...
Tom
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tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
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Post by tombodc on Aug 30, 2008 14:45:24 GMT -5
I was also reading that the "rough" grit for a vibratory is 120/220. Is that the same grit as used for medium grit in the tumblers or is there a different grit you are supposed to use for vibratory versus tumbers?
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 30, 2008 19:19:59 GMT -5
Tom - Yes backwards.
The vibes does not shape/round as much but they will quickly make the shape that is three smooth. SO if you have preforms, slabetts, or river tumbled rock, then the vibe is fastest.
If you need some rounding befor eyou begin to smoothand polish, it will take forever in a vibe. Many folks doe the course in a rotary then switch to a vibe.
The rotary may do the polish OK with a lot of plastic for cushion, but the vibe will do it faster. The rock make smaller and more rapid movement in the vibe so less chance of clanking together and chipping.
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tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
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Post by tombodc on Aug 30, 2008 19:40:46 GMT -5
Ahhh... I was hoping to use the vibe for rough so that the rocks I pick for leaves (Eileen's trees  will keep there shape... I was then hoping to polish them in the tumblers... I am starting to think that my tumbler purchase was hasty, lol. Now I am thinking that I needed the vibe from the git go  |
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 30, 2008 19:43:26 GMT -5
If you have found rocks that are about the right shape for leaves, then the vibe would have been best.
BUt just start in rotary with 120g instead og 60 and only go 2-3 days for the course grind. With this plan, the rotary will work OK.
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Aug 30, 2008 21:22:23 GMT -5
No vibe is made to use 60/90-the grit just falls to the bottom and will be hard on the container.I LOVE my Gy-Roc-the bowls are thin but tough.I've been using the same bowls for about 12 years.I did put a few scratches into my 150/220 bowl when I tried 60/90-dumb.Mike.
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 30, 2008 21:52:11 GMT -5
Mike, if the rocks are damp, it does not fall to the bottom. I wish it had. I ruined a new bowl running course grit.
FOrtunately Gy-Roc bowls cost less to replace than most other models.
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garrett
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 62
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Post by garrett on Aug 31, 2008 14:12:02 GMT -5
Rockwizz,
I'm sorry but I haven't had much luck with anything from Harbor Freight. I have the Thumler Ultra-vibe 18-I and it's great. The "I" is for industrial (or rocks), without the "I" it's a good machine for a reloading setup.
I also use the Lot-O-Tumblers and do a good job too but they're small, loud, and they shake the crap out of everything.
Nothing will thake the place of 6 or 8 weeks (or more) in a rotary with 46/70 but after that the I like the Thumler 18-I.
Garrett
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Aug 31, 2008 16:50:23 GMT -5
I have the ten-pound vibe from HFT. I use it exclusively for polish stage. The bowl needs to be removed and sealed VERY well before you use any liquids in it, I left mine alone for a week once and the bowl nuts worked loose...it started leaking, wallered out the hole at the bottom of the bowl and got polish all over the place. After removing the bowl, I pulled up the rubber disc on top of the base, then applied latex/silicone caulking to the underside and replaced it to cure. I then plugged the bottom of the bowl with a thick rubber plug I cut out by hand from 3/4" thick horse stall flooring(had it in the garage) and then used more latex/silicone caulking to fill the gaps on the very bottom. Then I drilled a hole in the rubber plug, making sure it slid over the threaded rod tightly. I placed a tiny o-ring at the bottom of the threaded rod, put the bowl back on, then another on the inside of the bowl BEFORE the rubber washer and flat washer. After cranking down the nuts nice and tight, it's been running for two days with nary a drop on the floor.  If the motor lasts, I foresee this vibe lasting a good long while. |
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Aug 31, 2008 18:35:24 GMT -5
Thanks everyone!! I think I'm better informed now.
ozzy
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will keep there shape... I was then hoping to polish them in the tumblers... I am starting to think that my tumbler purchase was hasty, lol. Now I am thinking that I needed the vibe from the git go 
