nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 983
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Post by nursetumbler on Mar 3, 2022 14:17:11 GMT -5
Hello
We are just starting out and my husband wants to try vibrating stones (mainly for soft stones) and instead of spending 299.00 on a double Lot-o he wants to try the vibrating one at harbor freight. Any comments good or bad appreciated
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 550
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Post by LazerFlash on Mar 3, 2022 14:56:03 GMT -5
First, welcome from Charles Town WV. (Think John Brown's pre-Civil War raid.)
You're certainly starting in the right place. I have learned a lot from the folks here, but also via trial and error. Don't be shy about asking for advice/help. Regarding the H.F. vibrating tumblers, it is my understanding that they are not for rocks, but rather for metals.
My wife and I bought a rotary single-barrel tumbler from Harbor Freight and I've been learning from it for a year or so, now.
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brybry
Cave Dweller
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Member since October 2021
Posts: 1,220
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Post by brybry on Mar 3, 2022 19:09:12 GMT -5
The HF vibe will eventually die if you do rocks in it. Will probably die in the first month. HF vibes are on the crap side of worthless. On RARE occasions, I have heard of someone who has decent results but it's typically AFTER the vibe dies and they put a better motor and parts in it.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 983
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Post by nursetumbler on Mar 3, 2022 22:40:49 GMT -5
The HF vibe will eventually die if you do rocks in it. Will probably die in the first month. HF vibes are on the crap side of worthless. On RARE occasions, I have heard of someone who has decent results but it's typically AFTER the vibe dies and they put a better motor and parts in it. brybryI bought it but my plan is doing Lepidolite (2.5/3 mohs in my research) with ground corn cob and grit as if it were metal parts being cleaned. I was going to use it on Orchid calcite but I read a post from 2011 that said calcite breaks down less as the pH rises from the release of Co2 so I thought 'what the hell it cant get any worse' so I added baking soda to my tumbler woth half the second stage grit and it is tumbling great but after i plan on putting it in the HF vibratory with corn cob and pre polish and corn cob and post polish. I'll see. If it doesn't work and breaks, well I guess I can either take it back or have my husband tinker with it and make it work. 🤷♀️
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Post by vegasjames on Mar 4, 2022 1:35:36 GMT -5
The HF vibes are not built for rocks in various ways. The motors and springs are not strong enough to deal with the weight. Also not sealed to deal with water and most importantly the barrels are softer plastic, mot hard rubber. The plastic is not very resistant to the wear of the rocks and holes form rapidly in the bowl.
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