kaila
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2021
Posts: 22
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Post by kaila on Aug 24, 2022 14:05:46 GMT -5
Right now I have (1) two barrel tumblers. I used to have two of them but I think one of them broke. For a while now my dad has said that in September he'd buy me an upgrade tumbler as a gift. I at first was going to choose a vibratory tumbler. I would really like to, but I'm not sure as far as two things go: the noise and the upkeep. I've read that they are both very loud and require a lot of upkeep as far as checking on the rocks as they are tumbling. I work out of the house/at work from 8AM-5PM M-F. I'm not sure that I will be able to check on the rocks and refresh things if they need water added throughout the day. My other concern is the sound. I've read that they are quite loud, and I don't want to disturb my parents. I am an adult who lives at home (it's simply too expensive to live alone in my state with the amount of money I make) and I love that my parents are interested in my hobby but I don't want to put them off or disturb them by getting an extremely loud tumbler. I brought that up to my dad and he said we might be able to either a) run an extension cable out to our shed and have it tumble there or b) either find something or make something that we could house on our front porch near an outlet.
So my questions are: 1) If I were to upgrade my rotary, which one would you suggest upgrading to? 2) If I were to get a vibratory tumbler, how difficult is the upkeep? 3) Which vibratory is the best? 4) Has anyone created something to house their vibratory tumbler in in order to dampen the sound? If so, what did you use?
Other than that, I'd just like opinions on the two in general.
Thank you!
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 981
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Post by nursetumbler on Aug 24, 2022 19:04:55 GMT -5
I got an used Lortone qt66 (2 6# barrels) and it was a game changer. I went from 6 3# barrels to 6 3# barrels and the 2 6# barrels. I do stage 1 and 2 in 3 each of the 3# and pre polish and polish in the 6#. The 6# could also tumble larger rough. There are more experienced lapidary artists on here though. Good luck and welcome
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,237
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Post by quartzilla on Aug 24, 2022 21:12:40 GMT -5
My QT 6 is my favorite tumbler. The 2 six lb barrels seem to mow down rock better than my 12 lb barrel Loretone tumbler. I have so much rolling right now that my mini vibe that I use for polish can’t keep up. I use a KTG Diamond Pacific mini sonic (older model they don’t make anymore) for just my 1000 and 8000 AO polish. All other stages in rotary and I do a 5 stage process. I need a bigger vibe I guess so if I was you I’d keep in mind how much rough your moving thru and being able to keep up with it with the size of the vibe your using. I have at least 25 lbs of stage 1 running constantly so that’s probably a lot more course loads at once than some other members here may be rolling. Mines not too noisy but it vibrates a little hopper; the bowl type vibes are way noises to my understanding. I would look at your tumbler you think is broke closer. These are pretty simple devices and it’s usually something minor to get it rolling again. Many experts here can walk you thru any adjustments or repairs that it may need just be explaining the problem with it or a few pics.
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2022
Posts: 460
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Post by hplcman on Aug 25, 2022 9:57:35 GMT -5
My QT 6 is my favorite tumbler. The 2 six lb barrels seem to mow down rock better than my 12 lb barrel Loretone tumbler. I have so much rolling right now that my mini vibe that I use for polish can’t keep up. I use a KTG Diamond Pacific mini sonic (older model they don’t make anymore) for just my 1000 and 8000 AO polish. All other stages in rotary and I do a 5 stage process. I need a bigger vibe I guess so if I was you I’d keep in mind how much rough your moving thru and being able to keep up with it with the size of the vibe your using. I have at least 25 lbs of stage 1 running constantly so that’s probably a lot more course loads at once than some other members here may be rolling. Mines not too noisy but it vibrates a little hopper; the bowl type vibes are way noises to my understanding. I would look at your tumbler you think is broke closer. These are pretty simple devices and it’s usually something minor to get it rolling again. Many experts here can walk you thru any adjustments or repairs that it may need just be explaining the problem with it or a few pics. Hi! I liked reading your post. I have a question... I tumble found roughs for a hobby and enjoy leaving rocks around the neighborhood for people to find and hopefully enjoy. It looks like your creating a LOT more tumbled rocks than I am. May I ask what you do with them? At some point I'm going to need to figure out something to do with these, because I don't see myself quitting this hobby anytime soon! Thanks!
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,237
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Post by quartzilla on Aug 25, 2022 22:42:39 GMT -5
My QT 6 is my favorite tumbler. The 2 six lb barrels seem to mow down rock better than my 12 lb barrel Loretone tumbler. I have so much rolling right now that my mini vibe that I use for polish can’t keep up. I use a KTG Diamond Pacific mini sonic (older model they don’t make anymore) for just my 1000 and 8000 AO polish. All other stages in rotary and I do a 5 stage process. I need a bigger vibe I guess so if I was you I’d keep in mind how much rough your moving thru and being able to keep up with it with the size of the vibe your using. I have at least 25 lbs of stage 1 running constantly so that’s probably a lot more course loads at once than some other members here may be rolling. Mines not too noisy but it vibrates a little hopper; the bowl type vibes are way noises to my understanding. I would look at your tumbler you think is broke closer. These are pretty simple devices and it’s usually something minor to get it rolling again. Many experts here can walk you thru any adjustments or repairs that it may need just be explaining the problem with it or a few pics. Hi! I liked reading your post. I have a question... I tumble found roughs for a hobby and enjoy leaving rocks around the neighborhood for people to find and hopefully enjoy. It looks like your creating a LOT more tumbled rocks than I am. May I ask what you do with them? At some point I'm going to need to figure out something to do with these, because I don't see myself quitting this hobby anytime soon! Thanks! . I mainly tumble for the enjoyment, to learn more about the various stones and techniques they take to obtain a polish and to see how my self collected stuff comes out. The pile of finished stones I have is growing larger. I’m planning a few different displays with my favorites. I’m also starting to make various item for birthday/Xmas presents for friends and family like small jars filled with stones and bail capped stones for little pendants. Some of my rocks will be going to my club for our monthly free stone raffles and some for silent auctions at our monthly meetings and planning on donating some for our tailgate event that is in March next year. Most folks in my club are into cab making; I think I’m the only one that tumbles to this degree. Tumbling is a good way to see what some of the stones can be that are commonly stepped over by other members on the field trips because they either lack the size or flash that the cabbers are looking for. I’ve shared material from a site that everybody has been to but nobody noticed before because they were unaware of the material as they didn’t take the time to pick it up, slab it, and polish it. You can find some overlooked beauties this way.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2022 22:48:04 GMT -5
I have a lot o and it’s amazing. It’s quieter then my 3lb rotary and way quicker. The first stage needs the most care and monitoring the other 2 stages are not as bad. So maybe start the first stage on the weekend.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 981
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Post by nursetumbler on Aug 26, 2022 8:34:40 GMT -5
I have a lot o and it’s amazing. It’s quieter then my 3lb rotary and way quicker. The first stage needs the most care and monitoring the other 2 stages are not as bad. So maybe start the first stage on the weekend. Hi ashleyDo you vibe all stages or do you rotary tumble stage 1? Kelly
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2022 8:45:58 GMT -5
nursetumblerHi Kelly! I normally skip stage one b/c a lot of what I’m running is Lake Michigan stuff and the chert I do vibe only is not super jagged. I like a more natural look for the shape of rocks. If its really rough and really jagged then I do it in 60/90 SC in the rotary until I like where it is. Then everything goes in the vibe for 120/220 SC, then 500 AO, the AO polish. (All grit from The Rock Shed) I do run the 120/220 stage a bit longer then most because of that being the first stage for non rotary batches. (Usually 3 days) I have a batch of the flint from you running in the rotary right now. It will be done through the vibe in a month or so!
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 463
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Post by jimaz on Aug 26, 2022 9:42:21 GMT -5
Be aware that vibes are limited in their ability to shape rough. They do very little rounding, and the courser grit is hard on the barrel. I love my Lot-O but continue to use my Lortone 45C for the first stage.
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Post by victor1941 on Aug 26, 2022 10:16:18 GMT -5
Rough rock shaping in a rotary and pre-polish/polish in a vibe is a good way to go. I use a UV-18 vibe and it does need attention in the rough grind so this is where the parents can help. It is also important to select a machine that meets the quantity to be finished. You don't want a large machine(vibe) if you don't have enough production for it because they need a certain volume to operate properly.
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steelheader
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2021
Posts: 50
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Post by steelheader on Aug 26, 2022 20:08:29 GMT -5
I’ll throw in my 10 cents ( inflation, ya know… ). Disclaimer : Im relatively new to the game and have opted for the rotary +vibe combo. Now I have a flat lap on its way and another list of stuff to get, but thats another subject. I get great pleasure from the speed at which I can finish stones in the vibe and the little amount of grit they use. As mentioned before the only stage that demands most work is the second stage, from my experience. Your schedule more or less will work with this. Check bfore work, after, and once before bed and you should be fine. However, the noise is a different story for me. I have my setup in a wooden shed. The rotary, I find, is more of a treble sound. I can only hear the rocks rolling when Im inside the shed, which is louder than the hum of the vibe. However, from the outside I can hear the vibe. To me its more of a bass sound, the hum reverberates through the walls and I can hear it from outside, whereas I cant hear my rotary standing outdoors. I have a small 33B rotary and vibe with a Lot-O.
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 29, 2022 7:39:05 GMT -5
I use a Thumler's Model B (15lb barrel) for Stage 1 and a Lot-O vibe for the rest of the stages. The model B gets then ready pretty fast, so I am always several loads behind with my vibe. I do sometimes put certain stones straight into the vibe and stage 2. This is mostly with weirdly shaped agates that would lose some of their charm in the rotary. I recently got an ultrasonic cleaner to clean the agates in between stages, and it has been awesome! So I definitely recommend an ultrasonic cleaner if you are tumbling anything that is not perfectly smooth.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2022 11:23:56 GMT -5
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 29, 2022 14:10:32 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2022 15:10:43 GMT -5
ericabelleThanks! Do you use a cleaning solution or just soap and water?
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 29, 2022 18:53:08 GMT -5
ericabelle Thanks! Do you use a cleaning solution or just soap and water? If I'm just trying to get grit or Borax out of the crevices, I just put the rocks in with some water. But, if I'm cleaning some druzy or something with actual dirt or clay in it, I put a couple dollops of Dawn in it. For my polished rocks, I put them in cheap green plastic strawberry baskets and set them in the metal basket in the ultrasonic cleaner. I don't know if the metal basket would actually scratch it, but I'm not going to risk it.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2022 19:58:43 GMT -5
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