herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 9, 2012 12:09:51 GMT -5
OK, it turns out there are more rocks on the planet than I can tumble efficiently.
My only real coarse tumble option right now is 12# in my Lortone and hand-grinding stones.
I am looking at a larger tumbler. Folks keep suggesting to other folks that they build their own. I don't trust my mechanical skills to do this, and by the time I buy or rent the tools and equipment I would need to do it I am concerned that the cost savings would be lost.
SO - is a Thumler 15# a good option, or is there a (20#, 30#, bigger) rotary that offers a cost savings over stacking QT12's from lortone in my garage?
Thanks!
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Mar 9, 2012 12:26:46 GMT -5
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 9, 2012 12:30:54 GMT -5
Thanks Steve, yeah I actually know Alan (that's his site), we are in the same rockhounding club. I am trying to avoid mechanical work because I don't have much experience there, but that may be the best course.
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Mar 9, 2012 12:33:43 GMT -5
On a more serious note: I also have few mechanical skills, yet I've managed to build a homemade tumbler and to restore and rebuild an old homemade tumbler. It's a weekend project and you'll get a machine that is more reliable than a commercial unit at a fraction of the cost. Buy the barrels and build the base. Join a local rock club and you'll find more than enough willing hands to help you with this project.
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Mar 9, 2012 12:34:32 GMT -5
Wow you're fast - we cross listed
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Mar 9, 2012 12:39:50 GMT -5
There is a tumbler made by MJR,a35 lber that will grind 'em good. I've got one turning,along with 3 QT 12's
snuffy
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 9, 2012 12:40:18 GMT -5
MJR? Sorry I don't know what that is.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Mar 9, 2012 13:02:44 GMT -5
Here's a pic of mine. I bought it used from a member on here. I run all my other tumblers in the house.This one makes more noise, The barrel is PVC,so I keep it out in my shop.It gets the job done.If you want I can pm you the phone # of the owner. snuffy
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Mar 9, 2012 13:07:20 GMT -5
If you google 'tumbler made by mjr' you get mostly links to boards like this one. But, if you click the little icon on the right that says 'shopping' you can see what it looks like and all the ebay listings....
Sue
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Mar 9, 2012 13:09:13 GMT -5
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 9, 2012 13:27:30 GMT -5
for less $$, and presumably quieter, there is a 15# thumler on therockshed.com - that seems preferable - are the MJR ones way better?
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Mar 9, 2012 13:38:32 GMT -5
I cant say they are much better.I just thought you were asking for something in the 30-40 lb range.The reason I got it was to tumble much larger rocks if I ever wanted to.Personally the Lortone 12 lb'rs are my favorite.
snuffy
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 9, 2012 13:46:20 GMT -5
Hi Snuffy, yes I am looking for larget quantity's - I forgot you said yours was 35# - the link Stu posted was to a 15#, which is what I was talking about. I will look for a larger on on ebay, I just hadn't heard of MJR before.
Thanks
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surreality
starting to spend too much on rocks
is picking up too many rocks at the beach again
Member since January 2012
Posts: 217
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Post by surreality on Mar 10, 2012 8:44:49 GMT -5
It sounds like we're in the same position! Roughing from the first stage in the UV-10 works... but it's not a perfect option for some of the stuff I have, so I'm looking at the options out there as well. If I stumble across any good ones in the search I'll be sure to pass them along.
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Post by connrock on Mar 10, 2012 10:20:52 GMT -5
John,,, When I was in my tumbling hay day I thought about bigger tumblers,,,bigger being bigger then my 15 lb tumbler.
After using the 15 pounder I started thinking of what it would be like to work with a 30 or 40 pounder being that they would weigh twice as much ,or even more ,which would make them much harder to handle. I ended up buying another Model-B instead of going bigger.
I just looked up a couple of 65 pounders and it seems to me you can buy 4 Model-B's for less then a 65 pounder.
I couldn't imagine working with a 65 pound barrel but your a lot younger then me!
I can build just about anything I want out of metal and once thought about building a pretty big tumbler. I had a chance to get a piece of 24" diameter PVC pipe cut to any length I wanted for free but couldn't afford to hire a crew to run it! LOL
connrock
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Mar 10, 2012 10:21:33 GMT -5
Shoot John. Check craigslist fer used cement mixers. LOL Just a little more than 3 mos and Ill be there in Wyo. Lookn forward to meetn ya. Later Clyde
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Mar 10, 2012 16:42:24 GMT -5
If you are serious about getting a bigger tumbler, this one is for sale. I put it together for a fellow rock club member 4 or5 years ago. He put a house around it to quiet noise objections by a close neighbor, enclosed the motor, and burned it up. It has set since. It hasn't completed one run of rock, was stored in the dry, and now has a 12" pulley as it should have to begin with. He wants $250 as it sits [no motor]. The barrels are 1/2" thick,and each holds 2 gallons, or 25-30 pounds of rock. Motor and shipping could probably be arranged from my place, he dropped it off here last weekend. Attachments:
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 10, 2012 17:43:07 GMT -5
quartz, PM(s) sent.
Tom, I found a couple 12# Lortone tumblers used, the problem is they are over an hour away in 2 different places, plus they still want $120 for each of them. By the time I paid for gas or shipping on them both I figure I'd be better to just buy new Lortone's from the rockshed - OR a new model B from the rockshed, it is only $172 on there which seems pretty fantastic to me.
There is someone else I am working with on some tumblers, so I may end up with a different option as well.
I agree with having really heavy barrels, that doesn't sound like fun to me.
Thanks all for the input.
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