leadhand
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 262
|
Post by leadhand on Apr 8, 2010 17:59:04 GMT -5
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,455
|
Post by Sabre52 on Apr 8, 2010 18:48:46 GMT -5
Yeah, I've had one for a couple of years. I just bought the base unit and use it with one 12# and one 6# Lortone barrel which fit the unit perfectly. A few things about the unit. First off, it rotates fast, almost twice the speed of a Lortone QT12 unit. This makes the action rough when using Lortone barrels so I'd not recommend it for fragile materials and I'd always fill the barrel at least 3/4 full and include lots of smalls so the load doesn't drop as much and knock the rocks together. Also, when I initially got mine, there was some kind of bearing problem and it wore through the drive shaft real fast. The manufacturer did send me a new shaft and bearings free and said I should lube it way more so I apply gear oil 2X daily and have had no problems since. You could replace the shaft yourself fairly easily too as this kind of bar stock is fairly easy to obtain. I've run mine 24/7 for almost 18 months now doing coarse and fine grinding on mostly agate and jasper and it's worked fine and shapes stone fairly fast. I've also noticed Lortone makes a similar base unit now but a bit more expensive and I'm not crazy about Lortone quality control but that unit will run two 12# barrels so might be worth trying. Over all, I like Ole Yaller as I call it, but I do all my prepolish and polish in other units due to the rough action....Mel
|
|
leadhand
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 262
|
Post by leadhand on Apr 11, 2010 23:58:51 GMT -5
Thanks Mel. I'm seriously thinking about trying one of these
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Apr 13, 2010 13:25:48 GMT -5
|
|
rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
|
Post by rockdewd on Apr 13, 2010 13:49:47 GMT -5
I would love to find out where they get their barrels...
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Apr 13, 2010 13:53:31 GMT -5
I thought the barrels were made from standard pvc pipe, but I always wondered
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Apr 13, 2010 21:10:57 GMT -5
Yeah, Rick, as I've said for a couple of years, the hardest part of a large DIY tumbler is the barrels. The barrels are spendy at about $70 each as I recall.
Chuck
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,455
|
Post by Sabre52 on Apr 13, 2010 22:04:59 GMT -5
Yeah. I don't much care for PVC barrels either as often they are hard to seal properly and man they are really noisy for rock tumbling. I had several dead Lortones so I just reused those barrels and they work great. I think Lortone 12 pound barrels run about $60 so cheaper than the PVC, though smaller in size....Mel
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Apr 13, 2010 22:10:16 GMT -5
I've owned a 40 lb. tumbler. Unless you are commercial, I think multiple 12 or 6 lb. drums would be much better
|
|
inrdmons
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2011
Posts: 1
|
Post by inrdmons on Apr 13, 2011 10:08:23 GMT -5
Hi All. Glad I found this site. I am a University student from Ontario and I am the process of starting an art/craft business where I intend to sell hand-crafted jewelry. I am wanting to use recycled glass and create pendants/beads/earings etc that imitate sea glass. I have received a 1500$ startup grant and have been looking at ebay for a decent rock tumbler for my needs. So far, the 15lb MJR Tumbler has been my first choice due to size, 2 year warranty, as well at the 4lb grit that comes with. I am new to the ruck tumbling scene. I just want something that I can produce enough product in reasonable time and a tumbler that will not fall apart on me within weeks. Can anyone recommend a tumbler, if not the one mentioned, for my needs? Also, which type of grit, plastic pellets etc to buy/use to produce nice, rounded pieces of glass. The ebay link I am looking at it this: cgi.ebay.ca/15-lb-cap-1-gallon-Rock-Tumbler-FREE-4lb-grit-kit-/320682198972?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aaa2607bc#ht_1602wt_1139Please respond ASAP as this deal will only last until April 17. Cheers
|
|
unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
|
Post by unclestu on Apr 14, 2011 8:57:46 GMT -5
I am new myself and am getting the Thumler 15lb model B from the rock shed. This has a 5yr warranty on the barrel and 1yr on the rest. It sells at the rock shed for $172.00 if I am not mistaken. You also get 10 and 20% discounts on grit and stone when you order. I also think they sweeten the deal with some candy. therockshed.com/tumbler2.htmlAlso there is a conversion kit that lets you run one or two 3lb barrels instead of the 15lb Stu
|
|
|
Post by scottsdalelinda on May 12, 2012 12:44:28 GMT -5
BEWARE OF MJR TUMBLERS. DO NOT PURCHASE THESE TUMBLERS FROM THE EBAY VENDOR. HE WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND YOU CANNOT GET A REPLY FROM HIM THROUGH EBAY, EMAIL, OR WEBSITE. :nono:
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on May 12, 2012 12:56:45 GMT -5
A person comes on here slinging mud in their first post is totally out of place and should be totally ignored in my opinion.I bought a used Mjr tumbler and when I needed parts,1 phone call and they were on their way.You think we take you seriously?
snuffy
|
|
|
Post by scottsdalelinda on May 12, 2012 14:07:18 GMT -5
Obviously Snuffy is the one selling the MJR Tumblers. Check the Web. Nobody is selling them except on ebay. Give me the one quick phone number, and then I'll eat my words. The web site is no longer, the email never is answered and the telephone number is disconnected. When did you do this, 3 years ago???
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on May 12, 2012 14:38:48 GMT -5
Obviously Snuffy is the one selling the MJR Tumblers. Check the Web. Nobody is selling them except on ebay. Give me the one quick phone number, and then I'll eat my words. The web site is no longer, the email never is answered and the telephone number is disconnected. When did you do this, 3 years ago??? haha, no I am not a seller of the MJR tumblers.I called the owner about 3 months ago and ordered the parts from him.And no I will not give out his phone # because of your attitude.Enough said,end of our conversation. snuffy
|
|
meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
|
Post by meta99 on May 12, 2012 15:52:21 GMT -5
You OBVIOUSLY don't know snuffy, or you would NEVER have said that!
I thought this was a joke thread!
|
|
ulstergeki
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 111
|
Post by ulstergeki on May 12, 2012 16:56:42 GMT -5
Have you googled mjr tumblers, pretty easy to find the address in Illinois and phone number, might try to contact them again, and please let up on the caps lock.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,455
|
Post by Sabre52 on May 12, 2012 18:10:07 GMT -5
Just an MJR update. I believe they do run ads through Rock and Gem mag too , or at least have in the past. Sent them a couple of inquiries on new belts and they are now totally unresponsive so I don't know what the heck is going on. Machine is now slowing down a bit rotation speedwise but still running. I've actually had this until long enough now that my old Lortone barrel is almost worn through. That barrel has to be at least six or eight years old and they work super well on MJR base units.....Mel
|
|
Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
|
Post by Steve on May 13, 2012 9:49:51 GMT -5
I just did a Google search for MJR Tumblers and came across this comedy routine: www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/barely-used-35-pound-rock-tumblerOr to save you from having to click through here's the routine (PLEASE PLEASE do not think this was me) - this was an eBay listing: "Bear with me while I tell the tale of this slightly used 35-pound rock tumbler, made by MJR Tumblers. I purchased the tumbler and tumble-bottle earlier this year brand-new from the manufacturer for a bit over $300, including the shipping. My tale begins with a cubic yard of oyster shells (that's a lot!) that I wanted to crush and use in our yard. I tried grinding them, but that failed, so I had the not-so-brilliant idea of crushing them in a tumbler. I was assured by an "expert" that, yes, the tumbler would make quick work of the oyster shells. I just needed to add some heavy metal to the tumbler, along with the shells, and presto! I added a bunch of scrap metal but at the end of a few hours, what I had was a bunch of fully intact -- but polished -- oyster shells. So I bought a brand-new 16-pound sledgehammer, cut off the handle, and added the hammerhead to the mix. Bad idea. The bottle was now unbalanced and, while I wasn't around, launched itself off the tumbler. After several attempts, I gave up -- but the bottle has a number of scuff marks from being "launched" off the tumbler. All in all, the tumbler probably ran for no more than 24 hours."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 15:50:08 GMT -5
I bought and MJR. My only complaint is the tumbling action is pretty violent. I am new to this so my opinion is nothing more than a noobs opinion, but it seems like the stones are being tossed around pretty hard. Big barrel turning pretty fast, even full of poly pellets the rocks seem to be bashing pretty hard.
|
|