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Post by rockpickerforever on May 13, 2013 22:09:01 GMT -5
We picked this up at the BBQ and silent auction of another club on Saturday. It was had for only $30, the minimum, the only and the winning bid! The sign on it said it ran, but I guess nobody wanted to take a chance on it. It was labeled as a "vibralap" but I think more correctly it is a reciprocating vibralap, or "rociprolap." It slowly rotates as it shakes.
Got it home and plugged it in, it works! No info plate that I could see on the motor, but I went looking online, and it appears that these came with a 1/3 HP motor.
From what I saw, Covington makes these now.
Patent pending - must mean this one has been around for awhile.
This sucker is solid cast iron, and is pretty heavy. When we loaded/unloaded it, we picked it up by the upper plate, not knowing that it is removeable - DOH! Thankfully, it was slightly stuck, and didn't come off until we worked at it a little bit. We found a YouTube video of a guy polishing "bricks" of glass, and we learned a lot about them and how to use them (and to clean the old grit out between changes!).
The condition of the plate may have turned some people off. It was obviously left out in the weather for a time. We're going to hit it with an orbital sander, and knock off any high spots. And pits shouldn't matter, in fact, they will help hold grit. If it needs more than that, maybe we can put it on the Bridgeport and hit it with a flycutter. Probably won't come to that, though. I saw online you can get new plates for these, but pretty pricey $465 is one price I saw!
I'll probably be getting with John (JSGems) and getting some new nylon ball bearings, that the plate floats on. I seriously doubt we'll get carried away and clean it up and paint it. I'd feel bad using it, getting it all dirty!
Thanks for looking. Oh, and I picked up a bunch of rocks and slabs, there, too. Ziplock bags, a couple 5 gal buckets, maybe about 70 lbs worth. Still have to take some photos. Waaaayy to hot today, should be cooler in a few. Jean
EDITED to fix photos, not too good a job, but you get the idea. Will try to fix them better when I gotz more time! My RockShow account has someone else's stuff added
RE-EDIT Fixed it with Flickr, giving up on Rock Show for the time being.
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riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,058
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Post by riverbendlapidary on May 13, 2013 22:46:10 GMT -5
What a steal! Those were the best laps ever made. I bet the plate will work just fine as-is. I wouldn't even worry about the rust - the first grind stage will take care of that. One of my plates looks like the surface of the moon and still puts a mirror finish on agate.
FYI - you can get the bearings in bulk from mcmaster carr for cheap - this machine will eat them fairly quick.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
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Post by jamesp on May 14, 2013 7:08:21 GMT -5
That looks like something from Brick sht house USA.I love that machine.Could be used as yard art when not in use.Looks heavy too.20 inches!!
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Post by roy on May 14, 2013 9:06:37 GMT -5
nice one !
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 14, 2013 10:59:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, riverbend. I'll look into McMaster Carr for the nylon bearings. At least the previous owner did have the bearings removed, and in a plastic bag, all the time it was sitting. I have a question - this machine only has three wells for the bearings, not six like the new Covington one (which takes 12 bearings). So does this machine also take two ball bearings per well, for a total of six? And we'll have to make a rubber bumper for it as well.
And as far as the condition of the plate, I had that same thought - that the first coarse grind would probably take care of the rust. I'll just use some heavier chunks, not thin, lightweight slabs the first time around.
James, I kind of think that's what this was - yard art! And it is definitely made the old school way - heavy duty. I think I read somewhere that it is 150 lbs. My husband had help getting it up into the Ranger, but the two of us took it out when we got home. Good thing I'm a big girl with some strength, and not some weakling, anorexic beauty queen. In a way, it would have been nice to take the table off, would have made it easier to lift as two pieces. But you live and learn... Jean
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riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,058
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Post by riverbendlapidary on May 14, 2013 12:21:07 GMT -5
yep 2 per each well. make sure the steel washer in the bottom of each well is flat and not worn. they get wallowed out after a while ad will start to eat bearings fast. you can flip them over to get more use out of them. use a couple drops of 30wt oil in each well.
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 14, 2013 12:54:04 GMT -5
Thanks again, riverbend. I'll check the condition of the steel plates next time I take that gull-darned heavy plate off, and get some new ones if needed. Offhand, do you happen to know the diameter of the nylon bearings? It looks like I want the "wear resistant nylon ones", right? I saw them on the McMaster-Carr website, but wasn't sure which ones I need. They have so many different types of plastic ones. I'll go ahead and get 25 or 50 of them, whatever the amount they sell is. At that price, I can't go wrong buying in bulk. Jean
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on May 14, 2013 22:57:22 GMT -5
Looking at the pics. makes the word "robust" seem a little pale. Please update on how well it works.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
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Post by jamesp on May 14, 2013 23:00:09 GMT -5
I think it found a special home.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2013 11:44:56 GMT -5
Jim is correct (as always). This machine did indeed find the right owner. If machines could love, you'd get a hub and a kiss every day!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
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Post by jamesp on May 16, 2013 11:54:14 GMT -5
Jim is correct(as always).Get the truth from dear wife.She says'you live in your own little world' or 'whatever you need to believe'.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2013 14:38:26 GMT -5
Jim, how many of your quotes should I put in my signature! lol
Jean, every cab you ever make will now have a super flat back surface.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 16, 2013 21:04:59 GMT -5
I bought a large bag of bearings from McMaster Carr and can make you a deal. Rose made the laps and retired and sold the castings to a guy that was Covington's accountant. He bought machine shop tools and learned a new trade. Eventually he sold off the Rociprolap and a powder coating business to Covington. They are probably the best vibe laps made and I think the original "patent pending" marks are still on. You can buy the double cups and convert it to more bearings if you want but it will work OK as is. You can redimple the pans at least once, maybe twice if not worn down too far. I have the info on them somewhere and will send it to you. I'll dig through what I have in the way of bearings, discs, foot pads etc. I'm not doing shows like I was and the stuff just sits unless someone happens to ask.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
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Post by jamesp on May 17, 2013 5:43:04 GMT -5
Keep posting the progress if you get started on that machine Jean.
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 20, 2013 10:04:38 GMT -5
John, let me know what you have to offer, and how much. For sure will need the nylon bearings, maybe the plates (haven't had a chance to look at them yet, but might pick some up for future use), and the polishing pad.
As for the "patent pending" it appears that it never was patented. We probably will redimple the pan, I don't know if it has ever been done to it or not.
I would be extremely grateful for any info on it you can send me. Thanks, John! Jean
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Post by johnjsgems on May 23, 2013 10:29:43 GMT -5
Jean, I found the literature and scanned it. PM me your e-mail and I'll send it on.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 23, 2013 10:38:51 GMT -5
By the way, the correct bearings are the 5/8" Wear Resistant Nylon #9613K26 $14.83 for 25 plus shipping and tax from McMaster Carr. I'll try to locate my stock today and see what I have. I know I have bearings, plates and leveling legs.
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 23, 2013 10:55:19 GMT -5
PM sent. And thanks for the info! Jean
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on May 26, 2013 12:33:49 GMT -5
Awesome. I even get excited seeing other people get good deals lol. It helps to have a mechanical knowledge at sales.........sometimes ill buy stuff I have no idea what it is but can tell by it's construction it might be worth something. Kinda like the like new nordic juicer that I bought for $5. Had no idea what it was. Auctioneer said and there went the deal of the day as I walked away with it. Went home later and found out it was a 2k machine. Nice.
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on May 26, 2013 12:35:09 GMT -5
BTW Mcmastercarr is awesome. Sometimes I wish I never found that site.
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