zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Apr 20, 2010 2:30:35 GMT -5
I'm shopping for a vibe tumbler & second bowl. I've been looking at the 4.5 lb Lot-O & the 3 lb Gy-Roc. These 2 are in my price range. The Mini-vibe is a lot more $ for the tumbler & second bowl.
I'll use it for tumbling preform cabs, so probably just a fine grit & polish.
I'd love to hear what users of both machines have to say about them - good & bad.
Lynn
|
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Apr 20, 2010 8:16:36 GMT -5
I had both. I did sell the Lott-O when packing to move, but planned to get another. I have the Gy-Roc Model A, and the Model B (3lb). Actually the Model-B is a 9lb because it can stack 3 bowls.
Using a single bowl, even when setting the motor to the lower speed (a nice feature), I found the Gy-Roc to be a bit aggressive. I was worried about chip'ing and I kept almost 40% ceramic media. Along these lines, the Lott-O is always quieter, but the noisy Gy-Roc could get pretty quiet with a properly filled to the brim load and low-power. The high-power is noisy, but the Lott-O does not even have a high-power setting to compete, so it is hard to fault the noise.
The setup for Lott-O includes mounting it on a cement block, while the Gy-Roc will walk around if the feet are not weighted and/or restrained in some frame or contraption.
Having 3 bowls was nice for managing different stages and hardnesses, but it is nowhere as easy to open and inspect as the Lott-O. I could pop off the lid on the Lott-O (actually it tended to pop off by itself, which could be bad) and look inside at the motion and pull out a stone to wash and inspect.
Hands down, for monitoring the process, Lott-O is king. You can also include one larger stone in the load (I once did a 2.5" thunderegg) and you cant really do this in the donut shaped Gy-Roc bowl.
There is an annoying dimple in the bottom of the Lotto-O bowl that serves no purpose and is hard to clean. The Gy-Roc bowls rinse really well.
All in all they balance out. If you need the convenient inspection capability and don't mind only one bowl running at a time, go for the Lott-O.
|
|
ksk
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 69 
|
Post by ksk on Apr 20, 2010 9:15:03 GMT -5
I also looked at both and purchased the Lot-O. As mentioned, you can polish anything you can fit into the Lot-O. I use a lot of mixed size ceramic filler and always get great results. It's fairly quiet, I run mine with a rubber play mat under the concrete block. The little divot at the bottom is annoying, but I filled mine with two part plumbers putty (about $3.00 at Home Depot). It lasts about a year and then just put more in.
|
|
rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
|
Post by rockdewd on Apr 20, 2010 16:06:38 GMT -5
One way I have found to prevent vibes from walking around is to tack four paint stir sicks to the work table in a square and set the vibe in the middle.
|
|
JEFFD
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 242
|
Post by JEFFD on Apr 20, 2010 16:35:11 GMT -5
Lot-o It works, and it is easy to use.
I have turned out a couple of 5 gallon bucketts full of rocks and it is running right now.
I also do lots of preforms and get good results.
|
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Apr 23, 2010 6:41:07 GMT -5
I can't say anything about other vibes but I can say that the Lot-O-Tumbles is a real work horse.
I have 2 of them and have done just about everything with them.
Another point is that the frame is guaranteed for life and will be repaired or replaced free of charge.
The barrels are made of a rubber similar to the barrels of the Lortone rotary tumblers and seem to last forever.
They run fairly quiet if mounted per the instructions that they come with.
connrock
|
|
