Post by surreality on Mar 6, 2012 0:19:03 GMT -5
Six of one, half a dozen of the other? For the kind of stones I'm working with (beach stones), a rotary is proving necessary for many for roughing. A goodly number don't need this so much, and the vibe is handling those nicely from the start.
The rotary I have is, well, let's just call it like it is: it's dinky. It won't handle some of the larger stones, and doing small batches to pool up for the vibe... well, even with just what I have on hand right now, I think a conservative estimate would be that it'd take me a solid 5-6 years to rough merely what I have on hand right now. Not so practical! I'm looking at getting a larger rotary to be able to handle larger batches, along with the larger stones. (There aren't many of those, but there are enough that it will eventually become a significant issue.)
I like the Lortone I have despite its size, so I'm looking at their lineup. The small fry will still come in handy for tiny batches of smaller things, so it isn't without its purpose; it's just not the only present (and continuing) need. Since it's not uncommon for us to drag back 20-60lbs of rock somewhat often, I'm looking at the larger models: the 12lb, and the 2x6lb.
I'm presently leaning toward the 2x6.
But...
...while I can easily fill a 12, I may not be able to steadily fill a 12 with like materials. Running 2 6lbs of the same isn't really an issue, I have no problem doing that if needs be.
...though most of the stuff I pick up is able to be tumbled together in terms of hardness, that's definitely not the case for everything.
* Is there a significant load volume difference between the 12 and the 2x6? I know that the fill ratios for the rotaries are fairly specific, so I'm not sure if splitting a load between two 6lb barrels would mean substantially less over all volume in the long run or not. Arguably it shouldn't, but math and real world experience don't always line up like we think they should, so I'm asking directly about folks' experiences here.
* I'm guessing the 12 can handle larger stones than the 2x6 -- but I'm also wondering how relevant this would be for me. (My 'large stones' tend not to be terribly large compared to many I see on the forum -- 2x3x2in or 3x3x1in is about tops, with most 'large' being 2x2x1in or so. That said, I don't necessarily want to needlessly limit myself to that if something workable and larger comes along.)
* Would the 2x6 eat up more grit than the 12, vice versa, or be around the same? (Same problem -- math and real world experience don't always jive with what they seem like they should.)
The bigger question: the 6 and 12 pound barrels are the same diameter, differing in height. The other thing I'm considering is taking a look at their multi-barrel commercial tumblers, despite the fact that this would mean a bit of saving up first. Being able to use multiple 6 or 12 pound barrels on the same machine could potentially be an absolutely ideal long-term solution. I've not heard of anyone doing this in my reading, for better or worse. I don't know if this is a 'no, nay, never!' option to consider even though the barrels are the same diameter. It could potentially be a fairly modular option, picking up the 3x12lb and a few spare 6lb barrels to work with -- if this swapping around is a feasible proposition. It would cover all bases for years to come, which is why I'd consider that option seriously. I'd assume balancing the load along the rails would be a major factor in the effectiveness of this approach. The on/off switch is admittedly a major lure here, otherwise I'd consider just picking up one of each of the 2x6 and 12 in the mid-range models over time. It also seems like a 'safer' approach considering some of the differences in the base unit -- and the on/off switch is a big plus compared to daisy chaining power strips with a switch to achieve similar functionality.
The rotary I have is, well, let's just call it like it is: it's dinky. It won't handle some of the larger stones, and doing small batches to pool up for the vibe... well, even with just what I have on hand right now, I think a conservative estimate would be that it'd take me a solid 5-6 years to rough merely what I have on hand right now. Not so practical! I'm looking at getting a larger rotary to be able to handle larger batches, along with the larger stones. (There aren't many of those, but there are enough that it will eventually become a significant issue.)
I like the Lortone I have despite its size, so I'm looking at their lineup. The small fry will still come in handy for tiny batches of smaller things, so it isn't without its purpose; it's just not the only present (and continuing) need. Since it's not uncommon for us to drag back 20-60lbs of rock somewhat often, I'm looking at the larger models: the 12lb, and the 2x6lb.
I'm presently leaning toward the 2x6.
But...
...while I can easily fill a 12, I may not be able to steadily fill a 12 with like materials. Running 2 6lbs of the same isn't really an issue, I have no problem doing that if needs be.
...though most of the stuff I pick up is able to be tumbled together in terms of hardness, that's definitely not the case for everything.
* Is there a significant load volume difference between the 12 and the 2x6? I know that the fill ratios for the rotaries are fairly specific, so I'm not sure if splitting a load between two 6lb barrels would mean substantially less over all volume in the long run or not. Arguably it shouldn't, but math and real world experience don't always line up like we think they should, so I'm asking directly about folks' experiences here.
* I'm guessing the 12 can handle larger stones than the 2x6 -- but I'm also wondering how relevant this would be for me. (My 'large stones' tend not to be terribly large compared to many I see on the forum -- 2x3x2in or 3x3x1in is about tops, with most 'large' being 2x2x1in or so. That said, I don't necessarily want to needlessly limit myself to that if something workable and larger comes along.)
* Would the 2x6 eat up more grit than the 12, vice versa, or be around the same? (Same problem -- math and real world experience don't always jive with what they seem like they should.)
The bigger question: the 6 and 12 pound barrels are the same diameter, differing in height. The other thing I'm considering is taking a look at their multi-barrel commercial tumblers, despite the fact that this would mean a bit of saving up first. Being able to use multiple 6 or 12 pound barrels on the same machine could potentially be an absolutely ideal long-term solution. I've not heard of anyone doing this in my reading, for better or worse. I don't know if this is a 'no, nay, never!' option to consider even though the barrels are the same diameter. It could potentially be a fairly modular option, picking up the 3x12lb and a few spare 6lb barrels to work with -- if this swapping around is a feasible proposition. It would cover all bases for years to come, which is why I'd consider that option seriously. I'd assume balancing the load along the rails would be a major factor in the effectiveness of this approach. The on/off switch is admittedly a major lure here, otherwise I'd consider just picking up one of each of the 2x6 and 12 in the mid-range models over time. It also seems like a 'safer' approach considering some of the differences in the base unit -- and the on/off switch is a big plus compared to daisy chaining power strips with a switch to achieve similar functionality.