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Post by tortuga on Jul 29, 2010 10:41:18 GMT -5
I am preparing to pick up a vibe tumbler, and have a few questions:
1. Is capacity as critical as with rotaries? i.e. can I get a larger capacity vibe tumbler and run it with smaller capacities and still get acceptable tumbling action? Being able to run a larger bowl with smaller amounts will make one tumbler more versatile, rather than having to collect various sizes as with rotaries to maintain proper fill levels.
2. There are more respected brands of vibe tumblers than it seems with rotaries, which is making a decision difficult. I'll need some input on the following considerations:
- I understand they will be noisier than I am accustomed to with rubber rotary barrels, but which brand of vibe is generally quietest?
- IS there a brand that is considered tops? If more complex considerations exist between brands, I'd appreciate any input you can offer
- Is there a brand/model that is generally considered to be the most durable? I'd like to buy one and have it last as long as possible.
3. Price isn't necessarily an obstacle, as a higher priced one will just delay the purchase a bit longer... but what vibe is considered the best value of cost vs. performance?
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revco
starting to spend too much on rocks
Another Victim Of The Rockcycle
Member since February 2010
Posts: 162
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Post by revco on Jul 29, 2010 14:23:35 GMT -5
I'm not a vibe guy, myself, but I do know that you can use ceramics in a vibe to make up rock volume. I've been using ceramics in my rotaries for the last month and a half and they seem to hold up pretty well. I can imagine they'd hold up even better in a vibe.
As for your other questions, I'll defer to others who are more qualified to answer your other questions. For what it's worth, I've seriously eyeballed the Diamond Pacific and Thumler vibes. So far, though, I've stuck with rotaries mostly because I travel a fair amount and can't always be around to check on the vibe 2-3 times a day.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 29, 2010 18:55:53 GMT -5
Pretty much all vibes need to be full to work properly. I've only used Mini-Sonics but am very impressed with GyRoc units. I sold many Thumler's Industrial units and never a complaint although the bowls are made by another company now. I think Thumler's is the best of the "conventional" (motor with weight on shaft to cause vibration). Mini-Sonic works with an electromagnet so no motor or belts. GyRoc puts the weights at the bowl so motor runs balanced (and has two speeds by use of a two groove pulley). My minisonic is fairly loud but I've run it at shows in a box with a folded towel under it with no problem.
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on Jul 29, 2010 19:31:07 GMT -5
I've only had my Lot-O Vibe Tumbler since late Spring & love it. It is
fairly quiet - has a rubber barrel - & makes a quiet hum & chatter. As
someone already mentioned, vibes do need to be full to run effectively
and do need more attention than the rotaries, especially
in the first two stages. I began to use lots of ceramic media &
found that it is really necessary to avoid chipping & to get the grit into
the small and tight places.
So my vote would be with the Lot-O Vibe. I almost got the double one
and am glad I didn't, because it MUST be operated with both barrels full.
The larger vibe units ( UV-10) come highly recommended also, but they
have a huge 10# load, versus the Lot-O that has a 4.5# capacity.
Good luck.
Don
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Post by tortuga on Jul 29, 2010 19:58:01 GMT -5
John, does the minisonic have comparable run times to the traditional vibes? Considering the barrel has to be full, a 4-ish lb barrel would be ideal for me, and not really be too small with the short run-times. It's not like a rotary that's tied up for months on a single load. 4lbs would be plenty when you're talking less than a week.
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Post by deb193redux on Jul 29, 2010 21:11:23 GMT -5
my mini sonic has an intensity knob. this lets me run less full or more delicate. also, I can do shot only about 1/3 full. I like my Gy-Roc 3# and 10#, but they are noisy. I loved my Lot-O and would pick up a used one if given the change.
I have heard miore UV-10 users sing more praises, but I've never tried one. Friend had a RayTeck and it seemed not so good.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 29, 2010 22:56:17 GMT -5
I would guess as fast or possibly faster than some. The hoppers are really thick. The "speed control" is very handy. I have a 2.2 lb. KG-1 (no longer available) that was the no frills, non adjustable model. It beats fragile stones to death even with lots of ceramics. I picked up a 10 lb. model with one 10 lb hopper and 2 4 lb. hoppers. I have not used it except to mix rouge and walnut shell. I can see where I would have a problem filling the 10 lb. with cabs. I mostly use the KG-1 with Vibra Dry so can't say how it compares with other vibes.
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Jasper-hound
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 208
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Post by Jasper-hound on Aug 3, 2010 14:28:19 GMT -5
I bought a UV-10, planning to feed it from a 3lb and a 3+3lb rotary. Those little rotaries couldn't provide enough rough-prepped material for the UV-10, so I went on the lookout for a larger tumbler, which I found--a Diamond Pacific 12+12 industrial tumbler--on ebay for $225. Now I run the UV-10 about once per month, taking stones harvested out of the ongoing DP tumbler.
The UV-10 is going to be much louder than a rotary, FYI.
The tricky part is getting the grit/water/stone ratios correct, which seem to vary by load. What I have learned to do is to start the tumbler with the rocks in it, making sure they are good and wet but without a lot of water pooling at the bottom. And, yes, the tumbler needs to be well above half full or the stones will not work properly. It is best to have a range of sizes in the material being tumbled. I also throw a couple handfuls of rice hulls (available at local feed store) in with the material to help cushion. The rice hulls are incredibly cheap and I do not care if the go onto the ground when I wash the rocks, unlike plastic pellets. I sprinkle WAY less abrasive or polish onto the rocks than I think I need. Invariably, just a few teaspoons will be ample. Water must be added sparingly throughout the cycle, about every few hours. If you put in too much abrasive, it will form a thick, gummy sludge on the bottom and the rocks will move very slowly. Keep the rocks with a film of abrasive or polish on them--thats all you really need. And you can't really tell at the beginning. You have to run the tumbler for several hours before you really see an accurate idea of how the slurry is forming to coat the rocks. You can always add more grit/polish, but if you add too much at the outset, it will slow the rocks down, and you will have to wash it all out and start over. Anyway, that is my experience with the UV-10. I agree with those who have posted that you need a lot of rough to feed the UV-10. Again, I have a big rotary supplying the stones, which seem to take about 6 weeks minimum to get ready to harvest. Stones already smoothed from the beach take less time in the rotary. You can't put rough rocks into the vibe though. You need both types of tumblers.
craig
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turtlestu
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1
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Post by turtlestu on Aug 24, 2010 20:38:05 GMT -5
New and hoping to piggy back on this topic - If the noise from either tumbler is annoying at night would it hurt the process (other than causing the time to increase) to turn the tumbler off for the night [especially a vibe]?? Thanks for any inputs and allowing me to join the ddiscussion
Stu
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 24, 2010 21:00:48 GMT -5
My own experience was first with one I got from eBay called the "Berry's Blue" vibe - it worked well until the motor fried. Other than the motor, I didn't care for the bowl - it was made from a hard plastic, not very thick, and eventually it destroyed itself.
My second one was bought from one of the members of this forum. It's a "GemStone", which, as far as I can determine, is no longer in business. It's a large, robust machine, with a bowl similar to the Thumler's UV-10. It requires pretty much a full load to work properly.
If I could afford another one, I would probably buy the Thumler's UV-3. It's fairly new, and seems really robust, but uses about the same load as a 3# rotary would use - ideal for my needs. I know that the Rock Shed carries them.
Just thought I'd throw in my $.02 for an alternate opinion.
Tom
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