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ebay
Dec 29, 2003 22:01:12 GMT -5
Post by blueangele2 on Dec 29, 2003 22:01:12 GMT -5
I think ebay should be illegal! I have bought one pound of apache tears and now 2 pounds of mixed gem stones (amethyst,aquamarines,bloodstone,jasper,citrine,emerad,ruby,sapphire,moonstone,crystal quartz, and garnets)and I don't even have a 'real' tumbler yet. Not to mention that I have only done one load in my 1 pounder and its not even done yet. I was convinced though to get a 'real' tumbler and am going to order one this week, I found a double 3lb barrel tumbler from lortone for only $64.50, can't pass that up!
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ebay
Dec 29, 2003 23:01:53 GMT -5
Post by Noosh9057 on Dec 29, 2003 23:01:53 GMT -5
Yes I know what you mean about getting Rocks on Ebay. I have goten a lot of them myself. I think you will love the double 3lb barrel tumbler it is a very good tumbler. Well good luck
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Noah
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2003
Posts: 102
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ebay
Jan 2, 2004 0:35:38 GMT -5
Post by Noah on Jan 2, 2004 0:35:38 GMT -5
heh, I think everyone on here will agree that ebay is in one form or another a major contributor to th sickness ;D
-Noah-
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ebay
Jan 2, 2004 3:57:53 GMT -5
Post by sandsman1 on Jan 2, 2004 3:57:53 GMT -5
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ebay
Jan 2, 2004 4:01:10 GMT -5
Post by sandsman1 on Jan 2, 2004 4:01:10 GMT -5
sorry to make this two pages but if any body find them cheaper please let me know i been shoppin for another one and the first one hasnt got here yet shoulde be here tomorrow and thanks for all the info i been getting from all of you john
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jdmaney
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2003
Posts: 16
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ebay
Jan 2, 2004 19:40:35 GMT -5
Post by jdmaney on Jan 2, 2004 19:40:35 GMT -5
Allow me to throw out a recomendation for a Vibrator instead of a Tumbler. The fact that it polishes so quickly is what keeps me sane. From what I have learned, the rocks don't come out as "round" or "oval" as they do in the tumblers. They do come out in more of a natural state/shape but the polish is amazing. The negative I have found so far is that they are a bit more pricey than tumblers (Initial investment around $125 -$150) and additional bowls $12 -$25. But I go through each grit cycle in 2-3 days and I love it.
I hope this does not make me the odd sheep in the flock and you all leave me to the wolves.... teehee....
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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ebay
Jan 2, 2004 21:09:42 GMT -5
Post by James on Jan 2, 2004 21:09:42 GMT -5
I actually want a vibrator machine but I can't afford on at the moment. When I do get one it will be used for pre polish and polish only. I'll leave the shaping for the tumbler.
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 3:55:17 GMT -5
Post by puppie96 on Jan 6, 2004 3:55:17 GMT -5
Interesting comments about vibes...I got mine soon after I got the first (3lb. barrel) tumbler. I've had it in constant use, and I've been finding it more to advantage in the rough grinds, when it really moves along quickly and you can see it at every stage. It's true that the stones retain their original shape and don't round in the same way, but I like that. On the other hand, the slower barrel tumbler in the prepolish and polish seems to work really well.
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 5:56:52 GMT -5
Post by sandsman1 on Jan 6, 2004 5:56:52 GMT -5
thanks for the info jd i been wondering about vibs and seen some say they are quicker in the last stages but can you tell me is it true about how you constantly have to keep an eye on them allways checking them and are the more noisey then a barrel tumbler . im new to all this but i can tell im hooked hahaha-----john
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 10:12:31 GMT -5
Post by donwrob on Jan 6, 2004 10:12:31 GMT -5
I may as well throw in my 2 cents also. I shape in a 15# roller, then pre polish and polish in a 10# vibe. The vibe was pricey (2 bills), but I'm very happy with it. The combo seems to work well, as a full 15#er ends up after the first 2 stages to usually have a nearly full 10# load remaining for the vibe. Vibes are finicky at times and a little tricky to get used to. They do require a little more attention as the process is accelerated so much. The biggest mistake I made was always wanting to add too much water. You need to keep it at a minimum to get the best action. Yes, they can be noisy. An annoying sound like a jet engine in a hail storm. I've found that a small squeeze of Ivory liquid dish soap dampens the sound quite a bit by padding the contact some. The draw back is it also slows the polishing down some, so it adds a little time to the process. But I use it to stop most of chippage that can occur in a vibe while running thin or delicate material. They are aggressive tumblers. Well I hope this helps some, happy tumbling, Don
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 12:04:43 GMT -5
Post by James on Jan 6, 2004 12:04:43 GMT -5
Good info. I think we need a seperate thread about vibrating tumblers.
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 12:49:22 GMT -5
Post by Pdwight on Jan 6, 2004 12:49:22 GMT -5
Yes , I agree. I have a large 20 lb. vibratring cyclonic what ever ypou want to call it. It was made for cleaning rifle and pistol brass before reloading (my other hobby). I tried to use it once for rock polishing , but it just sat there making noise and doing nothing..I think I used too much water...I dunno
I wish we had some guidelines and instructions from you nice people who have exoerience with these things............please ??
I said the magic word
Dwight P
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 15:23:49 GMT -5
Post by donwrob on Jan 6, 2004 15:23:49 GMT -5
Hey dwight buddy, try this. Load your vibe a little better than half way up the bowl with rocks. Dry, no water or polish. Turn it on and see if the rocks move around the bowl. They should be moving fairly quick, from the outside to the center, down and back up the outside again and at the same time the whole lot should be slowly circling in the bowl. I don't know if the brass polishing vibes work well with rocks or not? Some may, and some may not be designed to take that much weight. The industrial vibe I have was made for both, the bowl is extra thick to take the punishment from rocks and the stand is beefed up with heavier springs. If the rocks move dry, you ought to be in business. Add the polish and then pour a small amount of water in (just a swig - maybe 2 tsps) then wait until it has a chance to mix good. You should have a light coating of wet polish on the rocks as they continue to move around the bowl. Add water as needed if it looks too pastey but only small amounts at a time. Always give it time to mix up after adding. If you add too much it washes the polish off the rocks (not good), if you add even more the action will quit all together (worse). I hope this is helpful dwight, let me know if it works for you. Talk to ya later, Don
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 16:33:59 GMT -5
Post by donwrob on Jan 6, 2004 16:33:59 GMT -5
dwight, me again. I thought this might help give you a better idea of what I was talking about. I made a small movie of my vibe in action and posted it at my host so I could link to it (hopefully). Check this out, Don photos.imageevent.com/donwrob317/flintstonerubble///Vibe.MPGI hope this works, should be cool. Give it time to load and turn up the volume to get the full effect!
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 17:17:25 GMT -5
Post by Pdwight on Jan 6, 2004 17:17:25 GMT -5
Great info Don , that is the motion that I get when polishing brass...my tumbler is probbly twice the size of yours ...with a huge motor..it should work fine. When I used it I just filled it up with water and added a few rocks and some media...noting hapened..this helps a lot.
Thanks again Dwight P
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ebay
Jan 6, 2004 18:28:25 GMT -5
Post by Noosh9057 on Jan 6, 2004 18:28:25 GMT -5
The movie was very interesting. I never seen a Vib work.
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ebay
Jan 7, 2004 3:33:51 GMT -5
Post by puppie96 on Jan 7, 2004 3:33:51 GMT -5
The Rock Shed (therockshed.com) has some good instructions for using vibes.
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ebay
Jan 7, 2004 4:34:00 GMT -5
Post by sandsman1 on Jan 7, 2004 4:34:00 GMT -5
wow that is loud but it looks like it realy moves the stones well i can see why it does last couple stages well thanks for the demo it was cool ------ john
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ebay
Jan 13, 2004 14:55:23 GMT -5
Post by sandsman1 on Jan 13, 2004 14:55:23 GMT -5
good info don i think ill stick to the rollers haha till i move to the shore house im in an apartment up here and the neighbors will burn me out hahahaha but i like the idea that they work alittle faster ok thanks again ---john
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