Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Feb 25, 2008 18:02:22 GMT -5
The motor runs at 7500 rpm discs grit ranger from35 to 600 heat is the biggest problem.this thing is fun. yea I know my shop is a mess......................Roger
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chasfire
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 180
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Post by chasfire on Feb 25, 2008 18:29:27 GMT -5
Roger: I also have one of these machines, and they are great for polishing small flats. They don't work to well on curved or domed material, and for larger flats it is cumbersome. Heat is a problem, but so far I think I have only had one agate fracture from the heat.
chasfire
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Feb 25, 2008 19:01:49 GMT -5
chasfire, i really like mine also but I have polished slabs upto 6'' in dia. I use a leather pad to add polish. Roger
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chasfire
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 180
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Post by chasfire on Feb 25, 2008 21:15:32 GMT -5
Roger: I too have polished large flats. It is just cumbersome. This is the largest so far www.gametrails.com/Unidentified Softwood 07_07_07.jpg[/img] It is an 8 1/2 pound piece (with a face of 8" X 4") of petrified wood I found up by Mt Saint Helens. chasfire
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Feb 26, 2008 9:33:44 GMT -5
That's real cool.Hey I golfed at Skamania that is beautifull country.
Roger
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Post by Woodyrock on Feb 26, 2008 14:14:42 GMT -5
Do not apoligize for a messy shop...that is an indicator of work being accomplished. Never trust a spotlessly clean workshop, or skinny cooks.
Woodyrock
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Feb 26, 2008 18:41:28 GMT -5
I know what you mean I find it comfortable.Thanks...........Roger
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 27, 2008 20:44:48 GMT -5
I noticed your rotary tumbler in the back of the first picture. I think I have it's twin brother: Mine is 36" long and will hold 36 lbs worth of Lortone tumblers. Looks like yours is about the same size with Thumler tumblers. The angle iron and paint looks like it was done by the same person. I wonder how many are around. I know of two, now three. Rick
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Feb 28, 2008 13:00:51 GMT -5
That looks just like mine.I like your barrells better mine seem to eat the radiator hose they sit on.I think mine was made my Joe Thompson he used to have rock shops aroud here.I bought mine from for $75 bucks.the dry polisher also came from him.
Roger
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Post by captbob on Feb 28, 2008 13:50:00 GMT -5
Hope you don't mind the off topic question, but is it okay for the Lortones to run lid to lid?
I was looking at their 6# & 4# barrels and trying to figure out one of these homemade setups for them. The barrels don't need a gap between them?
Also, can someone with those barrels post their size (height & diameter) please?
Thank you, and sorry for the hijack...
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 28, 2008 17:41:44 GMT -5
Roger, I got my tumbler from a guy who bought out the inventory of a rock shop that closed in Cascade or Green Mountain Falls, Colorado (just a bit up the highway from me in the mountains). He had two and only needed one. $75 bucks is what he wanted for it so I traded him 4 oz of cripple creek turquoise and a chunk of Kabamba Jasper. Both parties walked away with what they wanted. The Lortone barrels really work out well. They look shiny but never slip with both rollers turning.
Capt Bob,
I was wondering about that myself. I was worried about the knob wearing a hole in the bottom of the barrel it was bumping against. So I put them either bottom to bottom or knob to knob. Hmmm... that sounds kind of dirty ;-)
Oh, and I'm using two 12 lb and two 6 lb Lortone barrels.
Rick
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keith503
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2007
Posts: 90
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Post by keith503 on Mar 8, 2008 0:49:27 GMT -5
I am getting a new 1 like that made its a high speed sander, 2700 rpm, with 7" disc's for $389.00 keith
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Mar 10, 2008 12:01:17 GMT -5
Those dry sanders can work wonders on rocks! But, they can also be extremely dangerous - I've got the stitch scars to prove it. If you've got a strong stomach: www.flickr.com/photos/12644536@N00/sets/72157600786917110/ have a look. I didn't glue down the sanding pad well enough, it came off the pad and sliced me open, leaving some sanding grit embedded deep into the wound. Dean
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Mar 10, 2008 17:31:59 GMT -5
YEOW...I have been sliced but not like that.My pads have a hole in the middle and are held on by a washer and a nut.I have been hit in knuckles by a rock I didn't hold on tight enough to....
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Mar 11, 2008 13:41:02 GMT -5
My pads also have a center hole with washer/nut. But the edges are not held down unless you glue them. That's what got me.
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Mar 11, 2008 16:04:18 GMT -5
wow thanks for the tip.I haven't glued mine on yet..but I may try to wear gloves.Hope your finger is ok.........Thanks Roger
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chasfire
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 180
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Post by chasfire on Mar 11, 2008 23:06:13 GMT -5
Dean: I haven't yet glued any of my pads down, and so far I have only ground down the ends of my fingers. I bought the glue just haven't used it yet. The people in Oregon that sells these type of machines indicated that they just glue down the finer grit pads and just bolt the coarser grit pads on. Apparently the finer grit pads are really thin and rip pretty easily. I think they said that they also only use the 60, 220 and then polish. I use the following pads: 60, 220, 400, and 600 then polish on a wool carpet with cerium oxide. I think I get a much better polish with the extra two steps. Here is a picture that shows the polish I was able to get on the Dry Polisher. The wood is blurry because the digital camera focused on the reflection. chasfire
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Post by Woodyrock on Mar 12, 2008 1:27:37 GMT -5
A second party opinion on Chasfire's polish........incredible! The polish he gets with this regimen is so bright it hurts ones eyes., and just ask him how little time it takes to achieve such a great polish. Woodyrock
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Mar 12, 2008 9:13:44 GMT -5
nice,nice shine.I use the same steps.Do you hand polish??.............Thanks Roger
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,777
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Post by adrian65 on Mar 12, 2008 15:23:15 GMT -5
That shine is unreal! How did you get it? A tutorial would be great, pretty please!
Adrian
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