Amynith
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 19
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Post by Amynith on Aug 10, 2023 23:25:31 GMT -5
The subject kind of speaks for itself. My lot-o decided to become unattached from the wooden base. thought it would be a simple matter of just screwing it back in but then I saw this. Appernetly they aren’t even drilled in so I don’t really know what to do about it. It still works but without the screw the action has been affected, my temporary solution right now has been to put a second dowel down and that has worked but I don’t want to have to do that forever if anyone has any advice.
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Post by velodromed on Aug 11, 2023 8:31:31 GMT -5
The subject kind of speaks for itself. My lot-o decided to become unattached from the wooden base. thought it would be a simple matter of just screwing it back in but then I saw this. Appernetly they aren’t even drilled in so I don’t really know what to do about it. It still works but without the screw the action has been affected, my temporary solution right now has been to put a second dowel down and that has worked but I don’t want to have to do that forever if anyone has any advice. This is kind of thing I love…’ how can I fix it?’. It’s hard for me to tell quite what I’m looking at in your picture though. I mean, I can tell what I’m looking at, I’m just not sure the issue since I don’t have one of those machines. Is that corner of the machine supposed to be tight against the wood and held firm by the flat head screw? Is it just an issue of the hole that the screw goes into has stripped out, so it no longer holds the screw firm? Or is that screw supposed to hold that corner of the machine firmly at a certain raised height? I’m also trying to figure out what that ‘pin’ was for, the one sitting a little bit to the left (it looks broken). I know, I need to see a picture of a machine that’s not broken so I will see what I can find online.
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Amynith
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 19
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Post by Amynith on Aug 11, 2023 8:36:24 GMT -5
The subject kind of speaks for itself. My lot-o decided to become unattached from the wooden base. thought it would be a simple matter of just screwing it back in but then I saw this. Appernetly they aren’t even drilled in so I don’t really know what to do about it. It still works but without the screw the action has been affected, my temporary solution right now has been to put a second dowel down and that has worked but I don’t want to have to do that forever if anyone has any advice. This is kind of thing I love…’ how can I fix it?’. It’s hard for me to tell quite what I’m looking at in your picture though. I mean, I can tell what I’m looking at, I’m just not sure the issue since I don’t have one of those machines. Is that corner of the machine supposed to be tight against the wood and held firm by the flat head screw? Is it just an issue of the hole that the screw goes into has stripped out, so it no longer holds the screw firm? Or is that screw supposed to hold that corner of the machine firmly at a certain raised height? I’m also trying to figure out what that ‘pin’ was for, the one sitting a little bit to the left (it looks broken). I know, I need to see a picture of a machine that’s not broken so I will see what I can find online. So the issue is that that screw should be where the that indentation is. I thought there would be a hole there but from the looks of it it was most likely glued on somehow and compressed downward. That plate should be completely attached to the wooden board so it doesn’t move around due to its own vibrations.
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 927
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Post by ashley on Aug 11, 2023 8:47:54 GMT -5
Simple fix, get a sheet of plywood or compressed board, either one works. Unscrew your lot o and place the old base over the new one, use the holes on the original to drill small pilot hole on the new one. Then attach it to the new base. I just recently did this to a double lot o b/c we moved it from the cement slab and the wood got messed up. If you need any help let me know.
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 927
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Post by ashley on Aug 11, 2023 8:49:10 GMT -5
You can also take some strong glue and just glue the screw back in.
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Amynith
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 19
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Post by Amynith on Aug 11, 2023 8:51:41 GMT -5
You can also take some strong glue and just glue the screw back in. That is a good solution thanks! I’ll definitely go and do that later once this batch is done.
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Post by velodromed on Aug 11, 2023 8:58:22 GMT -5
I found a picture and see the it is supposed to be firmly screwed into the base on all 4 corners. Without being able to put my hands on it I will assume that the hole has stripped out on your base, which is why it released. Several ways come to mind to fix it. Using a larger screw is one, but it may not fit through the tab on the machine. Could also fill the hole with wood glue, allow it to cure for 24 hours, then screw it back together like you normally would. It might not be able to handle the stress of the constant vibration though. So I would go with the ‘through bolt method’. The only difference between bolts and screws are bolts need a nut to secure them on the other side while screws self tap into the material. So bolts it is!
I’d run a flat head bolt through the hole from the bottom with an appropriate size washer to keep the head from pulling through the bolt hole. On the top side, I would secure it with a lock nut (the kind that has a little bit of nylon inside to keep them from coming loose) as well as another washer. At this point the issue you’ll have is the corner of the machine will be slightly raised from the flat head screw and washer on one bottom corner. I would probably do the same thing on all four corners to make sure that the machine never came loose again. That would settle the uneven nature. An easier way though it would be to simply glue or attach some thing on each of the other bottom corners to level out.
I hope this helped a little bit. I can be completely off as to the problem…but I’m trying my best from pictures and description. If I am right though and you now need assistance running down the right hardware, I’m happy to try to help. G’luck!!
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Post by velodromed on Aug 11, 2023 9:08:04 GMT -5
This is kind of thing I love…’ how can I fix it?’. It’s hard for me to tell quite what I’m looking at in your picture though. I mean, I can tell what I’m looking at, I’m just not sure the issue since I don’t have one of those machines. Is that corner of the machine supposed to be tight against the wood and held firm by the flat head screw? Is it just an issue of the hole that the screw goes into has stripped out, so it no longer holds the screw firm? Or is that screw supposed to hold that corner of the machine firmly at a certain raised height? I’m also trying to figure out what that ‘pin’ was for, the one sitting a little bit to the left (it looks broken). I know, I need to see a picture of a machine that’s not broken so I will see what I can find online. So the issue is that that screw should be where the that indentation is. I thought there would be a hole there but from the looks of it it was most likely glued on somehow and compressed downward. That plate should be completely attached to the wooden board so it doesn’t move around due to its own vibrations. That seems wrong, not having a mechanical connection on something that vibrates so much. I wonder if drilling holes and making that mechanical connection would hurt the vibe tumbling action . Is the base wood, fiber board or plywood?
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Amynith
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 19
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Post by Amynith on Aug 11, 2023 9:16:28 GMT -5
So the issue is that that screw should be where the that indentation is. I thought there would be a hole there but from the looks of it it was most likely glued on somehow and compressed downward. That plate should be completely attached to the wooden board so it doesn’t move around due to its own vibrations. That seems wrong, not having a mechanical connection on something that vibrates so much. I wonder if drilling holes and making that mechanical connection would hurt the vibe tumbling action . Is the base wood, fiber board or plywood? I believe it’s just wood. Also to answer your previous question that little screw that’s off to the left is from the previous dowel in the machine which I had to tear out in order to put in a new one. Honestly I think the lott-o a lot but the quality control parts of it have not been fun whatsoever. I do not like the amount of work I’ve had to do in order to get properly working, and I’m waiting for my motor to eventually go out as well because that’s another issue. I bought a Raytech 10 which I’m excited for and I’ll be able to process more stones, I still plan on using the Lott-o just not as much.
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Post by velodromed on Aug 11, 2023 9:26:52 GMT -5
That seems wrong, not having a mechanical connection on something that vibrates so much. I wonder if drilling holes and making that mechanical connection would hurt the vibe tumbling action . Is the base wood, fiber board or plywood? I believe it’s just wood. Also to answer your previous question that little screw that’s off to the left is from the previous dowel in the machine which I had to tear out in order to put in a new one. Honestly I think the lott-o a lot but the quality control parts of it have not been fun whatsoever. I do not like the amount of work I’ve had to do in order to get properly working, and I’m waiting for my motor to eventually go out as well because that’s another issue. I bought a Raytech 10 which I’m excited for and I’ll be able to process more stones, I still plan on using the Lott-o just not as much. I love my little raytech 5, but the size and center spindle keep the rock size I can vibe on the small side. I’m curious what size rock your 10 can do? Eventually I’ll buy a 10 I think… also I’d love to get someone’s busted down lotto for cheap, so I can rebuild it how I want. All I’d want is the frame and barrel literally.
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Amynith
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 19
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Post by Amynith on Aug 11, 2023 9:32:34 GMT -5
I believe it’s just wood. Also to answer your previous question that little screw that’s off to the left is from the previous dowel in the machine which I had to tear out in order to put in a new one. Honestly I think the lott-o a lot but the quality control parts of it have not been fun whatsoever. I do not like the amount of work I’ve had to do in order to get properly working, and I’m waiting for my motor to eventually go out as well because that’s another issue. I bought a Raytech 10 which I’m excited for and I’ll be able to process more stones, I still plan on using the Lott-o just not as much. I love my little raytech 5, but the size and center spindle keep the rock size I can vibe on the small side. I’m curious what size rock your 10 can do? Eventually I’ll buy a 10 I think… also I’d love to get someone’s busted down lotto for cheap, so I can rebuild it how I want. All I’d want is the frame and barrel literally. I don’t know specifically what the maximum size it could do but due to the centers pillar the largest size for a majority of the rocks without messing with the action is 2.5 to 3 inches which is pretty big in mass quantities all things considered. The lott-o has a block of it it doesn’t fit in it just doesn’t fit in unless you stretch it but good luck getting it out. I have a few cool bigger size agates that have been tumbled and I plan on running like 3 or 4 of them in the 10 when it’s heat because they’ve just been sitting around doing nothing.
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Post by velodromed on Aug 11, 2023 9:55:59 GMT -5
I love my little raytech 5, but the size and center spindle keep the rock size I can vibe on the small side. I’m curious what size rock your 10 can do? Eventually I’ll buy a 10 I think… also I’d love to get someone’s busted down lotto for cheap, so I can rebuild it how I want. All I’d want is the frame and barrel literally. I don’t know specifically what the maximum size it could do but due to the centers pillar the largest size for a majority of the rocks without messing with the action is 2.5 to 3 inches which is pretty big in mass quantities all things considered. The lott-o has a block of it it doesn’t fit in it just doesn’t fit in unless you stretch it but good luck getting it out. I have a few cool bigger size agates that have been tumbled and I plan on running like 3 or 4 of them in the 10 when it’s heat because they’ve just been sitting around doing nothing. Let me know how those larger agates do. 3 inches is about the max size I can do in the five, though it struggles a bit and I can’t fit very much in it. I had forgotten about the size of the lotto ‘mouth’ lol.
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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 Aug 11, 2023 13:45:04 GMT -5
Just motivated me to fix my broken springs on my lot-o.they are just small machine screws. Put a little 5min epoxy in the hole, when it’s dry, put the screw in. As to glueing your lot-o to a cement block, glue a piece of 3/4 plywood on the block. Fasten the lot-o to that with screws. Removing your lot-0 is a whole lot easier.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Aug 12, 2023 6:53:34 GMT -5
Back when I worked at a cabinet shop we would fill stripped holes with wood glue and splinters of wood (hammer them in) - let it dry for 24 hrs then sand it flat, drill a pilot hole - and it worked like a charm. With this I'd probably glue a new piece of 3/4 MDF to the top of the old MDF and attach the lot-o to the new piece of MDF. I'd personally avoid plywood as I don't feel it will hold up to the vibrations long-term (but I could be wrong). If you wanted to be fancy you could use a router to shape the new MDF perfectly with the bottom piece.
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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 Aug 12, 2023 7:16:21 GMT -5
I’ve had a piece of 3/4 shop grade birch epoxied to cement block for 5-6 years. No problems. My lot-o ain’t clean by any standards.
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