reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Feb 28, 2021 21:04:58 GMT -5
When they become available I think I am stepping up to a Thumler's UV-18 Industrial Vibe. I am opting for that size because I have a lot of bigger stones I want to tumble.
The pre-rounded river type rocks can go in the vibe direct. The chunky, crunchy ones will need to stage one in a rotary.
Clearly, my 2 little 3 pounders are not going to keep a UV-18 fed. Heck, my Christmas Madagascar mix are still doing stage one...And I am impatient.
So what is a good size rotary to accompany a vibe that size? Or is it more efficient/better value/faster/etc. to run 2 or 3 smaller rotaries to feed a big vibe?
Some of what spawned this need is we got a a load of local drain rock for one of our drainage projects. It was raining when our buddy dumped it. Travis looked at me drooling, and told our buddy he was going to need to get another load. Preferably ugly drain rock. There were so many pretty rocks in the pile it was crazy. We ended up using it as a top layer over other fill.
I already had tons of rocks, I need to get more rolling! Any input on coordinating the sizes would be very helpful!
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 28, 2021 22:19:59 GMT -5
Depending on how much you want to remove in your coarse grind, I think either 2 lortone 12lb barrels or 2 15lb barrels. If you start with crushed gravel consistency, you might remove 25% in the first stage, plus you will always have the culls that either go back into the next batch or become pond rock. By the time you're done you should be around 18 lbs.
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 1, 2021 1:51:28 GMT -5
I can tell you that I have a UV-18. I have a Thumler's Model B rotary and a different 3 pound tumbler as well. I can not keep the UV-18 constantly running with just these two rotary tumblers. I think I'd need another Model B - or I'm contemplating a Lortone QT66 to try and keep the vibe fed on a more constant/consistent basis...
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Mar 2, 2021 10:53:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the input guys! I can start looking around while waiting for the UV to be available.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Mar 2, 2021 20:16:35 GMT -5
Two TT Mod B almost = One TT UV-18, the issue is getting the rock in a nice smooth round shape before doing the pre and polish in the UV-18. In summary that is about 30 pounds of rock ending up as 18 pound of rocks. This is about the relationship of my agates, jaspers, quartz.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Mar 6, 2021 12:55:41 GMT -5
reeniebeany I have cut back on tumbling lately but have the UV18 and like it a lot. When I was going "full speed" I had three twelve pound rotary barrels going 24/7/365. With that my normal year would be in the neighborhood 8 batches in the UV18. Bearing in mind I like my rocks near flaw free so my stage one is sometimes long, your results could vary.
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Post by manofglass on Mar 6, 2021 13:18:44 GMT -5
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Mar 7, 2021 17:10:33 GMT -5
My hubby thinks I need one about cement mixer size... This looks great!!
I think I have to opt for multiple smaller ones though...sigh I do most of my cleanouts outside. So I have to be able to lift the barrel and carry it around.
My sweetie has looked at the designs and said they would not be difficult to build. We just have about 3 Million projects in front of that one.
I think it is crazy that both Thumler's and Lortone are made within 50 miles of me, but it is hard to find them. And the Rock Shed has better prices than most places...
The off the wall part of me wants to build a water powered one and put it in the stream over on the Department of Natural Resources land next to us. Hiking out to do cleanouts would be good for me, right?
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,094
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Post by stefan on Mar 7, 2021 17:47:13 GMT -5
I have a Thumlers AR12 that cannot keep my 5 3# barrels fed. The rough grind is always the slowest. I'm going to add another 12 once I get up and running at full speed again. I would think your gonna need 2 or 3 Model Bs just to keep that Vibe fed!
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