Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Aug 23, 2014 22:12:25 GMT -5
Happy weekend RTH'ers Been a while since I've posted. I do most my posting using the Proboards Android app (which needs a major overhaul). I got a new phone and just installed the app again. I am excited to have picked up a used 10in oscillating flap lap called Orbit Lap. It was manufactured in Renton, Washington by Johnson Mfg. The previous owner retrofitted it a bit to allow 8in aluminum pie pans to run on it. I have tested it without rocks on it and runs really well. The only bugger about it is the ballance rubber balls are very dried out and hard. I've read that the balls wear out very easy so I've been researching online for a bulk order. I came across this site when researching RTH posts but my dilemma is what size to order and ate these the same material used in the original setup (or close enough to)? When measuring the worn out balls, they measure 1 1/2 in in diameter. www.mcmaster.com/#nylon-balls/=tdw2zxI have not found any information on the manufacturer or this specific Wobble Lap. Does anyone have information or specs about this unit? My 2nd question is about me wanting to be cheap and not buy more pans. The original owner did a great job marking the pans with specific grit/polish. Sadly the markings have worn off and when I picked it up they were all stacked ontop each other. There are 8 or 9 pans including a wood plate with a nice weight on it. How would I go about fully cleaning aluminum pans to be able to start fresh and is it worth the trouble to clean vs. buying new? They are not worn thin at all. Thanks for you input, I'm looking forward to polishing the pile of flats I've been saving up Matt
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Aug 23, 2014 23:12:00 GMT -5
Matt, I have the very same Orbit Lap although I haven't tried to use it. Only one pan came with mine. I never did find any online information on it so I'll be following your progress closely. Justin
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Aug 23, 2014 23:52:36 GMT -5
I just noticed on the website that the nylon ball size options only go to 1 inch. Im at a loss now for finding 1.5in or greater.
Sent from my SPH-L600 using proboards
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,339
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Post by quartz on Aug 24, 2014 0:26:42 GMT -5
I o'hauled a very similar lap a couple years ago, found balls that worked really well in the toy dept. at a local variety store. They came in a four pack for about $2.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Aug 25, 2014 15:30:14 GMT -5
Thanks quartz, I'll give that a shot.
Sent from my SPH-L600 using proboards
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Aug 25, 2014 16:47:18 GMT -5
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Aug 25, 2014 16:48:50 GMT -5
They look hollow in pictures so I just sent a question to dealer to see if they are solid or not.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Aug 25, 2014 23:10:31 GMT -5
I received a reply back that they are solid bounce balls. I placed an order for them. Cross fingers. Now I need to figure out how to clean tge aluminum pans. Sent from my SPH-L600 using proboards
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Aug 26, 2014 6:56:54 GMT -5
I was thinking maybe those "Superballs" that bounce like crazy. They come in different sizes and you can find them in Walmart and Target. Check the toy department. My dog has been chewing on one for months and has just put a few teeth marks in it so they should be pretty durable.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Aug 27, 2014 2:13:02 GMT -5
Thanks Navyvet for the idea. The order I placed was for a super ball type ball called hi bounce. I lucked out on amazon and purchased 50 of the same size 38mm (close to 1.5in) for $15. Cross fingers if they work when they are delivered. I have a Boston brindle terrier but he only plays with yoga siz balls. He goes nuts for it lol
Sent from my SPH-L600 using proboards
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 27, 2014 8:54:45 GMT -5
Should work fine. Sounds similar to the older Lortone units. They worked with pretty much any balls. Mine came with tennis balls and they flattened out pretty fast but worked OK.
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Post by roy on Aug 27, 2014 9:23:21 GMT -5
you can still get the balls and springs for the loretone sould work on yours
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 28, 2014 14:14:21 GMT -5
Looks just like the early Lortones. You can scrub the pans and check to see they are flat. Grit and rocks will clean them up pretty well.
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dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by dshalldms on Sept 23, 2014 5:55:06 GMT -5
Hi Matt,
Many years ago at Dulcote Quarry, Somerset.
They had a number of 27" Highland Park Reciprocating Laps to work Mendip Potato Stone Geodes. To act as bumpers to protect the stones they used industrial O rings and sometimes sections of plastic drain pipes.
Hope this helps,
Derek
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 25, 2014 2:28:15 GMT -5
I was curious to find out how the Amazon balls worked out for you so far... Any update?
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Post by Rockoonz on Sept 25, 2014 13:49:19 GMT -5
Mattatya I am curious as well, I have a star diamond jiggler I want to start using this winter and looking at my rebuild options.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Oct 6, 2014 21:11:09 GMT -5
Hey guys, Sorry for the delayed response.
The amazon balls look to small and the Lortone ones I bought look to big. Sadly I haven't been home much to try both sizes. I will try this week and update with pics. Cheers
Sent from my SPH-L600 using proboards
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Oct 22, 2014 1:18:20 GMT -5
Here's a half update on the ball size replacements for the Wobble flat Lap. I have somehow misplaced 49 of the 50 toy balls over the last month. Here is what I have so far. This Wobble unit uses 4 balls(?) unlike the the old Lortone wobble units. The original balls measures 1 1/2 inch The toy balls from Amazon measures 1.4in (roughly) The Lortone balls measure 2in Here is a video of the Wobble in motion. I didn't see any springs on the unit holding the plate to the base, so basically its free balling . I've never used a flat lap of any kind but I thought I've seen them with some sort of light spring but I could ve wrong. The vid shows the lap in use with 4 new Lortone Balls measuring 2 inches (1/2in larger then original balls.) Johnson 4 Ball Wobble Flat Lap: I didn't get a chance to take vid comparison of the original 1.5in balls. Once I find the 1.4in toy balls I'll take more videos to show the difference in 'wobble' motion. does anyone with experience using wobble units know if the tight vs. Loose wobbling make a difference. Also, if anyone has insight or original wobble lap manual instructions I would love if you can share.
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