Raytech TV-5 Tumble-Vibe Vibratory Tumbler for Coins, Relics and Rocks

The Raytech TV-5 Tumble-Vibe is a small vibratory tumbler, the kind detectorists use to clean a season's clad coins and iron relics in a few hours rather than the days a rotary rock tumbler takes. The bowl holds 0.05 cubic feet, about 4 lb of material, sits on a motorized base that vibrates rather than rolls, and runs wet with water and a little soap or dry with ground walnut shell. It is made by Raytech in Connecticut, the same company that builds the larger tumblers jewellers use, and it is the entry point in their Tumble-Vibe line.

Vibratory or rotary: which tumbler for coins and relics?

A vibratory tumbler polishes by rubbing the pieces against media and each other, so it cleans crusted clad, buttons and small relics fast without rounding their edges or wearing off detail, and you can lift the clear lid to check progress mid-run. A rotary Lortone rock tumbler is slower but gentler and is the better choice for polishing stones through the grit stages. Do not tumble anything you might sell to a collector: tumbling a silver or copper coin with collector value ruins it. For clad, modern relics and beach finds, the TV-5 is the right tool, and our tumbling media and polish collection has the walnut shell, ceramic media and compounds to run it.

How the TV-5 works in practice

Load the ABS bowl no more than three-quarters full with media and finds, add water to just cover the media for wet running or nothing for dry, clip on the clear acrylic lid and switch on. The 115 V motor keeps the bowl vibrating at a steady rate and the contents circulate on their own; check at the one-hour mark and stop when the coins look clean, because longer runs keep polishing. A batch of clad usually takes two to four hours wet with a squirt of dish soap and a handful of aquarium gravel or ceramic media. Dry running with walnut shell gives a softer shine and works well on brass and lead relics. The bowl is 8 inches across and 3.75 inches deep, the whole unit is 13 inches tall and weighs 6 lb, so it lives on a garage shelf, and replacement bowls and lids are stocked in our tumbler parts and replacement bowls collection. Jewellers use the same machine for 25 or so ring castings at a time.

What's Included

• Raytech TV-5 Tumble-Vibe vibratory tumbler base
• 0.05 cubic foot ABS bowl with clear acrylic lid
• Instruction manual

Specifications

• Type: Vibratory tumbler, wet or dry
• Bowl capacity: 0.05 cu ft (about 4 lb of material or 25 ring castings)
• Bowl: ABS, 8" diameter x 3.75" deep, clear acrylic lid
• Power: 115 V, 60 Hz
• Overall size: 13" high x 8" diameter
• Weight: 6 lb
• Certification: CE
• Country of manufacture: USA (Raytech, Middletown, CT)
• Part number: 23-001 (TV-5 standard, plastic bowl)

Why Buy from Serious Detecting

Serious Detecting is an authorized Raytech dealer, so the TV-5 ships as genuine stock with the manufacturer warranty, and we keep replacement bowls, lids and media on the shelf so a worn bowl never sidelines the machine. All orders ship free, and we offer a 30-day return policy plus a price-match guarantee. See the rest of our Raytech tumblers or compare every coin tumbler and cleaning supply we stock.