cman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2009
Posts: 207
|
Post by cman on Aug 17, 2009 17:37:42 GMT -5
Saw the Lortone arbor units is it worth going this route. Or should one just buy a Gene or some other unit. The Gene I'm using the wheels seem to be a little to close. Thought about Pixie but they will be closer or equal. Calling MFG. seems like they have no knowledge of distance apart for wheels. Looked at wheels from Rocklady1 on eBay. any of you use the wheels? Some of you guy's been through this what to do for a unit.
I even looked at the Rascal comments appreciated. Sure will help me and others.
Thanks, CMan
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Aug 18, 2009 21:05:56 GMT -5
I'm thinking of building another unit to mount an expando drum and getting different belts for it. I can get a 2 sided arbor for $18.99 locally, and I could then put the polishing wheel on the other side.
Nate
|
|
mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
|
Post by mc2 on Aug 18, 2009 22:19:07 GMT -5
Cman, for what its' worth, I can only comment on the Lortone equipment I have been using. About 2 months ago, I purchased a LU6X combo unit, and it is great. I do not have a lortone tumbler, but I get the impression that for those who do have one, they seem to be good equipment also. So, I would think their arbor might be pretty good also.
Mike
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Aug 18, 2009 22:29:58 GMT -5
I set my Genie up as a four wheel unit with last two wheels on a separate shaft. Gives me clearance between the wheels. A four wheel arbor would be fine if at least one wheel was an expando drum. You could even mount an 80 and 220 wheel on left and a 6' x 2.5" expando and polish head on right. Lortone is a low cost but adequate unit. They typically use light gauge sheet metal so biggest problem is corrosion. Good maintenance will help. I heard they are using stainless steel on at least some units to fix this.
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Aug 18, 2009 22:56:18 GMT -5
I haven't used the rocklady wheels but I have used their flat lap disks. I'm really happy with those but not sure if they are the same. I know some people have mentiond jade carver wheels as being good and I think they are about the same price. Have not used them myself though either. Here are some links to rocklady directly and jade carver. Who knows maybe the two places are the same product even? rocklady1.com/Products.htmljadecarver.com/DiamondTools.htm
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Aug 18, 2009 22:58:38 GMT -5
Actually just looked. Doesn't look like they are the same from the pictures.
|
|
1rockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 286
|
Post by 1rockhound on Aug 19, 2009 10:38:11 GMT -5
I have a lortone 8" two wheel arbor. I love it has a 8 X 3 expando drum on one side and a hard wheel on the other with a polishing head as John stated. The unit was well used and rusted when I obtained it. I stripped it down and took it to a local powder coating place and had it sand blasted and powder coated. No rust in a year and a half and the powder coating acts like teflon when cleaning out the rock mess out of the bottom. To have it blasted and coated it cost $45 a very worthwhile investment. I am completely happy with only 2 wheels as I don't mind changing belts, others may not.
Jason
|
|
bluemtgems
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2009
Posts: 6
|
Post by bluemtgems on Aug 24, 2009 8:14:16 GMT -5
I would build the arbor. Genies are nice. But if you build your own arbor you can space the wheels any way you want and most importantly you can use a 3 or 4 step pulley to run your wheels at whatever rpm you want.
|
|
|
Post by rocklicker on Aug 31, 2009 18:45:14 GMT -5
Here's an idea... Get a used two wheel Lortone unit and mount a longer shaft on it to accomodate 4 wheels. I did that and it worked great. The folks at Lortone were a big help in figuring what I needed. For a while I had 2 expandos and two wheels on it. Recenlty I went to all wheels. Works like a charm ;D
Lortone also has a very attractive 6 wheel arbor I have been eyeballing. Steve
|
|
|
Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 31, 2009 19:19:45 GMT -5
I found a used Lortone SA-8 2-wheel unit about a month ago 0 it's very old, don't know how old. It has an 8X3 expando on the left and the aluminum 8" polishing plate/disc on the right. I didn't do anything to it except improve the water supply a bit (it didn't have one, just holes in the lid) and mounted it on 3/4" plywood. Mounted the 3/4 horse Dayton motor on a hinged plate, so that the weight of the motor keeps the belt tensioned. I've been using it a LOT, and it just keeps on humming. Dirty as an old sow, ugly as mud, but by golly, it sure works good.
Tom
|
|
|
Post by rockmanken on Sept 1, 2009 16:56:56 GMT -5
I have a 5 wheel Diamond Jem from Kingsley North and it has polishing discs on both ends. Plenty of spacing between the wheels. That is why I went with this over the Genie. Love it. Have Lortone 2 wheel and have had Highland Park E-10 2 wheel with slab saw. Had a Covington 4 wheel and of all of them, the Diamond Jem is the best (for me). Also, started on a Craftsman flat lap in the early 60's. Now have an Ameritool flat lap and love it, too. If I ever have to replace either, I will go back to the Diamond Jem and the Ameritool. Ken
|
|