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Post by oregon on Dec 1, 2022 18:04:16 GMT -5
Looks like China Park is introducing a line of tumblers that look suspiciously like the Lortone products. Where have I seen this before? Sad, can't imagine they'll be able to compete with Chinese labor & lack of regulation. They'll probably claim they "invented" them like the everclean. Just sad.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Dec 1, 2022 18:09:12 GMT -5
I tried but I can’t figure out how to say anything nice so I’m just going to pass for now. Ditto to your “sad”.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Dec 1, 2022 18:33:39 GMT -5
Looks like they announced this a few months ago, but I don't see any tumblers for sale yet.
I wish Lortone would do some updates to their tumblers. I don't know exactly how manufacturing works, but it seems like they should be able to update their products once in a while. Thicker barrel bases and lid gaskets would be a good place to start.
Doesn't look like the Highland Park models will necessarily be an improvement; more of a copycat (like TumbleBee).
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Post by Son Of Beach on Dec 1, 2022 18:59:41 GMT -5
Well I'll be that guy and say I don't understand the hate. It seems to me the most solid and reliable entry tumbler you can buy. (33b that is, I can't vouch for their larger tumblers)
If there is a problem with Lortone customer service, maybe they've shifted from a Joe off the street kind of company to focusing on letting distributors like The Rock Shed, Kingsley North, etc., to take the brunt of the customer service load
I'm not sure why I'm sticking up for a company I've never directly dealt with...again, maybe I've been lucky.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Dec 1, 2022 19:19:09 GMT -5
I don't think anyone is hating on Lortone; quite the contrary. I own two of their tumblers and have been actively trying to buy a third.
That said, they don't seem to be a very well run business (at least lately).
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Post by Son Of Beach on Dec 1, 2022 19:28:56 GMT -5
I don't think anyone is hating on Lortone; quite the contrary. I own two of their tumblers and have been actively trying to buy a third. That said, they don't seem to be a very well run business (at least lately). Alright true, I guess I missed the point of the message. |
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 288
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Post by geoff59 on Dec 2, 2022 4:48:57 GMT -5
I dunno…I think as long as Lortone sticks with their quality, something mass-produced in China will never match it. Just another player on the field. This, plus more Americans are slowly coming around to supporting brands made right here in the USA.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 2, 2022 5:43:34 GMT -5
Maybe some competition will bring down those exorbitant prices. I don't mind paying for quality, but they are overpriced- no matter what.
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 341 
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Post by electrocutus on Dec 2, 2022 12:02:08 GMT -5
... something mass-produced in China will never match it... Sorry, but this is just not true anymore. Although there are a lot of cheap copycat products from China, there are also countless quality products coming from there as well. Why are so many US-based companies manufacturing in China? A big part of it is cheaper labour, but it's also because quality has improved tremendously over the years. Remember when "Made in Japan" used to be an insult about cheap products? Then Japan took over the high-quality electronics market. The same thing is happening with "Made in China". It's not the derogatory term it used to be. Chances are your computer and phone are made in China, or at least many of their components. |
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,240
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Post by quartzilla on Dec 4, 2022 9:08:17 GMT -5
What is true is that China is acquiring all the information for their “great products” by cyber-espionage and have basically stolen patented ideas from companies everywhere. The are currently producing knock off Teslas with, you guessed it, stolen technology. I, for one, will not purchase any knock-off items in any category if I can help it.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 4, 2022 10:26:27 GMT -5
What is true is that China is acquiring all the information for their “great products” by cyber-espionage and have basically stolen patented ideas from companies everywhere. The are currently producing knock off Teslas with, you guessed it, stolen technology. I, for one, will not purchase any knock-off items in any category if I can help it. Exactly. |
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Post by Mel on Dec 30, 2022 16:26:13 GMT -5
Well I'll be that guy and say I don't understand the hate. It seems to me the most solid and reliable entry tumbler you can buy. (33b that is, I can't vouch for their larger tumblers)
If there is a problem with Lortone customer service, maybe they've shifted from a Joe off the street kind of company to focusing on letting distributors like The Rock Shed, Kingsley North, etc., to take the brunt of the customer service load
I'm not sure why I'm sticking up for a company I've never directly dealt with...again, maybe I've been lucky.
I will say they make the best tumblers. Most of their stuff is easy to repair too, which is a bonus. I support local/North American made as much as I can and I buy from small businesses whenever I can. However, since they declined my wanting to be a distributor (my shop isn't big enough yet to have a physical store but I can sell tumblers all day long), and I'm still a little mad about that. What happened to supporting the little guy? I saw a Tumblebee awhile back, and I'm not super impressed with their belt system. The owner of the place also told me they're louder; I can't say, wasn't in the market for more tumblers. Also the belt is proprietary (notched) which is a bummer, because we all know how belts go. Meanwhile, most Lortones could be swapped with a generic o-ring and have no issue. If they're just as good quality I'll happily sell the competition. |
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on Sept 5, 2023 18:37:53 GMT -5
I think Lortone will be around a while, HP is only 15 bucks cheaper on the 33B. They may be able to outproduce Lortone though, which is a drag.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Sept 5, 2023 19:05:17 GMT -5
I saw those new HP tumblers and was curious. They do look just like lortones.
I have a lortone in every size 12lb and under and love them. I have a few thumler's and they are ok, but nowhere near the same quality.
Lortone does really need to up their production on tumblers and parts - often their stuff is not in stock. I looked for a C40 a couple of weeks ago and couldn't find one anywhere - I have copious amounts of Texas rock - I could use a Texas size tumbler.
That said I am seriously considering HP's drop saw - no one makes something similar, and any other 14" saw is way more expensive. I can't find an affordable saw anywhere and I have already burned out the motor in my Hi-Tech 6" once, and I was pushing it too far, again, this weekend.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2023 19:46:05 GMT -5
I don't think there is any question that the new HP tumblers look like the Lortones but does that matter? Also how different do you think they should look between companies? After all they are such a simple design that there can only be= much variation between different manufactures tumblers while keeping it basic. |
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 937 
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Post by ashley on Sept 5, 2023 19:51:45 GMT -5
If anyone comes out with the UV-10 and UV-18 vibes, I will gladly buy one regardless of the name on it. They are awesome vibes but you can’t get them.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818
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Post by Mark K on Sept 5, 2023 20:23:51 GMT -5
If anyone comes out with the UV-10 and UV-18 vibes, I will gladly buy one regardless of the name on it. They are awesome vibes but you can’t get them. You can't even get them to answer an email. Thumler can kiss my ass. |
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Sept 5, 2023 20:39:28 GMT -5
I don't think there is any question that the new HP tumblers look like the Lortones but does that matter? Also how different do you think they should look between companies? After all they are such a simple design that there can only be= much variation between different manufactures tumblers while keeping it basic. I am curious about the new HP tumblers. I hear they have a number of differences from the Lortone tumblers that may be improvements. Perhaps time will tell. |
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Post by Son Of Beach on Sept 5, 2023 20:41:49 GMT -5
If anyone comes out with the UV-10 and UV-18 vibes, I will gladly buy one regardless of the name on it. They are awesome vibes but you can’t get them. You can't even get them to answer an email. Thumler can kiss my ass. Someone remind me to get in touch with them...I kinda live in the area now... |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2023 20:49:28 GMT -5
I don't think there is any question that the new HP tumblers look like the Lortones but does that matter? Also how different do you think they should look between companies? After all they are such a simple design that there can only be= much variation between different manufactures tumblers while keeping it basic. I am curious about the new HP tumblers. I hear they have a number of differences from the Lortone tumblers that may be improvements. Perhaps time will tell. Yeah the brushless DC motors and direct drive is interesting but how many years can they run 24/7? I'm not sure there's any datasheet to even look at to answer that question. |
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