1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jun 8, 2018 15:25:04 GMT -5
I am so very late to read of Don's passing, life kind of got in the way here. I remember when I very first joined I posted something that Don and I disagreed on big time, fought a keyboard warrior fight with him and almost left the forum for good, then we made up and used to visit on here occasionally.
Rest easy Don, your bountiful lapidary knowledge was such a bonus for RTH members and you will be very missed!!!!!
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jul 21, 2017 22:44:24 GMT -5
Yeah, too much water will make everything just sit in the barrel and do nothing. I use a Tablespoon of Borax in the 220 and when I do the finer stages I use a half tbsp since the finer grits lock up so easily.
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jun 6, 2017 4:28:50 GMT -5
Awww Don, thats the $hittiest news I have heard in some time, I for one know it sill never be the same around here without you to fight with from time to time LOL!!! Anyhow, glad to see that you are still a salt old cuss like when we had our first fight here my friend. Keep your head up high man and stay grumpy, you've earned the right.
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Nov 18, 2016 15:04:19 GMT -5
Are you on a very tight budget? If not then I found 30 grit sintered (as in a full 3 mm of diamond blended into the steel. Not inexpensive by any means, and I dont know if they are anywhere near the quality of Neo-Sint, but they are around half the price lol Good luck!!!!! Sintered 30 grit
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Oct 12, 2016 20:26:44 GMT -5
672.275
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Oct 1, 2016 22:35:57 GMT -5
Oct 1, 2016 12:20:46 GMT -7 1nickthegreek said: "This is a one man operation, and he isn't the youngest, so give him the benefit of the doubt here. Tom is one of the nicest fellows I have had the pleasure of working with in a long time!!!"
I think Chicago Dave said he had to return the motor to the manufacturer. Are you saying Lot-Os are manufactured by one guy? It seems like it would take a factory with various people working there. Or maybe they are made overseas and there is one guy handling the U.S. side of things? I thought they were made in the U.S. though? Maybe the parts are made overseas and one guy in the U.S. assembles them? I am not arguing with you, I am just curious about this now + being curious about the repair process. Thanks! Tom and his wife and possibly an employee or two build them all, I have no clue where the barrels are made, but I think they are all injection molded here in the states. I am about positive that it is just a super small operation after talking with him several times ordering Lot-O's for customers who support smaller than Rock Shed sized suppliers LOL
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Oct 1, 2016 19:38:07 GMT -5
I found out extremely fast that the plastics are nothing more than a pain in the ass, I use 4 sizes of ceramics in my obsidian both in the rotary and in the lot-o to finish polish them. Looks like you have a great batch coming!!!!
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Oct 1, 2016 19:20:46 GMT -5
I guess I'm used to almost instant feedback on any interactions with a company. I have to say, this whole thing has been a little frustrating. My motor was delivered to Lot-O on Thursday. I tried calling to see that someone actually got it and ask if they had any questions. Had to leave a voicemail. I sent an email asking for an update, but have yet to hear anything back. So I hope my motor got to the correct person and the new one is currently on its way back to me. I included my email and phone number in my note to them. I was just about to run my first batch thru final polish. Just venting a little! This is a one man operation, and he isn't the youngest, so give him the benefit of the doubt here. Tom is one of the nicest fellows I have had the pleasure of working with in a long time!!!
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Oct 1, 2016 19:09:06 GMT -5
dottyt , I'm not sure if I'm using the epoxy. I've read a mixture of threads where some use it and some don't. I guess I'll see how hard the barrel is to clean out after each change. I believe those blue stones are Blue Quartz. captbob , I would like to say that I have excelled at using a rotary tumbler for what it's best at - rough grind. I have shown the patience to wait until a rock is ready to be pulled. I'm guessing you mastered the fine art of hand slabbing rocks before buying your 24" saw? It's the main reason I get up and go to work each day - having the ability to waste money on useless tools. Someone's gotta keep the Rock Shed in business! I highly recommend that you use epoxy in your polish barrel, otherwise you will be cleaning grit out of the nipple all the time. I just use harbor freight cheap 5 minute epoxy which is like $1.99 or $2.99 for the little tubes up by the register, and it has worked so much better than the epoxy putty stuff which I have used in the coarse barrel several times LOL
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Aug 20, 2016 17:30:05 GMT -5
Wish I had seen the Morrisonite :/
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Aug 15, 2016 23:59:54 GMT -5
Done, all the entries are amazing this month though!!!!
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Aug 6, 2016 16:05:03 GMT -5
I had a Raytech TV-5 for about 3 months before I bought a Lot-o, Raytech is okay as a starter vibe but thats about all it is good for.......so damned noisy that I had to run it outside LOL Best of luck and when you're ready to get a Lot-o I can sell ya one or send ya to someone for sure!!!!!
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Aug 6, 2016 15:31:49 GMT -5
I typically add some borax to keep the slurry stuck to the rocks in my Lot-O, then go add water a time or three daily to keep it moving in the barrel.
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Nov 19, 2015 13:07:31 GMT -5
You can call Tom (owner of Lot-O company) directly at (507)456-5677. he is a very nice man and great to work with.
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Oct 17, 2015 18:24:38 GMT -5
Sent my email in a PM, thank you Tony!!!!
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Oct 14, 2015 23:38:15 GMT -5
I have a buttload of 10+ gallon rubbermaid containers stashed around the house and out in my shop, so many slabs and pieces of rough that I just keep everything put away pretty much LOL
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Sept 16, 2015 20:03:23 GMT -5
Drummond Island Rocks I have a 33B frame sitting in my shop, newer one but I was having some issues with getting it to turn with loaded barrels so I threw it aside, hit me up and lets jabber about it a lil bit.
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Aug 18, 2015 1:41:54 GMT -5
All look great, Dan. That frankenstone is cool, could grow on me over time!!
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jul 14, 2015 21:41:33 GMT -5
You can always swing off of I-15 in Spencer Idaho and bust up some rhyolite looking for Idaho Precious opal on your way up to Butte......so much houndable land on that drive. Unfortunately, the rockhounding books are sorely lacking as far as Idaho goes. No matter, have a great trip north!!!
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jul 7, 2015 2:24:56 GMT -5
Wow Roger, the Pseudo Morph is H O T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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