ohthatspretty
starting to shine!
Member since March 2018
Posts: 28
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Post by ohthatspretty on Mar 14, 2018 18:16:00 GMT -5
So I'm stuggling a bit with my current vibratory tumbler.
I'm sure it's operator error. I am not really in the market for another vibe, but I am curious.....
What of the the two is a better performer, the Lot-O or the Thumbler's?
I like the design of the thumblers better. My biggest complaint with my current setup is that I can't reach my hand into the barrels. Kind of a pain if I just want to pull a stone or two to rinse and check.
Also, I saw the thumblers at Cabelas for $150. As long as it's the Ultra Vibe 10 that would be the same one purchased everywhere else correct?
Thanks for looking.
Josh
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Mar 14, 2018 19:20:10 GMT -5
The machine that cabela's sells is not for rocks. I purchased one from them a couple of months ago, only to unbox it and find a note from the manufacturer that said "This machine is not suitable for polishing rocks". Would have been nice if that had been mentioned on the website. Fortunately I had a buddy that wanted one for polishing brass cartridge cases. I don't have a lot-o or a thumlers, but recently got a lyman turbo twin that seems to be working out well. This is basically the same machine as the raytech tv-5, but the bowl as supplied isn't quite as well made. I'll be buying a tv-5 bowl to use on this vibe soon. If you want a thumler's, spend the extra few bucks at rock shed and get the industrial uv-10mb or uv-10, depending on the capacity you're looking for. BTW, I have no financial stake in the rock shed, just spend a lot of time bargain hunting on the web.
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Mar 14, 2018 19:22:42 GMT -5
You don't mention what brand of vibe you have, but you might find some useful info from checking out the post by Pizzano on the lyman turbo twin vibe.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Mar 14, 2018 19:59:23 GMT -5
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Mar 14, 2018 20:05:01 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out how use certain functions here. I've seen people post links, I'm just not sure how to do it. Thanks for picking up my slack.
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Post by gmitch067 on Mar 14, 2018 22:54:59 GMT -5
I have both Mini-Sonic-4 and UV10 & UV-18 vibs. For larger loads and rocks, I prefer the UV-18 over the UV-10. But both UV-18 and UV-10 are VERY noisy beasts. I can see the trouble you have with the MT-10 in reaching into the hopper to inspect some rocks... but wouldn't you have the same happen with the Lot-O? For quality of polish... It seems there are many members who are greatly impressed over the Lot-Os performance over the UV-10 or UV-18. I am still new to using the Mini-Sonic-4. I know that jamesp has realized some very positive results using his... but he is also experimenting with varying the speed of the unit and hit upon a magic number that allows him to kick-out some killer glass and obsidian. I am not sure if the Lot-O is better than the Mini-Sonic. Glenn
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ohthatspretty
starting to shine!
Member since March 2018
Posts: 28
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Post by ohthatspretty on Mar 15, 2018 4:45:13 GMT -5
Yes, I agree that the Lot-O would be just as hard as the MT-10 to get into.
When I first got my MT-10 used from eBay it was advertised as less than a year old. I thought I got it for a steal at $280. Not so much. Both hoppers were threadbare and BOTH broke through the bottom the first time I tried to tumble!! I had to order new hoppers. I got those in last week and have been experimenting with the slurry trying to get a good action and have been playing with final polish for the last two days, but the results have been less than encouraging.
I got the MT-10 mainly because i heard it was very quiet for a vibe. It is a little less noisy than the Lortone 3a that is running next to it. Once I get it dialed in, I'm sure it will be awesome.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 15, 2018 6:05:21 GMT -5
I've never used a Thumlers vibe, but I'm very, very happy with my Lot-O. Personally, I wouldn't want a tumbler as large as the Thumlers. The Lot-O holds 4.5 lbs. of rock and it's tough to keep it fed with two six-pound barrels and four three-pound barrels running around the clock. As for getting rocks out, they slowly circulate in the barrel, so it's not difficult to pick one off the top as it goes by.
As for which tumbles better, I can't say since I haven't used a Thumlers. I can say that some of the shiniest rock pictures posted here come from Lot-Os. I believe all the recent winners of the Worldwide tumbling competition have used Lot-Os.
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