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Post by miket on Dec 3, 2020 10:21:14 GMT -5
It's funny you say that, my next choice would be the same one. I like the idea of having the option to have one larger or two smaller barrels running too. Edit: ah nope, I'm thinking of Lortone QT66 I have the QT66, its been great for me.
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Post by drocknut on Dec 3, 2020 11:40:05 GMT -5
Hello and welcome to the forum from central Arizona. Looks like you are well on your way to being an awesome rockhound. I love lakers but they are so out of my reach as far as price as well as location. One day I hope to be able to hound for Lakers, it's on my bucket list.
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rockstock
spending too much on rocks
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Post by rockstock on Dec 3, 2020 12:05:51 GMT -5
Just my $0.02...I think the 40lb tumbler is only good if you're going commercial with the tumbles. I think those of us "hobbyists" are better off with one, two, or three smaller barrel tumblers. Reason being, unless you've got a constant 40 pounds of the same material, you'll be waiting to use that tumbler until you collect (or buy) enough rough to get to the 40 pounds. If you have a couple rotary tumblers, you could be running different material in different stages. This is why I'm going to get another rotary... probably a Thumler's A-R2. That way I can have two six pound barrels running different types of rough, getting them ready for the vibe. Some will be done quicker than others, so it should keep the vibe fed. This along with my Model B (for running "bigger" stones) should have me set for the "production" line... Again, just my thoughts... I love big tumblers, but definitely go QT66/12 (buy the 66 first, 2x66 barrels is more expensive than 1x12 barrel and they can be swapped on the same chassis) rather than the big boys. You need a LOT to fill those 44 pound machines and once you're caught up on your backlog, it'll be hell to fill it up. A smaller machine will serve you well (both in savings on filler & grit). Also remember "size" means "weight of barrel + rocks + water + grit", not "12 pounds of rock + water". I go a bit over on mine (around 14-15lbs) but not over that. Don't want to replace motors or belts. Just my $0.02. And jasoninsd - Well of course tumblerS, because she'll already have one ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) but new rock people tend to leave them alone unsupervised.....and tumblers somehow reproduce You go by the "size" of the tumbler for how much total weight you put in your tumblers? How full do they get? I think depending on preference there is no care of actual weight, just fill to 70-85% and associated water and grit preferences as well.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 3, 2020 13:40:17 GMT -5
Oh I am gonna have so many pics...! Thanks Jason and I forgot to add earlier - good point about the 40lb. I would have no trouble keeping it running during warmer months but may come up short during winter. One other point about a 40lb tumbler. It needs to be picked up and moved around every cleanout. I consider myself in decent shape and with decent strength and I would not even consider wrestling a 40lb model on a regular basis, the strain on my back would be an issue. I have 3 - Thumler's Model B's and that gives me the flexibility of running 3 different types of loads. Plus they are reasonably easy to tote around.
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Post by Mel on Dec 3, 2020 14:21:35 GMT -5
You go by the "size" of the tumbler for how much total weight you put in your tumblers? How full do they get? I think depending on preference there is no care of actual weight, just fill to 70-85% and associated water and grit preferences as well. This might not be such a big issue in larger tumblers (My QT12 can get 2/3 full, around 15 pounds and go no problem) but in the smaller ones (33B, 3A etc) it can really wear on them. I started monitoring after I noticed the 33B machines were slowing way down. The barrels would still spin but you could tell it was struggling, even with tight belts. Checked the weight; yeah 3.5-4.5 pounds each. Got the barrel weight back within 1/4 pound of the rating, and they were happy tumblers again. Worth noting I'm being extra cautious because due to Covid, it's like hen's teeth trying to find ANY Lortone parts.
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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Post by rockhoundmn on Dec 9, 2020 11:16:17 GMT -5
Update on my progress. I have now received all my equipment and am selecting stones for my first batch. But the weather here has been so good I've been collecting most days, mostly in prettier spots that are quite popular so don't yield a lot of agate, but plenty of other stuff. Yesterday I took the long 1/2 mile journey to the boss's lot and sure enough, it's the gift that keeps giving and always delivers when I need my agate fix. I had about 1 1/2 hours of searching and found these beauties in dry conditions. Can't wait to go back after decent rain, maybe in the spring.
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Post by miket on Dec 9, 2020 12:25:07 GMT -5
Wow. Nice finds!
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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Member since November 2020
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Post by rockhoundmn on Dec 9, 2020 19:43:08 GMT -5
![](http://res.cloudinary.com/dzx1wvo3z/image/upload/v1607560932/cmp5zphdfzbnmhnb7ywo.jpg) Today's find from a local river bank. Just had to share because I've never seen one like this before and not sure what it even is.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 10, 2020 0:34:49 GMT -5
OOOH! I love that one that's fourth down in the pic of you holding the five rocks! That is a fantastic find on that one!
That pic of that single one looks really awesome as well! I'm curious if anyone can chime in on the identification of that one...
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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Post by rockhoundmn on Dec 10, 2020 7:01:38 GMT -5
Use one of those agates as your scratch test master until you can visually tell agates and jaspers. Hello again! Would you mind briefly explaining the scratch test a little more? I am finding mostly ads or info for equipment on my Google searching. From trying it out myself, I've found the rock I'm testing needs to be dry so I can see if there are any visible scratch lines (which look to me like white dust) and if there is a line, I'm assuming its softer than the rock I'm using as the tester? On some rocks, the tester will slide ride over the surface as if it's coated in Teflon and I'm to assume this means it is the same hardness? Which means its suitable for tumbling with agates? If the rock being tested is harder than agate, what will that look like and does it matter? I guess I would be looking for scratches on the tester rock...does this mean it also needs to be dry like the rock being tested? Thanks for your time!
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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Member since November 2020
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Post by rockhoundmn on Dec 10, 2020 7:07:54 GMT -5
OOOH! I love that one that's fourth down in the pic of you holding the five rocks! That is a fantastic find on that one! That pic of that single one looks really awesome as well! I'm curious if anyone can chime in on the identification of that one... Yes! That little star on the laker goes all the way through to the other side too. Appreciate your enthusiasm, Jason. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) That last one is some crazy hybrid on a rock that normally I would not consider picking just going off the other side. But it just proves its always worth checking the rocks that seem a little different in some way because so often, they actually are. Edit: here's the other side for anyone playing along at home. I would not normally notice this rock except maybe the yellow stuff which is unusual, but I definitely wouldn't have seen the banding unless I picked it up: ![](http://res.cloudinary.com/dzx1wvo3z/image/upload/v1607602508/oi2tsgvrwd4kfwywjsqz.jpg)
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 10, 2020 10:01:48 GMT -5
Check out this thread by our very own 1dave. Lots of great info on identification.
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Post by 1dave on Dec 10, 2020 11:30:02 GMT -5
Hardness testing is easy. After a while just looking is good enough. ![1](https://www.geologypage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Mohs-scale-of-mineral-hardness-GeologyPage.jpg)
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Post by rmf on Dec 10, 2020 11:54:11 GMT -5
rockhoundmn Yes a scratch test is done dry as you have stated. It is a relative test. Take a glass jar and try to scratch with a pocket knife. It slides over the surface no scratch. they are about the same hardness. If the rock is harder than the agate, the agate will not scratch it and should glide over the surface about like the pocket knife and the glass jar. For softer rocks like feldspars the agate will leave a visible scratch possibly with some white powder which is the pulverized rock scratched out of the softer rock. for equal hardness you still may see white powder where they two rocks grind each other but you should not be pushing so hard you pulverize the rocks. Your observations are right on the $$. once you get a feel for what you are looking at you will not do hardness testing, your eye will take over and only when it gets stumped will you test. You will also learn that quartz and agate are the same hardness but not the same toughness. Agates like the lake superiors you have are tougher than quartz and it is good to separate the quartz and quartzites out from the agates if you have larger diameter tumbler drum like a 6lb or 12lb drum. The toughness does not matter as much in the 2-3lb tumbler drums. Agate is composed of layers of quartz and moganite. this layering makes agates tough. agates will take more impact force than quartz. Also for rocks that you think are harder not just equal hardness. try to scratch your agate with the "harder" stone. sharper edges scratch easier but are not always convenient.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 10, 2020 12:08:05 GMT -5
A person never has to many rocks...LOL Start tumbling and cutting, you will want more material...Hahaha I started out with a small Lortone tumbler, now have nine of them... It's fun and addictive - enjoy the time...
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Post by MsAli on Dec 10, 2020 12:35:10 GMT -5
Nice finds
I love that we can still rockhound in Decmeber!
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
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Post by electrocutus on Dec 10, 2020 14:19:17 GMT -5
I can't wait to see how that batch will come out. Take notes of you process and post more photos when they are done. The rocks already look amazing just wet! I wish I lived somewhere I could find agates just walking close to home!!
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chandler
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by chandler on Dec 10, 2020 14:56:53 GMT -5
Welcome from Texas! You have my sympathies on the fall! Like you, I had just got started with rock hounding, then November 4th, got bucked off a horse and broke some bones in my back. I got a tumbler and am in phase 2 of the process.
You have some beautiful rocks! I can't wait to see what you do with them.
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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Post by rockhoundmn on Dec 10, 2020 22:51:28 GMT -5
Thank you for all the replies! I will take the suggestions and info on board, definitely will keep notes and photos, I love that idea. I didn't even know hardness vs toughness was a thing rmf wow! chandler yikes! Hope you are able to make a full recovery, though I know it can take a while. I'm glad you've been able to tumble and stuff in the meantime, I think I'd go nuts if I couldn't do something with rocks. Love how I'm just chatting away here to the empty space and now I have virtual buddies from all over the country who are just as crazy about rocks as I am (9 tumblers haha I love it). This is a real refuge for me in these crazy times. I'm so grateful to have this hobby and now you guys have kinda joined on the journey, which is a real bonus. Look forward to getting to know you all better. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
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Post by quartz on Dec 10, 2020 23:05:04 GMT -5
I would gladly do a 1 mile round trip walk for the rocks you found. A decent bit of exercise and some really nice finds. Everything here is fill from the ancient Missoula floods, not a loose natural rock for a mile.
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