faodail
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2018
Posts: 24
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Post by faodail on Feb 2, 2018 23:16:00 GMT -5
Hello
I am a complete novice and newbie. I haven't actually started anything yet but have been interested for a while. I have been lurking in your forum and have been so impressed by the advice and skill that you are so willing to share that I have decided to take the plunge.
I work full time so this would need to be a part time hobby for me. I live in Australia and our options for tumblers are much more limited than in the USA, plus our voltage differs :-(
I bought a second hand MT-4SV Mini-Sonic as it was a good price and in very good condition (used once). I think that it has a 4 pound load capacity (about 1.75 kilograms)?
I thought that it would be good for softer stones and final polishing (was also thinking about sea glass etc).
Some questions that I would appreciate your advice on:
**I am also interested in buying an entry level rotary tumbler. I was looking at an entry level Lortone but don't know which one to get. I was thinking a similar capacity to the Mini Sonic?
**Do you recommend a second barrel to keep for final polishing or just use the Mini Sonic?
**What supplies do I need for both, it all seems so confusing.
** Good starter stones to buy that would be around similar hardness so that I wouldn't have to separate them (don't know my stones yet and have not yet started fossicking)
Thanks in advance!
Kind Regards
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Post by Pat on Feb 2, 2018 23:26:27 GMT -5
Welcome from California. Not a tumbler, but lots of experts here.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 2, 2018 23:41:57 GMT -5
I don’t know much about the mini sonic, but that should be your tumbler for all stages except the first stage. If it’s like other vibratory tumblers, you’ll need some ceramic media to run with your rocks.
I like the Lortone QT66 tumbler. The first stage takes forever if you do it right, so a larger tumbler like the QT66 or QT12 is nice to have. I have a 4.5 lb. Lot-O tumbler that is hard to keep fed by running my two six pound barrels and four three pound barrels. You will need a lot more coarse grit than other grits. I buy fifty pounds at a time because it’s cheaper. If you’re finishing your rocks in the mini sonic, you won’t need any other media for the rotary.
It good to start with hard (mohs 7) rocks like jasper or agate. They’re the easiest to polish.
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Post by pauls on Feb 3, 2018 2:06:07 GMT -5
Gday faodail from another Aussie. What part of the country are you from? I have a couple of minisonics that are just for the finishing stages, coarse grits chew through the barrels and they (barrels)are very expensive to replace in Aus. Check out Aussie sapphire, www.aussiesapphire.com.au/ for your bits and pieces they are good people to deal with. When we know where you are I might be able to suggest places to go rock hunting.
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Post by gmitch067 on Feb 3, 2018 3:06:36 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum faodail from Northern California! I love my Mini-Sonic MT-4! Although the directions say it can be used with all grits, I agree with pauls ... It might be best to use a rotary tumbler to run the coarser Stage-1 tumble and use the Mini-Sonic MT-4 to continue the polishing process to completion. As for a tumbler... The Lortone 3A (or 33B) small drum is a good match for the Mini-Sonic. It will take you (for many of the hard stones - Jaspers or Agates) 4-6 weeks just to complete the Stage-1 tumble running 80 grit. My two Lortone 3A rotary tumblers have been running now for just over a year with no problems. You do not need any ceramic fillers for the first stage, but should try to balance the load with small and large pieces. A few tablespoons of clay kitty litter helps to thicken a watery slurry and promotes a better carrier of the heavy grit between the stones (only use this kitty litter clay for the first stage... not the 220 grit or finer loads). After the stones are shaped to your liking, then transfer them to the MT-4 for completion. If you want to become an avid rockhound and desire to tumble larger quantities or sizes of rocks, I would recommend the Lortone QT66/12. It is a versatile rotary tumbler that can utilize two 6 lb drums or one 12 lb drum (it can also run just one of the two 6 lb drums by itself).
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faodail
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2018
Posts: 24
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Post by faodail on Feb 4, 2018 17:39:28 GMT -5
Hello All
Thank you all so much for your advice, I will definitely keep it in mind! I have put it in my little book for future reference. I went for the small Lortone 45C to start. If it is too small (which it probably will be lol) then I have a family member more than willing to relieve me of it lol.
Pauls- I bought from Aussie Sapphire, they actually answered my email query on a Sunday (impressive) and were very helpful. I live in Melbourne and would much appreciate some suggestions for rock hunting.
Thanks all
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Post by pauls on Feb 4, 2018 19:56:34 GMT -5
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droseraguy
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 426
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Post by droseraguy on Feb 4, 2018 20:05:14 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum, though it sounds like your already part of the group by default !
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faodail
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2018
Posts: 24
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Post by faodail on Feb 5, 2018 7:14:40 GMT -5
Pauls- sounds VERY interesting! I will go look it up on the Aussie forum and would very much like to join your fossick if I can.
I will be out of state for work so I hope that the dates work!
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 5, 2018 15:04:29 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH.
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