seeker
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2018
Posts: 4
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Post by seeker on Mar 14, 2018 18:34:18 GMT -5
Hello all, newbee here, and was wondering about rotary tumblers to purchase for a beginner, but passionate individual with access to lots of rocks. The ar-12 has caught my eye for its volume, and ability to be converted to a double barrel unit in the future. I am particularly curious about lid problems described on forums, and such. is it difficult to open and close, does it easily leak, durability? Can these tumblers be left without monitoring for 8, 12, 24, or more hours with confidence of their integrity? How long will this tumbler take to produce quality stones compared to others?
Hometown Louisville Ky
Journeyman electrician, with a strong passion for all things natural.
Thanks in advance for assistance and fellowship.
Lewis
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 14, 2018 18:57:21 GMT -5
Hey, Lewis. Welcome to the forum from just up the road in Lexington. I don't know anything about the Thumler tumblers, I use Lortone products. I have the 12, dual 6 and dual 3 pound models. Someone will be able to answer the questions you asked, though. Look forward to seeing your work.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 14, 2018 19:00:27 GMT -5
Welcome. I can't help you with advice on Thumblers either. I have about a dozen Lortone barrels though including a few of the 12 pounders. Never had an issue after running 24-7 for 5 or 6 years so no reason for me to try the other brands. Lortone or thumblers both run 24-7 year round without integrity issues.
As for how long... That does not vary between brands of rotary tumblers. Barrel size plays a role though. The larger diameter barrels do grind a little faster but require more rock and grit. The way we speed up the process is by getting a vibratory tumbler to pair up with the rotary.
Chuck
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Post by MsAli on Mar 14, 2018 19:02:27 GMT -5
Hi and welcome from Fresno California. Can't help with that either as these guys talked me into a Lortone after I started with a harbor freight (which I'm still using)
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Post by vegasjames on Mar 15, 2018 1:17:42 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
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Post by TheRock on Mar 15, 2018 6:45:16 GMT -5
to RTH seeker from Duke in SW Michigan
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 15, 2018 9:31:22 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum...... Lortone is the tumbler for the best dollar...Rotary..
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Post by drocknut on Mar 15, 2018 19:39:57 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. I don't have any comments about tumblers but wanted to say hi to the newbie.
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Post by gmitch067 on Mar 15, 2018 21:36:15 GMT -5
Sorry... 'can't help you on the ar-12... either in the way the lid is engineered, or time comparisons between the different rotary tumblers out there. All of my rotary tumblers are Lortone. I am happy with my choice. They have been chugging away for over a year now with no major issues... just keep the bushings (and maybe the ar-12 motor??) lubricated, and they will be happy. BUT... Welcome to the Forum seeker!!! Glenn
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zioSergio
starting to shine!
Member since February 2018
Posts: 35
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Post by zioSergio on Mar 16, 2018 18:31:47 GMT -5
Hi and welcome from another newbie!
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seeker
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2018
Posts: 4
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Post by seeker on Apr 16, 2018 19:06:07 GMT -5
Thanks to all. It sounds like lortone gets a lot of use from the serious geological rockers. Hard to ignore so many up votes on the Lortones, ill have to look at them next. Got a Thumblers ar12 for about half price on e-bay, so i did that. Got a uv10 vibratory after that, man those vibratories are fast.
Thanks again for the warm welcome, GarageRocker, your close enough to compare rock hunting areas. One of our areas is The Falls of the Ohio, just across the river from Louisville. In the summer when the water is down, lots of agates, quartz, and such. and they are already rounded. If you make your way up to the Ville, let me know, well take a search run.
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Post by aDave on Apr 16, 2018 19:24:55 GMT -5
Thanks to all. It sounds like lortone gets a lot of use from the serious geological rockers. Hard to ignore so many up votes on the Lortones, ill have to look at them next. Got a Thumblers ar12 for about half price on e-bay, so i did that. Got a uv10 vibratory after that, man those vibratories are fast. Thanks again for the warm welcome, GarageRocker, your close enough to compare rock hunting areas. One of our areas is The Falls of the Ohio, just across the river from Louisville. In the summer when the water is down, lots of agates, quartz, and such. and they are already rounded. If you make your way up to the Ville, let me know, well take a search run. Let me help you out with a tag to Randy (Garage Rocker). Garage Rocker
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 16, 2018 19:29:19 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from North Carolina. As to your tumbler question, I currently have a thumler ar-2, thumler model b, and lortone qt6. Both brands will do a fantastic job, but the lid seal on the lortone can't be beat. If you are looking for versatility, I think the lortone qt66 would be the way to go. You could use one 12lb barrel or two 6lb barrels. As far as run time, mine run for weeks on end, only shutting down long enough to check or change loads. Happy tumbling.
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seeker
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2018
Posts: 4
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Newness
Apr 16, 2018 19:40:57 GMT -5
Post by seeker on Apr 16, 2018 19:40:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the help aDave. Not able to go online to site very often, still trying to learn how the site is structured.
I would like to post rock pics. The 1mb limit will not allow anything in my albums. is there a way to bypass this limit?
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Post by aDave on Apr 16, 2018 19:59:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the help aDave. Not able to go online to site very often, still trying to learn how the site is structured. I would like to post rock pics. The 1mb limit will not allow anything in my albums. is there a way to bypass this limit? Personally, I'd look to something like Flickr. If that's not in your realm, look to the Rock Show which was set up by the site admin here. Perhaps this thread will help: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/79551/article-post-photos
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Post by Noosh9057 on Apr 16, 2018 20:50:55 GMT -5
I run a Lortone 33b. Welcome to the forum.
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Post by Pat on Apr 16, 2018 23:32:50 GMT -5
I don't know anything about tumbling, but welcome from California.
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geostrong
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Life is like saltation, you have to bounce off of others to become a well-rounded individual
Member since April 2018
Posts: 88
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Post by geostrong on Apr 18, 2018 8:04:54 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from Colorado! KY is my second home, I have a bunch of family in the Richmond/Irvine area. I will be there in June for agate, fossil, and general rockhounding. Maybe I need to swing thru L-ville!
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 18, 2018 9:06:56 GMT -5
welcome from Virginia. I don't tumble rocks, but I have a 20 y/o lortone for jewelry and it's keeps on tumblin'.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 18, 2018 9:56:40 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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