rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
|
Post by rockhoundmn on Nov 11, 2020 12:07:47 GMT -5
Hi! I've done a bit of research and reading of the forums but haven't found my particular concern. I am itching to pull the trigger on a tumbler setup and have been narrowing my options down for a couple of months now, but am looking for tips from the (edit) more experienced before I make my final decision.
I have about 2 of the 5 gallon buckets full of rock which I believe is suitable for tumbling - mostly agate and jasper. Sizes range from tiny up to about 3" (agate) and 6" (jasper) some are coated in what seems to be concrete, some naturally river tumbled and lots with all kinds of inclusions and imperfections.
My particular situation requires something on the "quieter" side and because I gather large amounts of rocks, I'd like to have something of a production line going constantly.
So I'm looking at the Lortone 33b and the Lot-O tumbler (would prefer to try out single barrel but can't justify buying that version with the double being only a little extra money). To be clear, I'm looking at buying both these setups. The Lot-O to run for 12 or so hours per day to get my rough processed faster and using less grit (but more electricity I guess) and the rotary to run constantly polishing the rocks which I think already have a nice shape and quality.
I'm open to all suggestions, pros-and-cons, anything at all that might help make my decision. I guess my main question is - have I covered all bases for my particular needs or am I setting myself up to have a machine or two that won't or can't deliver what I'm looking for?
Thanks in advance!
|
|
lordsorril
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 766
|
Post by lordsorril on Nov 11, 2020 12:33:07 GMT -5
I'm not a pro, but, I can tell you a few things I learned: -The 33B is good for smaller pieces (1-2")--it does not have the advantage of the greater weight that the larger barrels provide so it takes longer pound for pound to round and shape harder stones like agate and jasper. -Vibe tumblers (like the Lot-O) are good for finish work and polish after a rotary has completed the shaping, rotary polishing can be very tricky: agate and jasper are some of the easiest though. -I would not want to try and shape rough rocks in a vibe--due to the action the bowls can wear significantly faster if exposed to sharp edges. -The noise level produced by any tumbler barrel can be greatly effected by the level of cushioning/material/water added. -Two five gallon buckets of rock (agate/jasper) is a lot of rock for a single 33B. You may want to examine a larger model.
|
|
rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
|
Post by rockhoundmn on Nov 11, 2020 12:42:10 GMT -5
I'm not a pro, but, I can tell you a few things I learned: -The 33B is good for smaller pieces (1-2")--it does not have the advantage of the greater weight that the larger barrels provide so it takes longer pound for pound to round and shape harder stones like agate and jasper. -Vibe tumblers (like the Lot-O) are good for finish work and polish after a rotary has completed the shaping, rotary polishing can be very tricky: agate and jasper are some of the easiest though. -I would not want to try and shape rough rocks in a vibe--due to the action the bowls can wear significantly faster if exposed to sharp edges. -The noise level produced by any tumbler barrel can be greatly effected by the level of cushioning/material/water added. -Two five gallon buckets of rock (agate/jasper) is a lot of rock for a single 33B. You may want to examine a larger model. Thank you! I would definitely try a larger size if they were available, seems they are hard to get at the moment? Many useful tips, thanks. I guess I shouldn't have said "pros" because I really meant anyone with more knowledge than me.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Nov 11, 2020 12:54:52 GMT -5
rockhoundmnAfter roughly 30 years of tumbling I think my favorite production setup is running a 12 lb Lortone for coarse and a 3 lb Lortone for fine through polish. By the time the three pounder is done polishing a batch, (roughly 3 weeks) the 12 pounder has finished enough to start a new batch in fine grit. The 12 pound barrel takes a while to clean out and sort the rocks that are ready for the next stage. I usually spend 2-3 hours sorting through the 12 pound clean out. Paying careful attention to the mix of rock sizes and grit/water ratio in the 12 pound tumbler is the key to making this successful. I have never run a vibe but I understand they don’t round and shape rocks the same way rotaries do. That’s my $0.02 worth. I’m looking forward to seeing some of your work
|
|
EricD
Cave Dweller
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
Posts: 1,142
|
Post by EricD on Nov 11, 2020 13:25:13 GMT -5
My Lot-O Twin sits idle about half the time with a single 12lb rotary feeding it. I wish I had purchased a single barrel model. I could go buy more rotary tumblers, but I think two 12lb or 15lb units would be the limit for me with the time I have on hand to clean them out. Starguy is right when he says a vibe tumbler will do no more than round the sharp corners slightly, it's not meant for shaping. The Lot-O barrel has no problem with razor sharp edges, however most, if not all other vibe barrels cannot do that. (I believe the Diamond Pacific Mini-Sonic barrels can). You will need to either clean out your vibe tumbler after every 12 hours if you do indeed shut it off for 12 hours, or deal with hardened, concrete-like slurry afterward. Can't really just shut it off for 12 hours and then turn it back on. It takes about 6-7 days for the Lot-O single model to process a barrel (around 4.5lbs) of rocks from smooth and imperfection free stones you take out of your rotary, to perfect glossy rocks. A single 12lb rotary cannot keep up with that, IMO. The whole 12lbs is never all ready at the same time, perhaps a handful each week at best. As for tumblers being quiet... I wouldn't describe them as such, but the noise any of them I have seen make is like music to me The noise levels are similar between models, unless you are talking about a rotary with a metal or PVC barrel, or a vibe with a thin plastic bowl like the TV-5. Anything with a rubber barrel or heavy thick HDPE/Poly bowl (or metal barrel with a rubber liner) will be about as quiet as you can get. I'm sure I missed something. Maybe it'll come to me later on.
|
|
rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
|
Post by rockhoundmn on Nov 11, 2020 16:03:34 GMT -5
This has all been so helpful- thank you! I've already pretty much settled on a single, larger capacity rotary and single barrel Lot-O after reading all your messages.
The noise is no issue for me but my poor husband is very sensitive to sounds and I have only a basement to hide the tumblers in, no detached buildings unfortunately. I say poor husband because he has been putting up with having rocks slowly taking over the house, car, any container which could conceivably be used as storage.
He was dead against the tumbler idea because he had one years ago (I believe a plastic barrel kind) but now is very open to the idea. I guess he wants the bathroom back to functional.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Nov 11, 2020 18:03:57 GMT -5
I don’t think you or your husband will mind the sound of a rotary tumbler. I find the sound kind of soothing.
|
|
EricD
Cave Dweller
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
Posts: 1,142
|
Post by EricD on Nov 11, 2020 19:20:00 GMT -5
This has all been so helpful- thank you! I've already pretty much settled on a single, larger capacity rotary and single barrel Lot-O after reading all your messages. The noise is no issue for me but my poor husband is very sensitive to sounds and I have only a basement to hide the tumblers in, no detached buildings unfortunately. I say poor husband because he has been putting up with having rocks slowly taking over the house, car, any container which could conceivably be used as storage. He was dead against the tumbler idea because he had one years ago (I believe a plastic barrel kind) but now is very open to the idea. I guess he wants the bathroom back to functional. I doubt he will hear them in a basement unless you place them directly under the bedroom Good choice of tools to buy, I believe you will really enjoy them and not need anything else to tumble (machine-wise) If you have any questions about ingredients or methods, everyone here loves to help, so they can see the pictures of your work later! Selfish, I know
|
|
|
Post by Bob on Jan 20, 2021 13:31:26 GMT -5
I was lucky to get guided in 2014 to getting a 12lb Lortone as my first tumbler. Shortly after, I studied tumblers vs. vibes. It became apparent to me that a vibe doesn't sit well with my lifestyle because they can be very noisy and one can't leave for the weekend with one running unattended as they are some sensitive issues involved with loading and water slurry formation and maintenance and monitoring. One friend who vibes a lot told me he seldom will let his vibe operate when he can't check on the slurry no more than 4 hours at a time. But after the rough shaping is done, a vibe can get one to final finished shine faster, and save grit costs. But even with 8 tumblers at a time, running 24/7, including one that eats 4 cups of grit even 6 days, my total costs including grit and electricity are estimated by me between $45 and $65/mo, so I think it's a cheap hobby even w/o a vibe.
So I got more rotary tumblers and have never gotten a vibe and people who see my polished rocks say there is no higher shine possible.
For a year before getting more tumblers, I had two, a 12lb Lortone and the one that has two 6lb barrels on it and got *a lot* of mileage out of those. For friends who are getting started in tumbling, I say get the 12lb Lortone. Just my personal bias. I have never seen a Thumler brand one with my own eyes.
|
|
gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
|
Post by gatorflash1 on Jan 20, 2021 16:54:17 GMT -5
I'm running two rotary Tumblers Tumblers Model B (15lb of rock in each) and an Tumblers Tumbler UV-18 Vibratory tumbler (18lbs of rocks) with two bowls, one bowl for pre=polishing and one bowl just for polishing and burnishing. These work good. rather heavy duty with big rock loads. Other than an occasional belt braking I've had not issues. rocktumbler.com/thumlers/model-b.shtmlrocktumbler.com/thumlers/model-uv18.shtml
|
|
Prov
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2020
Posts: 116
|
Post by Prov on Jan 21, 2021 15:44:39 GMT -5
Just my 2 cents, but my Lortone QT-NR (Compare to 12 or 66B) has metal barrels, and it's too loud to keep in inside in any area you work in regularly. I got some electrical set up on my deck and keep it out there. From there, it's just like white noise inside, and I find it pretty comfortable to sleep to.
That said my Lot-O is inside, and generally not too noisy. If you keep the lid off it, then it's pretty loud, but when lid is on, and there aren't any issues inside the barrel, it's not bad.
|
|
|
Post by rmf on Jan 22, 2021 8:52:27 GMT -5
rockhoundmn If you have 2 x 5 gal buckets full of rock (and you strike me as someone who will pick up more) then you have about 100 # of rock ready to tumble. That is 50 batches in a Lortone 3A tumbler or 25 batches in a Lortone 33B. This bring me to the QT66. Estimating you can get 8# of rock in the two barrels that is 12+ drums worth and Qt12 would be 10 drums worth. If you rough grind in a rotary for 2 weeks then finish in a vib. You would have less than 6 months to tumble that 100# in a QT12. There is also a Lortone C200-12 which holds 2 x 12# barrels. For Vibs I have not used a Lot-O but I have and use a Geo Sonic (4#), Gemstone Hold 5gal of rock and I have a commercial vib that holds 15 gal rock. All work well. It is just a question of $$ and how fast you want to process your rough rock.
|
|
rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
|
Post by rockhoundmn on Jan 30, 2021 0:40:35 GMT -5
Thanks rmf at some stage I'm going to try the 2 weeks in rough stage then to vibe.
|
|