martingera
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2021
Posts: 5
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Post by martingera on Jul 29, 2021 21:56:56 GMT -5
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Jul 29, 2021 22:09:08 GMT -5
That looks a lot like my Chicago Electric from Harbor Freight. Different color. Same 5 spare belts in the package.
The line in the description : 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed: With a manufacturer warranty you can be sure you will get a quality gift.If you get a poor rock tumbler,contact with us,we will supply a new one.
That makes it more likely that it is made in the same place. The CE have very poor quality control so some are great, some are ok, and some are dogs. I have one that is running fine and when I tried to add a second I had to take it back to the store twice before getting one that worked. It made me understand the bad reputation...
So - keep track of your purchase dates and their return policy. Make sure you do not need to pay return shipping if it is broken out of the box or fails in the warranty period.
If you are at all mechanical you can usually fix the little things. If you get a good one, the price is pretty good, and you get a good idea if you like the hobby.
Best of luck!!
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Post by perkins17 on Jul 30, 2021 10:59:10 GMT -5
I have not tried the leegol electric tumblers yet but I would highly recommend the Lortone 33b as a more expensive option. Mine works great.
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rewdownunder
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 357
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Post by rewdownunder on Jul 30, 2021 12:28:15 GMT -5
Pulled out a harbor freight from the garage. This looks like a paint job and new labels. Buy one at Harbor Freight in person or mail order would be much easer to return. Watch for a sale or coupon it will be cheaper. I think many people give up on rock tumbling because of problems with bad equipment. I got the extended warranty and made very good use of it. If you have a few skills you can make these work. I would not get one of these for a child.
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afterburnt
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2021
Posts: 152
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Post by afterburnt on Jul 30, 2021 15:03:40 GMT -5
I have two now running with no problems for one and two months now. I can't complain for about fiftyfive bucks each.
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Jul 30, 2021 20:43:47 GMT -5
Pulled out a harbor freight from the garage. This looks like a paint job and new labels. Buy one at Harbor Freight in person or mail order would be much easer to return. Watch for a sale or coupon it will be cheaper. I think many people give up on rock tumbling because of problems with bad equipment. I got the extended warranty and made very good use of it. If you have a few skills you can make these work. I would not get one of these for a child. I think part of the issue here is that martingera lives in Chile. Availability, shipping, and the like have a big impact on the choices.
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rewdownunder
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 357
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Post by rewdownunder on Jul 30, 2021 23:31:38 GMT -5
My bad, I forget this is a worldwide forum. If it is just a harbor freight copy there should be enough info here on this site to keep it running.
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Jul 31, 2021 15:45:38 GMT -5
I forget that as well! And it is SO cool that it IS worldwide. The current HF models have an adjustment for the belt, I guess that was not always the case. I didn't even have to ask my hubby to tighten mine last time, I used the manual and figured it out. The 2 bad ones had stuck idle arms. The drive arm was spinning but the idle arm was dragging so it made the barrels walk out of the carriage, or jam up on one end. The problem wasn't apparent (to me) until after it had run all night and the barrels and motor were damaged. Hubby showed me what the problem was and it was clear that the second one had the same sticky idle arm. When I did the second swap at the store, I asked them to open the box and check, since there were 2 in the same batch with the same problem. Third time was a charm. I just looked at the Leegol ad in the Amazon link. They are shipping it with Walnut shell media and telling you it will tumble rocks... martingera - be sure to get some real grit, those walnut shells are not going to do the job. As rewdownunder says - ask here if you need help with this, or whatever you end up getting.
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afterburnt
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2021
Posts: 152
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Post by afterburnt on Jul 31, 2021 17:44:06 GMT -5
A drop of oil once a week is necessary not the once a month the manufacturers recommend.
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martingera
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2021
Posts: 5
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Post by martingera on Jul 31, 2021 18:05:21 GMT -5
Thank you everyone! My first choice is definitely the Lortone 33b but they´re pretty much sold out everywhere or its really expensive to ship to Chile. I will keep thinking and checking if something comes up. I am kind of mechanical and usually able to fix stuff, otherwise my dad is quite good at fixing basically anything. The tumbler is for me (22 years old) so not a child haha. And regarding the grit, would you guys recommend a store (hopefully in amazon) that sells good stuff?
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rewdownunder
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 357
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Post by rewdownunder on Jul 31, 2021 18:46:58 GMT -5
SC grits have many common industrial uses you may be able to find some in your area. Shipping is always a problem for high weight low value material.
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Post by As I in does tries! on Jul 31, 2021 19:57:04 GMT -5
Greetings and welcome from Scotland, the best place you can get a Lortone tumbler is The Rock Shed (USA) remember to ask you need 220v/50hz model, it already has a type C (Euro) 2 pin plug so no need to change the plug, it would not surprise me that the 220V/50HZ model is in stock, but the 110V/60HZ is out of stock! I would recommend a Lortone QT12 220v/50hz with 12lb rubber barrel; my reason the 12lb barrel can process up to 15.9kg with rocks up to 90mm in length, however can use up to 480grams of Fixed 80 Silicon Carbide grit in a single load in as little as 5 days per stage, if you go for a Lortone 33B up to 40mm in length using just 60grams of F80 grit per barrel. I purchased a Lortone QT66 in 2013 from The Rock Shed for $190 the final price including delvery and Import costs was $290, I used the 6lb barrels 3x then switched to 12lb barrels that I had with my Lortone C300 Rotary Tumbler that I got in 2010.
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lapis60
having dreams about rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 65
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Post by lapis60 on Jul 31, 2021 21:25:27 GMT -5
The only problem I have now with my Lortone tumbler is that unlike 45 years ago and a carrer with aviation that included loud aircraft engines, I find it hard to hear my tumbling. I can tell if the mix is right by listening.
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Jul 31, 2021 21:26:30 GMT -5
Thank you everyone! My first choice is definitely the Lortone 33b but they´re pretty much sold out everywhere or its really expensive to ship to Chile. I will keep thinking and checking if something comes up. I am kind of mechanical and usually able to fix stuff, otherwise my dad is quite good at fixing basically anything. The tumbler is for me (22 years old) so not a child haha. And regarding the grit, would you guys recommend a store (hopefully in amazon) that sells good stuff? I purchased grit once from Amazon when I was in a hurry, (poor planning). smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F9H4T83/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1At the time the MJR stuff was one of the more competitive, that would ship next day. This was Aluminum Oxide, but they have Silicon Carbide as well. It seemed to perform fine. It looks like Chile has an Ebay program, they might have cost effective options as well.
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Post by perkins17 on Jul 31, 2021 23:27:19 GMT -5
Thank you everyone! My first choice is definitely the Lortone 33b but they´re pretty much sold out everywhere or its really expensive to ship to Chile. I will keep thinking and checking if something comes up. I am kind of mechanical and usually able to fix stuff, otherwise my dad is quite good at fixing basically anything. The tumbler is for me (22 years old) so not a child haha. And regarding the grit, would you guys recommend a store (hopefully in amazon) that sells good stuff? Definitely get the 33b if/when it comes out for a good price. As for grit, lots of people on here recommend the rockshed's grit and polish. I have yet to order it but will try it soon hopefully.
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,211
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Post by quartzilla on Aug 1, 2021 8:55:27 GMT -5
Yes Rockshed grit is great. Don’t waste your time with the various stuff on Amazon.
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Aug 1, 2021 20:00:09 GMT -5
martingera lives in Chile so shipping cost is a potential issue, that is why Amazon or eBay are possible options. As Andrew posted above "I purchased a Lortone QT66 in 2013 from The Rock Shed for $190 the final price including delivery and Import costs was $290"
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Post by Bob on Aug 2, 2021 14:47:06 GMT -5
Dear martingera, You live in such a beautiful city which I love! In 2007, I spent some time there both before and after my trip to Isla de la Pascua. One day I went to the amazing lapis/silver markets. This was before I knew anything about rocks or rock tumbling. I wish I had bought a lot of it to bring back now that I know of the quality and prices! But then I was ignorant. This thread was only found by me today and I have read the good guidance you have been given. A tumbler is a motor, two shafts, and a connecting belt, and the barrel. The barrel is the critical thing that would be very difficult to make well yourself. I agree that the Lortone rubber barrels are wonderful. I run 6 lb and 12 lb rubber barrels. If you getting only the rubber barrel from the USA to you makes getting it there any easier, then one way or another you could rig up a base with rotating shafts to run the thing. It would not be difficult for any handyman to make the barrel base on which to rotate the barrel. My barrels have been running 24/7 for 7 years w/o almost no issues. If you have a friend flying there from US it would be easy to bring the rubber barrel, for instance, in luggage. If you are seriously interested in tumbling, I recommend the 12lb barrel and not smaller, but starting out with anything is ok. Buena suerte mi amigo. -Bob
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martingera
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2021
Posts: 5
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Post by martingera on Aug 3, 2021 14:39:51 GMT -5
Once again thanks for the responses guys! I was wondering, would yo recommend instead of buying a rotary tumbler getting a Lot O vibrating? or is it better to start with rotary and then make the upgrade?
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Post by Starguy on Aug 3, 2021 15:49:48 GMT -5
martingeraI’m rotary only. Rotary tumblers shape stones better. The vibe tumblers seem to polish faster. Many people here shape with rotaries and polish with vibes. I need to clean out my 12lb rotary once per week. It rounds off the rocks really well and relatively fast, (1 month minimum). It’s a challenging decision. My vote is for a combination of the two. Good luck. I’m hoping you will post pictures soon.
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