fmelvis
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 235
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Post by fmelvis on Jul 20, 2011 7:32:55 GMT -5
I've been having alot of fun tumbling rocks with my 3 lbs loritone, but i have many rocks which are about 3 inches which can really bog down any tumbling action. So I have stopped trying.
I do want to tumble the larger stones and actively looking for a bigger tumbler.
Has anyone used the larger loritones? ( 4lbs, 6lbs 12lbs)
Which would be the minimum size to get to properly tumble 3 inch rocks? I would like to tumble more than 1 or 2 rocks at a time.
Thanks
Frank
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Post by Toad on Jul 20, 2011 7:40:31 GMT -5
I'd say get the biggest tumbler you can afford to keep rolling. Bigger tumbler means more rock and grit, of course...
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 20, 2011 7:58:00 GMT -5
You could probably include a few 3" rocks in a 12 lb. tumbler. If you want to do a lot of big stuff you probably need to look at 40 lb. units.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 20, 2011 11:59:00 GMT -5
Yep, I run a few large 3-4" stones in every load in my 12# or 6# Lortone barrels. Have to have a mix though with plenty of small stuff to promote the grinding action. Lortone barrels are swell but I prefer the MJR base unit to the Lortone rigs.....Mel
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jul 20, 2011 16:35:43 GMT -5
Cut 'em in half with a tile saw.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 20, 2011 16:49:17 GMT -5
Sometimes you can't cut 'em in half or you lose the pattern. I have several Chevron Amethyst I would like to polish as fist pieces or specimens. Cut up to a more standard "pendant" sized tumbling stone, you would lose the pattern on these particularly stones.
There are also some patterned Agates that would look better tumbled in larger size than you would want for jewelry.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jul 20, 2011 17:10:58 GMT -5
Oh I was being a little facetious with my comment. As you might guess by my avatar, I collect Lakers, and cutting those apart is seldom advisable for exactly the reasons you state. I just bought a Lortone QT12 and am enjoying the ability to tumble larger rocks myself. More often though I think we tumble stones that have a more or less uniform pattern, like rose quartz, or aventurine, or many jaspers, and cutting them will expose more surface area (and you'll have more stones to give away to the neighborhood children too). It all depends on the rock and what you want out of it.
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Post by rockrookie on Jul 20, 2011 17:14:39 GMT -5
my choice was . 6 & 12 lb barrels . and several 3 lbers . --paul
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 20, 2011 17:36:01 GMT -5
Daniel, I have to admit -- I love your Avatar!!!
You boys about have me convinced to step up to a bigger barrel. I can see that it's just a matter of time before I am assimilated.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jul 20, 2011 17:50:57 GMT -5
The larger of the 2 Lakers in my avatar is only 2.5 inches long, but it's an example of how they are sometimes already "polished" when you find them. I would be a damn fool to try to polish those two, much less try to slice them.
I now run a Lortone QT12 with a 12 pound barrel and I also have two 6 pound barrels, and a 33.5B with two 3 pound barrels and I also have three 1.5 pound barrels. I covet a Lot-O.
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Post by paulshiroma on Jul 20, 2011 21:51:25 GMT -5
Daniel, I have to admit -- I love your Avatar!!! You boys about have me convinced to step up to a bigger barrel. I can see that it's just a matter of time before I am assimilated. "We are the tumblers ... you will be assimilated ... " ... I completely agree with you, Peachfront. And this particular thread has got me thinking of purchasing one of the larger vibs. I've been running along with three 3lbs'ers and it's ... well, time consuming. Probably time to upgrade. It'll be interesting to see how my wife reacts. Maybe I'll couch it as "It IS our anniversary this Friday, Honey! I got it for YOU!"
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jul 20, 2011 22:42:44 GMT -5
Resistance is futile.
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Post by connrock on Jul 22, 2011 6:23:58 GMT -5
I'm interested in knowing where the heck you guys get 3"-4" rocks that will tumble polish out nicely? Every time I've tried it I get junk out of it,,,,pits,cracks,vugs,etc,etc,etc! About the biggest I've ever done that came out beautiful were some Botswana Agates but that gets WAY too expensive for my retirement pocket book! LOL
connrock
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fmelvis
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 235
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Post by fmelvis on Jul 22, 2011 8:49:00 GMT -5
Hmmmm.... maybe I should put the rock by itself in a 3lb barrel with some filler and let 'er go.
Putting a 3 inch rock in a big barrel might hurt its self esteem.
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