qdup1
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2018
Posts: 16
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Post by qdup1 on Apr 24, 2018 14:41:33 GMT -5
My first post. I hope I started this thread in the correct posting site. I bought a HF dual drum rotary tumbler a year or so ago and only used it for cleaning brass. Now that I recently started tumbling some jasper I found, I find the HF unit lacking. I hear other people that use them have had good results with their HF tumblers but my experience with as a rock tumbler not so good. So, looking around for a quality unit and I found an older A. E. Aubin rotary tumbler for sale and try as I may, I can not find out much about them, other then that they are pricey and still made today. This one is a model 1600H with the 20lb. drum. What would be a fair price to pay for a good used one? It looks to be built like a tank and doesn't use belts, which I like. There is no user manual for them, so I suspect they should work like any rotary tumbler or close to it. Does anyone out there own one and would be kind enough to share their experiences with them. Thank you for any replys and info.
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Apr 24, 2018 14:42:59 GMT -5
Goodness, I'm newer here but have been reading about everything on this forum and I have yet to hear about this brand.
Hopefully someone else can chime in.
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qdup1
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2018
Posts: 16
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Post by qdup1 on Apr 24, 2018 15:38:20 GMT -5
Goodness, I'm newer here but have been reading about everything on this forum and I have yet to hear about this brand. Hopefully someone else can chime in. Thanks. The 1600H sells for over $800. The company is out of CT and has been in business since 1959 and are totally about finishing equipment. You can check their website out at aeaubin.com I have only seen them mentioned a couple times on other rock tumbling sites. I guess the price tag keeps most people away. But from what I see these things will last and last and they are built in the USA. I did correspond once with the owner and he told me I would have to search online for info from other owners of this rotary tumbler. At least he did reply.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 24, 2018 16:01:44 GMT -5
I've been here for about six years and have never heard of this brand either. I just went to their site and I can find no mention of rocks on the rotary tumbler pages. The rotary tumblers look like the Slik tumblers, but the barrel appears to be very thin an plastic. It's hard to tell from a tiny picture though. Most of use a different style of rotary tumbler here like the Lortone or the Thumlers which have fairly quiet rubber barrels.
Their vibratory tumblers do mention tumbling rocks. They look like Raytech tumblers.
Sorry I can't really answer your question.
By the way, welcome to the forum.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 24, 2018 16:43:12 GMT -5
A.E. Aubin Company
Can't tell you anything about them, let alone a price for a used one. Never heard of them until now.
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qdup1
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2018
Posts: 16
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Post by qdup1 on Apr 24, 2018 16:54:23 GMT -5
A.E. Aubin Company
Can't tell you anything about them, let alone a price for a used one. Never heard of them until now. I guess they must be very unpopular. They have a hard plastic barrel and I would think they may be noisy. They say the action is lift and folding. Thanks for the reply.
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qdup1
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2018
Posts: 16
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Post by qdup1 on Apr 24, 2018 17:22:41 GMT -5
I've been here for about six years and have never heard of this brand either. I just went to their site and I can find no mention of rocks on the rotary tumbler pages. The rotary tumblers look like the Slik tumblers, but the barrel appears to be very thin an plastic. It's hard to tell from a tiny picture though. Most of use a different style of rotary tumbler here like the Lortone or the Thumlers which have fairly quiet rubber barrels. Their vibratory tumblers do mention tumbling rocks. They look like Raytech tumblers. Sorry I can't really answer your question. By the way, welcome to the forum. Thanks for the info. Will check out the Slik and Raytech. I have seen many Lorone and Thumlers for sale on eBay. They seem like the most popular along with the HF ones.
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goatgrinder
spending too much on rocks
Make mine a man cave
Member since January 2017
Posts: 368
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Post by goatgrinder on Apr 24, 2018 19:25:52 GMT -5
qdup1, you just stumped an international bunch of some of the most experienced tumblers found anywhere. What a way to say "hello". Please stay around long enough to show your work and tell us all about your equipment.
Welcome from Atlanta.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 24, 2018 19:27:50 GMT -5
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Post by aDave on Apr 24, 2018 19:53:47 GMT -5
A.E. Aubin Company
Can't tell you anything about them, let alone a price for a used one. Never heard of them until now. I guess they must be very unpopular. They have a hard plastic barrel and I would think they may be noisy. They say the action is lift and folding. Thanks for the reply. I don't think it's so much they are unpopular (in general), I just think rock tumbling with those rotaries are not what they are designed for. From the company website: Many of the processes that they list are pretty typical of a machine shop or metal stamping business...especially those that specialize in small precision parts. They may have a great following, just not within the lapidary world, as I can't see a polyethylene barrel withstanding pounding from rocks. Welcome to the forum.
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qdup1
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2018
Posts: 16
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Post by qdup1 on Apr 24, 2018 19:57:58 GMT -5
qdup1, you just stumped an international bunch of some of the most experienced tumblers found anywhere. What a way to say "hello". Please stay around long enough to show your work and tell us all about your equipment. Welcome from Atlanta. Thank you. Will do. I see so many pet recipes for tumbling rocks. Mostly for the polish stage. Never knew this was such a large hobby. I got interested in tumbling pocks when my Grandson wanted to polish rocks. I bought him a Thumler Tumbler single barrel used. Did not have clue about how to tumble rocks. He was sure let down when he found out it took a month to get a finished stone. Me neither. Heck, they looked pretty good after the second stage was done. Never got to finish them with him, because I went back home to Utah. BTW, there sure is a lot of beautiful Jasper around here. Next time I visit Michigan I am going to search for Petoskey stones. Always wanted to find a nice one.
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qdup1
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2018
Posts: 16
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Post by qdup1 on Apr 24, 2018 20:08:52 GMT -5
Yes, sort of coming to that conclusion myself. More for metal. It was talked about on other forums maybe 3 times total. They did love their Aubine tumbler for rock tumbling. This one I was looking at comes with a 92" power cord. I think I know why, keep it far away from the house as possible. I bet it would keep the neighbors awake at night. So, a rubber barrel interior is the way to go for a more quite operation. I did just see an Aubin model 510 on youtube. She was running it with stainless steel media and nothing else. It runs for 80 seconds.
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salpal48
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2015
Posts: 136
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Post by salpal48 on Apr 27, 2018 15:24:06 GMT -5
I have a Aubin 1600 , Runs and works Great. Yes There Expensive new. I purchases mine @ a machine acution. Paid $50. called the company Got the parts i need . tumbles and does a Good job. Most of the used one the red caps are gone. Bought a new on From the company. . you have to put a Hole in The center Or They blow off from heat buildup There is one currently on EBAY Sal
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Post by grumpybill on Apr 27, 2018 17:07:09 GMT -5
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