illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Dec 15, 2017 18:15:38 GMT -5
Very new to this, so is this a commonly used tool? For slabs?
Should I be getting some sort of coolant system for it?
Assuming I should oil the motor and
Any resources or threads should study up on?
Lapidary acquisition by Andrew Lee, on Flickr
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Dec 15, 2017 17:01:12 GMT -5
I picked up this Lortone Beaver arbor from a very kind and generous man.
Since it has not been used for quite a while, is there a correct path to take in making it functional again? For instance, oiling the motor and bearings 5w30? Where are the best locations to oil? Are the wheels universal? They look to be 6 inch wheels. Should I be looking at upgrading these? For the most part, until I get some sort of saw to do some cabbing, I plan on using it to pre-grind some rocks that may need some help when tumbling. One of the grinding wheels looks to be worn uneven. Not sure if this is normal.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Lapidary acquisition by Andrew Lee, on Flickr
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Dec 8, 2017 10:17:26 GMT -5
Awesome!
My bots are just starting to get interesting with the husks finally getting worn down!
I'm jealous of your Petoskey and pudding stone hunt. Someday I'll jump over the pond to your side to do a hunt! I ended up buying a rough water worn Petoskey and a pudding stone at Prospector's Paradise in the Keweenaw with the hopes of making it shiny but after a coarse grind the Petoskey has a severe pit in the middle so off to the rock garden it went with the rest of my Lake Michigan and Superior rocks.
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Dec 8, 2017 10:01:43 GMT -5
Beautiful!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Dec 8, 2017 9:58:43 GMT -5
Very nice indeed! This Wisconsinite should stop buying so many rocks online and look in the backyard! LOL!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Dec 7, 2017 20:33:58 GMT -5
Awesome!!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
|
Post by illusionist on Dec 7, 2017 20:12:50 GMT -5
I'll probably do 2 day runs for my first batch, illusionist . Interesting that the Lot-O instruction booklet says " 24 hours, and no more" for the polish step. Also, after the polish stage is through, I add dawn and a little more water. I let this run for an hour or so and that's it. I don't bother with an extra burnish cycle. They come out shinier than shiny!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Dec 7, 2017 18:17:45 GMT -5
Thanks, Rob. I've read several recipes here. The general consensus seems to be: 2 Tbls 120/220 1/2 tsp 500 + 1 Tbls borax 1/2 tsp polish + 1 Tbls borax There seems to be some disagreement over how long to run each stage. 1 day or 2? I have tried a one day run for each stage in the Lot-O and compared it with a two day run for each stage. The two day was noticeably more shiny for me.
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Dec 7, 2017 18:12:59 GMT -5
I can't say that I've ever tried anything but ceramics in my Lot-O, so you might be right. However, I think all of the winners of the World Rock Tumbling Competition in the past several years have used Lot-Os with ceramics. Ceramic media just works. Using other rocks is going to be much more variable and may or may not work as well. I would always suggest that beginners and experienced tumblers alike use ceramics. I don't have a problem with trying something else, but I know for a fact that ceramics work. I completely agree with rough tumbling in a rotary and finishing in a vibe. I have done a batch without ceramics as an experiment. I just used a decent amount of small agates. I thought they were shiny but then did a second batch with ceramics and thought they were impossibly shiny. I will only use ceramics at this point for me.
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Nov 30, 2017 14:26:57 GMT -5
They are beautiful! Excellent job!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Nov 20, 2017 18:51:47 GMT -5
I always look forward to your tumbles! Absolutely stunning! I can't get over #10!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Nov 9, 2017 14:02:20 GMT -5
Great shaping!
Love #3 group shot!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 30, 2017 17:54:55 GMT -5
I love the pattern on the coral! Great job on them all!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 30, 2017 17:52:08 GMT -5
Gotta love Botswanna's! Your's turned out awesome!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 28, 2017 15:44:11 GMT -5
Wow! Those are great!! Nice job!!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 23, 2017 19:38:36 GMT -5
Beautiful work!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 23, 2017 15:00:06 GMT -5
What a great batch! Great shaping beautiful shine!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 16, 2017 10:32:18 GMT -5
I would give the win to the shiny pitted. I just bought one measley pudding stone from Prospector's Paradise in the Keweenaw because I've never found one yet. I just threw it in the tumbler last week. I'm glad I have a baseline of what my expectations should be.
Yours look great!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 14, 2017 14:18:38 GMT -5
Beauties! Nice tumbles!
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 10, 2017 11:19:23 GMT -5
Wow! Those would be my favorites as well! Stunning!
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