laz
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 17
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Post by laz on Oct 18, 2022 13:23:31 GMT -5
I have a Lortone 33b tumbler. Of course it came with 2 barrels. I am reading that I should have separate barrels for each stage, or 4 total. First, is this a necessity? If I want to add additional barrels, do they have to be the Lortone brand? If so, is there an economical resource for buying them?
So anxious to get started, waiting for grits to arrive!
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Post by HankRocks on Oct 18, 2022 13:35:27 GMT -5
I have a Lortone 33b tumbler. Of course it came with 2 barrels. I am reading that I should have separate barrels for each stage, or 4 total. First, is this a necessity? If I want to add additional barrels, do they have to be the Lortone brand? If so, is there an economical resource for buying them? So anxious to get started, waiting for grits to arrive! Separate barrels for each stage is not really necessary, most tumble multiple stages in the same barrel. Just do a good cleanout of the barrel and rocks between stages. And one word of advice if you are new, do not do the cleanout in an indoor sink as over time that will clog a sink. And have patience, and fun
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laz
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 17
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Post by laz on Oct 18, 2022 15:36:58 GMT -5
Thank you! I’ve been watching many YouTubes to gain knowledge. I’m really impressed by how helpful everyone is.
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vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
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Post by vance71975 on Oct 18, 2022 17:10:50 GMT -5
I have a Lortone 33b tumbler. Of course it came with 2 barrels. I am reading that I should have separate barrels for each stage, or 4 total. First, is this a necessity? If I want to add additional barrels, do they have to be the Lortone brand? If so, is there an economical resource for buying them? So anxious to get started, waiting for grits to arrive! I have 1 tumbler (so far) and 1 Barrel for everything. Just clean it well. If you are running it like you should be, for the right lenght of time, the grit will be spent anyways or at least ground down so fine that it wouldnt contaminate the next stage. Now when you go between Silicon Carbide and Aluminum Oxide, I would spend extra attn on cleaning your barrel and I personally only bunish twice, Once when I go from Silicon Carbide to Aluminum Oxide and then when final polish is done. But it does not hurt when Switching from Silicon Carbide to Aluminum Oxide to add a couple tablespoons of Borax and some Dish soap or Shaved bar soap(about a teaspoon is plenty), your rocks and water and let it tumble for a few hours or over night to make sure you get it as clean as you can going into the next grit type.
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laz
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 17
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Post by laz on Oct 18, 2022 20:55:42 GMT -5
Thank you for the advice! It is appreciated.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 981
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Post by nursetumbler on Oct 18, 2022 21:33:31 GMT -5
Thank you for the advice! It is appreciated. I have 3 double 3# barrel Harbor Freights tumblers. I picked up a double #6 double barrel Lortone used. The Lortone has now been running coarse and two #3 barrels for each of the other 3 grits. When I started I had 1 double 3# from Harbor Freight and quickly added more
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 19, 2022 1:20:02 GMT -5
I have never used different barrels for the preliminary stages, although I use a different one for polish. Even this is not absolutely necessary if, as others have said, you clean *very* carefully. You are more likely to have grit lodged in a crevice or pit in a rock than in the smooth sides of a barrel, and separate barrels will not help with that problem.
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