Tex
starting to shine!
Member since December 2011
Posts: 27
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Post by Tex on Dec 23, 2011 10:14:10 GMT -5
I am going to purchase a Lot-O-Tumbler trying to decide between single or double barrel.
Does anyone have the 2 barrel and use one side for polish only?
Can it be ran with 1 barrel full and the other empty?
Would it be better to buy single and just get a extra barrel?
Any Help would be appreciated.
Thanks Tex
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Dec 23, 2011 12:32:35 GMT -5
Tex I personally like the double 3 lb`r just for the reason you said. Sometimes half of the rocks are ready to move on to the next step and the rest are not. So one barrel can be on 1st stage and the other on to 2nd stage for example. If you only want to use one barrel make sure to place it nearest to the motor. But without the other one in place it may travel all over the shaft length. I usually have no problem finding stuff I want to tumble so can`t say as I have run with just one barrel for more than a day or two. Thats my take on it anyhow. ;D
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Dec 23, 2011 17:35:29 GMT -5
I think you would like the double,would speed up the process. I bought a single one,wasnt satisfied with just one,bought another single.Running one with 1000 and one with polish.
snuffy
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robbiejohn
starting to shine!
Member since July 2010
Posts: 36
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Post by robbiejohn on Dec 23, 2011 21:35:20 GMT -5
Hi Tex, welcome to RTH! I'm still a newbie myself but have been around long enough to advise you to get the double barreled Lot-O and a third barrel to be kept exclusively for polishing. When I bought mine I had intended to get only the single with an extra polish barrel. The seller only had the double available, so I bought it. Within 3 weeks I was thanking my lucky stars. You will too. This hobby grows on ya. On your wallet too! Also, both barrels should be used together all the time. If you don't have enough stones to polish, just fill the second one with pea gravel or stuff off the beach---enough to balance the weight of whatever you're polishing. I consider my Lot-O the best and most satisfying machine I've found to date. You'll be glad of it. Cheers! and Happy Christmas to you. Robbiejohn
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Post by connrock on Dec 25, 2011 11:36:26 GMT -5
Although it's been mentioned about running both barrels full I'd like to add to it. I DO NOT have a double barrel unit but do have 2 single barrel units that I've had for many years so I would think the same goes for both units as far as running empty barrels,,,,, The Lot-O-Tumblers run at their best when fully loaded ,,which is about 4.5 pounds of rocks in a single barrel.Between the springs on the base and counter balances on the motor,,,the units are "tuned" to run at this weight and if the units are run with an empty(or partially filled) barrel it may cause the springs to break! I don't now how many rocks you intend to polish but these units are VERY aggressive and at times I find it hard to have enough rocks that have been roughed in my rotary units. I can go from the 2nd stage (220 grit) to final polish in pretty much 7-10 days so that's 4.5 ponds of polished rocks every 7-10 days and if I don't have the rocks roughed out the Lot-O's just sit there waiting! So,,,,my question would be,,,,Can you rough out 4.5 pounds of rocks every 7-10 days or in the case of a double barrel unit,,,,can you rough out 9 pounds of rocks every 7-10 days? Don't forget that it can take up to several months to rough a load of rocks,,,,depending on the rocks themselves and how particular you yourself are about what you consider a "polished rock" As was mentioned before,,,,you CAN fill 1 barrel with pea stones or other types of rocks just to have something in the "unproductive" barrel,,,,,,,,,but why have that "unproductive' barrel in the first place? Just my thoughts and 2 cents worth! Merry Christmas,,,, connrock
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