taryn
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Member since March 2016
Posts: 38
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Post by taryn on Mar 16, 2016 12:37:24 GMT -5
Hi everyone - I'm new :-) and I have some questions about low capacity vibrating tumblers. I have recently discovered preforms - which allow me to get a really great variety of materials at fairly low cost - and am trying to decide on a vibratory tumbler to polish them up since I don't want to mess with the shapes in my rotary. I am considering the 4lb Thumlers UV 10MB, but everything I've read says that it won't hold up to rocks and grit and that the 10lb industrial is the way to go. My problem is that polishing preforms is not going to be a business for me - we're talking small amounts no more than several times a year I would guess. So I see my tumbler being filled with a good amount of ceramic media along with several preforms at a time. For this reason, I'm wondering (hoping) the 4lb will get the job done?
Or perhaps I just go with the Lot-o? I know the Lot-o is 4.5lb capacity and about the same price as the 4lb Thumlers, but I have to admit I'm intimidated by the idea of fixing it to a concrete block... call me a wimp, it's okay.
Or is there another low capacity option out there that's worth looking at?
Also any thoughts on the idea of lots of ceramic with just a few preforms at a time as an effective approach are appreciated... It seems logical to me... ha. :-)
Lots of questions and a promise for lots more! Thanks for any insight!!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 16, 2016 12:49:13 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum I use the lot-o for tumbling cabs. The size is perfect and after running it non stop for over three years I have had zero issues with it. Mounting to the concrete block is just two sided tape that is already on the base. Paint the block and stick it on. Here is my most recent batch of cabs from the lot-o forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/73659/loto-tumble-cabsChuck
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 16, 2016 17:29:06 GMT -5
I use a UV-10 to polish cabs. Fill the tumbler to the top of the cone with ceramic pellets, then add a fist full of cabs. This ensures that the cabs contact ceramic pellets rather than banging off one another which may cause chips. The down side of this, you need to buy 10 lbs of ceramic pellets.
Darryl.
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meviva
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Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Mar 17, 2016 1:24:38 GMT -5
I have the UV 10MB. I love it. I believe it is an industrial version. On the rockshed website it says it's for rock whereas the light duty versions say "not for rock use". I rotary tumble the rough stage then do the remaining stages in the vibe.
Andrea
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taryn
starting to shine!
Member since March 2016
Posts: 38
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Post by taryn on Mar 17, 2016 11:21:20 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum I use the lot-o for tumbling cabs. The size is perfect and after running it non stop for over three years I have had zero issues with it. Mounting to the concrete block is just two sided tape that is already on the base. Paint the block and stick it on. Here is my most recent batch of cabs from the lot-o forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/73659/loto-tumble-cabsChuck For some reason I thought fixing to the concrete block was more involved. Thanks for explaining - may have made my choice easier! Beautiful cabs. I love that you got those out of the tumbler - fingers crossed I have the same luck!
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taryn
starting to shine!
Member since March 2016
Posts: 38
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Post by taryn on Mar 17, 2016 11:21:55 GMT -5
Fill the tumbler to the top of the cone with ceramic pellets, then add a fist full of cabs. This ensures that the cabs contact ceramic pellets rather than banging off one another which may cause chips. The down side of this, you need to buy 10 lbs of ceramic pellets. Darryl. Thank you for the tip!
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taryn
starting to shine!
Member since March 2016
Posts: 38
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Post by taryn on Mar 17, 2016 11:25:51 GMT -5
I have the UV 10MB. I love it. I believe it is an industrial version. On the rockshed website it says it's for rock whereas the light duty versions say "not for rock use". I rotary tumble the rough stage then do the remaining stages in the vibe. Andrea Thanks! I just realized they have separate listings for the 4lb - one for rocks and one for brass... Good to know you like yours.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 17, 2016 11:26:49 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum I use the lot-o for tumbling cabs. The size is perfect and after running it non stop for over three years I have had zero issues with it. Mounting to the concrete block is just two sided tape that is already on the base. Paint the block and stick it on. Here is my most recent batch of cabs from the lot-o forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/73659/loto-tumble-cabsChuck For some reason I thought fixing to the concrete block was more involved. Thanks for explaining - may have made my choice easier! Beautiful cabs. I love that you got those out of the tumbler - fingers crossed I have the same luck! Tumbling cabs only works on the solid stuff like agates and jaspers. Any mixed hardness cabs will turn out lumpy and undercut. I wanted my lot-o to be at standing height so I would not have to bend down all the time so I stacked concrete blocks to make it counter height. Most people do not go through all of that work and it is a luxury not a requirement. Chuck
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taryn
starting to shine!
Member since March 2016
Posts: 38
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Post by taryn on Mar 22, 2016 13:18:24 GMT -5
Did you affix the blocks to one another? Also, 2 other questions - I see that people often both paint their block and fill it in with cement. Do you know whether either of those steps is absolutely necessary?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 22, 2016 13:45:04 GMT -5
Did you affix the blocks to one another? Also, 2 other questions - I see that people often both paint their block and fill it in with cement. Do you know whether either of those steps is absolutely necessary? When only using a single cinder block it needs to be filled to get to the weight requirement. I did use a bead of silicone in between each of my 3 cinder blocks so that I could move it as one piece when needed and it makes it one solid heavy base. I also used a 4x8x16 solid cinder block on the top so my total height was around 28" I think the paint helps the two sided tape stick. Cinder blocks are chalky and rough so not tape friendly. Here is my solid cap I used on top www.lowes.com/pd_10335-44840-4023___?productId=3608974&pl=1&Ntt=cinder+blockChuck
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 22, 2016 13:50:10 GMT -5
I wanted to be able to bolt my lot-o down so I attached a painted piece of wood to the top block and then bolted the lot-o to that. Not necessary. This is an old photo but my current setup is similar. Easy to move around with a handcart. ![](http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/drummondislandrocks/workshop/DSC07650-r_zps2280759b.jpg) Chuck
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napoleonrags
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Member since October 2015
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Post by napoleonrags on Mar 22, 2016 20:56:14 GMT -5
I wanted to be able to bolt my lot-o down so I attached a painted piece of wood to the top block and then bolted the lot-o to that. Not necessary. This is an old photo but my current setup is similar. Easy to move around with a handcart. ![](http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/drummondislandrocks/workshop/DSC07650-r_zps2280759b.jpg) Chuck Man that looks just like my shop except everything is clean and well organized and well lit and not everything is on the floor and clean. I've seen your pic before aND am impressed. Let's see a new pic.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2016 19:18:33 GMT -5
I can get to my tumbler now! Chuck you amaze me.
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taryn
starting to shine!
Member since March 2016
Posts: 38
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Post by taryn on Mar 23, 2016 20:26:01 GMT -5
Thanks, Chuck! You've been really helpful!
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