gazingm42
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 45
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Post by gazingm42 on Jul 6, 2014 16:24:36 GMT -5
Many years ago my father had a rotary tumbler which we really enjoyed as a family hobby.
Now fast forward 40+ years I would like to get back into the hobby with my kids. Since we live in Utah with a nice fee supply of rocks etc I been researching tumblers.
SO what I have read on rotary vs vibrating tumblers I only get more confused.
While understanding rotary is longer and gives more rounded edges, vs vibrating quicker and basically keeps the same stone shape.
I want to make a purchase as a serious hobbyist, but don't want to buy 2 like some I have read have done.
What are most folks using and what size in the $175-200 range?
Thanks
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arago
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2014
Posts: 5
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Post by arago on Jul 6, 2014 17:23:00 GMT -5
Hey gazing.... I'm posting this thread for you. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/59851#ixzz36bTCDxhJI just ordered a Thumbler UV -10 after reading it. Kind of an impulsive move; usually I do a lot of research. Now I've got to find out what kind of grit to stuff it with. Utah's awesome. I used to hike around Cedar Mesa. So, from one newb to another:
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gazingm42
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 45
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Post by gazingm42 on Jul 6, 2014 18:34:09 GMT -5
Arago,
I been looking the UV-10 which has to version the UV-10 & UV-10 Industrial version. It difficult to know which version these websites have. I don't see major difference between the 2 versions.
Utah SE area around Cedar Mesa is a pretty cool place to explore. We spend a few weeks a year down there or more.
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Post by MrP on Jul 6, 2014 19:29:21 GMT -5
Make sure it is the Industrial version for rock tumbling use............MrP
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 6, 2014 21:45:01 GMT -5
I think if I was going to just have one tumbler (hard to imagine), I'd go with a Lortone QT66. I don't think I'd like rocks tumbled in just a vibratory tumbler. Before my first rotary batch was done, I had already ordered my Lot-O because it saves so much time and uses almost no grit compared to a rotary. So all my tumbling experience has been with a combination of rotary and vibratory. Some day very soon, I'm going to try batches in just a rotary and another batch using just a vibratory to see what it's like.
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gazingm42
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 45
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Post by gazingm42 on Jul 6, 2014 23:33:52 GMT -5
So what I really hear from most serious folks is you use the rotary to rough the polish and shape them. Then use a Lot-O or UV-10 to finish the polish.
So if you want to be efficient in this hobby you need 2 tumblers?
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 7, 2014 8:36:56 GMT -5
You can do some really good tumbling with a rotary, although I haven't as explained above. Check out Rolling Stone's tumbles done with just a rotary: Awesome rotary tumblesThe difference in grit is what convinced me to buy a vibe to go with my rotary. Instead of using 6-10 tablespoons of grit, I only use 1/2 teaspoon of most grits. I use two tablespoons of 220 though. I figure that the tumbler will pay for itself in grit and electricity savings. So to answer your question, do you NEED two tumblers? No. Will two tumblers make you more efficient? Yes. Ok, that wasn't your question. Those were my two questions. I'd love to hear other opinions on this, and I'd love to hear how many of us use only one tumbler and of what type.
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Post by Toad on Jul 7, 2014 13:24:56 GMT -5
You must have a rotary to tumble - unless you preform everything on a saw. You can get through every stage with the rotary, but cannot rough with a vibe. A vibe is a nice addition to speed things up once you get rolling. I liked the Lortone QT12 when I started as it allowed me to tumble bigger rocks. But as Rob pointed out, it will eat more grit than the QT66 in exchange for the higher capacity.
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jul 9, 2014 1:49:57 GMT -5
Some day very soon, I'm going to try batches in just a rotary and another batch using just a vibratory to see what it's like. Rob, I am currently running 3 pounds of Paul Bunyan plume that is too small to cab through my Lotto with nothing more than a sprayer cleaning, so far, I had to add a mess of ceramics to it (24 hrs into 220), rinse it out twice cos of the general dirt from the rough which turned into mud more or less, and it is taking a ton of extra water to keep it going, I will rinse it all in the morning and make the decision of whether I am gonna revert to the rotary for a true rough grind or not. I will post pics of what it looks like after just a 220 run so you will be able to see.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 9, 2014 9:27:23 GMT -5
According to the Lot-O directions, you're supposed to do a full clean out every 12 hours when roughing in the lot-O. I think your supposed to run them for 4-5 days like that. I'm very interested in how you do.
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jul 10, 2014 4:47:01 GMT -5
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 10, 2014 8:09:15 GMT -5
Sorry Rob, I ended up having to go eat dinner with my kid brother and his wife before they take off back to Kansas Saturday, so got home extremely late then got sidetracked.....so here are the pics of Lot-O tumbled rough (which I ended up doing exactly as you said the instructions recommended for a rough grind). Once again, excuse my fantabulous cell phone photography skills LOL!!!!! ] What grit size are you trying to use to rough those in the lot-o vibe? Have the rocks in those pictures already been in the lot-o or are those pictures of the rough you started with? Thanks Chuck
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 10, 2014 11:25:53 GMT -5
That is the point Chuck. Vibes won't make rounded pebbles. If you want only one tumbler a rotary is the answer. I even advise beginners to not buy a vibe tumbler when starting out as they are a little tricky to master and many get frustrated and give up. A rotary tumbler is pretty much fail safe and any mistakes may add time but eventually you get results. Master tumbling with a rotary and then add a vibe tumbler if you want to either speed up finishing or preserve unique shapes. Once you can rotary tumble the transition to vibes is a little easier.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 10, 2014 12:00:58 GMT -5
I'm going to try roughing in the Lot-O for myself just to see the transition from rough to Lot-Oed. They sure didn't get round, but some change must have taken place.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 10, 2014 13:31:09 GMT -5
You can usually blunt the edges but I don't think you will get rounded pebbles. I don't know if Lotto will hold up to coarse grit but most vibe tumblers use 120/220 or straight 220 for coarse grind. If you can round off the rocks with coarser grit what cost in bowls?
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jul 13, 2014 13:52:33 GMT -5
Sorry Rob, I ended up having to go eat dinner with my kid brother and his wife before they take off back to Kansas Saturday, so got home extremely late then got sidetracked.....so here are the pics of Lot-O tumbled rough (which I ended up doing exactly as you said the instructions recommended for a rough grind). Once again, excuse my fantabulous cell phone photography skills LOL!!!!! ] What grit size are you trying to use to rough those in the lot-o vibe? Have the rocks in those pictures already been in the lot-o or are those pictures of the rough you started with? Thanks Chuck Coarsest I will run in my lot-o vibe is 220 and those have already done 48 hours with a rinse and recharge every 12 hours because the dirt just plugged it up so badly, however 2 tsp of 220 for 48 hours is so much better than say 6 tbs of 60/90 in my opinion LOL
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 13, 2014 13:59:49 GMT -5
What grit size are you trying to use to rough those in the lot-o vibe? Have the rocks in those pictures already been in the lot-o or are those pictures of the rough you started with? Thanks Chuck Coarsest I will run in my lot-o vibe is 220 and those have already done 48 hours with a rinse and recharge every 12 hours because the dirt just plugged it up so badly, however 2 tsp of 220 for 48 hours is so much better than say 6 tbs of 60/90 in my opinion LOL I have run 120/220 from rock shed in my loto for a couple years now with no barrel damage. Chuck
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jul 13, 2014 14:24:21 GMT -5
Coarsest I will run in my lot-o vibe is 220 and those have already done 48 hours with a rinse and recharge every 12 hours because the dirt just plugged it up so badly, however 2 tsp of 220 for 48 hours is so much better than say 6 tbs of 60/90 in my opinion LOL I have run 120/220 from rock shed in my loto for a couple years now with no barrel damage. Chuck Thanks Chuck, when this 10 kb bucket of graded 220 is all gone I may just order some 120/220, but I still have about another 6 months of grit running 24/7 before that time happens LOL
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