I enjoyed this video. I live in the UK and Borax is not available here in it's raw form. I tried using the Borax substitute but it was a disaster, full of soap, bubbles everywhere. Borax seems to be the norm in the US for polishing and burnishing, wish we could get it here in the UK.
Thanks for the video, I just ordered my first vibratory tumbler when I came upon your review. I had been previously following your channel, and after you added the dishwashing liquid I was like, “gosh, why doesn’t she just use the Borax for a cleaner instead”, like with the rotary tumbler! Then you said, “I’m changing the process and adding a step to use Borax as a cleaner.” Whoo hoo, really great results! 😎
I was waiting for this video :) So enjoyed watching the process ! Nice to mention the noise, if one is going to purchase this type of tumbler they can better prepare for a spot that can be loud. I like the box idea :) The results are amazing~they shine so nicely :)
Thanks Cherry! I just had to mention the noise because I wish I would have known beforehand to be honest. But I know I mentioned to you the noise and it made you apprehensive so I wanted to show what I did to help minimize the sound. Plus if you can stand the sound for less than a week (because that is all it takes to run through all the stages and get such shiny rocks) then it'll be worth it.
@@MarlainaAtkins Marlaina I appreciate you. I would of never knew it was that noisy. I have limited areas for that kind of noise. The garage would be my best place but it is so cold the rocks could freeze. I may have to wait until spring to get on. Thanks also for telling it is all done a week. That and the shine is what got me interested, as I am sure it was for you also :)
Great job they look awesome and it takes allot less time. The vibratory tumblers are noisy, try gluing some foam board to the inside of your box and that will help you might need two to four inches. Keep up the great videos and God bless you and your family.
Hey Robert! Thank you so much. The time it takes is night and day difference... 9 weeks vs 6 days...cant beat that. But the noise is an issue. I'm building a sound box for it for sure. My husband spends a lot of time in the garage and it drives him crazy haha
@@MarlainaAtkins I ended up building a 3-sided insulated box for my vibe and it works ok, but it's still pretty loud IF you are INSIDE the building it's in. Make sure not to get the box too air tight, or the vibe WILL heat up, which you don't want.
I'm glad you shared this video. I have the Thumler's UV-10 and went through conniptions my first tumble. I'm still learning and making mistakes. Don't forget that washer and wingnut (I've done that a few times). Man O man, those are nice and shiny. Great job!
Good job!! Add more ceramics. Lots of small ceramics! That will make a noticeable improvement in noise and in achieving the tornado movement in the bowl!
I don't think that putting a box over the tumbler is a good idea. Back when I tried it, my tumbler got really hot. Plus, I saw a video from some UA-cam rock tumbler person talking about how he burned up the motor in his vibratory tumbler. I may be worrying about nothing, but my tumbler really did get very hot. To this day, I keep a fan going on all of my rock tumblers in the summer.
I totally hear you. And you're probably right. In the summertime you definitely got to be careful and check it often. When I put the box over it I make sure there's a gap at the bottom (about an inch and a half) to allow air flow so it doesn't get too hot. I haven't had any problems with it getting hot but it's pretty cold where I'm at most of the year.
Hi. Your results are amazing! I have my vibe in use since december and am still working on my first batch. Just can't manage to get them shiny. A bit frustrating, but I keep on trying...
Thank you. Don't give up! It's a lot of trial and error. You will get there! Make sure to clean your rocks, media and barrel really good inbetween...super important! Do a few cleaning runs if you have to. I noticed the grit is super hard to get all off otherwise. It could be the problem🤷
@@MarlainaAtkins Thanks for your encouragement. Maybe my results are not good because I didn't get the ceramics you use. I had serious trouble getting any ceramics and ended up with triangular ones... but now, finally, I found a store from Austria, that sells the same ones you use. They are quite expensive and I am always warily ordering over borders in the internet. But I made a test order last week with some grit and some really awesome rocks (Falkenauge, really cool stuff, translates falcons eye? Hawk eye? It looks like blue tigers eye) and that arrived quickly, safe and the shipping was not expensive. So I am going to order ceramics there and try on.
@@stefanieschmid9760 Don't do it!! Make your own out of broken ceramic plates, cups etc! Break it to the size you want and tumble them with your rocks from the first stage, works great for me! After they go through stage one they can be added at any stage when needed.
Thank you so much!🤗 So the difference is... One is standard and has a different type of bowl material and motor and Springs and is only meant for shell casings and stuff like that. The other one is industrial and has a stronger Barrel material and a stronger motor and springs with a different set up that can withstand the heavy load of the rocks. You can use the standard for rocks but you will wear the barrel quicker and the motor will not last as long I guess.
Because the grit gets super embedded/stuck into/onto the stone and barrel and it helps to clean and loosen the grit on the stone for easier cleaning... Because you still need to clean them afterwards. If you don't do this step it'll take you twice as long or longer to clean them good enough for the next stage. ☺️
Looks like the first stage could have gone another week or two in my opinion. But some people like more natural look... No matter...I think your rocks came out beautifully! Very nice shine to them! Nicely done! Are you still liking you vibratory tumbler? Any problems with it? I'm looking for another vibratory. Keep up the great work 👍! 🙂
Sorry for the late reply! I'll have to admit... I like my rotary better. I had issues with the barrel after the 4th run. It seems that the barrel is breaking down and leaving little black specks (from the barrel) that like to embed themselves in any nook and cranny. So... This vibe does work great, but on very smooth stones with no cracks or pits. If I was ever to buy another vibe, I'd go with the Lot-O brand which seems to be the top pick for most people I know and works very well.
@MarlainaAtkins Good to know...The Lot O is what I want to get also, but I can't find any to purchase anywhere 😫? If you know where to buy one let me know. I would be much appreciated!
Is it totally safe to cover the machine. ? Im thinking about the electrical motor maybe overheating if there’s no airflow around it. I absolutely love this video, im about to get my first vibrator tumbler and I’ll be following your instructions to the letter in the hope my rocks come out anywhere near as good as yours
That's wonderful and great question... I had the same concern. I've checked several times and the motor doesn't feel overheated at all. So I think its fine. Best wishes to you and Happy tumbling!✨
I too used a cardboard box with fiberglass insulation on the inside: The noise was greatly reduced, but the motor overheated and was a total loss: Just saying...!
@@sheldonchervin5141 thanks for the review. I've used a non-insulated cardboard box with no overheating of the motor. But I've been thinking of building one that's insulated to reduce noise... But I think I'll stick to what I've been using. Appreciate the input. Cheers
It has been a few months since you posted this, so I am not sure if you’ll see this question? I followed your instructions for my first time tumbling in one of these. On the last polish stage, I noticed a lot of very small black specs. I’m assuming it’s the rubber from the bowl? Is that common?
I did actually... and I too was wondering if this is common or not. It doesn't seem to affect the polishing as I have received a great result even so... But... I have since done a batch that had some pits and cracks and it seems to embed itself in them and is SUPER hard to get out if not impossible. I feel pre-shaped/ground down or void of pits and cracks stones are the way to go with this vibe.
@@MarlainaAtkins Really appreciate your response and input. I feel a little better knowing that I’m not alone in this, and your results ARE exceptional! I am new at tumbling, but a very seasoned rock lover. You are an inspiration, and I made quite the investment, including this tumbler after binge watching your vid’s. Blessings.
Thank you!✨🤗✨ Yes... The vibratory is much louder than the rotary. I can have three rotary tumblers going at the same time and they are still quieter than the vibe alone. The rotary is surprisingly quiet and nonbothersome. The vibe is so loud that you can barely hear anything else around you. I have to put something over it to stand it.😏
@@MarlainaAtkins Thanks good info, I will continue with my rotary or get a larger model that is also quiet. If I do pick-up the vibratory I will set up outside in the shed! No way would my wife put up with that noise in the garage, Lol!
Thanks for the video! I have the UV-10 and just ran 6 pounds of rocks through my rotary tumbler with course grit. The rotary tumbler came with 4 grits, and I see you went straight from coarse to the one you use in the video. Is that the only step for the vibratory tumbler? Does it remove having to use two other grits? Which one would you recommend to use?
I like my rotary tumbler the most but the vibe cuts tumbling time WAY down. The vibe barrel can't handle the abrasiveness of the coarse grit that is why you do not use it in the vibe. You can start off in the vibe with stage 2/medium... and then follow with pre-polish and polish stages for a total of 3 stages. I always run them in stage one in my rotary first because I still feel it gives the best polish in the end and takes out cracks and pits. The main issue I have when using the vibe is it'll embed the grit so deep into any cracks or pits that it's SO hard to get out. I will only use my vibe on smooth stones now for that reason. So if your rocks have any cracks or pits...get rid of them first before using the vibe... Or I recommend the rotary😎
I started my first batch in the Raytech TV10 last night and it’s sure a change over a rotary. I can barely hear the rotary over ambient noise in the shed, but can hear the TV10 outside the shed with all doors closed. Getting the slurry to form without adding too much water is a bit of a balancing act but I could a little too much is likely better here as the shed is sitting at 25-30c, so it will evaporate a little of the water over the 12hrs between checks.
You got that shine with only two stages in the vib tumbler ?!?! (I’ve been doing two stages in the rotary THEN two stages in the vibratory and they do not look that good 😫)
I do my rough stage 1 all in a rotary, then stages 2-4 in the vibe. Try that process instead and make sure to clean everything up very good between stages.
Beaches, rivers, streams are where I'd start if you're wanting to find them yourself. If you're looking online... there's places like The Rock Shed or Etsy even that sells them. Hope that helps! Happy Tumbling😊
going with average electricity cost for US- how much $ in electricity (or how many watts of power does the tumbler use) does it cost to run the tumbler for 24 hours?
I'm not sure of the total cost per year but I don't seem to notice much of a difference and I run mine 24 hrs. My Lortone 3lb double barrel tumbler uses 115/AC ; 60HZ ; 36 watts ; 57 amps The Thumler's ultra vibe motor operates on 115 volts at 300 VPM. Hope that helps some.
Thank you for your video ,im interested in your thoughts would this system work with a few large rocks i have some tiger eye and tiger iron i would like to polish ,size is about the size of a large drinking cup.thanks John
I don't think it would. In a rotary tumbler yes... for sure. The vibe need to be filled 2/3 full to achieve the rolling effect it creates... You could try it tho just make sure you add some kind of ceramic media for filler... Still not sure if it will work but that's what I'd try. Hope that helps
May I ask what brand it is? If its the same brand I have (Thumler's) then you definitely need a little water... as with most brands. It doesn't take much as you can see in my video... but it still needs some. A little confused as to why it says no water... that is odd to me... unless there is something with the brand you have that I don't know of.
@@MarlainaAtkins Leegos its from Amazon. It's to clean metal parts and shells for bullets. . I sent it back to them it came with ground corn cobs and nut shells.
They are pretty hard to find at the moment. But here are some links. If you buy a Thumler brand...make sure it has the blue stripe on the bowl NOT the yellow... The blue stripe means its for rocks...there is a difference. Best wishes to you!✨ therockshed.com/ rocktumbler.com/vibratory.shtml www.thumlerstumbler.com/index.html
It's the UV-10MB 3.5lb capacity one. Here's a link to where I got it... www.rockshed.com/rock-shop/rock-tumblers-supplies/rock-tumblers/vibrating-rock-tumblers/ultra-vibe-10mb-3-5lb-capacity-tumbler/
I see that you have been using this tumbler for year or so, now. Has it been durable? I'm considering changing from my former vibrating tumbler to this brand.
I have to admit... I'm kind of disappointed with this vibe. After a few uses I noticed black bits floating in the sludge... It was from the barrel. And it embeds itself into every tiny pit or crack in the stones. I now ONLY use it for pretrimmed stones or ones that are void of any cracks or pits and it turns out with a brilliant shine. I'm not sure what brand you had before... But if it's a Lot-O... Don't switch. Supposedly it's way more durable. Hope that helps
@@MarlainaAtkins the black specs are normal, because the bowl will deteriorate some as you use it. To help slow this down I was told to use about 1/3 media in the pre polish (stage 3) and polish runs. This seems to work good! I also use that amount in Stage 2 too. Some black specs will still occur, but not as much and they don't affect the polish. Remember to refresh/replace your media when it reduces in size too much to help pad the runs. I run a Borax cleaning run after stages 2 and 3 for about 1 hour, and a longer one for stage 4 to burnish for much longer.
60/90 silicon carbide coarse grit... 120/220 silicon carbide medium grit... Aluminum oxide pre-polish... And aluminum oxide polish. I buy all my grit from Lortone😉
Hi, I have the UV 10 thumlers vibratory tumbler, the inside of my bowl was textured with bumps and it had good action , after about 7 days of using it the action is not so good and the inside of the bowl is now pretty smooth. Has this happened to you and is it normal?
Hi! The inside of my bowl came smooth...so I'm not sure on that. But if the action is not so good...try adding a little ceramic media and see if it starts moving better... You have to add media as you go as the material sands down to a smaller size creating more space which will make the stones not move right. That could be what's happening. Hope that helps! Cheers Rob✨
Hi there, I have a question.. I want to do mystery scoop lives like they do with crystals on TikTok.. but I want to put real silver jewelry in little gum ball machine containers (the little ball ones) do you think those would work with this?
Hi Sam! That's an awesome idea. I have never polished silver myself but I know people have with great results. I'm going to give you a link to another video that shows how to polish silver in a rotary tumbler and gives you some great tips. You would basically use the same process in the vibrating Tumblr except you would need a lot less water and I would use borax not dish soap. Hope that helps a little. I wish I could give you more advice. Good luck✨ ua-cam.com/video/PwbhNDO5gg0/v-deo.html
Yep. I'm wondering myself why they wouldn't make one to withstand coarse. The 60/90 or coarser will eat up the barrel I guess. I think the vibe is best for material that doesn't need a coarse run... If you don't have a rotary for the coarse stage. Im curious what the results would be if I just started in 120/220 with no previous rolling.🤔 I'll have to try
I actually totally agree with you. I prefer my rotary and use it most of the time. I will ONLY use the vibe now on perfectly trimmed pieces I plan on making jewelry with. The undercutting and trying to get the polish compound out afterwards is a nightmare and ruins the pieces. I'll be honest... I've only used the vibe 3 times since I purchased it. Rotary is the way to go for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cheers
I'm happy with the result...but I know I can do better. I think I'll pre-shape and trim off the cracks and pits before using it again. It seems to be way harder to clean out the grit from the cracks and pits compared to the rotary. But I can't deny it is nice to have these results in a fraction of the time compared to the rotary.
@@MarlainaAtkins for sure. I bet the grit gets lodged farther in the cracks because of the vibrations, I could see that being kind of a pain in the butt! I bet your next batch will be better, we always learn from our mistakes!
@@mitchgillilan you nailed it... That's exactly why! It just pounded the grit deep into those cracks. Total pain... And the step I dread because of haha! It is some trial and error and our mistakes are the best lessons we give ourselves... Appreciate your comments Mitch... Cheers🤗✨
I started using a jewlery ultrasonic cleaner to get the white polish out of pits and crevices. I guess you could say it is a burnishing stage of sorts.
21 days (3wks) in coarse in the rotary... The rest is done in the vibe... 3 days in medium... 3 days in pre-polish... 2 days in polish... 29 days total✨
I appreciate the feedback. I was thinking I may have used a little too much during the medium stage... You just confirmed it for me. Will use less next time
@@MarlainaAtkins if you can see water in the bottom your in trouble, the grit will go to the bottom, doesn’t take much, i put rocks in wet add grit and maybe a couple squirts, check in an hour or two, once slurry is established just enough to keep rocks slippery
@@johnsevereide9311 thanks for the tip! Do you think that may have been why the center had so much build up too...from splashing around in too much water?
Agreed, many use too much water! I use this method for great results. Fill the vibe with rocks and media, then with water so all are covered, then put the lid on with a slight slit in the top and while holding the lid in place, turn the bowl over and pour OUT all the water. If it is too heavy for you to handle like this, dunk your rocks in water before you put them in the vibe. This will leave the contents wet. Then add your grit a little at a time with the vibe on and put the lid on. No need to add more water!!! - at this time. Check for good rotation 1-2 hours after Stage 2 starts, then once at night before bed, and once in the morning when getting up. If rotation is slowed, spray in 3-4 shots ONLY and let it run. If not, LEAVE IT ALONE. On hotter days check it 3 times a day, and add a couple shots of water as needed.
Hey, thanks for your help. I just used your video over the past week or so an the results were amazing.
You convinced me. A Thumbler Tumbler For Me!
😄👍 you're going to love it
Good luck finding one
great video! i have watched it 3 times now just so I don't forget. thank you!
I enjoyed this video. I live in the UK and Borax is not available here in it's raw form. I tried using the Borax substitute but it was a disaster, full of soap, bubbles everywhere. Borax seems to be the norm in the US for polishing and burnishing, wish we could get it here in the UK.
Thank you for showing the vibratory tumbler. I’m fairly new to rock polishing and this helps me so much. Thank you again!
You are very welcome! So glad to help. Best wishes🤗
Whoa those came out awesome.. Great Shine!!!!
Thank you!🤗✨
Wow! Those are beautiful. You did a great job.
Thanks so much for sharing the process, such an interesting difference between the rotary tumblers. Awesome video.
Totally agree. They both have their uses for sure. I'm still not sure which one I like the most! 😄
They came out so beautiful! ✨
Thank you✨🤗✨
Nice shine on those!!!! You make everything look so easy!
Thank you! I was nervous the whole time... hoping I did a good job. I'm very pleased with this thing. You do amazing with yours too!
Thanks for the video, I just ordered my first vibratory tumbler when I came upon your review. I had been previously following your channel, and after you added the dishwashing liquid I was like, “gosh, why doesn’t she just use the Borax for a cleaner instead”, like with the rotary tumbler! Then you said, “I’m changing the process and adding a step to use Borax as a cleaner.” Whoo hoo, really great results! 😎
Hi Mark my name is Jeffrey and you have my Grandpa's last name.
@@DRMLbyJeffrey on your mother or father's side?
@@mebs001 mothers
BORAX! Thank you for this tip!
My pleasure! Happy Tumbling✨
I was waiting for this video :) So enjoyed watching the process ! Nice to mention the noise, if one is going to purchase this type of tumbler they can better prepare for a spot that can be loud. I like the box idea :) The results are amazing~they shine so nicely :)
Thanks Cherry! I just had to mention the noise because I wish I would have known beforehand to be honest. But I know I mentioned to you the noise and it made you apprehensive so I wanted to show what I did to help minimize the sound. Plus if you can stand the sound for less than a week (because that is all it takes to run through all the stages and get such shiny rocks) then it'll be worth it.
@@MarlainaAtkins Marlaina I appreciate you. I would of never knew it was that noisy. I have limited areas for that kind of noise. The garage would be my best place but it is so cold the rocks could freeze. I may have to wait until spring to get on. Thanks also for telling it is all done a week. That and the shine is what got me interested, as I am sure it was for you also :)
Those rocks turned out awesome. Nice Job!
Thank you!✨
@@MarlainaAtkins You are so welcome. Thank you for sharing this video with me. Just awesome. :-)
Great job they look awesome and it takes allot less time. The vibratory tumblers are noisy, try gluing some foam board to the inside of your box and that will help you might need two to four inches. Keep up the great videos and God bless you and your family.
Hey Robert! Thank you so much. The time it takes is night and day difference... 9 weeks vs 6 days...cant beat that. But the noise is an issue. I'm building a sound box for it for sure. My husband spends a lot of time in the garage and it drives him crazy haha
@@MarlainaAtkins I ended up building a 3-sided insulated box for my vibe and it works ok, but it's still pretty loud IF you are INSIDE the building it's in. Make sure not to get the box too air tight, or the vibe WILL heat up, which you don't want.
Omg those turned out gorgeous! I'm excited to try this. I've only ever made faux sea glass in mine never done rocks, but now I want to try it so bad
I'm glad you shared this video. I have the Thumler's UV-10 and went through conniptions my first tumble. I'm still learning and making mistakes. Don't forget that washer and wingnut (I've done that a few times). Man O man, those are nice and shiny. Great job!
Thank you Doug! It's truly a learning curve. Practice makes perfect!
Really nice.
I just learned about using an ultrasonic cleaner to cut down your cleaning time!
That would be so nice! Would love to have one 🙂
Good job!!
Add more ceramics. Lots of small ceramics! That will make a noticeable improvement in noise and in achieving the tornado movement in the bowl!
Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. I agree I think I may have needed more ceramics. Will use more next time for sure!
I don't think that putting a box over the tumbler is a good idea. Back when I tried it, my tumbler got really hot. Plus, I saw a video from some UA-cam rock tumbler person talking about how he burned up the motor in his vibratory tumbler. I may be worrying about nothing, but my tumbler really did get very hot. To this day, I keep a fan going on all of my rock tumblers in the summer.
I totally hear you. And you're probably right. In the summertime you definitely got to be careful and check it often. When I put the box over it I make sure there's a gap at the bottom (about an inch and a half) to allow air flow so it doesn't get too hot. I haven't had any problems with it getting hot but it's pretty cold where I'm at most of the year.
Hi. Your results are amazing! I have my vibe in use since december and am still working on my first batch. Just can't manage to get them shiny. A bit frustrating, but I keep on trying...
Thank you. Don't give up! It's a lot of trial and error. You will get there! Make sure to clean your rocks, media and barrel really good inbetween...super important! Do a few cleaning runs if you have to. I noticed the grit is super hard to get all off otherwise. It could be the problem🤷
@@MarlainaAtkins Thanks for your encouragement. Maybe my results are not good because I didn't get the ceramics you use. I had serious trouble getting any ceramics and ended up with triangular ones... but now, finally, I found a store from Austria, that sells the same ones you use. They are quite expensive and I am always warily ordering over borders in the internet. But I made a test order last week with some grit and some really awesome rocks (Falkenauge, really cool stuff, translates falcons eye? Hawk eye? It looks like blue tigers eye) and that arrived quickly, safe and the shipping was not expensive. So I am going to order ceramics there and try on.
@@stefanieschmid9760 Don't do it!! Make your own out of broken ceramic plates, cups etc! Break it to the size you want and tumble them with your rocks from the first stage, works great for me! After they go through stage one they can be added at any stage when needed.
@@stefanieschmid9760 maybe try some aquarium rocks! a lot cheaper than ceramic media
GREAT VIDEO! I just got one and haven't used it yet....although mine is not for rocks, will see how it works. Not sure what the diff is???
Thank you so much!🤗
So the difference is... One is standard and has a different type of bowl material and motor and Springs and is only meant for shell casings and stuff like that. The other one is industrial and has a stronger Barrel material and a stronger motor and springs with a different set up that can withstand the heavy load of the rocks. You can use the standard for rocks but you will wear the barrel quicker and the motor will not last as long I guess.
Why did you add Dawn, before you at least rinsed the rocks and tumbler off first? Thanks.
Because the grit gets super embedded/stuck into/onto the stone and barrel and it helps to clean and loosen the grit on the stone for easier cleaning... Because you still need to clean them afterwards. If you don't do this step it'll take you twice as long or longer to clean them good enough for the next stage. ☺️
Try using a piece of durable yoga mat as a pad for the tumbler it will cut more noise than the box.
Looks like the first stage could have gone another week or two in my opinion. But some people like more natural look... No matter...I think your rocks came out beautifully! Very nice shine to them! Nicely done!
Are you still liking you vibratory tumbler? Any problems with it? I'm looking for another vibratory. Keep up the great work 👍! 🙂
Sorry for the late reply! I'll have to admit... I like my rotary better. I had issues with the barrel after the 4th run. It seems that the barrel is breaking down and leaving little black specks (from the barrel) that like to embed themselves in any nook and cranny. So... This vibe does work great, but on very smooth stones with no cracks or pits. If I was ever to buy another vibe, I'd go with the Lot-O brand which seems to be the top pick for most people I know and works very well.
@MarlainaAtkins Good to know...The Lot O is what I want to get also, but I can't find any to purchase anywhere 😫? If you know where to buy one let me know. I would be much appreciated!
@@dreamlookautodetailingauto3353 if I ever come across one I will definitely share the link!
@@dreamlookautodetailingauto3353 Best wishes to you!✨
@@MarlainaAtkins thank you!🙂
Is it totally safe to cover the machine. ? Im thinking about the electrical motor maybe overheating if there’s no airflow around it. I absolutely love this video, im about to get my first vibrator tumbler and I’ll be following your instructions to the letter in the hope my rocks come out anywhere near as good as yours
That's wonderful and great question... I had the same concern. I've checked several times and the motor doesn't feel overheated at all. So I think its fine.
Best wishes to you and Happy tumbling!✨
I too used a cardboard box with fiberglass insulation on the inside: The noise was greatly reduced, but the motor overheated and was a total loss: Just saying...!
@@sheldonchervin5141 thanks for the review. I've used a non-insulated cardboard box with no overheating of the motor. But I've been thinking of building one that's insulated to reduce noise... But I think I'll stick to what I've been using. Appreciate the input. Cheers
It has been a few months since you posted this, so I am not sure if you’ll see this question? I followed your instructions for my first time tumbling in one of these. On the last polish stage, I noticed a lot of very small black specs. I’m assuming it’s the rubber from the bowl? Is that common?
I did actually... and I too was wondering if this is common or not. It doesn't seem to affect the polishing as I have received a great result even so... But... I have since done a batch that had some pits and cracks and it seems to embed itself in them and is SUPER hard to get out if not impossible. I feel pre-shaped/ground down or void of pits and cracks stones are the way to go with this vibe.
@@MarlainaAtkins Really appreciate your response and input. I feel a little better knowing that I’m not alone in this, and your results ARE exceptional! I am new at tumbling, but a very seasoned rock lover. You are an inspiration, and I made quite the investment, including this tumbler after binge watching your vid’s. Blessings.
Those came out beautiful, nice shine! Are the vibratory tumblers much louder than the rotary?
Thank you!✨🤗✨
Yes... The vibratory is much louder than the rotary. I can have three rotary tumblers going at the same time and they are still quieter than the vibe alone. The rotary is surprisingly quiet and nonbothersome. The vibe is so loud that you can barely hear anything else around you. I have to put something over it to stand it.😏
@@MarlainaAtkins Thanks good info, I will continue with my rotary or get a larger model that is also quiet. If I do pick-up the vibratory I will set up outside in the shed! No way would my wife put up with that noise in the garage, Lol!
@@AndrewKazmierski hahaha I get that! My husband wants me to build a soundproof box for it😆
Best wishes to ya✨
@@MarlainaAtkins That may work, lol! Have a good evening and keep tumbling!
Thanks for the video! I have the UV-10 and just ran 6 pounds of rocks through my rotary tumbler with course grit. The rotary tumbler came with 4 grits, and I see you went straight from coarse to the one you use in the video. Is that the only step for the vibratory tumbler? Does it remove having to use two other grits? Which one would you recommend to use?
I like my rotary tumbler the most but the vibe cuts tumbling time WAY down. The vibe barrel can't handle the abrasiveness of the coarse grit that is why you do not use it in the vibe. You can start off in the vibe with stage 2/medium... and then follow with pre-polish and polish stages for a total of 3 stages. I always run them in stage one in my rotary first because I still feel it gives the best polish in the end and takes out cracks and pits. The main issue I have when using the vibe is it'll embed the grit so deep into any cracks or pits that it's SO hard to get out. I will only use my vibe on smooth stones now for that reason. So if your rocks have any cracks or pits...get rid of them first before using the vibe... Or I recommend the rotary😎
I started my first batch in the Raytech TV10 last night and it’s sure a change over a rotary. I can barely hear the rotary over ambient noise in the shed, but can hear the TV10 outside the shed with all doors closed.
Getting the slurry to form without adding too much water is a bit of a balancing act but I could a little too much is likely better here as the shed is sitting at 25-30c, so it will evaporate a little of the water over the 12hrs between checks.
You got that shine with only two stages in the vib tumbler ?!?! (I’ve been doing two stages in the rotary THEN two stages in the vibratory and they do not look that good 😫)
I do my rough stage 1 all in a rotary, then stages 2-4 in the vibe. Try that process instead and make sure to clean everything up very good between stages.
Do you have a suggestion on where to get your rocks to tumble?
Beaches, rivers, streams are where I'd start if you're wanting to find them yourself. If you're looking online... there's places like The Rock Shed or Etsy even that sells them. Hope that helps! Happy Tumbling😊
going with average electricity cost for US- how much $ in electricity (or how many watts of power does the tumbler use) does it cost to run the tumbler for 24 hours?
I'm not sure of the total cost per year but I don't seem to notice much of a difference and I run mine 24 hrs. My Lortone 3lb double barrel tumbler uses 115/AC ; 60HZ ; 36 watts ; 57 amps
The Thumler's ultra vibe motor operates on 115 volts at 300 VPM. Hope that helps some.
Maybe a dime a day.
Thank you for your video ,im interested in your thoughts would this system work with a few large rocks i have some tiger eye and tiger iron i would like to polish ,size is about the size of a large drinking cup.thanks John
I don't think it would. In a rotary tumbler yes... for sure. The vibe need to be filled 2/3 full to achieve the rolling effect it creates... You could try it tho just make sure you add some kind of ceramic media for filler... Still not sure if it will work but that's what I'd try. Hope that helps
Great job!! I am such a fan of the rocks. I have a question though, how long did it take you in general with the burnish step?
Thanks! About 2-3 hours in burnish😊
i just got my vibrating tumbler and it says do not put water in it . how do I tumble with no water, this is my first time trying this
May I ask what brand it is? If its the same brand I have (Thumler's) then you definitely need a little water... as with most brands. It doesn't take much as you can see in my video... but it still needs some. A little confused as to why it says no water... that is odd to me... unless there is something with the brand you have that I don't know of.
@@MarlainaAtkins Leegos its from Amazon. It's to clean metal parts and shells for bullets. . I sent it back to them it came with ground corn cobs and nut shells.
I did put on top pink Styrofoam the Tick ones they use for house .they sell at home depot .
Oh really! To the top of the vibe? And it helped with the sound?
Could you maybe post a link to the type of tumbler it is because it’s very confusing when looking for one to find one that is exactly what you need
They are pretty hard to find at the moment. But here are some links. If you buy a Thumler brand...make sure it has the blue stripe on the bowl NOT the yellow... The blue stripe means its for rocks...there is a difference. Best wishes to you!✨
therockshed.com/
rocktumbler.com/vibratory.shtml
www.thumlerstumbler.com/index.html
The Lot-O tumbler is highly recommended. Probably the best vibe on the market😉
@@MarlainaAtkins people are having trouble with their motors giving out!😢
Hi great video. Can you tell me the model number please? Is it the UV-10?
It's the UV-10MB 3.5lb capacity one. Here's a link to where I got it...
www.rockshed.com/rock-shop/rock-tumblers-supplies/rock-tumblers/vibrating-rock-tumblers/ultra-vibe-10mb-3-5lb-capacity-tumbler/
I see that you have been using this tumbler for year or so, now. Has it been durable? I'm considering changing from my former vibrating tumbler to this brand.
I have to admit... I'm kind of disappointed with this vibe. After a few uses I noticed black bits floating in the sludge... It was from the barrel. And it embeds itself into every tiny pit or crack in the stones. I now ONLY use it for pretrimmed stones or ones that are void of any cracks or pits and it turns out with a brilliant shine. I'm not sure what brand you had before... But if it's a Lot-O... Don't switch. Supposedly it's way more durable. Hope that helps
@@MarlainaAtkins the black specs are normal, because the bowl will deteriorate some as you use it. To help slow this down I was told to use about 1/3 media in the pre polish (stage 3) and polish runs. This seems to work good! I also use that amount in Stage 2 too. Some black specs will still occur, but not as much and they don't affect the polish. Remember to refresh/replace your media when it reduces in size too much to help pad the runs. I run a Borax cleaning run after stages 2 and 3 for about 1 hour, and a longer one for stage 4 to burnish for much longer.
Another quick question. Do you do the final burnish in the vibe or your rotary? Appreciate you.
No problem. You can certainly do it in the vibe... But i use my rotary😁
Can you tell me grit name
60/90 silicon carbide coarse grit...
120/220 silicon carbide medium grit... Aluminum oxide pre-polish... And aluminum oxide polish. I buy all my grit from Lortone😉
Hi, I have the UV 10 thumlers vibratory tumbler, the inside of my bowl was textured with bumps and it had good action , after about 7 days of using it the action is not so good and the inside of the bowl is now pretty smooth. Has this happened to you and is it normal?
Hi! The inside of my bowl came smooth...so I'm not sure on that. But if the action is not so good...try adding a little ceramic media and see if it starts moving better... You have to add media as you go as the material sands down to a smaller size creating more space which will make the stones not move right. That could be what's happening. Hope that helps! Cheers Rob✨
Hi there, I have a question.. I want to do mystery scoop lives like they do with crystals on TikTok.. but I want to put real silver jewelry in little gum ball machine containers (the little ball ones) do you think those would work with this?
I would replace the grit for rice or something very light
Hi Sam! That's an awesome idea. I have never polished silver myself but I know people have with great results. I'm going to give you a link to another video that shows how to polish silver in a rotary tumbler and gives you some great tips. You would basically use the same process in the vibrating Tumblr except you would need a lot less water and I would use borax not dish soap. Hope that helps a little. I wish I could give you more advice. Good luck✨
ua-cam.com/video/PwbhNDO5gg0/v-deo.html
I'm confused so 120/220 to burnishing that's all it takes in a vibratory tumbler?
Yep. I'm wondering myself why they wouldn't make one to withstand coarse. The 60/90 or coarser will eat up the barrel I guess. I think the vibe is best for material that doesn't need a coarse run... If you don't have a rotary for the coarse stage. Im curious what the results would be if I just started in 120/220 with no previous rolling.🤔 I'll have to try
@@MarlainaAtkins I'm told that there is less shaping in the vibration tumbler. So with no coarse grit or wouldn't take any edges off.
what I don't like about a vibrator tumbler is the undercutting of the stones. I prefer rotatory tumbler
you and Michigan rocks use a vibrator and with him ...he ruins his agates using a vibrator tumbler
I actually totally agree with you. I prefer my rotary and use it most of the time. I will ONLY use the vibe now on perfectly trimmed pieces I plan on making jewelry with. The undercutting and trying to get the polish compound out afterwards is a nightmare and ruins the pieces. I'll be honest... I've only used the vibe 3 times since I purchased it. Rotary is the way to go for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cheers
Very nice jesse has a Facebook pages now rookie rockhound get on it
Thanks! Jesse has Facebook now does he... If I had Facebook I'd be for sure on it! Maybe in the future☺
way cool! Are you happy with the result? It looks great I think! Plus it takes less time in your life, so that equals more shiny rocks :)
I'm happy with the result...but I know I can do better. I think I'll pre-shape and trim off the cracks and pits before using it again. It seems to be way harder to clean out the grit from the cracks and pits compared to the rotary. But I can't deny it is nice to have these results in a fraction of the time compared to the rotary.
@@MarlainaAtkins for sure. I bet the grit gets lodged farther in the cracks because of the vibrations, I could see that being kind of a pain in the butt! I bet your next batch will be better, we always learn from our mistakes!
@@mitchgillilan you nailed it... That's exactly why! It just pounded the grit deep into those cracks. Total pain... And the step I dread because of haha! It is some trial and error and our mistakes are the best lessons we give ourselves... Appreciate your comments Mitch... Cheers🤗✨
I started using a jewlery ultrasonic cleaner to get the white polish out of pits and crevices. I guess you could say it is a burnishing stage of sorts.
@@stephanierocks8503 great idea!
Way too much grit for a vibratory tumbler, you only need a teaspoon of grit for future reference
This is wrong. You need closer to 2 oz.
How many days start to finish.
21 days (3wks) in coarse in the rotary...
The rest is done in the vibe...
3 days in medium...
3 days in pre-polish...
2 days in polish...
29 days total✨
I want to buy this tumber polishing anh from to Viet Nam.
I got mine from the rock shed in USA
Yes!
YOU RUN WAY TO DRY!
Someone else said I used too much water...🤷
At least they came out nice and shiny✨
Too much water!
I appreciate the feedback. I was thinking I may have used a little too much during the medium stage... You just confirmed it for me. Will use less next time
@@MarlainaAtkins if you can see water in the bottom your in trouble, the grit will go to the bottom, doesn’t take much, i put rocks in wet add grit and maybe a couple squirts, check in an hour or two, once slurry is established just enough to keep rocks slippery
@@johnsevereide9311 thanks for the tip! Do you think that may have been why the center had so much build up too...from splashing around in too much water?
@@MarlainaAtkins very likely
Agreed, many use too much water! I use this method for great results. Fill the vibe with rocks and media, then with water so all are covered, then put the lid on with a slight slit in the top and while holding the lid in place, turn the bowl over and pour OUT all the water. If it is too heavy for you to handle like this, dunk your rocks in water before you put them in the vibe. This will leave the contents wet. Then add your grit a little at a time with the vibe on and put the lid on. No need to add more water!!! - at this time. Check for good rotation 1-2 hours after Stage 2 starts, then once at night before bed, and once in the morning when getting up. If rotation is slowed, spray in 3-4 shots ONLY and let it run. If not, LEAVE IT ALONE. On hotter days check it 3 times a day, and add a couple shots of water as needed.