Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
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Post by Trylobyte on Dec 2, 2003 11:23:30 GMT -5
The lids in both my Lortone and Thumler rollers were pretty tough to get apart. I fairly mangled the aluminum Lortone lid using the holddown washer to pry it off ***Don't use the washer!!! It will put little nicks in the lid, which will then roll over and over and wear down the roller piece*** And with my Thumlers, the rubber sealing gasket would stick pretty tight to both the top metal lid and the rubber liner, making it tough to remove.
The solution: I now religiously use this stuff called Dry Film Lubricant, and it works excellent. You can by it at all the major hardware stores. On the Lortones, spray around the inside lip of the stamped aluminum lid, let the stuff dry, and it will now glide on effortlessly to its fully seated position, and you can pry it off with your fingers. On the Thumlers, I coat both the metal lid and the rubber gasket where they meet. These parts then easily come apart. Reappply as needed.
I don't believe this stuff will cause any problems if it gets into the slurry or whatever, but I tend to try to avoid that. I also avoid using it at the points where the seal is actually made, although I have used it in those places and it worked as advertised, but I want those seals to be tight...
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Post by docone31 on Dec 2, 2003 22:52:00 GMT -5
I have had the same problem. I just slip a little of the edge apart to break the seal. With the aluminum lids, I have resorted to using talc. There are times I have to twist to get the lid off. I bought my tumbler from a person who couldn't get the lids off. Inside the bbl was a full charge of emeralds and saphires. If I hadn't gotten my tumbler that way, I would never had thought of tumbling precious stone, never. That adventure opened my mind and shaped a lot of my jewelery ideas. Glad you found an easy solution.
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