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This is a copy of my post in another thread. I thought it might be helpful for a wider audience
I had a Eureka moment last night. I too have been having problems with the slowing of action over time, a ball of slurry forming, etc.
I started using a hardwood stick to stir the contents, which at first helped a little then I noticed how low in the cradle the barrel was sitting. I pinched the sides of the cradle together with a large c-clamp. That helped a lot. But again over time, the barrel sank down into the cradle again. I held up the barrel higher in the cradle with my hand and the action was great.
I cut a piece of toilet paper tube about 3 inches tall and reset the barrel into the cradle and let in run.
This morning it's still running great.
I use a piece of styrofoam under the cement block for sound proofing.
Post by rocknewb101 on Jun 9, 2023 14:34:08 GMT -5
Ahhhh! I struggle with the barrel seeming to fall too low also. Thank you for this suggestion! I have a batch running now and I'm going to try this! Thank you!!
I'll probably experiment with a different material but I don't want to use anything that will damage the barrel over time. Toilet paper tubes are useful for many things including protecting young garden seedlings from cutworms. And there is a slow but steady supply
I'll probably experiment with a different material but I don't want to use anything that will damage the barrel over time. Toilet paper tubes are useful for many things including protecting young garden seedlings from cutworms. And there is a slow but steady supply
The Food Saver vacuum sealer bag rolls have really sturdy cardboard tubes if you have a Food Saver. Much thicker than toilet paper tubes and may be a better choice to put a tumber full of rocks on. It definitely wouldn't get smooshed.
Robin
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
src="//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png"] [/quote]The Food Saver vacuum sealer bag rolls have really sturdy cardboard tubes if you have a Food Saver. Much thicker than toilet paper tubes and may be a better choice to put a tumber full of rocks on. It definitely wouldn't get smooshed. [/quote]
It actually worked well and didn't smoosh in 48 hours of use. It still is intact. We collect a supply over the year for crafts with the grandkids, gardening, etc
I'll probably experiment with a different material but I don't want to use anything that will damage the barrel over time. Toilet paper tubes are useful for many things including protecting young garden seedlings from cutworms. And there is a slow but steady supply
That was my concern too - I tore a toilet paper roll at about 2/3 and used that - I am very pleased with the difference. Honestly - my rocks have never rolled like they are now - and it appears it was because the barrel was sitting too far down. I feel like by sitting lower it was pushing them more from the sides instead of vibrating from the bottom, circulating the rocks up and around....Thank you for sharing your findings!
Post by dirtsifter on Jun 10, 2023 20:42:22 GMT -5
rocknewb101. You are welcome! It is difficult to express how pumped I was when I passed the 48 hour mark and the action was still great. I'm hoping that it will cut down on the amount of chipping I seem to inflict on the rocks.
Can't help but wonder with all the posts I see about poor action over time in the Lot O if the barrel position is the problem
rocknewb101 . You are welcome! It is difficult to express how pumped I was when I passed the 48 hour mark and the action was still great. I'm hoping that it will cut down on the amount of chipping I seem to inflict on the rocks.
Can't help but wonder with all the posts I see about poor action over time in the Lot O if the barrel position is the problem
I 100% understand being pumped!! One other observation I had, and no idea if it's legit, or coincidental - but yesterday when I cleaned out my fine grit stage and did an ivory soap run, i was in a rush and just threw all the rocks and media in all jumbled up - I had a heck of a time getting movement - just kind of very slowly rolled around, so when the clean was done (after about an hour) I made a point to put water, all rocks (large to small) and then media on top and the rolling started very well again - it's rolled great all through the night and just had to squirt a little water this morning and it's rolling great again! So....does where you put the media matter? It seems to for me. Just a thought.
rocknewb101 . You are welcome! It is difficult to express how pumped I was when I passed the 48 hour mark and the action was still great. I'm hoping that it will cut down on the amount of chipping I seem to inflict on the rocks.
Can't help but wonder with all the posts I see about poor action over time in the Lot O if the barrel position is the problem
I just fired up my Lot-o to polish some crystal. I think you are definitely on to something! I propped mine up with some cardboard shims and the action instantly improved! I'm thinking about a more permanent mod that will keep the barrel higher in the base!
I'm trying to figure out what to glue to the frame? If I could find some rubber that is 1/8 of an inch thick I'd glue it to the inside of the front.
For now this is working:
I have been trying to figure this out too. I had bought some thin ceramic fiber insulation because I was concerned about the heat after I added a concrete vibrating motor to my Lot-O. When I started having the bowl slip down (I later figured out this was because I hadn't covered the heads of the bolts well enough and it wore a groove around the bowl), I added a couple layers of the insulation inside the frame. As temporary fix, I just attached it with duct tape. Has worked well enough that I haven't made a permanent fix yet. Another temporary fix for this is to wrap the bowl with electrical tape (wider is better) several times around. Much to my amazement, the electrical tape sticks pretty good to the bowl. I haven't had time to come up with a permanent fix yet.
I'm trying to figure out what to glue to the frame? If I could find some rubber that is 1/8 of an inch thick I'd glue it to the inside of the front.
For now this is working:
I have been trying to figure this out too. I had bought some thin ceramic fiber insulation because I was concerned about the heat after I added a concrete vibrating motor to my Lot-O. When I started having the bowl slip down (I later figured out this was because I hadn't covered the heads of the bolts well enough and it wore a groove around the bowl), I added a couple layers of the insulation inside the frame. As temporary fix, I just attached it with duct tape. Has worked well enough that I haven't made a permanent fix yet. Another temporary fix for this is to wrap the bowl with electrical tape (wider is better) several times around. Much to my amazement, the electrical tape sticks pretty good to the bowl. I haven't had time to come up with a permanent fix yet.
I just ordered this stuff - I'll tell you how it goes? Once I get this figured out the motor will probably go
Last Edit: Jun 20, 2023 20:28:20 GMT -5 by dillonf
I have been trying to figure this out too. I had bought some thin ceramic fiber insulation because I was concerned about the heat after I added a concrete vibrating motor to my Lot-O. When I started having the bowl slip down (I later figured out this was because I hadn't covered the heads of the bolts well enough and it wore a groove around the bowl), I added a couple layers of the insulation inside the frame. As temporary fix, I just attached it with duct tape. Has worked well enough that I haven't made a permanent fix yet. Another temporary fix for this is to wrap the bowl with electrical tape (wider is better) several times around. Much to my amazement, the electrical tape sticks pretty good to the bowl. I haven't had time to come up with a permanent fix yet.
I just ordered this stuff - I'll tell you how it goes? Once I get this figured out the motor will probably go
rocknewb101chris1956dirtsifter I Attached the neoprene rubber above to my Lot-O and it transformed the action of my Lpt-O. I highly recommend trying it!! the strip I attached is a 2.5" piece of 1/4" thick neoprene that is 2" wide.I attached it on the inside front of the Lot-O (see pic below)
Action (best action I have ever had hands down)
Last Edit: Jun 26, 2023 18:03:56 GMT -5 by dillonf
Post by dirtsifter on Sept 16, 2023 14:38:07 GMT -5
rocknewb101 . I've been meaning to tell you rubber piece modification has worked really well and lasts much longer than a toilet paper tube Lol.
Latest out of lot-o. Apache tears and the media I use for them. I tried aluminum oxide bot put these back in for 3 days with tin oxide polish. Glad it takes so little because man, that stuff is expensive!
Last Edit: Sept 16, 2023 14:40:56 GMT -5 by dirtsifter
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Welcome to the Rock Tumbling Hobby Forum where we share a love of rocks and a sense of community as enduring as the stones we polish.
The RTH Forum of www.RockTumbling.com is an Amazon Associate site and we earn money from
qualifying purchases you make after clicking on our links such as this
Rock Tumbling Supplies on Amazon
link for instance, or any of our various product ads and banners. By clicking our links every time you begin your Amazon shopping
experience, you are generating a bit of revenue for the forum which helps us cover our expenses. Thank you for your support!