tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Feb 13, 2015 11:19:41 GMT -5
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 13, 2015 11:50:47 GMT -5
glennz01: I understand what you're talking, just not following how it pertains to the OP which had narrowed down his tumbler selection options to 3 small units. Sounds to me as though he wants to tumble a few loads of rocks he has collected and will go from there. My 12 lb tumbler would take weeks to round some rocks good enough. Actually, that could read months, but so will your 40 pound barrel. You ought to try it sometime. Cob - please don't buy 45 pounds of grit before you know if this is a hobby you might stick with. Yes, it's more expensive to buy in lesser amounts, but sometimes prudent. 5 lbs ought to last you a couple/few loads, and then you will know whether you should be buying in bulk. yes, very good points. The reason how I got both my 40 and 12 lb tumblers are because someone used them for 1 round and decided they didn't like it. I'd recommend going on ebay and looking for a used one like I did. If your lucky they will include some grit. I'd recommend starting with 1/2 lb of grit (for each stage) if you are not sure. I'd recommend running at least 2-3 batches (what the grit allows) before getting anything in quantity (don't forget you can reuse polish quite a few times). In my 12 lb tumbler with rough grits I used 4 tablespoons of grit... after a week I usually had grit left over even... so you didn't need to use the 1 lb of grit all in 1 go like some companies say.
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Cob
starting to shine!
Member since February 2015
Posts: 29
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Post by Cob on Feb 17, 2015 22:21:35 GMT -5
Went to the OR coast over the weekend. I now have a few more loads to tumble Thanks minerken and tkvancil. I bookmarked the grit link.
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Cob
starting to shine!
Member since February 2015
Posts: 29
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Post by Cob on Feb 24, 2015 0:31:56 GMT -5
I ended up ordering the 33B and grit from the rock shed. Gets here tomorrow! Does anyone know of a place in Washington state that sells nice rough like The Rock Shed and The Gem Shop? I haven't found anything but can't hurt to ask. Thanks again for the advice.
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Post by Peruano on Feb 24, 2015 10:46:20 GMT -5
I realize Cob has made his decision and shall assume he's well on his way down the golden path of tumbling. Can't go wrong with either rotary or vibe.
Capt Bob, Just to clarify from another perspective, the Raytech TVibe - 5 is a good machine. The bowls survive quite well if used properly. Any bowl will wear through if abused with rocks too large to move off the bottom. I use all grits in my two bowls and am happy with the results. I suspect Cob would have been fine with a vibe looking at the already nice rocks he's contemplating working with. Cheers. Tom
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2015 12:41:37 GMT -5
The Lortone is a good choice. In my opinion, the Thumler's motor and shaft bearings are superior but Lortone barrels are much easier to deal with. Keep the shaft bearings clean and oiled. Check regularly and change shaft bearings before shafts are damaged. Older Lortones were notorious for stretching drive belts. They adjust easily and are easy to replace when needed. I used Thumler's belts on used Lortones I bought for resale. I don't think they would stretch as easily and are same diameter. I know on the Thumlers you can run only one barrel so assume you can on Lortone too.
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rockit
starting to shine!
Member since January 2015
Posts: 44
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Post by rockit on Feb 25, 2015 17:10:36 GMT -5
I ended up ordering the 33B and grit from the rock shed. Gets here tomorrow! Does anyone know of a place in Washington state that sells nice rough like The Rock Shed and The Gem Shop? I haven't found anything but can't hurt to ask. Thanks again for the advice. Hi Cob I am also new to tumbling so I cannot guarantee that these shops have 'good rough' (still not very knowledgeable on that aspect, trying to learn), I'm still buying from The Rock Shed. Have purchased form a member here, and from Super Agates. Not sure where you are located, but I have found a store called Black Market Minerals in Auburn: www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Market-Minerals-Moore-Than-Rocks/533194123368629 They have all kinds of rough and petrified wood. Prices are about $1/stone polished or rough, they are on the smallish size, but they have decent sized bins for you to dig through, and LOTS of choices. They also have Pet-Wood, thunder eggs, bookends, etc., lots of metaphysical stuff and jewelry. Worth checking out, and if you live close-by they do sell grit (I didn't ask for prices, I just asked for future reference). Worth checking out-they were at the Tuscon show, so I might stop by there to see what they brought back. Another place is Jerry's Rock and Gem: www.jerrysrockandgem.com/I have not been there (I spaced on going there when I went to Black Market), I did not see online that they sell rough, so you may want to call before you go.
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Cob
starting to shine!
Member since February 2015
Posts: 29
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Post by Cob on Feb 25, 2015 17:40:23 GMT -5
I couldn't make up my mind on what to start with so I went with a rotary. I plan on getting a vibrating model down the road (not too far) but first I have to stockpile more rough so I have a good excuse to spend more on tumblers. Question for anyone who may be reading and owns a 33B: The end opposite the motor - it's out of square by 2-3 degrees which seems odd. Is that by design, to not have square corners on that end? Also a rivet on the motor end looks a little goofy but maybe they all look like that?
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Cob
starting to shine!
Member since February 2015
Posts: 29
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Post by Cob on Feb 25, 2015 17:42:04 GMT -5
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 25, 2015 17:47:09 GMT -5
I do have an "old" 33B in my arsenal and it is perfectly square. All corners 90 degrees. I would send Shawn at the rock shed those photos.
Chuck
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Cob
starting to shine!
Member since February 2015
Posts: 29
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Post by Cob on Feb 25, 2015 18:00:23 GMT -5
I do have an "old" 33B in my arsenal and it is perfectly square. All corners 90 degrees. I would send Shawn at the rock shed those photos. Chuck Dang. Ok, thanks. I just emailed them. I have to admit it looked a little banged up even though it was fresh from the factory box. Just minor cosmetic things like dents and bends but the out of square end that the drive shaft connects to seems like it could be an actual issue. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say about it. Maybe it's a new 'feature'
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Post by Starguy on Feb 25, 2015 20:08:59 GMT -5
Cobi've used and abused the Lortones. They hold up well, (years) and round rocks nicely. It is easy to buy replacement parts when they do wear out. I haven't tried vibe tumbling but I can see the advantages. My recommendation would be to get a rotary for rough tumbles and a vibe for everything else. I think you need to provide a significantly heavy base for the vibes. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of your tumbles. It looks like you have some outstanding material. Later Brent PS. Welcome to the forum.
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Cob
starting to shine!
Member since February 2015
Posts: 29
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Post by Cob on Feb 26, 2015 12:18:15 GMT -5
Hi Starguy, thanks. Shawn from the rock shed emailed back and said it's definitely damaged and is going to ship a new one. Just my luck but I'm glad he was so cool about it.
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KathyG
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2015
Posts: 85
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Post by KathyG on Mar 3, 2015 10:00:17 GMT -5
Hi there, I'm also new to tumbling. I've ordered maybe about 15 lbs of rough rocks from Rock Shed and like everyone here on this forum says, Shawn seems like a very cool and friendly dude. Anyway, I presently have a Thumlers AR-2, it's two 3-pound barrels. So I'm on my third week of my very first tumble. This AR-2 is working amazingly great. All of the rocks are rounded and smooth. Even after 2 days, they were significantly rounded.
I know you made your purchase already. I'm just sharing because I'm a beginner and just excited about all of this. Oh, and before I start any rocks in Stage 2, I am planning to get a Lot-O. Thanks to the great advice I read here, I've decided not to purchase more barrels for my rotary and just leave that one for all of my Stage 1's. Then I will use the vibe for everything after that. I just have to convince my husband so he won't freak out at the amount of money this is all costing, lol!
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Cob
starting to shine!
Member since February 2015
Posts: 29
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Post by Cob on Mar 3, 2015 14:28:38 GMT -5
The replacement tumbler they sent was damaged as well (smooshed in corner and a near puncture to the metal side) and now they are out of stock so I'm waiting for them to get a new shipment in. Just trying to be patient at this point. Everyone has such good things to say about them so I am going to chalk it up to being extremely unlucky. Funny thing is I live about 10 minutes from Lortone but they want a lot more than the rock shed charges, even after factoring in the shipping costs.
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charles kuchar
spending too much on rocks
getting ready for the second coming
Member since November 2010
Posts: 300
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Post by charles kuchar on Mar 4, 2015 7:31:19 GMT -5
about using rotaries and vibrators. I have an ar2 that I started with, then a 12# thumbler. then a couple of lot-o's. then a couple of lortones and lastly a 15# thumbler. after experimenting with various combinations of rough to polish I mostly use the 15# for rough. usually the 12# thumbler for mostly the 120/220 stage and the lortones for polish with lots of ceramic in the polish stage. I use the vibrators for the 120/220 stage once in a while and the 500 grit stage when I can get the rocks in the barrel. I can get a nice polish in the vibrators but I still get a better result with the lortones. still learning about getting a perfect polish. i really like dealing with the rockshed for supplies. chas
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Cob
starting to shine!
Member since February 2015
Posts: 29
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Post by Cob on Mar 4, 2015 13:27:06 GMT -5
I'm so tempted to get the AR-2 right now since the 33B is OOS but I've read posts about the lids not being as good. KathyG and rockit how do you feel about the lids? No issues so far? Do the barrels ever jump off? edit: Nevermind! The rock shed just replied and said a new 33B is being shipped out today. I feel bad for all the shipping they have had to eat. I'm very grateful for the good customer service.
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Post by MrP on Mar 4, 2015 17:07:09 GMT -5
about using rotaries and vibrators. I have an ar2 that I started with, then a 12# thumbler. then a couple of lot-o's. then a couple of lortones and lastly a 15# thumbler. after experimenting with various combinations of rough to polish I mostly use the 15# for rough. usually the 12# thumbler for mostly the 120/220 stage and the lortones for polish with lots of ceramic in the polish stage. I use the vibrators for the 120/220 stage once in a while and the 500 grit stage when I can get the rocks in the barrel. I can get a nice polish in the vibrators but I still get a better result with the lortones. still learning about getting a perfect polish. i really like dealing with the rockshed for supplies. chas I am disappointed. I thought somebody would have jumped on this by now.........................................MrP
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KathyG
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2015
Posts: 85
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Post by KathyG on Mar 5, 2015 9:28:28 GMT -5
Haha MrP, I did actually notice it and chuckled to myself because I did the same thing a few days ago while explaining to my husband the difference between rotary and vibes, and that "I want to get a vibrator" hahaha,
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KathyG
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2015
Posts: 85
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Post by KathyG on Mar 5, 2015 9:33:15 GMT -5
And Cob, so sorry about your difficulties with your 33B, hope this new one will be ok! Even though you aren't getting the AR-2, I may as well say anyway that the lids on mine have been fine, quite tight. I've only been running it for about 2 weeks. We just stopped it last night and checked all the rocks. The AR-2 did an excellent job, I must say. It squeaked in the beginning but nothing that some oil couldn't fix. It ran flawlessly, didn't jump off track.
One thing, and I got this tip from somewhere on this forum, is when checking the rocks and then re-sealing them shut, to clean the tops of the barrels with a spray bottle where grit gets stuck. That totally prevented mine from leaking. When I didn't spray off the excess grit from the top area where the lid goes on, when I turned it upside down to test for leaks, a few drops came out! So that was one golden tip I got. Anyway, maybe that rule can go for any tumbler…
Good luck with 33B!!
Kathy
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