zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Jul 13, 2024 8:02:15 GMT -5
So I get all of my information 3rd hand (be forewarned).
I needed a set of springs for my experimental Lot-O last week and called Val at Minnesota Lapidary Supply. I asked him if Lot-O was ever gonna get up and running again and he said that the new owner or Lot-O had visited him just the day before. He had an inventory of 12 machines in the store and was expecting at least 12 more next week. Along with that he had replacement motors, spring sets and barrels in-stock.
The new owner is manufacturing in Waterville, MN which is not far from Owatonna (the previous location). That whole area was affected by heavy rains and flooding a few weeks ago including the failure of the Rapidan Dam near Mankato. Apparently the manufacturing facility was not affected but the flooding disrupted traffic, deliveries etc.
So there's my submission for the gossip column!
Mark
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Mark K
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818 
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Post by Mark K on Jul 13, 2024 9:42:05 GMT -5
Nope, not gossip. I know him and I have known this for months. It is true. I know both the old owner and the new one. He is working hard to get back to where it should be.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,157
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Post by dshanpnw on Jul 13, 2024 10:13:45 GMT -5
Awesome, thanks you two.
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waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 386
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Post by waterboysh on Jul 24, 2024 7:22:00 GMT -5
I had no idea it was changing owners. I need to call them and order some springs. My Lot-O seems to go through them like crazy.
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Aug 13, 2024 15:18:34 GMT -5
I had no idea it was changing owners. I need to call them and order some springs. My Lot-O seems to go through them like crazy. I was at the lumber yard a while back and noted a bunch of steel banding wadded-up and tucked into a steel drum. After looking it over it seems to be the exact same materiel the Lot-O springs are made from. There were a few different widths but the 1/2" bands were the most prevalent. I might have a trip over there again and see if they'd let me have a length of it. There are a few spares in my workshop and it's just a case of measuring, cutting and drilling. If nothing else just having a little of the material on-hand would be handy right? |
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jimg
starting to shine!
Member since July 2024
Posts: 27
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Post by jimg on Aug 13, 2024 15:52:49 GMT -5
I received my new Lot-O from Minnesota Lapidary Supplies two weeks ago. In stock and shipped right away. Good support from MLS with my questions, pre- and post-sale.
FYI.
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jimg
starting to shine!
Member since July 2024
Posts: 27
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Post by jimg on Aug 13, 2024 15:59:22 GMT -5
I had no idea it was changing owners. I need to call them and order some springs. My Lot-O seems to go through them like crazy. I was at the lumber yard a while back and noted a bunch of steel banding wadded-up and tucked into a steel drum. After looking it over it seems to be the exact same materiel the Lot-O springs are made from. There were a few different widths but the 1/2" bands were the most prevalent. I might have a trip over there again and see if they'd let me have a length of it. There are a few spares in my workshop and it's just a case of measuring, cutting and drilling. If nothing else just having a little of the material on-hand would be handy right? The spring stiffness, which is a key factor in Lot-O resonance, is highly dependent on the thickness of the steel material, to the “tune” of the 3rd power the thickness. Double the thickness and the stiffness increases by a factor 8. So matching the steel gauge of the banding to your Lot-O springs seems like a good idea. |
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Aug 13, 2024 16:33:08 GMT -5
I was at the lumber yard a while back and noted a bunch of steel banding wadded-up and tucked into a steel drum. After looking it over it seems to be the exact same materiel the Lot-O springs are made from. There were a few different widths but the 1/2" bands were the most prevalent. I might have a trip over there again and see if they'd let me have a length of it. There are a few spares in my workshop and it's just a case of measuring, cutting and drilling. If nothing else just having a little of the material on-hand would be handy right? The spring stiffness, which is a key factor in Lot-O resonance, is highly dependent on the thickness of the steel material, to the “tune” of the 3rd power the thickness. Double the thickness and the stiffness increases by a factor 8. So matching the steel gauge of the banding to your Lot-O springs seems like a good idea. Good information jimg and easy to check. My Lot-O's have three springs on each side in the back and two on each side in the front. I've seen other Lot-O's that had a few less so there must be some rhyme or reason for that too. |
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