MT4 mini sonic batch

[Drummond Island Rocks]

I do not use the mini sonic tumbler very often but it does a pretty good job. I probably just prefer the loto because I have way more experience with it.

These first three are Moroccan agates that I cut open and tumbled. Sometimes I like this look where the inside is flawless and shiny yet the outside still pretty much shows the natural rock look. These did not ever see stage one. Only 7 days in the mini sonic after cutting them open.

1



2



3



These are all slices end end cuts from one of the Moroccan agates.

4


5


6


7


8


And these are the rest of load. These all went through all stages.

9



10



11



12


13


And the rest of the batch


Thanks for looking
Chuck

[electrocutus]

They are all so beautiful! I love 6 and 7. Is it possible to polish something like #7 in a rotary tumbler and still preserve the crystals in the hole?

[Peruano]

Plenty pretty. I like the mini sonic because it seems less sensitive to differences in load and roughness of the tumble material compared to my vibratories. I too like preserve some of the rough (natural edges) while trying for a good shine on smooth surfaces. Nice material.

[Drummond Island Rocks]

Jan 5, 2021 11:59:08 GMT -5 electrocutus said:

They are all so beautiful! I love 6 and 7. Is it possible to polish something like #7 in a rotary tumbler and still preserve the crystals in the hole?

Should be OK as long as the barrel is full enough to not have any violent bashing going on. I do stuff with crystal pockets pretty often in the vibe and usually within minutes of turning it on ceramics get lodged in the pockets. That protects them but at the same time it can be a challenge getting the ceramics out between each stage. They really get lodge in incredibly tight.

Chuck

[rockjunquie]

Those Moroccans are sure ugly on the outside. LOL! Cool, but ugly and pocked.

#5 really caught my eye. It has blue. That's uncommon. Plus- it almost looks like it is chatoyant. Probably not but that silky area looks like it would be.

[Jugglerguy]

#4 and #8 must be two halves of the same rock. I really like those. 9 and 11 really stood out too.

I have had a few people ask about the mini sonic in my YouTube comments. I haven't been able to find any really good instructions for how to use it. Looks like you have it down pretty good right now. Have you or would you be willing to make a thread on what your process is?

[Drummond Island Rocks]

Jan 5, 2021 16:29:23 GMT -5 Jugglerguy said:

#4 and #8 must be two halves of the same rock. I really like those. 9 and 11 really stood out too.

I have had a few people ask about the mini sonic in my YouTube comments. I haven't been able to find any really good instructions for how to use it. Looks like you have it down pretty good right now. Have you or would you be willing to make a thread on what your process is?

There is a note above the 4th picture saying that 4,5,6,7 and 8 are all the same rock. The center slice with the crystal pocket going all the way through it is really cool in person.

I have no idea what I did in the mini sonic for this batch. I just added a lot more grits and polish then I have in the past. In the past I had tried using a recipe and timeline similar to the lot-o since they are both about 4 pound tumblers but that never worked.

Chuck

[Jugglerguy]

Jan 5, 2021 17:06:56 GMT -5 Drummond Island Rocks said:

Jan 5, 2021 16:29:23 GMT -5 Jugglerguy said:

#4 and #8 must be two halves of the same rock. I really like those. 9 and 11 really stood out too.

I have had a few people ask about the mini sonic in my YouTube comments. I haven't been able to find any really good instructions for how to use it. Looks like you have it down pretty good right now. Have you or would you be willing to make a thread on what your process is?

There is a note above the 4th picture saying that 4,5,6,7 and 8 are all the same rock. The center slice with the crystal pocket going all the way through it is really cool in person.

I have no idea what I did in the mini sonic for this batch. I just added a lot more grits and polish then I have in the past. In the past I had tried using a recipe and timeline similar to the lot-o since they are both about 4 pound tumblers but that never worked.

Chuck

Well I feel a little silly. I would have never guessed that those middle ones were the same rock. That's really cool.

[Drummond Island Rocks]

Jan 5, 2021 15:42:58 GMT -5 rockjunquie said:

Those Moroccans are sure ugly on the outside. LOL! Cool, but ugly and pocked.

#5 really caught my eye. It has blue. That's uncommon. Plus- it almost looks like it is chatoyant. Probably not but that silky area looks like it would be.

Thanks Tela. That blue orb was a nice surprise right in the middle of a rock. Not sure if you caught it or not but 4,5,6,7 and 8 are all from the same host rock.

Chuck

[rockjunquie]

I caught it in your responses. It's pretty amazing that they are all the same rock.

[jasoninsd]

Pretty fascinating results on these! As others have opinionated, I too like the polished and rough look on some rocks and these are great examples of that!

I better not start looking into a mini-sonic...must resist the temptation to search one out...must not give in to the dark side...I think I can, I think I can...

[NevadaBill]

These are a great batch of rocks. I also like to cut and polish the face on some and leave the rest of the outside natural. Make nice paperweights I think. The MT-4 can take a larger rock than the Lotto, and is not nearly as finicky about water, which makes it a winner in my book.

I wish I had material like you though! Thanks for posting to give us regular types inspiration.

[Drummond Island Rocks]

Jan 6, 2021 15:04:52 GMT -5 NevadaBill said:

These are a great batch of rocks. I also like to cut and polish the face on some and leave the rest of the outside natural. Make nice paperweights I think. The MT-4 can take a larger rock than the Lotto, and is not nearly as finicky about water, which makes it a winner in my book.

I wish I had material like you though! Thanks for posting to give us regular types inspiration.

I think I have always tried to cheat the amount of grit for the MT4 because of my lot-o roots. Would you mind sharing what has worked for you?

This is what I did for this batch on a whim

Stage one rotary then MT4
120/220 SC three tablespoons for 48 hours
500 A/O two tablespoons 96 hours
Rockshed A/O polish two tablespoons for 48 hours.

That is like 12 times the amount of 500 and polish that I use in the loto for the same amount of rock. Did I way over do it this time?

Chuck

[NevadaBill]

Jan 6, 2021 21:47:39 GMT -5 Drummond Island Rocks said:

Jan 6, 2021 15:04:52 GMT -5 NevadaBill said:

These are a great batch of rocks. I also like to cut and polish the face on some and leave the rest of the outside natural. Make nice paperweights I think. The MT-4 can take a larger rock than the Lotto, and is not nearly as finicky about water, which makes it a winner in my book.

I wish I had material like you though! Thanks for posting to give us regular types inspiration.

I think I have always tried to cheat the amount of grit for the MT4 because of my lot-o roots. Would you mind sharing what has worked for you?

This is what I did for this batch on a whim

Stage one rotary then MT4
120/220 SC three tablespoons for 48 hours
500 A/O two tablespoons 96 hours
Rockshed A/O polish two tablespoons for 48 hours.

That is like 12 times the amount of 500 and polish that I use in the loto for the same amount of rock. Did I way over do it this time?

Chuck

Chuck,

At my stage of tumbling I can see no possible way that I could ever teach anyone else how to tumble.  There just too many variables with every load.  It is a different recipe almost every time.

I reached out to you personally in a PM about a year and a half ago.  Essentially both you and Rob gave me the exact same recipe basics for using the Lotto / MT-4.  And I have not deviated from it much.  It is perfect and I follow it by the book mostly.

Only thing is that I acquired an extra 6 lb. Lortone a year ago.  And I use it exclusively for the 120/220 SiC Stage 2.  Yes, I know that I have to use 25x more grit and it is costly.  But I just seem to like rolling that stage for 7-10 days or so in the Rotary.

With the 500/600 in the MT-4 it can be either SiC or AO depending, and it always gets at least 1 TBLS of Borax.  Just find it easier to clean up mostly.  The number of days is usually between 3-4.  And not more.

I also use a 1200 AO in another barrel MT-4 for exactly 1-2 days (your recipe exactly), but I add 1 TBLS of Borax.  Never more than 2 days.

And I finish it with the Rock Shed Polish every time.  And use the Borax again.  And never more than 2 days.

I am still learning all of the time though.  I have experimented with AO 500, allowing it to break down in a Rotary for over a 3 week period with interesting results (no 1200 stage needed at all, etc).  I have also bought plastic pellets and used in Rotary with some variances of grit (based on something Jamesp wrote once), for special soft material or stuff that seems to get spars or cracks in it, just to add a lot of cushion so the rocks are not smashing in to each other as much...  Now I am rambling.  Sorry.

Basically both you and Rob were very keys in educating me on how to tumble with the Vibe.  Before you, I was lost. 

The instructions you wrote above are perfect.

[wyohound]

These are gorgeous! I too love the contrast between the rough character of the outside and the smooth polished surfaces. The banding!! I'm a sucker for fortified banding! # 9 and 10 just get me going!
I just recently got a Mini Sonic with two 4lb barrels. (Santa was very, very good to me! He loves rocks, too!) I'm new to vibes, and I'm looking for recipes and tips to help me get a shine on my rocks. I've been using two rotaries for about 5 years now and have been extremely happy with my results, but sometime frustrated with the wait.
Any tips or recipes you can share for the Mini Sonic, I would really appreciate!

[waterboysh]

Jan 6, 2021 15:04:52 GMT -5 NevadaBill said:

The MT-4 can take a larger rock than the Lotto, and is not nearly as finicky about water, which makes it a winner in my book.

Really? I just commented in another thread that since my Lot-o motor died, if I can't get a replacement motor I might get the MT4. But one thing I'm a little concerned about is that I've got some oblong shaped rocks that are a little on the bigger side that were waiting for their turn in the Lot-o and I'd be slightly concerned they would not work well in the MT4. In the Lot-o, as long as if fits in the barrel it'll tumble. You can't put more than 1 or 2 big ones in, but it'll still work fine. The opening is about 2.5". The manual for the MT4 says not to exceed 2" in size. Just from observation on Youtube videos, I think the issue is the hopper is more rectangular compared to the round shape of the Lot-o barrel. But having never used the MT4 I don't really know for sure.

[HankRocks]

I suspect the small motor issues are unfortunately going to be typical for small motors these days. As I documented in this thread;


forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/99624/uv-18-motor-adventure

If a person has access to a junk yard/scrap yard/used equipment facility and can find small motors it might be good to look for some old motors, the new ones have a good chance of being junk!!

As far the the Mini-Sonic, I have one I use, good machine. It's a 3 - 4lb hopper machine. It also has a 10lb hopper that fits across two of the bays. The suggested 2 inch rock limit is probably pretty accurate. Currently have  a couple of 3 inch rocks in polish now in the 10 pound hopper. About once a day or so one or both get jammed, not with each other but by themselves. As I definitely exceeded the size limit suggestion it not too surprising. It does require checking the moisture level every 3 or 4 hours anyway so I catch the jams at that time. It's not run at night or during an extended time away from the house.

There's a lot to be said for tumbling with a Rotary, close it up and forget about it until cleanout.

[Deleted]

Drummond Island Rocks
Wow, those are some beauties for sure! Thanks for sharing Chuck!

[lovesblueskies]

Jan 5, 2021 16:29:23 GMT -5 Jugglerguy said:

#4 and #8 must be two halves of the same rock. I really like those. 9 and 11 really stood out too.

I have had a few people ask about the mini sonic in my YouTube comments. I haven't been able to find any really good instructions for how to use it. Looks like you have it down pretty good right now. Have you or would you be willing to make a thread on what your process is?

I have an instruction manual for it, but it doesn't say anything about what speed to use. I can email it to you if you'd like.

[chris1956]

Wow!  There is some great information in this thread.   Here is my two cents worth.   I use both a Lot-O and a mini sonic MT4 for 220 and polish.   In general for pre-polish and polish, I use the same amount of borax and polish from a recipe that I got from a Michigan Rocks video Jugglerguy which I think was from others on the forum probably including Chuck.   So for pre-polish and polish I use a tablespoon of borax (although I have cut this back for the mini to maybe 1.5 tablespoons lately) and a half teaspoon of polish.  Since the mini is approximately 2 pounds and Lot-O is 3 pounds, I am adding a little more polish than you would with the Lot-O on a weight basis.      

Since the motion and speed in the mini is every bit as much and fast as in the Lot-O, I have again followed the same times as Rob does with the Lot-O recipe.   

Now, I have to admit that my tumbles are not as perfect as Rob's and Chuck's (man they are great), but I can't detect any difference between the polish in the Lot-O and in the mini.   

The downside of the mini (MT4) is the smaller capacity and being careful not to get larger or longer rocks that will jam in the unit.   I do like the fact that it is not as sensitive to adding water as the Lot-O is. 


Chris