herchenx
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Member since January 2012
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Post by herchenx on Jan 5, 2012 1:07:42 GMT -5
A friend is selling me a used Lortone combination machine. The grinder is 100 grit, I have ordered a range of sanding belts for the expanding drum, and there is a polishing pad on the end.
I also have a vibratory tumbler (uv 10) en route.
My question is, due to the risk of contamination it seems unwise to use the pad on the end of the combination machine to polish, so I am thinking I will shape on the grinder, pre polish on the expando up to 600 or 800 grit, and then save batches and run them through a dedicated polish stage using the tumbler.
Am I making this harder than it should be? Is the tumbler necessary for the polishing or would I be ahead to use the polishing pad? Is there an advantage to polishing with the pad over using the vibratory tumbler?
This is only my first day on the forums and now my third thread, so I understand that I may seem like a spammer, however I have been reading the forums for weeks and have been saving my questions for when they count and I am honestly trying to not post any duplicates.
Thanks for all who have already been so helpful, I plan on returning the favor as I become useful.
John
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
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Post by keystonecops on Jan 5, 2012 8:48:44 GMT -5
Ive got the same machine. I swapped out the wheel,drum on it fer daimond. 100 grit fer roughn it and 180 to get the scratches out. Dont know bout a tumbler, Ive got a 2wheel sander with xpando wheels I use fer sandn. Takes awhile cause I gotta change belts but it works. Later Clyde
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 5, 2012 9:03:34 GMT -5
Leave the pad off the machine unless you are polishing and you should not have a contamination issue. Easier to change belts too. If iy has the 2.5" drum the belts are hard to change anyway. If the drum is bad replacing with 1.5" makes it much easier.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
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Post by herchenx on Jan 5, 2012 12:39:52 GMT -5
Thanks all.
The expanding drum IS 2.5" and the previous owner said that is easy to swap belts. I will be removing the pad from the end and just using my vibratory with polish.
I was thinking, if I tumble the cabs to polish them, would I need to take them through all 4 stages like I do with tumbled stones?
Clyde, I am not sure I understand your setup, do you by a photo you could send me so I can see?
On my combo machine there is the saw on the left, a 1" wide grinder next, a small gap then the 2.5" expanding drum and then the pad on the end. In re-reading it sounds like you use diamond to polish on the combo machine and you have a separate machine for shaping and roughing?
I'm attempting to see if I have enough equipment to do all the steps (Lortone combo machine for cut through pre-polish, Thumler vibe tumbler and additional Lortone tumblers if I need to go 4 stages on the tumbling)
Thanks again for all your help.
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Jan 5, 2012 14:20:30 GMT -5
There is no need to over complicate it really. You can make do with what you have if you don`t mind changing belts. Use the 100 grit wheel to grind and shape then start off next with some 220 on the expando wheel. Then you`ll have to change belts to work your way up to 600 or better. I have a hook and loop backing pad that I use 1000 and 3000 grit discs with on the polishing pad on the end. Then change out to leather or cotton pad soaked in a paste of polish and spritzed to wet it. Or a bench grinder mounted polishing pad gets higher rpm`s and polishes it quick. So it can be done in a matter of hours that way or days in the tumbler. If you shape a lot of cabs it may pay to do a mass tumbling. But chips and fractures may be a risk.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 5, 2012 14:49:08 GMT -5
Thank you jspencer - yes, I am trying to avoid overcomplicating this, I just really want to see if I have what I need to get going. I get frustrated if I start in on something and find that I have to stop short of completion because I overlooked something.
I do have a bench grinder with a cloth wheel, and jeweler's rouge (something oxide, I can't recall, it it a long waxy stick of something red - was a gift from a relative a couple years ago and I've never used it)
I like the hook and loop pad idea - any info on where I could get the pad and the disks for that? Are those threaded to any standard so I could get something that would work on my Lortone? (1/2" N.F.H.R. - 1/4-20 threaded - based on the manual)
I keep feeling like I am zeroing in on having a complete set-up, I just can't seem to finalize the polishing stage.
Thank you thank you to everyone for all your help.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 5, 2012 15:34:05 GMT -5
Well preliminary searching for a hook and loop pad for my arbor yields nothing. It looks like there are smaller-diameter pads that are for 3/4-inch arbors, or that are threaded differently, but I am not finding anything obvious that could go on my Lortone.
I'll solve this polishing mystery, I keep thinking there has to be some way to polish with what I already own. Thanks again for the feedback.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 5, 2012 15:59:57 GMT -5
John, you failed to tell us what diameter your wheels are. If your shaft is threaded 1/4-20 on the ends, Diamond Pacific makes discs which take magnetic sanding discs. Finding hook and loop discs or pads in 6" or 8" size is going to be a problem. If it's polishing pads you're looking for, there are a wide range of them available in different materials, and the prices aren't bad. Don
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
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Post by herchenx on Jan 5, 2012 16:12:14 GMT -5
6 inch wheels
1/2 inch arbor at the end where this attaches and the pad is on the right side of the unit.
I'd love to be able to quickly and easily swap disks without risking contaminating them while I am shaping etc. on the drum. Who would you suggest I order the pad and disks from?
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 5, 2012 16:25:15 GMT -5
You could start out by trying one of our members, John at Johnjsgems. He gives our members real good prices. If he doesn't have what you need, try Kingsley North. Covington also makes a number of different discs.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 5, 2012 16:53:19 GMT -5
Thank Jake, I PM'd John as suggested.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 5, 2012 16:58:05 GMT -5
Another thing you could try is any rock shops in your area. They sometimes have used equipment for sale. You might find discs at a decent price that way. But check prices for new parts first. Some shops will try to charge new prices for used equipment.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 6, 2012 13:50:58 GMT -5
Wow everyone, what an odyssey this has been, and I don't even have my machine yet!
SO in the end I placed an order for a couple leather polishing pads from John at Johnsgems. My first attempt will be one pad with 1200 grit diamond polish, and another with 14000 grit polish.
On the combo machine I am replacing the diamond saw blade, the grinding wheel with a new 100 grit, a new 2 1/2"expanding drum also from John with swappable belts in 220, 400, 600 and 800 grit, and 2 pads as described previously.
I still need a new belt for the machine, but I won't get that until I have the machine to look at and make sure I am getting the right one.
Thanks all for your help, I am beyond excited to get going.
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