yetiabitibi
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 25
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Post by yetiabitibi on Mar 5, 2017 17:04:49 GMT -5
I'm looking to buy a tumbler and I'd like to deal with a Canadian supplier, just to avoid delays and fees with customs etc ...
I know about Lacy Tools and Green's, but I'd like to know if there are any other options out there.
While I'm asking question ... do you prefer rotary or vibratory tumblers?
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Post by captbob on Mar 5, 2017 18:27:28 GMT -5
I don't know about sellers in Canada. Would a seller on eBay Canada help avoid the delays and fees?
But about tumbler types... If this is going to be your only tumbler, I would recommend a rotary. You really can't grind/shape rough rocks (well) in a vibe. That's not what they are for. The job a vibe may excel at would be in the latter stages of tumbling rocks.
So folks with vibes usually start off by tumbling their rocks in a rotary tumbler to grind and shape the rough rock before it moves to the vibe to be finished & polished.
While, folks with rotary tumblers can do the entire process with their one machine. Just takes longer.
Bottom line is you can have a rotary tumbler without a vibe, but not a vibe without a rotary. Usually. I guess you could do the whole run in a vibe, but your rocks probably won't be well rounded and it would be quite the challenge. Maybe very soft rocks or pre-rounded river rocks could be exceptions.
So I would recommend getting a rotary (hands down) and learning rock tumbling with that. Get a vibe down the road if the hobby sticks with ya.
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Mar 6, 2017 21:34:31 GMT -5
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yetiabitibi
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 25
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Post by yetiabitibi on Mar 14, 2017 12:03:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the information and advice, I didn't know about Ken Gems.
I'll try to keep an eye out on Amazon and Ebay.
Do you have any recommendations for makers? I know Lortone is a name I see a lot.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Apr 13, 2017 9:59:01 GMT -5
A Lortone rotary is what I recommend for starters. Robert Hall Originals here in Ontario sells them. The bigger the better is my policy, if you're so inclined. Why spend a month or two waiting for a handful of stones when you can do six or twelve pounds in the same time?
Happy tumbling!
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yetiabitibi
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 25
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Post by yetiabitibi on Apr 17, 2017 20:42:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the info ... I've already ordered from Robert Hall, but they B/O ... can't wait for it to arrive.
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