The Thumler UltraVibe - 18i (i = industrial) is an 18 pound rated, industrial tumbler. This machine works great for tumbling rocks. I use it mostly for polishing rocks as the vibrating action tends to polish whatever shape is there and is far less smoothing than a rotatary tumbler. This is no surprise. The UV 18i is very aggessive - completing a grinding operation or a polish cycle in 1/3 to 1/2 the time of rotary machines. Caution for rock hounds - there is a UV - 18 out there that looks just like this one but it is lighter duty and while it polishes cartridges great it won't survive on a diet of rocks. It goes for a lower price, but for us rockers it is no bargain.
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It's a lot of fun to take the lid off of the UV 18i and watch the tumbling rocks. It is also a whole lot noisier.
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