lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Oct 4, 2017 23:07:35 GMT -5
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Sept 17, 2017 0:14:27 GMT -5
Wonderful. What were the ones with blue veins called? Just curious. These are just "blue quartz" from the Rock Shed website. Raw they didn't show these veins so it was a nice surprise! They came out after about a week in rough grit
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Sept 15, 2017 9:00:06 GMT -5
Here they are under natural light- thank you to this entire board by the way- I read just about every thread on this site and learned everything I know from here!
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Sept 15, 2017 8:46:07 GMT -5
Skip the 1500 and use a AO final polish. You did it all correctly, if not you would have had bruising and I see none. A certain number will crack or chip in a load. Use at least half the load as cersmics. I think the 1500 I used was AO actually- I assumed they were one and the same but I'll check right now- So In the LOT-O half the mass should be ceramics?
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Sept 15, 2017 0:06:21 GMT -5
I did have some issues with some chipping- I lost about 8 pieces in the last stage to cracks- any ideas what I did?
Recipe- ~4 weeks in a lortone rotary
Then in a Lot-O 2 days 120 2 days 500 2 days 1000 2 days 1500 4 hours borax
I used ceramic media- all the same size. But yes pieces did get cracked on their edges towards the end
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Sept 14, 2017 23:39:27 GMT -5
Blue, rose, green and orange quartz from Rock Shed and a few Amethyst stragglers from a previous load that needed another spin.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Sept 14, 2017 23:38:20 GMT -5
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 30, 2017 0:15:22 GMT -5
rock shed has always been great for me
The Rockhound gave me the worst online customer service I have ever experienced VIA ebay so I will never recommend them
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 20, 2017 0:30:03 GMT -5
ok thank you Gents!
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 19, 2017 20:55:40 GMT -5
I have two now and would like to organize my basement. Would running two lortone 33b's off of a power strip be ok?
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 14, 2017 21:27:00 GMT -5
Congrats on the new purchase. You have now made life easier on yourself. I'm sure others will chime in with advice on securing the Lot O. I attached my Lot O with the adhesive tape that came with the machine. I filled the block with concrete and painted before attaching. Have had no problems. Many ways to do this part. But...
The recipe for success with the Lot O is found here:
Lot O recipe
You listening, @shotgunner ?
Amnt Grit Borax Hours 1 2 T 120/220 SiC None 24-48 2 ½ t 500 Al2O3 1 T 24-48 3 ½ t 1000 Al2O3 1 T 24-48 4 ½ t Polish Al2O3 1 T 24-48 5 - - 2 T 3-5 this member has borax in the recipe- is this thrown in with the grit or done after the grit stage and before then next?
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 9, 2017 21:53:48 GMT -5
Juggler guy that was immensely helpful! So helpful in fact that I opened my barrel to see this hole at the bottom only to find my instructions I will paint and mount tomorrow and I will take you advice for pouring epoxy into the bottom hole
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 9, 2017 19:54:05 GMT -5
Interesting! I watched a youtube that recommended filling the block with concrete. Is this commonly done?
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 9, 2017 19:42:41 GMT -5
I just bought a Lot-O and have not used it yet but------ as I understand it the cap is keeping the water from evaporating not so much the stones in the barrel.
Maybe tight plastic wrap and rubber bands would work in a pinch?
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 9, 2017 19:15:54 GMT -5
Don't tell the wife In 8 months I went from one humble tumbler to two lortone 33B's and now a Lot-O Anyway, I ordered my Lot-O from the Rockshed as I've found their service to be outstanding. A few questions- A: I am planning on attaching this to a cement block- any tips or glues that you would recommend? Also is one block sufficient? B: The factory box I received didn't have instructions in them- I am planning on doing the rough in my rotaries and the later stages in the Lot-O-- how much water and how much grit should be added each step? I watched a video that recommended covering the rocks in water and then dumping all the water out- so the rocks are wet and then adding 2 Tablespoons per round C: Is the 1000 grit stage recommended? With my rotary I was doing rough, 120, 500 and the polish. Any and all help is appreciated and I'd love to send a completed banded amethyst to those that help (that's the next ones out of the rough stage)
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 1, 2017 14:55:22 GMT -5
A lot of us here have Lot-O tumblers. Some others have Thumler vibes. Seems like both are well liked. I love my Lot-O. I use my rotary tumblers for just the first stage, then I switch to my Lot-O for all other stages. Each stage only take two days in the Lot-O. It also uses way less grit. I use two tablespoons of 220, then 1/2 Teaspoon of 500, 1000, and polish. I do have a second barrel that I use just for the polish stage. Thank you! That's considerably less amount of time and grit than what I am using! I'll have to look into the Lot-O
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Jul 31, 2017 22:02:37 GMT -5
for the polish stage make sense?
I have a lortone 33b and it's great (actually I have two) I'm still really learning the craft but am learning from each mistake I make!
Just reading it looks like vibrating machine is gentler for the polish stage?
Follow up- what would be the recommended vibrating machine?
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Jun 23, 2017 18:21:34 GMT -5
Hello!
I have a lortone 33b tumbler. I have always done one single specimen per tumble. Problem is I have a whole pile of small brecciated jasper pieces and a pile of larger kambaba pieces.
Do you think it would be ok to mix the two?
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on May 10, 2017 21:35:28 GMT -5
Ok thank you both! I have a few smaller quartz that was in my first ever batch and I can see what I did wrong that first go around so I think I'll toss them in with these quartz! Btw I found these in my fathers yard. He recently passed away and was an avid avid gardener. Since his gardens have not been kept, the rain water has eroded a small crevice that exposed these and other stones. Enjoying this hobby! I hope it leads to more geology knowledge as well and I thank the entire board for being so helpful Welcome to the family Lance, Yep good people on here and I don't mean just smart. Fine folks.. I learn something everyday. I think we all do.
Thank you Cliff- Originally I thought I had the concept understood- how ignorant I was! Now I know that I know very little- four batches done and I feel like I understand less than when I started. Looking forward to this summer to really delve in
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on May 10, 2017 20:13:23 GMT -5
Ok thank you both! I have a few smaller quartz that was in my first ever batch and I can see what I did wrong that first go around so I think I'll toss them in with these quartz!
Btw I found these in my fathers yard. He recently passed away and was an avid avid gardener. Since his gardens have not been kept, the rain water has eroded a small crevice that exposed these and other stones.
Enjoying this hobby! I hope it leads to more geology knowledge as well and I thank the entire board for being so helpful
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