uneekarts
starting to shine!
Member since December 2008
Posts: 42
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Post by uneekarts on Dec 19, 2009 23:01:34 GMT -5
Anyone have any experience or comments regarding this machine? www.gravescompany.com/Vib_Tumbler.htmFor less than $100, it looks like it could be a decent choice for a vibe. I did some more reading and thinking on the UV-10 and have decided I may have a harder time keeping it filled than I was thinking. SInce the UV-10 likes to be full, as I assume all vibes do, I may be better off to drop back to a 3 to 6 pounder. Ultimately I want to polish larger stone but if this model is a good value, I would buy one of these for some school kids I am planning to introduce to the hobby. Thanks for any comments. |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 20, 2009 7:06:50 GMT -5
I've never used the Graves model but have seen it at shows plus I've just purchased a UV-10. To me, the Graves unit appears to be much more cheaply and lightly built, especially the bowl that the rocks tumble in. I'd wonder about durability as one usually gets what one pays for. Admittedly the UV-10 takes a lot of rock to keep it full. I plan on using mine just for the last two tumbling stages and mainly just for the polish stage. I just accumulate prepolished stuff in a bin until I have enough to run a full load and the UV-10 industrial ( the model for rock tumbling) appears to be really well built with a very sturdy bowl that looks as if it would last forever. There is a UV-3 if you want smaller but for just a bit more cash you can get the 10. If I were you, I'd try to get a hands on look at the Graves and think about how much use the unit will get before making my decision. To me, it appeared the graves unit would need more frequent bowl replacement if exposed to the kind of usage I give my machines and that would of course drive up total cost ...Mel
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Post by 150FromFundy on Dec 21, 2009 22:18:53 GMT -5
Many will echo Mel on the UV-10. It is an expensive machine, but a mighty machine. Very solid and trouble free.
You will have to eventually replace the bowl from wear, but this will happen on any machine. You should count on a second bowl. One for grit. One for polish. They are also expensive at $50 to $60 each.
I have run my UV-10 24/7 for six months and only had to replace washers and gaskets. $2 parts if you can't improvise and make your own.
Darryl.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 21, 2009 23:28:32 GMT -5
Graves looks like a Raytech TV-5 to me.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 22, 2009 1:00:17 GMT -5
I looked up in last year's Graves catalog. Their "VT-6" had the TV-5 pictured (with TV-5 Raytech label). Your add shows exact same picture without the label. You'll find more info searching under Raytech TV 5. Raytech raised list price to $105.95 in October. The Tv-5 has about a 4 lb. capacity. The bowl is a hard thin plastic so separate bowl for polish would be a really good idea as the bowl scratches easily with grit. Bowls are pretty cheap, like under $30.
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uneekarts
starting to shine!
Member since December 2008
Posts: 42
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Post by uneekarts on Dec 22, 2009 2:45:10 GMT -5
Thanks all for the info and cross reference to raytech. I thought it looked like a raytech. Extra bowls are listed at $22.05 which means I could afford at least one maybe 2 more for polish phases. Or, at this price, I could actually afford 2 complete units so I could run multiple batches of smaller quantities of rock at one time, which may be desirable. What I'm actually thinking of is a decent size rotary for rough tumble, then one or two vibes for mid-grade grits and polish. That should have me producing a finished load of rocks at least once a month.Plus it would give me more diversity in what rocks get mixed into a tumble as I would like to work with both soft and hard rock. From what I have read it seems a good idea to separate the hard and soft stuff in the final stages. Then again, I may be just over thinking this thing as I have a tendency to do.  |
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Post by sandsman1 on Dec 22, 2009 3:47:13 GMT -5
What I'm actually thinking of is a decent size rotary for rough tumble
thats the way to go the rotary will shape rock better and faster the vibes are more for pre and polish and they do a great job at that -- and you wont wear out the bowls too fast on the vibes
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Dec 22, 2009 19:01:30 GMT -5
Based on my personal previous purchasing experience with Graves- I'd gladly pay 20% more to buy anything from anybody else, seriously, it was that bad.
If you do go with Graves, all I can say is good luck....
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 22, 2009 22:27:10 GMT -5
But how do you really feel?
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uneekarts
starting to shine!
Member since December 2008
Posts: 42
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Post by uneekarts on Dec 23, 2009 0:41:44 GMT -5
Based on my personal previous purchasing experience with Graves- I'd gladly pay 20% more to buy anything from anybody else, seriously, it was that bad. If you do go with Graves, all I can say is good luck.... That's what I was looking for. I was worried that the price might be too good to be true. Do you know if the Graves you bought was just a Raytech with the Graves name or what. The last thing I want to do is spend money on something that turns out to simply be an inferior product at a cheap price. I admit, I am a sucker for cheap so an honest comment from a previous owner is worthwhile advice. Feel free to PM if you want to keep it off the public boards. |
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 25, 2009 12:29:43 GMT -5
I can't give you an honest comparison because I've never tried the Raytech or the Graves, but honestly, I've had my UV-10 for more than 4 years and would never try to anything else, no reason to. I did wear out a bowl after more than 3 years of use, so to me, the extra cost of the UV-10 bowls are well worth the investment, not to mention the fact that this is a very well-built machine. The only advice that I can give you would be that anytime I purchase something, I want it to be the last one that I'll ever buy (unless I want two of them). I (and Mel, and a few others) made the right choice on this one.
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