kategoodwin
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 59
|
Post by kategoodwin on Oct 13, 2011 13:37:56 GMT -5
Does anyone have one of these? Any tricks or cool ideas? We had a slow day at work today so I went up to see Shawn at the Rock Shed this morning. I've been wanting to buy a tumbler and this is the one I finally decided on.
|
|
kategoodwin
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 59
|
Post by kategoodwin on Oct 13, 2011 15:46:55 GMT -5
Thanks Geoff!!!
So what is vulcanizing agent? And why in the world did they put that hole down there anyways? lol
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on Oct 13, 2011 18:54:19 GMT -5
Wow,what's it like with Shawn in the neighborhood? My wallet couldnt stand it.As for the Lot-os,I love them.I wouldnt want to go back to polishing rocks in the rotaries. I've got two of them,one is always on prepolish,and one always in polish.Got a lot of rotaries to keep them fed. I think you will enjoy it.It will take you a while to try every kind of rock Shawn carries ;D ;D
snuffy
|
|
|
Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 14, 2011 2:52:52 GMT -5
Hi kate , First Welcome to RTH from UK I have had a lot"O" for about 5 years and it is a amazing machine, and a lot of people on RTH also have this amazing machine (added later - I also got mine from the Rock Shed a european 220 volt model ) Used from stage 2 (220 G ) to Polished So Fast cuts time down from 2nd stage to final polish to 10 days or so from 6 weeks / 2 months so you can see the saving in Time - Electric + the fact you only use 1/2 a Tea spoon of grit from stage 3 on so you save grit also (Conrocks method ) Only one word for the Lot"O" - Brilliant I used Epoxy to fill the dimple in the bottom and the end of a Tbar to shape & smooth it out As Geoff says dont let it dry out I would say check it every 2 to 3 hours when you first begin and in stage 2 as these machines are VERY agressive and make mud fast I notice if the mud/rocks are rotating ok and are glossy grey they are ok if they are dull grey and moving slowly add a few sprays of water, When you start DONT add water to rocks tip it all out , as long as the rocks are wet they are ok Too much water = a rock washing machine ! Rather me go through these things check this link to the full Connrock Recepie, (which Bikrandy started ( that is pinned above ) for the big Vibe and I added Connrocks recepie for the smaller Vibes) forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tottumb&action=display&thread=29369&page=4Im sure you will find this of great assistance It comes out of Toms 10 + years of experementing with the Lot"O" Jack Yorkshire uk
|
|
|
Post by tntmom on Oct 14, 2011 10:02:07 GMT -5
I agree with Jack! Out of all of the different types of tumblers I've owned my Lot-O is by far my favorite and runs 24 hours a day.
I too started with Conrocks recipe and had additional coaching from him via pm's. After time I tweaked the recipe a bit to make it my own and now get results that are better than I have gotten with any other tumbler.
Congrats on your purchase!!!
ps, I got mine from Shawn too!!!
|
|
kategoodwin
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 59
|
Post by kategoodwin on Oct 14, 2011 14:53:30 GMT -5
Wow,what's it like with Shawn in the neighborhood? My wallet couldnt stand it.As for the Lot-os,I love them.I wouldnt want to go back to polishing rocks in the rotaries. I've got two of them,one is always on prepolish,and one always in polish.Got a lot of rotaries to keep them fed. I think you will enjoy it.It will take you a while to try every kind of rock Shawn carries ;D ;D snuffy Shawn is great! Very helpful and acts genuinely pleased that you've come in and does everything he can to help. I already knew the guy that works in there with him Bernard and he's a really cool guy too. And I could spend hours in that shop. I managed to escape with only the tumbler, some drill bits and the grit. My roomates would come uncorked if I walked in the house with more rock. Right now I have tubs full in my bedroom and another couple hundred pounds in the back of my horse trailer waiting for some attention. Hi my name is Katie and I'm addicted to collecting these wonderful south dakota rocks. ;D
|
|
kategoodwin
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 59
|
Post by kategoodwin on Oct 14, 2011 14:56:39 GMT -5
Thanks everyone!! I'm excited to try my first batch. I didn't want to start it before the weekend since I'm going out of town so I have to wait until Monday. It's killen me. lol Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!
|
|
|
Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 14, 2011 15:25:18 GMT -5
I've never met Shawn in person, but he's helped me out a good bit. I also purchased my vibe (UV-10) from him. Like already mentioned, keep checking it to ensure the rocks stay wet. Always check before you go to work and first thing after you get home, especially with the coarse grit. It will thicken up fast. The fine grit isn't too bad, and the polish you can look in on once a day.
|
|
kategoodwin
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 59
|
Post by kategoodwin on Oct 18, 2011 13:10:23 GMT -5
For the record....whoever decided to put that hole in the bottom of the drum deserves to have all their nose hairs plucked one by one. lol I filled it up last night so by tonight it should be ready for my first batch of rocks! I'm so excited I'm having a hard time sticking it out all day at work. ;D
|
|
charles kuchar
spending too much on rocks
getting ready for the second coming
Member since November 2010
Posts: 300
|
Post by charles kuchar on Oct 26, 2011 6:15:41 GMT -5
i don't hurry with the lot-o. i find that i get better polished rocks when i leave them in for three days with 220 grit and the 500 grit. probably because when i check them in the 220 they are already dry and need a couple of spritz of water to get them a little moist. but i love polishing with it. charlie
|
|
kategoodwin
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 59
|
Post by kategoodwin on Oct 26, 2011 11:56:59 GMT -5
So I have my very first batch of rock in the polish now. They're shiny...but not quite as shiny as I want them. How many days do you guys leave them in the polish. My sheet said just 24 hours...but I figured I could leave them in longer. And if you leave them in longer than 24 hours do you usually add fresh polish?
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on Oct 26, 2011 20:18:51 GMT -5
I run 3 or 4 day cycles in mine,one in 1000 ao and one in ao polish.
snuffy
|
|
catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
|
Post by catskillrocks on Oct 30, 2011 21:43:33 GMT -5
Hi Katie, & welcome to RTH. In answer to your question "do I add more polish if I keep them in longer than 24 hours", the answer is no. One nice thing about Vibe Tumblers is that you actually use a lot less grit/polish than in Rotaries.
Don
|
|
kategoodwin
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 59
|
Post by kategoodwin on Oct 31, 2011 11:54:26 GMT -5
Thanks everyone!! I finished my first batch last week and they look great! (at least for a beginner. ) I'll have to post some pics later.
|
|