unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 6, 2011 13:14:14 GMT -5
The journey continues... I would again like to offer my thanks for all of the valuable feedback that you all have provided in my preceding threads.
This will be the selection phase that with all of your help I will choose the players for Unclestu's dream team.
THE ROTARY CONTENDERS ARE: The thumler Model B or the Lortone QT66 THE VIBE CONTENDERS ARE: The LotO or the UV10
Please let me know what your choices are and if you can give some pros and cons to support you choice that would be VERY HELPFUL And of course if you think of a better combo please feel free to place an absentee ballot.
The drum roll has begun Again thanks for all of your valued input in helping me form UNCLESTU's TUMBLING DREAM TEAM ;D
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Post by 150FromFundy on Apr 6, 2011 15:43:20 GMT -5
Model B and UV-10
That`s the combo that works for me. But, I'm also partial to the colour red.
Model B - The Model B has thermal protection on the motor. If there is ever a 'barrel jam', your motor will not burn out. Not sure about the QT66.
UV-10 - This is the workhorse of small vibe tumblers. I have heard only praise from users. I have heard of some motor problems with the Loto, but perhaps this has now been resolved.
Darryl.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Apr 6, 2011 16:09:05 GMT -5
LotO motor problems were solved two years ago. Me, I'm partial to the Thumler B and the LotO.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 6, 2011 16:21:11 GMT -5
I have both the Thumlers AR-6 and the Model B. Other than a new belt from time to time, I've had no problems with them. Just normal cleanup and maintenance. I also have a UV-18. I've had it since the mid 90's. Other than having to change the threaded center rod from time to time, it's served me well. I finally have to buy new gaskets for it after all these years. Don
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Apr 6, 2011 17:16:02 GMT -5
Vibe...can't go wrong with the Lot-O....
my rotory is an old one from the late '50's i inherited, so I'm not up on the newer ones, I'll leave that recommendation to those with newer equipment....
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 6, 2011 18:33:05 GMT -5
I have both the Thumlers AR-6 and the Model B. Other than a new belt from time to time, I've had no problems with them. Just normal cleanup and maintenance. I also have a UV-18. I've had it since the mid 90's. Other than having to change the threaded center rod from time to time, it's served me well. I finally have to buy new gaskets for it after all these years. Don[/quote Hi Don, thanks for the reply. As this will be my only rotary if I choose to run with the model B do you think it would produce enough output to accommodate the appetite of UV-10? I was told by a dealer that the UV-10's capacity would be to large work in conjuction with either the QT66 (dual 6lb barrel) Lortone or the Model B. But than again he was trying to sell me a Lot O. What do you think?
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charles kuchar
spending too much on rocks
getting ready for the second coming
Member since November 2010
Posts: 300
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Post by charles kuchar on Apr 6, 2011 19:40:46 GMT -5
for first phase tumbling i have thumbler r-a2. it has two 3# barrels and a thumbler 12# tumbler. then from the tumblers i feed the result into a lot-O 4 1/2 pound vibe. the result pretty well balances out. sometimes i have rocks that won't fit into the vibe so i save them and then when i have enough stuff for the 12# tumbler i do the polishing phase on those rocks. hope i am not confusing you. i do like the vibe because it doesn't use much grit like the tumblers do. charlie
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 6, 2011 19:50:57 GMT -5
Lately, I've been going from start to finish in my model B with very good results. The reason being that I've been too lazy to sit down and order the new gaskets for my UV-18. When I've finished polishing a batch, I set aside any that I'm not happy with, and use them to top up my tumbler in the second stage. Done this way, I have more than enough to fill the UV-10.
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Apr 6, 2011 19:56:15 GMT -5
I have a lortone QT12 which is the same as a QT66 ( has a single 12 pound barrel instead of two 6 pound barrels). I plugged this one up back in june and it has been running continuously ever since. No problems there.
I have a uv-10 that I just use for the polishing stage. It works great for that and shines up in 3 days. I have had this same model years ago and then and now it works great.
So these two get my recommendation. I havent tried any of the others.
Word of caution: I bought some thumlers to re-sale when I had items in a store in LaGrange. The thumlers came with cheap looking clear belts. One was loose and stretched and this was new in the box. I tried to get the supplier to replace this new unused belt and they wouldnt, so I had to pay $3 for it. This kind of makes me think twice before I would order a thumler.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Apr 6, 2011 20:12:38 GMT -5
I use a QT-6 for my coarse grind and a UV-10 for all other stages. Both are great tumblers.
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Post by connrock on Apr 7, 2011 9:47:09 GMT -5
I think choosing which tumbler to have,or in this case want to buy, be it vibe or rotary,you also have to determine what size tumbler (s) fit your needs. If you have a lot of available rough at your disposal and are willing to spend the money for a lot of rough grit then a Model B is a great choice. If not then a smaller unit may be in order? Can you create enough rough rock to keep a large size vibe unit running? Will you self collect or buy/trade your rough? It all enters into the buying equation. I have 11 tumblers in all.Nine rotaries and 2 Lot-O's.I used to run them all but after I retired I found it impossible to keep up with the cost of running them. I also live in Connecticut where there is nothing for lapidary use to be found so I have to beg,borrow,trade and buy all of my rocks. My situation is just food for thought for you to consider in making choices in which size tumbles(s) to buy. As far as what brand of tumbler is better then an other,,,,it's VERY difficult to do as many of us here have had good and bad luck with all of them! That being said,,,I have 2 Model B's that give me absolutely no trouble, 7 Lortone's,from 1-1/2lb to 6lb that run like a clock and 2 Lot-O-Tumblers,1 of which has run for about 15 years now without any problems and the other is following in it's brothers footsteps! Does this answer your question? probably not,,,, but it is the best answer I can offer you. Good Luck with any decisions you make! By the way,,,,What's better,,,A Chevy or a Ford? LOL connrock
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 7, 2011 13:46:29 GMT -5
Just to toss a wrench in the works- For the Rotary the Model B is great- but the AR-12 has the ability to go from a single barrel 12 Lber to a 2 barrel 3 Lbers with just a change in the shaft position and the purchase of 2 additional 3 Lb barrels. The model B can do this but If I remember you have to purchase a new set of shafts, plus the barrels. If you need pictures of the AR-12 in both configurations just let me know- I'm due to do a grit recharge on mine this weekend and I can snap a couple blurry cellphone pictures real quick!
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playin4funami
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since March 2011
Posts: 87
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Post by playin4funami on Apr 7, 2011 16:26:19 GMT -5
I have never used a vibratory tumbler, I have seen them though, might be my next thing also after I complete my rotary tumbler build.might be nice to have a faster working unit around too, though it might spoil me from the rotary. I was gonna build a saw next,maybe,lol.
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Apr 7, 2011 17:27:59 GMT -5
Food for thought......comb ebay looking for older rotory tumblers....oyu can probably score a good deal on a used one....
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 8, 2011 11:24:57 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I want to thank you all for being so helpful and making, me, a lowly nube feel welcome. I am so grateful that I was able to find this forum you are all a great community of people. I am pleased to say with your help I have made my choices......I have decided to be team Thumler. I will be starting off with the big red Model B with the conversion kit to run dual 3x3lb barrels. I will be feeling the vibe with the UV 10.
I chose to go Thumler Model B because of the better warranty and absence of any real negative reviews. This beast looks as if it would run for ever and it has seemed that for some of you it has.
I chose the UV10 over the Lot O simply because the Lot O only comes with a 90 day warranty.
Now it is time for the painful part of extracting the money from the wallet.
For my next thread I will be seeking guidance with who has the best deal for these machines. Please look for my next thread titled "WHO HAS THE BEST DEAL IN BEDROCK"
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