jjdub
starting to shine!
Member since December 2013
Posts: 27
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Post by jjdub on Jan 3, 2014 0:11:31 GMT -5
Looking to invest in a vibratory tumbler to handle the latter stages of polishing. I'd like your input on any positives or drawbacks of the Lot O Tumbler and Thumlers Ultra Vibe models. Is their an advantage to either one? I'm currently running the following rotaries: Thumler B (15 lb), an old lortone 12 lb (or dual 6's), and a very noisy dual 3 lb Chicago Electric.
Just looking for other's experiences with either the Lot-O or Ultra Vibe.
Thanks in advance for the input.
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on Jan 3, 2014 0:52:15 GMT -5
Either are great but I own the thumlers uv10, and love it.
I can keep it fed with enough stone to fill it and love cranking out larger batches, and when I don't have enough to fill it I make it full with ceramic pellets.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 3, 2014 6:34:29 GMT -5
I run 30-36 pounds in rotaries in various barrels at all times and my single lot-o keeps up and there's never rocks waiting. Every Saturday I have been able to pull 3-4 pounds out that are ready to come out of 60-90 and those go in the loto for 1 day in 120/220, 2 days 500, 2 days 1000, 2 days polish then it all starts over. 3-4 pounds of polished rocks every week.
I am pretty picky though. If your not completely grinding out all pits and flaws in stage one then you would have more quantity ready sooner.
I have never owned any of the other vibe tumblers so I can't compare.
Chuck
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 3, 2014 6:47:34 GMT -5
I have a Lot-O and I love it. I haven't heard anything bad about either of them. I think it comes down to how much volume you need, as Chuck said. Personally, I prefer the Lot-O's smaller size for that reason.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 3, 2014 12:03:36 GMT -5
Don't rule out the GyRoc either. Just to add to the confusion. The Mini Sonics from Diamond Pacific are contenders as well. Pick a specific size and then narrow down the choices. Remember about 30% of load will be ceramic or other filler.
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on Jan 3, 2014 12:29:48 GMT -5
Another couple important (for me) factors were 1) cost and 2) complexity The UV10 runs $205 at therockshed.com and comes ready to use (assuming you have filler or ceramic already - you should probably have ceramic filler for any vibe regardless) The Lot-O costs $182 for a single 4.5# barrel, or $255 for the double (prices from therockshed.com). The deal-breaker for me on the Lot-O was that it must be mounted to a cinder block or other solid mass so it doesn't run away. It wasn't plug-and-play and for me that was enough to walk away from it. I actually got one for free and never used it because I just didn't have the materials to mount it and never got around to it (I was already running the UV10) on jsgemslapidary.com the gyrok model A runs $325 and as far as I know doesn't need any further mounting (I think it just plugs and runs like the UV10) - I don't know what the capacity of the A is, I think it is 10 or 12 pounds ( johnjsgems ?) - the model B runs $179 and holds 2.5# I've heard great things about the GyRok but have never owned one. Currently, at least on therockshed.com, the single lot-o is in stock but the UV10 and the double lot-o are out of stock. It looks like John has the GyRok in stock on jsgemslapidary.com as well. It is always advisable to get a second barrel dedicated for polish as well. A spare UV10 barrel is $54, spare Lot-o's are $46, and I can't find the spare cost for GyRok (I see a piggyback kit for $27 for the model B, the Model A would probably be twice that but John from JS Gems can say for sure) Confused yet?!
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grayfingers
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Post by grayfingers on Jan 3, 2014 13:34:22 GMT -5
I am another UV 10 fan. I like to have as many options as possible so in addition to the large bowl I have the optional 3 lb. bowl. This allows me to do larger or smaller batches, and having the large bowl is nice for larger stones/cabs.
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jjdub
starting to shine!
Member since December 2013
Posts: 27
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Post by jjdub on Jan 3, 2014 14:24:59 GMT -5
Thanks for all the input thus far. I will check out the GyRoc as well.
Follow up question for any/all of the above mentioned vibes. In regards to individual size of material, what is the largest piece of rock that you would recommend polishing in the vibe? I read the Lot O can handle anything that you can fit through the 2 1/4" opening. How about the UV 10 or GyRok?
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on Jan 3, 2014 14:33:31 GMT -5
On the UV, I've done large stones, up to baseball size, but I did get hung up once on a slab of turritella, it was too large in diameter and lodged itself sideways between the center cone and the edge of the bowl. That was pretty big though, probably 4" In diameter.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 3, 2014 15:23:42 GMT -5
I have to disagree with John (herchenx) about mounting the Lot-O. It's true that you can't use it the day it shows up on your doorstep, but it's neither expensive nor difficult to mount the Lot-O. A concrete block cost me one dollar at Home Depot. They also had a broken bag of Quickrete for half price. I put the concrete block on its side on a piece of scrap wood and filled the holes with concrete. I used another scrap of wood to smooth off the top. The next day I used some left over paint to paint the block and the next day I stuck on the Lot-O. It really wasn't a big deal at all. You'll also want to fill in the hole in the bottom of the lot-O barrel with epoxy. It only takes a couple minutes to do. I used a stick to move the epoxy to the bottom of the Lot-O.
I'm not saying that the UV is a bad tumbler. I've heard nothing but good about them. I just don't think that mounting the Lot-O is a big deal at all.
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on Jan 3, 2014 15:27:51 GMT -5
I think I miscommunicated, I did not intend to say it was difficult, I am just very lazy.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 3, 2014 15:45:53 GMT -5
Oh, ok. You might be lazy. I can't disagree with your assessment of that!
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Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 3, 2014 17:08:22 GMT -5
I've been running a UV-10 for about 4 years now. It's reliable and I have no complaints.
Have a look at the cost of replacement bowls. It is a wear part that will require periodic replacement. I have to buy a UV-10 bowl every year, but I typically run my UV-10 constantly.
You should also have a dedicated bowl for POLISH ONLY. Buying the extra bowl at start up may be an unforeseen cost.
The cost of ceramic media may be a shocker. It is expensive, but lasts a long time. For some tumbles, you may want to have 25% to 50% of the bowl filled with ceramic media depending on what you are tumbling.
Darryl.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2014 19:45:34 GMT -5
Greetings [jjdub], firstly may i welcome you to RTH Forums from the other side of the pond! Let's see there are ten different makes & designs of vibratory tumblers worldwide. 1: Belt Inc's Lot-o 4.5lb barrel. 2: True Square's (Thumler's Tumblers) UVI 10, 18 & 45lb bowls. 3: Tagit Gy-Roc series (JS Gems Lapidary) 2.5, 10, 18 & 45lb bowls. 4: Raytech TV series 5 & 10lb & AV series 18, 25, 40 & 75lb bowls. 5: Diamond Pacific VT series (Viking Vibrasonic) 6, 14 & 35lb hoppers. Download their PDF catalog. 6: Diamond Pacific VSV Vibrasonic series 4, 10, 14 & 50lb hoppers. 7: Diamond Pacific MT Mini-Sonic series 4, 10 & 14lb hoppers. 8: Central Machinery (Harbor Freight) 5lb bowl, (metal). 9: Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight) 18lb bowl. 10: Homberg & Brusius Spirator 10lb & 66lb bowls. In terms of noise the Belt Lot-o is clearly the quietest, but it needs to be fitted to a concrete slab, the dual Lot-o, both barrels must be equally balanced or the machine will self-terminate, so if you only have enough rock to fill one barrel, fill the other with gravel of even weight, even if it's dry. Please check " Lot-O & UVI 10" for noise videos. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from this monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on Jan 3, 2014 19:50:13 GMT -5
Do Lot-O barrels wear out like UV10's?
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 3, 2014 20:10:30 GMT -5
My barrels show no sign of wear, but I don't use them continuously. I've had mine for almost two years and have done every batch in it. It would be nice to hear from someone with more experience.
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MrCoffee
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Member since December 2005
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Post by MrCoffee on Jan 3, 2014 23:57:59 GMT -5
Do Lot-O barrels wear out like UV10's? Hello, Herchenx. Well, I've had my Lot-O-Tumbler since around 2006, and it ran for two years, no wear on the barrel. I'm running it now with some Tampa Bay coral, and it's still going strong. If you want a little vibrator tumbler, CHEAP, then this is the deal. I was told by one rock shop, that people laugh at these tumblers, and the bricks you gotta buy for 'em. But after you stick it on that cement block, just put it on the carpet, load it, and plug it in! It'll get the job done. I tend to worry a bit more about the suspension, but so far not even that has given me a complaint. I like the MT-4 Minisonic better, but I can't do the larger stuff like I can with the Lot-O, because they just won't move as much, and Diamond Pacific recommends stones no larger than 2". It's GREAT for the smaller pebbles, though. Heck, you'd even think it can polish a piece of gravel.
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jjdub
starting to shine!
Member since December 2013
Posts: 27
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Post by jjdub on Feb 3, 2014 11:00:31 GMT -5
Although I was leaning towards a UV 10 due to the larger capacity, I stumbled across a barely used Lot-O-Tumbler for $60. "Barely used" meaning it only did 1 load of brass in the 6 months since it was purchased.
For those with experience with the Lot-O-Tumbler, any issues with the hole in the bottom of the barrel? I've seen discussions elsewhere on material getting stuck/crammed in there. If so, have you found a durable silicone or other product to plug that hole? I tried the advanced search on this site with no luck, so my apologies if this has already been discussed here.
EDIT: Nevermind - I found the posts/threads after changing my search terms.
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