stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,094
|
Post by stefan on May 1, 2021 5:47:24 GMT -5
I have been tumbling for over 16 years now. I run Thumlers rotaries, and have never felt the need for a vibe tumbler. Then I watch some guy on YouTube (yea we all know who he is- he does these incredible collecting vids, and tumbling vids, and makes beads, and pendants, and turtles, and deer heads) Will this guy is running a vibe and now I want one. I have been reading a lot and I'm as lost as ever. I thought a Lot-o was the only way to go then this thread scares me right off forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/95223/lot-fans-out-balance-updatedI run thumlers cause I like to tumble, not tinker. So here is the request. Teach me! All you vibers out there hit me up. I want what you love, what you hate, what works, what to avoid. For what it is worth, the vibe will start out strictly as a polishing machine until I feel comfortable (and can afford an extra barrel) trying other steps. I'm not afriad to spend a little money (ok a lot of money), but it better be worth it (my first tumbler is a Model T that is still running to this day). Thank you!
|
|
|
Post by manofglass on May 1, 2021 9:14:43 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on May 1, 2021 10:01:30 GMT -5
I have a UV-18 that I wanted for the potential to polish larger rocks...and I think it does a fantastic job for that. That being said, I would also like to have a smaller capacity vibe. I have a Model B that can't supply enough material to the UV-18 in sufficient amount of time, so it sits idle quite a bit. I can't remember how many rotary tumblers you have, but if it isn't that many, you may not be able to feed a larger sized vibe with sufficient proficiency. However, since you said money spent really wasn't a factor - you may want to get both a small capacity and a large capacity vibe. That way you can keep the smaller one "fed" more constantly, yet have the larger one for those bigger rocks you want to get all "purdy"! Honestly, I wouldn't have the patience to do all the tumbling in rotary tumblers...
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,094
|
Post by stefan on May 1, 2021 12:45:00 GMT -5
I have 4 tumblers. An Ar-12 (12 lb barrel), 2 AR-2 (dual 3 Lb barrels) and a Model T (single 3 Lb barrel). I course run in the 12 Lb and probably get enough to run a 3 Lb barrel every 4 weeks or so.
|
|
lordsorril
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 766
|
Post by lordsorril on May 1, 2021 12:58:15 GMT -5
I primarily use a UV-18. I have a second one on backorder. Just a few thoughts: What I love: I can reach a polish on a decent size batch of stones coming out of Stage 1 in a week. I use substantially less grit. I can polish soft stones easily. I can polish stones a little smaller than my fist. The UV-18 is free-standing and does not need to be anchored. I have been running mine constantly 24/7 for over 2 years and the motor is going strong. What I hate: The bowls are made out of polypropylene, they wear down (coarser grit/stones with greater edges=faster wear). I'm on my 3rd replacement UV18 bowl in 2 years of continuous use. The center post is prone to rust. (I oil it at least every 3 days and I have since stopped this issue completely) The threads on the center post eventually wear out where they hold the nut (both bowl and lid), I adjust the position of the nuts by adding washers. The cushion on the bottom of the bowl eventually wears out and the bolts drill through the bottom of the bowl (I use a foam floor pad and replace it when it gets thin) What works: Adding thickener to slow down action to prevent chipping at polish. Using lots of rounded smalls (with no edges) to keep action moving. Checking at least every other day to make sure that the moisture level is appropriate (more frequently with softer stones). Having a separate bowl for polish (no scratches in bowl to carryover grit) Having separate polish media (ceramic/gravel) specifically for the final stage. Adding soap and running a few minutes between stages before cleanout. Saran wrapping the top of the bowl before you cap it (to prevent the top lid from getting messy) What to Avoid: Silicon Carbide (IMO) Running Corundum Running Rough rocks Running Rough glass Overfilling the bowl Adding too much grit Adding too much water Not checking your small media for broken pieces when they get thin Not giving your vibe a few minutes of supervision before the action stabilizes Not tightening the bolt enough on the base Not tightening the bolt enough on the top Putting too much slack on the saran wrap on the lid and having it get sucked in
|
|
|
Post by HankRocks on May 1, 2021 14:26:41 GMT -5
I primarily use a UV-18. I have a second one on backorder. Just a few thoughts: What I love: I can reach a polish on a decent size batch of stones coming out of Stage 1 in a week. I use substantially less grit. I can polish soft stones easily. I can polish stones a little smaller than my fist. The UV-18 is free-standing and does not need to be anchored. I have been running mine constantly 24/7 for over 2 years and the motor is going strong. What I hate: The bowls are made out of polypropylene, they wear down (coarser grit/stones with greater edges=faster wear). I'm on my 3rd replacement UV18 bowl in 2 years of continuous use. The center post is prone to rust. (I oil it at least every 3 days and I have since stopped this issue completely) The threads on the center post eventually wear out where they hold the nut (both bowl and lid), I adjust the position of the nuts by adding washers. The cushion on the bottom of the bowl eventually wears out and the bolts drill through the bottom of the bowl (I use a foam floor pad and replace it when it gets thin) What works: Adding thickener to slow down action to prevent chipping at polish. Using lots of rounded smalls (with no edges) to keep action moving. Checking at least every other day to make sure that the moisture level is appropriate (more frequently with softer stones). Having a separate bowl for polish (no scratches in bowl to carryover grit) Having separate polish media (ceramic/gravel) specifically for the final stage. Adding soap and running a few minutes between stages before cleanout. Saran wrapping the top of the bowl before you cap it (to prevent the top lid from getting messy) What to Avoid: Silicon Carbide (IMO) Running Corundum Running Rough rocks Running Rough glass Overfilling the bowl Adding too much grit Adding too much water Not checking your small media for broken pieces when they get thin Not giving your vibe a few minutes of supervision before the action stabilizes Not tightening the bolt enough on the base Not tightening the bolt enough on the top Putting too much slack on the saran wrap on the lid and having it get sucked in Good advice on the UV-18. I fight the wearing out of the center bolt. Think I am on my 4th bolt in over 3 years. I even switched to a 5/16" bolt, still wears out. Will try the oil treatment. I use worn out Model B rubber lid gaskets to replace the foam, seem to work nicely. It does sound like my motor bearings are on the way out. Will run till it fails. I only run Polish in mine so the wear on the bowl is reduced.
|
|
|
Post by Rockindad on May 1, 2021 15:33:16 GMT -5
This is coming from a Thumler's UV-10 owner who also seriously looked at the Lot-O. I may still get a Lot-O and permanently modify the machine that I can get to handle softer stuff the best as we do a lot of it. I do not know how many members have experience with more than one manufacturer but TheRock does and he has stated clearly that he prefers the UV-10's to the Lot-O's. Of course there are other options out there as well. There are plenty of users of each on here that get great results. Bottom line is no matter what you get, take the time to learn the machine. I have been amazed at the versatility of the UV-10, but this was only found after much experimenting. If you are sticking to hard stuff the learning curve is much smaller. For the rotary capacity that you are running stick with a UV-10 or smaller. We always have 2-15lb. and 2-6lb. barrels rolling and sometimes an AR-2(6 more lbs.) and a 2lb. NG for a total of 50lbs. rotary and our UV-10 still occasionally gets a break, though it runs 24/7 quite a bit. lordsorril makes some great points. Oiling the rod should be on the front cover of the manual, we do it at each cleanout. I do differ a bit as I use SiC. I also intentionally overfill the bowl as this is an excellent way to control the action via added mass. The UV-18 may behave differently as it is approaching double capacity. The reason I ultimately chose the UV-10 was I thought it was built better. Having made a living working with wood and metal of many forms I cannot say that I am impressed by any tumbling machinery that is available commercially (though the Thumler's Model B barrels come close) and if I was at a different point in my life I would make everything myself. My bias aside, I really had a hard time with the Lot-O having a wood dowel that is glued in place to control the vibrations, I also did not like the fans that are pressed on. That being said there are many happy users of these machines who produce excellent results. While the little bit of prep work (the attaching to a block) is not a problem for me I do understand why some people do not want to deal with it. The UV-10 was ready to go out of the box. When we moved it from the floor to our workbench I built a small corral for it in case it walked a bit. Turns out this was completely unnecessary as it does not move AT ALL. Currently at The Rock Shed the UV-10 is only $23 more than the Lot-O and has over twice the capacity. You may also want to give the Thumler's UV-10MB (4lb. capacity) and the MT Minisonics a look, these are also on my list of possibilities for a second vibe if I do not go with the Lot-O.
|
|
AQuartzLow
starting to shine!
Member since November 2020
Posts: 44
|
Post by AQuartzLow on May 1, 2021 18:07:46 GMT -5
Just wanted to let you know that all the tumbler needed was one, thin, little washer on one side and now it’s all fixed! (Well, at least it’s running now- much quieter than before- so *hopefully* it’s all that was needed...👀)
I chose the Lot-o because I have a lot of slabs I need to polish. (I’m making a backsplash for my kitchen with blue quartz I find in my area.) Also, I’m much too impatient to wait for months for a rotary tumbler for my tumbled stones. 😬 I like that it doesn’t use much grit and results in a really great shine. I use an ultrasonic cleaner in between stages to clean my rocks instead of running with borax to burnish. Since I don’t have “perfect” rocks like jaspers or agates (and because I actually like the imperfections!) there are more areas where grit can get in and the ultrasonic cleaner does a fantastic job of getting all the nooks and crannies cleaned out and doesn’t leave a white haze after the final cleaning/burnishing.
I don’t like that I had to do a lot of research at the beginning to see why my machine wasn’t tumbling as quickly as the ones on YouTube. I had to move the dowel in the back in order to get it to run at the right speed, but I feel like a brand new $300+ machine shouldn’t require any tinkering, ya know?
You know about the recent motor issue, which was a major pain. HOWEVER, I’m glad I was able to figure it out and spent $.50 for a bushing instead of $125 for a new motor. Since quite a few people have had this issue, I wonder if it’s the motor manufacturer (Fasco) who is dropping the ball, or if it’s the Lot-o guy who is purposefully removing a bushing to create a problem that won’t show up until the warranty is up in order to charge $$$ for a new motor...🧐 (I didn’t like Tom from Lot-o, so I *may* be a little harsh in judging him, but why would he request the motor to be mailed back to him before sending a new one unless he knew how to fix it? Hmmm? HMMMMMM?!) *foil hat firmly in place*
ANYhoo...IF my fix works, then I am now completely happy with the Lot-o. Yes, it took some tinkering, but luckily I had the time and thankfully you can find how to do just about anything on YouTube!
Good luck on your choice!!
|
|
reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
|
Post by reeniebeany on May 2, 2021 9:54:44 GMT -5
Does the Thumler's UV-10 have the same bowl as the UV-18? I have a lot of rough rocks and I don't need them to be rounded. I like the irregular shapes. But if the bowl is going to wear out it may not be the best choice.
Are there any large size models that have a more sturdy bowl?
|
|
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
|
Post by gatorflash1 on May 3, 2021 16:08:46 GMT -5
My Vib. Thumlers Tumbler is a 18 lb UV-18 model tumbler. I only use it for stages 3 and 4, and have a separate barrel for each. I do burnishing after stage 4. There is a knack to using a Vibratory tumbler and you have to babysit it to be sure the slurry is the proper consistency to get good, quick results. It is eons faster than my Thumler Tumbler B's, 15 lb, which feed the Vib after stage 2. rocktumbler.com/thumlers/model-uv18.shtmlrocktumbler.com/thumlers/vibratory-tumbler-guide/
|
|
JBe
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 103
|
Post by JBe on May 5, 2021 10:10:21 GMT -5
I have experience with a Lot-O and a Minisonic MT-10 (2 barrel version or the MT-4).
I've had my Lot-O running pretty much 24/7 for about three years now and have had no problems with it.
My girlfriend has an MT-10 she bought used about two years ago. It's run fine since she's had it.
Comparison: The Lot-O is much quieter than the MT10 and the "tone" is less annoying (in my opinion). The MT-10 has a slightly larger mouth on the barrel(s) than the Lot-O so I can fit slightly larger material in the MT-10. The MT-10 definitely has more power than the Lot-O. 120/220 stage is more finicky in the Lot-O as a result of this. The Lot-O requires you to mount it on a cement block. The MT-10 is ready right out of the box and is more portable (because it's not glued to a giant brick). The Lot-O is quite a bit less expensive than an MT-4. The instructions for the Minisonic say you can run the coarse stage in it. I have not tried this but the barrel(s) on the Minisonic are definitely more rigid and thicker. I suppose they stand up to the wear of the 60/90 better but I have no real experience to back this up.
I personally feel the Minisonic is a better tumbler but the Lot-O is definitely still good. If you prioritize quiet and less expensive I'd lean toward the Lot-O but I don't think you can go wrong either way.
|
|
|
Post by Mel on May 5, 2021 15:32:27 GMT -5
I have a RayTech vibe (think a 4 pound). It does a nice job but it needs more watching than my rotaries. It's not a huge issue but it can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. You have to get the slurry juuuust right or everything ends up glued to the bottom and it sounds like hell. When it's properly mixed up? Its a lot quieter, but still noisy. I blame the bowl being plastic for most of it.
If I can ever find a UV-10 for a reasonable price here in Canada, I'd like to get one. A friend just ordered one from the Rock Shed and the duty was crazy.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on May 5, 2021 17:10:17 GMT -5
Mel I have the raytech uv 5 and have no problem with drying. Do you run soap in allstages? I'm assuming you are using the lid, although I don't sometimes when I'm establish ing the right water, grit, stone mix. I also have an older mini sonic. It is less finicky about how much constitutes a load. Thr gyroc b is grat because it will handle a small load . I suspect we all have our biases based on having familiarity and successes with our own machines.
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,094
|
Post by stefan on May 5, 2021 17:26:11 GMT -5
Mel I have the raytech uv 5 and have no problem with drying. Do you run soap in allstages? I'm assuming you are using the lid, although I don't sometimes when I'm establish ing the right water, grit, stone mix. I also have an older mini sonic. It is less finicky about how much constitutes a load. Thr gyroc b is grat because it will handle a small load . I suspect we all have our biases based on having familiarity and successes with our own machines. Exactly why I posted this thread! I want to hear what has and has not worked, and what everyone thinks of their machine. I all honesty I still have no idea what direction this adventure is going to go. I just spent a small fortune on a 14" slab saw so I have some time before the vibe will be acquired.
|
|
ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
|
Post by ericabelle on May 9, 2021 8:30:55 GMT -5
Thanks for starting this thread, Stefan. I just bought a Lot-O yesterday. I got mine because I'm really not patient enough to wait for my rotary (Model B) to do all the work. And also I'd like to just keep the rotary running in coarse constantly, unless I have some very large rocks to polish that need to go all the way through the Model B. What I'm wondering is, how large a rock can you put in the Lot-O? I could have sworn I read somewhere that, as long as you can fit the rock through the opening, you can put it in the Lot-O.
|
|
saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
|
Post by saxplayer on May 9, 2021 9:15:31 GMT -5
Thanks for starting this thread, Stefan. I just bought a Lot-O yesterday. I got mine because I'm really not patient enough to wait for my rotary (Model B) to do all the work. And also I'd like to just keep the rotary running in coarse constantly, unless I have some very large rocks to polish that need to go all the way through the Model B. What I'm wondering is, how large a rock can you put in the Lot-O? I could have sworn I read somewhere that, as long as you can fit the rock through the opening, you can put it in the Lot-O. Correct - if you can get it in it will work (provided you have enough smalls with it).
|
|