hrichard
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2021
Posts: 2
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Post by hrichard on Feb 9, 2021 23:33:12 GMT -5
Hello everyone, I'm an amateur rock hound who was given the gift of a Lortone 33B twenty years ago. Though new to the hobby, I successfully tumbled and polished a variety of nice stones including agates and beach rocks that I picked up at Lake Superior's Whitefish Point. The tumbler was then shelved for many years as we moved around the country and overseas for work and never really unpacked until recent retirement. I'm now back at work with the tumbler and learning everything I can about lapidary arts and mineralogy. As I've bought (or had on hand) quite a bit of rough lately, and being on a retirement budget though with good DIY skills, I'm looking to build a tumbler and barrels to augment my wonderfully running 2 barrel Lortone, so that I can run additional larger barrels at the same time. Thanks for letting me join the forum, and also thank you in advance for the advice and ideas that I know I'll benefit from. I'm no artist, but I love rocks and geology, and beautiful rough specimens and polished cabs and tumbled stones. Obviously most of my rock collecting has been from visits to other parts of the country. We have all the clay you could ever want here in south Louisiana, but no rock other than gravel!
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 9, 2021 23:44:20 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! I look forward to hearing about (and hopefully seeing pics of) your DIY projects. I'm glad you've found your love again during a time you can fully enjoy it.
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Post by taylor on Feb 9, 2021 23:58:45 GMT -5
Welcome!!
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rocket
spending too much on rocks
Quality slabs for quality cabs in 2022
Member since September 2020
Posts: 292
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Post by rocket on Feb 10, 2021 8:43:39 GMT -5
Welcome from Maryland...looking forward to pictures of your day build...what motor are you planning on using?
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 10, 2021 8:53:11 GMT -5
from Virginia!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 10, 2021 8:55:58 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 10, 2021 10:35:00 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 10, 2021 12:49:26 GMT -5
Howdy....
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hrichard
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2021
Posts: 2
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Post by hrichard on Feb 10, 2021 21:49:07 GMT -5
Thank you all for the great welcome! I've been privileged to have either lived in, worked in, or have visited the states that you all are from. Its great to connect. I've just purchased a 1/20 hp 1,800 rpm motor from eBay and am going to build a tumbler using 1/2" rod for guide and drive rails, and pillow block bearings. Low HP and size compared to some of the professional home made setups that I've seen on the forum, but I'm pretty sure that I will be able to run 2 or 3 small (3 or 4 lb.) barrels to supplement my Lortone 3B. My DIY expertise from my previous industrial construction and maintenance life is mostly electrical - with some mechanical, so I'm hoping to succeed although it may not be pretty! I've been tumbling and polishing various rocks for use in an outdoor fountain - agate, jasper, quartz, unakite etc. as well as polishing some great granite and rhyolite rounded beach stones from Lake Superior, both ones I collected and some that I purchased. Regards to all!
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Post by Pat on Feb 10, 2021 22:04:31 GMT -5
Welcome from California !
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Post by manofglass on Feb 11, 2021 10:28:22 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan
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Post by drocknut on Feb 11, 2021 11:42:07 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from south central Arizona.
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Post by stephan on Feb 13, 2021 0:13:36 GMT -5
Welcome from NorCal
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Feb 15, 2021 14:32:47 GMT -5
Welcome from the Desert Southwest!
You won't be alone here. Many members have built their own tumbling machines here. I would say that most experienced folk eventually build their own. It is often far less expensive and more reliable than what can be purchased commercially.
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Post by TheRock on Mar 1, 2021 13:57:53 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH Forum from S/W Michigan! ~Duke
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