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Post by drocknut on Feb 7, 2009 13:27:19 GMT -5
Hi all, I'm new here and don't post much yet, maybe too busy looking for rocks...lol. Anyway, a friend gave me a large (don't know size off-hand) vibratory tumbler. It looks like the Diamond Pacific VT 35 but he didn't have an operating manual or any paperwork for it. He hadn't used it in 10 years or more so don't know how old it is for sure. Does anyone know anything about this type of tumbler. I can't seem to find any book for it even from Diamond Pacific as it is so old. Any suggestions?
Thanks
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Mudshark
fully equipped rock polisher
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,083
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Post by Mudshark on Feb 7, 2009 14:13:06 GMT -5
Hi Drocknut,welcome to the board!Vibes are great for the final stages of polishing.In the rough stage they will smooth the stones without changing the shape too much.Can you post a pic?Knowing the size of the machine will help in selecting grit amounts and rock capacity.Also vibes need constant attention so I only run mine while I'm home.They can run dry if you dont check on them every so often.But they are a lot of fun and really speed up the polishing.
Mike
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Post by drocknut on Feb 9, 2009 21:16:15 GMT -5
Thanks Mike. I am not home at the moment so don't have a pic to post. I'll try to get more details on the tumbler when I get back home.
I was hoping that I could run it while I'm not home as it makes a mind numbing humming noise and I don't have any way of putting it outside of my apartment. I thought it might be ok to run while I am out of town working but based on what you said it might not be a good idea. Oh well, maybe will have to wait to do anything with it.
Thanks again.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 9, 2009 22:33:50 GMT -5
Vibes must be checked at least three times a day, especially during the coarse stage so running it while out of town wouldn't work. Each time you check, you'll need to spray the rocks with a spray bottle full of water to keep the slurry from getting thick. Water keeps the rocks moving, and they must keep moving always to achieve a good final outcome.
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Post by drocknut on Mar 12, 2009 16:57:01 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 12, 2009 18:47:10 GMT -5
Looks lika a VT35 Vibra-Sonic now by Diamond Pacific. Page 60 in their catalog. You should be able to get info from them. Ask for Don or Kevin. 800-253-2954
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Post by drocknut on Mar 13, 2009 16:44:10 GMT -5
Thanks John, I'll check into that. I appreciate the information.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 14, 2009 0:18:09 GMT -5
By the way, that's a heavy duty commercial tumbler. I think DP relines the drums still but not sure. They sell adapter tops so you can use any combination of MiniSonic hoppers and the drive belts as well.
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Post by drocknut on Mar 14, 2009 15:21:05 GMT -5
Gee, John, seems the more I learn the less I know...lol. Sure is a lot to know about these types of tumblers. I did look in the online version of the DP catalog and it does look like the VT35. They have a listing of parts on the same page.
I thought it might be a commercial tumbler but wasn't sure until you mentioned it.
What does "reline" the drums mean?
I thought about getting rid of this one in favor of a rotary tumbler but don't have the money right now to buy even a small tumbler. Maybe later.
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Mar 16, 2009 10:32:07 GMT -5
Keep the vibe for later stages of grinding and polishing. I use rotaries only for the 60/90 grit stage of rough shaping. The rest is done in vibratory polishers. Speeds up the process and I get consistently good results.
And you've got a commercial grade vibe to boot!
BTW John, BikerRandy, and others on this board got me straightened out on how to use the vibes. This community here has a great deal of knowledge and are happy to share. You just have to ask!
Rick
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 16, 2009 10:46:55 GMT -5
The metal hopper should have a molded liner inside. When it wear out it can be replaced with a new liner. Because the top is smaller it is poured in some how. They make the Mini-sonic hoppers in Barstow so I assume they can pour new liners as well. The really old ones were called Viking Tumblers. Diamond Pacific bought out Geo-Sonics which might be the same company that made yours or else they combined products from the two companies. The Mini-Sonic hoppers look like the liners (only thicker) for yours without the metal outside. If you saw he price of yours in DP catalog you will see you have a nic tumbler. If you go to Woodward Ranch all of his flat freeform cabs are finished in a tumbler just like yours.
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Post by drocknut on Mar 18, 2009 12:04:47 GMT -5
John, can I use the tumbler without a liner? Sounds like not but thought I'd ask anyway. I may just have to put use of it on hold until I can get money and time to watch it.
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Post by drocknut on Mar 28, 2009 13:57:25 GMT -5
Does anyone know if I can use a vibratory tumbler without a liner? Would it cause damage to the bin?
Thanka
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Post by Michael John on Mar 28, 2009 15:40:38 GMT -5
I doubt it would damage the metal, but it seems to me that the metal would damage the rocks. It would definately make one HELLUVA racket, too.
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Post by drocknut on Mar 28, 2009 15:47:05 GMT -5
I have run it once but the hum drove me nuts so had to shut it off. It didn't make too much of a racket such as you would hear from a regular tumbler if that's what you mean. Just made a hum.
Thanks for the reply
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Mar 28, 2009 17:05:00 GMT -5
You might want to check around in your area and try to find someone that does spray on truck bed liners. They mix the material (2) part and spray until the gun is empty. A couple coats in there might do the trick ! If it is tough enough to stand up to a load of bouncing cinder blocks I suspect it will take a little bumping and sliding from a couple pounds of pebbles !
Harley
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 28, 2009 20:02:38 GMT -5
Look inside the hopper. It may be lined already. And it isn't a "couple of pounds of pebbles" it is 35 pounds. That is a serious tumbler.
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Post by drocknut on Mar 31, 2009 16:08:55 GMT -5
I haven't looked inside yet but will do so now that you mention it John. I guess I was having a goofy moment when I didn't even think to look first. By the way will the liner generally be the same color as the outside of the hopper or will it look different? How do I tell? May be a silly question but there it is...lol.
Thanks Harley, it may be an option but I'm thinking those guys might not want to deal with something so small since they are used to doing truck beds.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Mar 31, 2009 16:18:00 GMT -5
You needn't worry about the size, those guy's just keep spraying until the gun is empty. Shooting a half cupful in a container every day or two until it's built up enough wouldn't bother them a bit.
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Post by snowdog on Mar 31, 2009 17:19:49 GMT -5
it will have a rubber/molded plastic liner that is prob blue or red -- totally different color than the metal ( about 1/2" thick) -- I've never seen one of these wear out unless they used too course a grit in them -- I have some of the 50# ones and have only wore out one in @ 50 years ---- so don't worry much about having it relined if you turn it upside down you will see two "counter weights" on the shaft --you can loosen them with an allen wrench -- this adjustment will make more viberation or less -- if your rocks are really "crashing " together then you may want ot back it off some ( less viberation is less noisy) another thing I always do is add ceramic pellets to cushion the load ( if you only have all big rocks then they will still "crash" together)--- be careful of the pellets you buy as the grey ones usually have grit inbeded in them -- pure "white ones are clean and can be used in the polish cycle -- ask when you buy them I don't start any grit courser than 220 ---- anything rougher I pre grind on a wheel or put in a rotory first --------- ;D ;D if you want to get rid of this "monster" just let me know!!  |
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