rolanstones
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2013
Posts: 95
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Post by rolanstones on Aug 23, 2013 23:47:34 GMT -5
Just found this forum. Exactly what I was looking for!!!
I am no stranger to lapidary, but was forced to sell off all my saws, grinders, and polishing wheels many years ago. I have been a rock hound most of my life, so I have no shortage of raw material. I recently got a rock tumbler which is one thing I never did, and was excited to start doing something in this hobby again. I have been working with a Chicago dual drum with 6 lb total capacity, 3 lb per drum. This has not been going well and I hope to get better results by learning from this site and more experienced hobbyists.
I am sure part of my problem has been this cheap piece of garbage i have tried to work with. So far I have been running for a month, replaced 12 belts, now need a new gasket for one of the barrels, and have yet to get a nice shine on anything. Reading here, I realize now I will need a better quality tumbler and am considering a Lortone with 2 drums of 4 lb capacity each. Any recomendations are appreciated but my income is very limited so I cannot go top line. I also have been reading here about using one drum for polishing only which I think will help.
I am still finding my way around the boards here, so if there is a more appropriate place for this thread please let me know. I would welcome any recommendations for rock tumblers that have held up and worked well, and that have 2 barrels. I presently have 5 lbs of various materials at least rough shaped, and 3 lbs of agates, petrified woods, and Jaspers ready for, or in the process of a final polish.
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Post by Pat on Aug 24, 2013 9:39:22 GMT -5
Welcome! Lots of tumbling experts here.
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rolanstones
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2013
Posts: 95
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Post by rolanstones on Aug 24, 2013 10:03:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome Pat. So which tumblers do you guys like and why?
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 24, 2013 11:40:38 GMT -5
I have two Lortones that I like. They make a double three pounder like you have, but better quality, and a double six pounder. I do the first stage in the rotaries and finish everything up in a Lot-O vibratory tumbler. The Lot-O was sort of expensive, but I feel that it makes up for the extra expense in grit savings and electricity savings. It is much quicker for the end stages and only uses 2 tsp of 220 grit and then 1/2 tsp for later stages. Vibratory tumblers are not good for shaping, so I use my rotaries for that. I buy all my tumblers and grit from The Rock Shed. From what I've read about Chicago Tumblers, they're a lot like Lortones, except they are built better. I don't think that you're not getting shiny rocks because of your tumbler as long as you can keep it turning. I think I read that you can use Lortone belts to replace Chicago belts and they last longer.
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rolanstones
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2013
Posts: 95
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Post by rolanstones on Aug 24, 2013 12:16:33 GMT -5
Thank you for the tip on the Lortone belts Juggler Guy. The belts for the Chicago have cost a ridiculous amount, and sometimes break the same day. I am also unable to find a replacement gasket for the barrel which formed a hole in the center. I see the ratings on the Lortone and believe it is a better quality.I have read here that the vibratory tumblers being more efficient at the final stages but i am scraping to even buy one, so perhaps a vibratory could come later.
I can get a good shape, and smooth finish when wet, but the stones that are dried are dull.I have been now believing that no matter how well I clean the rocks and barrel before the polish stage, there is some remaining grit that is dulling the finish. Another possibility is that maybe I am not using enough polish compound? I recieved no instructions, bit have been going with 2-3 tsp. in a 3 lb barrel? The batch i have going now has a few more days to go, and i skipped adding the nylon pellets this time and just used a full 2/3 full load of stone.
Any advice is appreciated. If this has been covered previously,(I am sure it has) a link to the thread on grit quantity ratios would also be fine.
I have been looking at the Rock Shed, and the prices seem very good. Thanks
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 24, 2013 15:45:30 GMT -5
Rolanstones, I just realized that this is in the visitors and members section. Since it's mostly about rock tumbling, the "Totally Rock Tumbling" section would have gotten you more responses. I'm not going to be able to give you much advice about finishing your rocks in a rotary tumbler since I've never done it. I finish everything in my vibe. I'm pretty sure you need more grit than that though. In the 60/90 stage, I use 3-4 Tablespoons in my three pound barrel. I have not used plastic pellets much, but I do know that you have to have separate pellets for each stage. Don't move your 60/90 pellets on to the 120/220 stage. I use ceramic pellets in my vibe because plastic doesn't work there. I use no pellets of any kind in 60/90. You can use ceramic in a rotary too, but as I said, I don't do the later stages there, so you'll want someone else's advice on that.
You might want to repost your questions in the "Totally Rock Tumbling" area and use a more descriptive title. People here are very, very helpful. Posting some pictures of your results is helpful too.
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jasperblue
starting to spend too much on rocks
Diggin' This
Member since August 2010
Posts: 140
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Post by jasperblue on Oct 5, 2013 14:30:20 GMT -5
I haven't logged on in a while but I have to say that your avatar is SOOO cool! Welcome to the site!
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Post by wireholic on Oct 5, 2013 15:08:39 GMT -5
I can get a good shape, and smooth finish when wet, but the stones that are dried are dull.I have been now believing that no matter how well I clean the rocks and barrel before the polish stage, there is some remaining grit that is dulling the finish. Another possibility is that maybe I am not using enough polish compound? I recieved no instructions, bit have been going with 2-3 tsp. in a 3 lb barrel? The batch i have going now has a few more days to go, and i skipped adding the nylon pellets this time and just used a full 2/3 full load of stone. I'm a new member as well and just learning about tumbling stones but I've been using a Chicago tumbler for polishing and hardening jewelry for a few years now. The plastic pellets may be causing the dull finish. The plastic sometimes has a chemical reaction with the polishing compound and leaves a film on the stones. Try using ceramic or stainless steel (depends on the hardness of the stones you're tumbling). It sounds like you have too much tension on your belts. Either that or you are seriously overloading your barrels. You can easily adjust the belt tension by loosening the screw. If you contact Chicago and let them know of all the issues you've been having.... you just might get that new gasket for free
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rolanstones
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2013
Posts: 95
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Post by rolanstones on Oct 5, 2013 21:38:02 GMT -5
I kind of lost track of this thread. I appreciate the reply's. I did contact Chicago back in August, have not received any reply as of yet. I have since replaced the belt with a lortone belt, which is still working fine a month + later, and replaced the gasket with a Lortone which fit fine. Tumbler has been running ever since and I added a larger 6# Lortone tumbler. I have a load of stone in the polish stage after re- starting everything, and I used only rock and ceramic so i am hoping you are right wireholic. I will know next week.....
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Post by roy on Oct 5, 2013 21:41:28 GMT -5
welcome to the site !
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2013 6:48:41 GMT -5
Greetings [rolanstones], firstly may i welcome you to RTH from the other side of the pond! Chicago Electric are junk, you can replace virtually all component parts with Lortone parts as they expire, eventually you will have a Chicago Electric body with Lortone parts, but it is a expensive way to buy a Lortone 33A/33B. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from this monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
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