cigarboxrock
starting to shine!
Member since December 2017
Posts: 25
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Post by cigarboxrock on Dec 5, 2019 18:56:38 GMT -5
I am interested in using a bowl vibratory tumbler for ALL 4 stages of tumbling. Mainly because you can view it through the clear top, and I think the kids will stay interested if they can see the action. Has anyone used a bowl vibratory tumbler starting with raw tumble for the coarse and medium stages? If so, what media did you start with?
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Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 5, 2019 21:11:43 GMT -5
Vibe tumblers are not meant to be used for the first rough stage. A rotary tumbler is normally used for the first stage to shape and smooth the rocks and then a vibe for all other stages.
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EricD
Cave Dweller
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
Posts: 1,142
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Post by EricD on Dec 5, 2019 21:51:15 GMT -5
If you have a lot of patience you can use a vibe with a rubber barrel to shape rocks without hurting anything. I have used aluminum oxide 46 grit in my Lot O tumbler to shape (partially, before giving up and putting them in the rotary) tiger eye and amethyst. Mind you, I haven't seen the same progress in the rotary with SiC 60/90 over the last 6 days as I saw in the vibe with AO 46 in 2 days on the same rocks. Maybe I'll find some 10 grit and try that in the vibe next Please do not try anything more than SiC 150/220 in a plastic vibe bowl unless you fancy buying new ones. They wear far too quickly with the larger grit, as I have read.
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Post by rmf on Dec 6, 2019 11:44:46 GMT -5
I have used a vib tumbler for all stages. The coarse grit wears the bowl out too fast but it works fine. I prefer a nice rounded rock as roughed in a rotary (typically a month of tumbling in coarse). Then I finish in a vib. Vibs keep the original shape better. vibs also do a better job of concave areas. But they do poorly in coarse until the rocks become more rounded.
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