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Post by Roller on Feb 25, 2010 23:32:48 GMT -5
Just bought a 6/12lb er lortone and was thinking about my next purchase of a vibe...in the future for shapes and polishing possibly ... was wondering if those uv 3"s are worth it or not as I have a 12lb barrel a 6lber and then was thinking of maybe using the 3 for polishing ...  hmmm would save me money I already spent too much !!!then getting a uv 10 ...but wait wherever I see the uv 3 listed I can see it is not a Thumler"s is it?and Is it decent? |
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 26, 2010 9:07:39 GMT -5
Tru-Square Metal Products makes the Thumler Tumblers including the UV-3, UV-10, UV-18 and a monsterours UV-45. Go to the manufacturer's site for information.
The UV-10 is a highly proven and touted as the workhorse of small vibratory tumblers. I don't think you will find any complaints about them other than the HDPE bowls wear out. Premature bowl wear can be due to human factors (too course grit, too much grit, too much water, tumbling driveway gravel, etc.) or due to goof old wear and tear. My first bowl only lasted a year, but my UV-10 never stopped in that year. 4,000 pendants later, I have no complaints.
The UV-3 is NEWER, but given the track record of Thumlers vibratory tiumblers, it will likely be around for many years.
Darryl.
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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 Feb 26, 2010 9:17:22 GMT -5
I've had a UV-10 for several months now and love it. I went with the UV-10 instead of the UV-3 I had initially started to get, because for only $45 more, you get a tub able to handle a bunch of rock and larger pieces like slabs etc. The UV-3 has a pretty tiny tub so unless you're tumbling small stuff it might not be suitable for all your needs. The negative side is the UV-10 handles so much rock that I find it hard to get enough stuff rough ground in the rotaries to keep it fed. It is a Thumblers product and is very well made....Mel
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 27, 2010 22:35:35 GMT -5
I recommend the UV-10 also. I can't think of a practical use for a vibe that will only polish a handful of rocks, doesn't seem like it would be much fun but I always tend to over-do stuff anyhow.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 28, 2010 9:58:18 GMT -5
I won as a raffle prize one of the now discontinued 2.5 lb. Mini-Sonic vibes. I thought at the time I'd never use it and certainly would not have paid money for it. Turns out it is very handy for small loads, dry polishing cabs (I do a few at a time not several hundred like Randy), removing tarnish from silver, etc. I would think if the UV-3 is built like the UV10 Industrial it would be very handy. You would be limited to smaller (normal?) size cabs (only a few also).
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Post by Roller on Mar 8, 2010 19:35:46 GMT -5
Sorry guys (few more days and I wont be a newb anymore...  )lol ...but what exactly is DRY polishing ? or does that just mean polishing . |
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 8, 2010 20:58:28 GMT -5
Dry polishing is using polishing media designed for dry use. I mostly use a Diamond Pacific product called "Vibra-Dry" that you can reuse. Jewelry metals can be polished with various dry compounds also.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Mar 8, 2010 21:12:35 GMT -5
I guarantee you, you'll be just like me and find that a 3lb unit just won't be enough...
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 8, 2010 23:50:51 GMT -5
I have a UV-18 and had a very hard time feeding it until I built a 50lb. rotary. It's a great vibe, though.
Be aware that there is a definite learning curve to vibes, but you'll get there after a few runs. The two most important tips are to run your rocks damp (not with water at the bottom of the bowl like rotaries) and load it up to the top of the spindle.
Chuck
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Post by Roller on Mar 10, 2010 2:03:42 GMT -5
Thanks for all the input . I will take everything into consideration when the time comes .
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Post by Roller on Mar 10, 2010 10:05:39 GMT -5
I was taking a closer look at the uv-3"s and this is what I found . The uv-3 base is exactly the same as the non-industrial uv-10 . There is a shorter base with shorter springs . The uv-3 industrial bowls made for tumbling rock will fit the non-industrial uv-10 base .This makes me wonder if the quality of the uv-3 would be affected by the difference in action of the shorter base and springs. It might not be because the bowl is smaller but for the 45$ extra I would probably have to put my money on a sure thing . Once again I appreciate all the feedback and always welcome more .. Thanks for all you help . Greg
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Post by NatureNut on Mar 10, 2010 12:34:24 GMT -5
Greg, I hear ya, and you're really thinking, but, the whole base/spring length/size ratio and thickness of bowl is set for the amount of pounds the vibe has to move, plus the counter-balance is set for that too. You don't want over-aggressive action because your rocks will not gently roll over each other, but rather crash into, and over each other.
Maybe someone here has a better grip on whether it would work or not, but IMHO you're really taking a chance that you'll end up with alot of spare parts and be looking to do it the right way.
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Post by Roller on Mar 14, 2010 22:56:31 GMT -5
i gotchya jo and agree ..but that is how the uv-3 is sold nowadays ..basically just making a point .. and getting feedback but as of right now when the time comes i will probably get a uv-10 especially after seeing everyones reviews on it ...
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Post by Roller on Mar 16, 2010 15:36:16 GMT -5
just to add just incase someone reads over this one day in the future ... i read that both the uv-3 and uv-10 vibrates at 3000 VPM... At this time thumler"s doesnt have any information poset on there website on the uv-3 probably because it is brand new .. So maybe then there will be more information on it ..
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hmmm would save me money I already spent too much !!!then getting a uv 10 ...but wait wherever I see the uv 3 listed I can see it is not a Thumler"s is it?and Is it decent? 
)lol ...but what exactly is DRY polishing ? or does that just mean polishing .
