NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 9, 2008 20:16:42 GMT -5
What is the best deal (money/quality wise) on a medium sized rock tumbler, that I could get?  |
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Dec 9, 2008 23:12:13 GMT -5
Look in the homebuilt section. They are really easy to build and cheap. A homebuilt is generaly way more solidly built than anything you can buy. Might want to buy rubber barrels though as the PVC pipe that most homebuilts use can be loud.
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1rockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 286
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Post by 1rockhound on Dec 10, 2008 0:26:15 GMT -5
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Post by connrock on Dec 10, 2008 7:15:14 GMT -5
Better check the rpm's on the motor of the Ebay tumbler.Rock tumbling is 1750 and brass,metal tumbling is twice that speed.
The only way I know of saving a few bucks on any lapidary equipment is to shop the web to find the best deals.
connrock
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fisherman510
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by fisherman510 on Dec 10, 2008 7:38:44 GMT -5
That doesn't seem to be a bad deal. A new one from The Rock Shed is $182.00 plus shipping, probable about $80. more, but you get a new machine with warrant and you are dealing with good people.
Bob
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 10, 2008 10:03:58 GMT -5
That's a reasonably good price on a Model B. I've been watching them and they regularly go for $85-$95 bucks (used) with another $20-$30 for shipping.
New ones on eBay can be had for $178 plus shipping. I'd rather spend the extra $4 and buy from The Rock Shed.
Chuck
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 10, 2008 10:33:52 GMT -5
Check with Lock, Stock,Barrel or Cabellas. They generally sell the B model at or near dealer cost. Last time I checked they were in the $150-$160 range.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 10, 2008 13:34:35 GMT -5
Lock, Stock, & Barrel had a hard time keeping them in stock. They have them now: $137.50, which is a really good price.
Chuck
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Post by connrock on Dec 10, 2008 14:41:16 GMT -5
I would think with a name like "Lock,Stock and Barrel" that the motor was the high speed for tumbling cartridge cases.
connrock
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 10, 2008 22:10:11 GMT -5
Thanks all!
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
Posts: 91
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Post by 1Mark on Dec 11, 2008 0:02:09 GMT -5
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Post by Michael John on Dec 11, 2008 1:38:41 GMT -5
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that you should consider a vibe tumbler. They consistently save you a LOT of cash compared to a rotary ...
* It takes 1/4 the time to finish stones in a vibe. That means 1/4 the electricity per pound of material ... and motors running 24/7 DO use considerable electricity.
* Since it finishes in 1/4 the time, that means that it produces 4x the amount of finished rock in the same amount of time as a rotary. If you're selling your tumbled material, that equates to 4x as much income.
* A vibe uses much less grit, and grit's not cheap.
So, if you REALLY want a DEAL, a vibe is the way to go. Compared to a rotary, if you're selling your tumbled material, a vibe can easily pay for itself within the first two months.
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 11, 2008 6:43:11 GMT -5
Don't buy the Cabela's UV-10 vibe ($129), it's the wrong model (standard, dry polish only- instead of industrial, wet/ dry polish).
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 11, 2008 7:19:39 GMT -5
I own both a rotary and a vibe. A lot of us with vibes use a rotary for the coarse grind because it does a better job of rounding stones and makes later stages in the vibe easier. Vibes take a lot more oversight, too, whereas I can just let the rotary run.
Chuck
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Post by Michael John on Dec 11, 2008 13:09:35 GMT -5
But northshorerocks asked about a "deal". A vibe is a much better deal. If you combine a vibe with the other great deal for Rock Phreaks .... a WorkForce saw ... you can round-off your jagged rough a bit before you put it in the vibe, plus have the ability to make small slabs and make preforms to put in your vibe. A good example of why these are a deal ... for under $300 invested, these two pieces of equipment could allow you to be producing 500 pendants every two weeks (that's 1000 a month). Even if you sell them for only $3 each, that's $3000 a month! That's either one helluva side job or, for many people, that's better primary income than they've been able to earn in a LONG time in today's economy.
The on-going costs incurred to do this would be minimal:
* electricity to run the vibe tumbler
* grit
* bells and epoxy
* If you hound your own rock, then you have the cost of gas as opposed to the greater cost of buying rough or slabs
* If you wanted to increase the income from the pendants, you could sort-out the nicest 5% or 10% of the pendants and wire wrap them, in which case you'd have to buy some hand tools and wire. The decision on whether to do this or not just depends if you have the time, patience, and ability to do it within a timeframe that makes it worth doing. For instance, if you can wrap a pendant an hour and sell each one for $20, it's worth doing.
I'm not saying that rotary tumblers don't have their uses, I'm just saying that a vibe is a better deal, and that a vibe is probably a better choice if it's going to be your ONLY tumbler, especially if you have (or intend to buy) a WorkForce (or other) saw ... which is pretty much a "given".
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 11, 2008 14:44:56 GMT -5
I appreciate the wide and varied opinions guys and gals!
To this point I have only collected Lakers. But, after reading all these forums and checking out the photos, I obviously have been tossing a lot of other good stuff I find in the field. I know for sure that I've been ignoring rose & smokey quartz, jasper, various chalcedony, etc. There certainly is more of the other stuff than agates.
My goal this Winter was to polish most of the Lakers (about 60lbs) and learn more about recognizing other good stuff.
I wasn't planning on cabbing, but you definitely have me considering it. I was leaning toward a QT12 with a couple of 6lb barrels to go with the 12lb barrel. What do you think?
After reading about how most people handle the Lakers, I don't even have enough time to finish the stock I have this Winter. So... I have a plan! Tell me I have to have both, so I can bring the wife here and show her what the experts said I MUST get!!! LOL! ;D ;D ;D
Thanks again
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 11, 2008 16:39:50 GMT -5
Yes, you really need both!
I doubt if you'll really need the 6 lb barrels, at least not until you get smaller loads of material with a different hardness. Most of the stuff you mentioned can be tumbled together. The bigger the barrels, the better. The rough grind can take weeks to over a month; the more you can process, the better.
Tom (connrock): Lock, Stock, & Barrel sells both versions, high speed and normal.
Chuck
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Post by Michael John on Dec 11, 2008 19:22:20 GMT -5
If you really want a rotary tumbler, the best deal going is the Thumlers Model B at Lock, Stock, & Barrel for $137.50 plus shipping. It'll tumble 15 pounds, and it's one heavy duty SOB. www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=TT140 |
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 716
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Post by docharber on Dec 12, 2008 14:44:04 GMT -5
I have to agree with Chuck. Ir's just too much work to saw off nubs. Blade wear is a factor, too, and blades are pricey. I have 3 rotary and 1 4lb Rayteck and soon will have a homemade gallon-size rotary finished, too, because I really like the job the rotary does on the rough grind. You'll find you recycle a lot of stones back to first or second stage and will use mnore coarse grit. When they're contoured right, continue the vibe. It will not effectively round stones. But, the vibes are fast and use a fraction of the grit. they're noisy, so put it in the garage. you do hjave to check the water level as the stones will not process if the slurry gets too thick. i check mine daily and they seem OK with that, , but it's true they need way more attention. one other thing- use a dedicated bowl for polishing. I've found that to be very good practice.
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