Vibratory Polisher Pro's & Con's

[sswee]

I'm pretty sure I've seen the small units you're looking at. They should work alright and give the same results. The question is how long will they last and do they work at the same speed as the more expensive models. I have used a 1 quart barrel tumbler to polish some small pieces and it worked just fine but it took a little longer.
SS

[jtagger19]

I have a 3cu MR DEBUR for ceramic coating polishing with 3mm-4mm mix of ceramic balls
and it works great with the right soap
and I have a small 12" inch bowl with walnut and meta polish for small parts
and it also works good
but a buffing is need for a very high chrome like finish
still the tumblers reach areas where anything else won't work.

[daz2206]

so could you go straight from the tumbler to the white soap or will it need a little more work like tripoli first ?

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by sswee

I have the 4-3/4 gallon round bowl. Right now I have 1/4" fine ceramic triangles, charged walnut shell and charged cob. The 1/4" ceramics are small enough to get into a fairly small area. I'll get them in a pic with some of the parts tomorrow.
SS

Hey sswee, do you have any experience with tubs? I'm interested in one but I'm concerned that a heavy piece like a manifold would not ciculate the way the small parts (that are usually de-burred in those machines) do.

[sswee]

Pics of parts.

http://forum.caswellplating.com/phot...ry.php?cat=546

I've seen the tub units but not in action or the results. I've only been in one shop that had one and they aren't in business any more.
SS

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by sswee

Pics of parts.

http://forum.caswellplating.com/phot...ry.php?cat=546

I've seen the tub units but not in action or the results. I've only been in one shop that had one and they aren't in business any more.
SS

Hmmmm...looks like a little orangepeel there (could be the photo on my monitor though). What shape were the parts in before (i.e., rough cast, machined, etc.)? What would be your next step after this...or is that the final product?

[sswee]

These parts were standard 6061 flat bar stock with minor machine work done but no sanding to the flats. It's not an orange peel, the pits, dings or gouges get polished also. Just running the final polish steps gives a different look. Very shiney but not a mirror. Rough grit ceramics may take out the imperfections but I don't have them to try yet.
SS

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by sswee

These parts were standard 6061 flat bar stock with minor machine work done but no sanding to the flats. It's not an orange peel, the pits, dings or gouges get polished also. Just running the final polish steps gives a different look. Very shiney but not a mirror. Rough grit ceramics may take out the imperfections but I don't have them to try yet.
SS

OK, thanks - that kinda clears it up. I'm worried about it just making the "holes" deeper instead of levelling them out. But you're right....prolly a more aggressive cut would do that.

[jtagger19]

sswee
how long are you running your parts in the tumbler ?
yours come out alot shiner than mine do.

I can take a video of my tub type working with a manifold I'm doing tomorow
but polishing ceramic coating not bare metal.

[sswee]

The fine ceramics ran 2 to 4 hours on different loads. I didn't notice a big difference. The walnut and cob worked about the same. I ran them 6, 12 and 24 hours. 12 hours did fairly well. It was easier for me to put them in after my day job and take them out the next day after work.
SS