I like to tumble my chain overnight to harden it and my el cheapo tumbler has just given up - so I'm looking for a new one and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for vibratory vs. rotary.  I know vibratory is quicker for cutting down stones, but will it damage chain?

Vibratory is fine for chain, it really just comes down to personal preferance I think. I use a rotery, for no other reason other than that's just what I've always used. Eventualy I'd like to have both; I've been told by artists who do more tumbling than I do that vibratory is absolutely the way to go.

 I've always felt like the vibratory ones didn't work as well as the rotary, but maybe the one we had in the studio just wasn't a great one, who knows.  I just know my personal preference is rotary :-)

If your pieces' size is small, let's say rings, then I suggest you to use the rotary tumbler; otherwise you should use vibratory ( time saving for a big batch).

 I actually have both rotary and vibratory tumblers.  I use my rotary very seldom now as the vibratory does a much better job, imo.  I use a walnut shell medium that has been "charged" with a red jewelers rouge. I buy it from a local gun shop that caters to reloaders.  They also have a finer polish medium corn cobs with a green polishing compound.

The vibratory tumbler takes far less time to polish than the rotary does. I will be using the rotary from now on to "harden" rings with a steel shot, water, dawn mixture.

Most of my chainmaille is with aluminum, brass and copper so i polish frequently. smile

Caitlin 

 For a cheap rotary tumbler, go to Harborfreight.com

Buy extra belts when you get it.  I have a double barrel one.  I don 't use both barrels at once, but the longer rollers lets me put things in an old spaghetti jar to tumble.