learn2turn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2011
Posts: 77
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Post by learn2turn on Feb 22, 2011 13:48:23 GMT -5
I sort of asked this at the end of another thread but maybe no one saw it.
I have an MT-10 microsonic vibe on permanent loan.
I want to get some rough stones and tumble.
Is it a bad idea to do them just with the vibe?
Will the vibe not do any rounding at all with 120/220?
Should I shell out $80 for a 3lb rotary?
I don't intend to become a serious hobbyist, just want something me and my kid can dabble in every once in a while.
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 22, 2011 13:55:55 GMT -5
I think most members will agree that if you're starting out with rough stone, start them in a rotary in 60/90 grit, and run them until all of the rough edges are ground off. Then switch over to your vibe.
You say that you don't intend to become a serious hobbyist. Be warned, this stuff is addictive. Don
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 22, 2011 20:04:36 GMT -5
Funny, I started this hobby with a vibe 6 years ago because I only wanted to polish a box of rocks that I found in Canada. Then I wanted to shape them, so I got a tile saw. Then I wanted to cut bigger rocks, so I got a 16 inch slab saw. Then I got a cabbing machine. Then I needed a way to cut up slightly smaller rocks, so I got a ten inch saw. Then I wanted to cut slightly bigger rocks then the 16 inch could handle, so I got an 18 inch saw. Then I ran across a good deal on a 6 pound Lortone rotary that I couldn't pass up, so I got it. Then Jo (naturenut) asked if I could get any use out of her vibe tumbler and rotary tumbler while she was traveling, so I said yes..... now I got those. Oh, and what started out as a box of rough grew into almost 2 tons of rough. Just some stuff to take notes on, because it's all 100% true, not to mention that I've been researching a sphere machine. This is all just a hobby, because I frame houses during the week!! BTW, just remembered, I need to order another 200 feet of gold wire from Rio Grande. Good luck with your new hobby! ;D
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Feb 22, 2011 20:17:44 GMT -5
Randy: That is so funny! But I can see how true it can be...there are hundreds of pounds of rock covering my front porch! And my porch is 6 feet deep and more than 50 feet long....and we just started the outdoor storage since last April! YIKES! And then came the cabbing machine last fall...and then the saws...and then my husband found a trim saw and a vibe he bought years ago... And so it goes... Sue
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 22, 2011 20:34:15 GMT -5
Yeah, Randy pretty well covered the trap you fall into. ;D Heck,all I did was find an online place to buy grit. The Rock Shed, and they had a link to here......................
snuffy
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 23, 2011 4:14:34 GMT -5
Brilliant Randy - - - - that just about explains everything about the adiction of rock Polishing,
Mine started in the garage now its in the greenhouse, garage, small workshop and of course rocks stored in the garden
You said - - - - [glow=red,2,300]I don't intend to become a serious hobbyist, just want something me and my kid can dabble in every once in a while.[/glow] Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Time will tell ! ! ! ?
Jack Yorkshire UK
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charles kuchar
spending too much on rocks
getting ready for the second coming
Member since November 2010
Posts: 300
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Post by charles kuchar on Feb 23, 2011 7:27:10 GMT -5
as for the tumbler, you can get the thumber tumbler 3# unit with two barrels for about 120 or so from therockshed.com. then you can tumble rough and fine grit at the same time. i started with that a few years ago. now i have a saw that frustrates me, a 12# tumbler that will do two 3# tumbler barrels when i want to change tumbling sizes and a lot-O vibrator for polishing. like randy says, it's addicting. i started tumbling three years ago and now my three year old granddaughter has a rock collection... charlie
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 23, 2011 7:33:05 GMT -5
Ah yes ... addiction takes many forms. Randy left out the part about family vacations being centred around rock hounding and geologic discovery.
Back to the original question ... you definately need a small roatary to prepare rocks for finishing in your vibe. Either match the barrel capacities (3 lb rotary for 3 lb vibe), or have the roatry capacity exceed the vibe capacity. I have a 15lb rotary to feed my 10 lb vibe. The rotary barely keeps up because the rotary takes much longer, especially in the 60/90 stage. Also, not everything oin the rotary is suitable for moving on to the vibe.
Be careful ... addiction takes many forms.
Darryl.
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 23, 2011 9:27:23 GMT -5
Yup, need a rotary. Can't use 60/90 in a vibe and the action in a rotary is best for rounding rocks. Having one of each is best.
Randy described it perfectly. You'll be working to pay the bills AND support your rock habit... but you'll be happy!
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learn2turn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2011
Posts: 77
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Post by learn2turn on Feb 23, 2011 16:33:16 GMT -5
Well, I have a couple other addiction already. Skiing is the first love and takes almost all my free time in winter. I fly RC planes in summer. Looking for something to do with my kid for 1/2 hour once every few weeks.
The plus side of a tank of gas costing $50 these days if if you want a $100 toy, you just say, what the heck, it's only the cost of a couple tanks of gas.
Maybe when winter's over, instead of just buying $40 in supplies, I'll throw in another $70 for a 3lb rotary.
-l2t
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 23, 2011 17:03:28 GMT -5
Rig those RC planes with cameras, and use them to scout for good rock hounding places. Don
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learn2turn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2011
Posts: 77
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Post by learn2turn on Feb 23, 2011 18:44:27 GMT -5
Actually, I read of one place to look for rocks is in the debris that was dug up with they put in ski-lift towers.
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 23, 2011 22:20:52 GMT -5
You can get by with a vibe by purchasing slabs to break up. It is how I started - BUT, you cannot get the 1/2 hr every week or so deal. SOrry but vibes need changing out every 12 to 24 hours, and may need a squirt of water after 4 or 8 hours. They need a lot of attention, and that does not sound like what you are describing.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 24, 2011 3:31:52 GMT -5
Hi I Totaly agree with Deb above Vibes DO need attention and close attention at that
A Rotary would be better for you with just a daily quick check & a weekly wash and clean up ,sort out,
Get a good rotary then hopefull you wont get any mid week disasters.
Jack
Yorkshire uk
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learn2turn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2011
Posts: 77
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Post by learn2turn on Feb 24, 2011 8:16:26 GMT -5
Well, I didn't mean exactly 1/2 week. I work from home need take 5-10 minute breaks a couple times a day. So something I can tinker with once a day for a few weeks and then leave only for a few weeks when I don't have something that's running is fine.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 25, 2011 2:05:12 GMT -5
learn2 turn, You say
[glow=red,2,300]Well, I didn't mean exactly 1/2 week. I work from home need take 5-10 minute breaks a couple times a day. So something I can tinker with once a day for a few weeks and then leave only for a few weeks when I don't have something that's running is fine[/glow]
Well then you and a vibe would be great
A vibe wants watching especialy when you start and are in the 2nd stage with 220 grit the Vibe is very agressive and rubs (grinds) off a lot of rock which needs a spray of water from time to time to keep the whole lot mobile
If your working at home and need a good few short interesting breaks- - - - Perfect
But when you go away Turn it off,
The vibes are realy quick anyway so you would catch up later ,
I do a batch in 10 days from stage 2 , others can do a batch in 8 days, compared this to my rotary of 21 days
A Rotary shapes up rough rock realy well a vibe only smothes of the edges
Jack Yorkshire uk
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 25, 2011 11:49:36 GMT -5
All in all, the price point of a Lot-O is not too prohibitive, especially given the quality and popularity of the unit.
Maybe you should go for it.
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learn2turn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2011
Posts: 77
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Post by learn2turn on Feb 25, 2011 20:17:39 GMT -5
What is a Lot-O?
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 26, 2011 2:28:11 GMT -5
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learn2turn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2011
Posts: 77
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Post by learn2turn on Feb 27, 2011 14:07:53 GMT -5
But the point of this thread is already have a vibe. Why would I want another one when I don't have a rotary yet?
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