CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 21, 2023 6:36:59 GMT -5
Hey all…been wrapped up in learning a new job. And trouble shooting Lortones (I’m probably over loading) & sorting out the auto stop. So I’ve been off the forum a bit…
Anyhow…got a double barrel Lot-O for Christmas. Already have a single. (So excited to have one for each finishing grit!!!)
Been contemplating pouring a concrete top and building a bench to put it on. Looking at about 150lbs of concrete. Metal lathe.
And 4x4 legs with a lower wooden shelf, to add stability and have a place for the lortones. Bolt the Lot-Os directly to poured concrete with Locktite Grab glue for additional security.
Been reading through everyone’s Lot-O set ups and haven’t found anyone doing this…yet? Could have missed it.
But I AM finding that I shouldn’t put the lot-o on ANYTHING except the cement block, on the ground. Why? What am I missing?
Should I minimally make my poured top the lower shelf for center of gravity?
Ok…GO. Pros? cons? It’ll be fine? Disaster??
Thank you in advance for you shared knowledge.
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steelheader
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2021
Posts: 50 
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Post by steelheader on Jan 21, 2023 7:53:36 GMT -5
I suspect ( and its just a suspect ) that the risk involved with putting it on a table is that “tables” are too variable and some peoples IQs too low, so the company makes it easy for people by taping it to the block and sitting on a solid floor. My suspicion is that on a table, the vibrations would rattle the table, perhaps the table is slanted a bit and the machine slowly rumbles its way over the ledge. Perhaps a table can be defined as one of those plastic picnic tables? Some one would at some point 😂
A poured bench top slab with a working metal lathe on it should be fine as long as the table cant move and you have fastened the vibe securely to the table, I cant see you having any issues. This is not from first hand experience, for the record, but just food for thought.
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 21, 2023 9:02:01 GMT -5
I kind of agree. Tapcons directly in the cured concrete.
Ok. We’re building/pouring today.
Is a week long enough to cure to bolt on and start vibing??
Or should a give it a few weeks before vibing??
I’ll post pictures of the process.
🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻I figured if I have to bolt the 4x4s the the ground to keep it from moving…that’s doable too.
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on Jan 21, 2023 9:28:56 GMT -5
Remember, you tap-con it or any other fastener to the table , it’s permanent. Put bolts in the concrete, like a foundation anchor bolt. You don’t need anything big. That way you can just loosen up the nuts and remove your lot-0. Permanently fastening means just that, permanent. It’s easier to unbolt to work on it, as opposed to fastened to a concrete table. The concrete table does sound like a good idea though.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 21, 2023 12:16:16 GMT -5
Full cure for concrete is 29 days, you want to keep it wet to slow down the cure and set it harder. After about a week I would probably use one of the commercial sealers that aid the curing process and apply it to your base, there may be a product specifically for counters. Once it's sealed it should be fine to move it, but you might hold off a bit longer to drill and attach things.
Maybe some kind of thin rubber sheet as a vibration isolator just in case? Using screen or rebar?
Did you use a standard concrete mix or make your own from portland cement, sand and rock? It might be neat to pour a custom mix using tumble filler for the rock and then using a grinder with pads to expose and polish them on the slab surface.
Can't wait to see your finished piece.
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steelheader
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2021
Posts: 50
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Post by steelheader on Jan 21, 2023 13:11:34 GMT -5
Fantastic info ladies and gents coupled with fun ideas like mixing media into the crete, love it! +1 on the sealing. Ive used Radon products ( I think ) for a few projects and it worked wonders. Bolting on the vibe would be slick! Please do post pictures.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Jan 21, 2023 13:29:54 GMT -5
I’m looking forward to seeing your project. I’ve always wanted to do a concrete counter but it seems a risky project for in the house, if it doesn’t turn out so we’ll. I hadn’t thought of doing one in the garage! 😃💡🤔
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 21, 2023 14:35:59 GMT -5
Yeah husband had already moved on to bolts.
And this is our practice for our kitchen counters!!!
29 days sounds good. I had planned on sealing!
LOVE the idea of the tumbled rocks in the cement!!
We bought premium concrete countertop mix.
Says it’s high strength and fast setting.
Oh, and mesh not rebar!!
I think that’s everything discussed so far.
Can’t mix in a barrel. So we need to get something bigger than a five gallon bucket, or I’d be pouring by now!!!
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 21, 2023 17:51:13 GMT -5
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 22, 2023 9:46:48 GMT -5
You make me nervous. Pouring concrete is not rocket science, but the fact that you need to ask about cure time, well I guess I'm over thinking things. The pour looks good but I see some ridges that you want to take care of before it sets. Polish concrete after it is set ain't fun (I used to work for a concrete grooving company so I know a bit about working with set crete.)
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,217
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Post by rockbrain on Jan 22, 2023 11:37:17 GMT -5
You make me nervous. Pouring concrete is not rocket science, but the fact that you need to ask about cure time, well I guess I'm over thinking things. The pour looks good but I see some ridges that you want to take care of before it sets. Polish concrete after it is set ain't fun (I used to work for a concrete grooving company so I know a bit about working with set crete.) I would guess that we're looking at the bottom of the table in that shot. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 22, 2023 13:29:59 GMT -5
stefan if you want to see a bad pour you should see the compressor pad I poured recently to use up some bags that had seen some weather, it should have gone in post holes instead and the home made floats sure did work a lot better for the youtubers... No, you won't see pics.
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 22, 2023 14:06:07 GMT -5
This is the bottom of the pour. I know about cure times for driveways and what not. But for vibration..I figured it needed longer. I’m good waiting 30 days. My brain was thinking I can drive a car in 7-10 days. Two-three weeks should be good for this. I’m sure the bag says too. It had very specific mixing instructions. I’ve also learned that the “instructions” aren’t always as good as real life experience. It’s a practice run for us. I’ve got a few smaller projects I’m planning before the real deal kitchen pour. This will be the only one that’s not a pour in place. So the next two will be to focus on the finishing technique. If this is a failure in the end…we learned something! You make me nervous. Pouring concrete is not rocket science, but the fact that you need to ask about cure time, well I guess I'm over thinking things. The pour looks good but I see some ridges that you want to take care of before it sets. Polish concrete after it is set ain't fun (I used to work for a concrete grooving company so I know a bit about working with set crete.) |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 24, 2023 17:55:57 GMT -5
I re-read my comments, sorry they sounded so negative- it was not intended to question your abilities or be critical of your work.
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 28, 2023 16:20:38 GMT -5
so, we definitely didn’t get enough air bubbles out. But hopefully, it’ll function as intended. It IS level on the top!!! So that’s exciting. There will be at least one shelf, maybe two underneath. and I still need to seal it. Maybe tomorrow…. definitely a learning process. Next will be outdoor sink for washing rocks and kitchen-ish area. then, indoor kitchen countertops. still gonna give it another two weeks before anchoring the lot-o’s. Still lots of room for failure! 🤣🤣🤣 but feeling pretty good about it now!   |
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 28, 2023 16:21:33 GMT -5
I actually kind of love the texture it has. 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️ not mad about it!
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Jan 28, 2023 16:34:20 GMT -5
It looks really good. I built a similar workbench for my new cabbing machine and also struggled to find a top material for it. I made my entire bench out of scrap materials and didn’t have any wood for a top. I ended up using an old piece of melamine, like indoor shelf material except I had a wide chunk. It works great because it can get wet and doesn’t swell and I can wipe it off. If I had seen your post 4 months ago though I may have tried a concrete top. I’ll be curious to see how you like using it and working on top of it as time goes by…
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 28, 2023 17:21:49 GMT -5
You could always do a thin layer of self leveling concrete on top, maybe just the counter mix with a little more water, or epoxy coating.
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Jan 29, 2023 14:33:27 GMT -5
Sealed. Lot-o’s not attached. Shelves added! Very exciting!  Couldn’t wait to see what the vibrations were gonna be like, so I put my single on top, and I think we’re gonna be golden!! The single will be removed from the paver. (Sorry about the vacuum and dog chewing on toy) |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Jan 29, 2023 17:52:27 GMT -5
I can’t find the dog. I’ve looked all over.🤓 Looks like a really handy bench!👍 I like all your organization. I assume the 3 different colored buckets are for 3 different processes?
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Maybe you can post some pictures here