1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
Posts: 91
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Post by 1Mark on Nov 10, 2004 9:34:58 GMT -5
Hi all, Found the board with a Google search while looking for info to help decide on a new tumbler to replace my 2 rapidly deteriorating 3# C.E. machines. Found a reference to replacement belts on E-Bay. Looks like I'll buy some new belts , but I still want a 12 to 15 pound Lortone or Thumlers. From all I've read here and elswhere it looks like it boils down to preference, as both brands seem to have good reputations. Once I get a new machine I'll re-condition the old C.E.'s. At least the roller bushings will be replaced with bearings or bronze sintered bushings... As for me -- 50 years old, married (Nancy), 2 grown kids (or at least mostly grown!  ). Been tumbling since July of this year when I caught the C.E. tumblers on sale at Harbor Fakes for 20 bucks each. I've done one load of mixed quartz that I bought at a local rock shop, but so far I prefer tumbling common granite, quartz, and other rocks that I find on the ground here and there. I'm gathering parts to build my own 5 gallon (~50 pounds) tumbler so I can tumble the larger stones from our garden. Shalom, Mark |
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Post by rockyraccoon on Nov 10, 2004 11:23:01 GMT -5
hi mark and welcome! take some pics when you get your tumbler built!
kim
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Post by sandsman1 on Nov 10, 2004 18:21:39 GMT -5
welcome mark --yea dont forget the pics hahaha
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 10, 2004 18:33:59 GMT -5
welcome Mark,
i have sucessfully replaced all four of my 3 pound CE's with 3 pound Lortones at this juncture. i, too , hope to refurbish one or two of the older units to live another day and tumble rough for weeks at a time. i have about a half dozen spare belts and at least one of those little plastic fan thingies waiting in the wings..keep us up to date if you discover any tips for giving new life to old CE units, oh, and YES, take lots of pics...
thanks,
KD
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Post by Cher on Nov 10, 2004 19:10:16 GMT -5
Hi Mark  Welcome to the forum! I'm a newbie too, just got my tumblers this summer. Isn't it great to make beautiful things out of plain old rocks? Cher |
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Post by connrock on Nov 10, 2004 19:14:20 GMT -5
Hi Mark and welcome!!
There's a lot of info to be found here and some real nice people too.
Have questions??? Ask away!!
Tom
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AgateHunter
starting to spend too much on rocks
LAKE SUPERIOR AGATE Minnesota State Gemstone
Member since September 2004
Posts: 107
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Post by AgateHunter on Nov 10, 2004 19:15:12 GMT -5
Hello Mark, Welcome Chris |
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Nov 11, 2004 23:42:08 GMT -5
Hi Mark , welcome from faraway too
Jack
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
Posts: 91
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Post by 1Mark on Nov 13, 2004 20:46:32 GMT -5
welcome Mark, i have sucessfully replaced all four of my 3 pound CE's with 3 pound Lortones at this juncture. i, too , hope to refurbish one or two of the older units to live another day and tumble rough for weeks at a time. i have about a half dozen spare belts and at least one of those little plastic fan thingies waiting in the wings..keep us up to date if you discover any tips for giving new life to old CE units, oh, and YES, take lots of pics... thanks, KD Ordered the new belts today, but in the interim I've found that if I wrap a rubber band (or two) around the driven pulley so that it sits down in the groove, the old belt gets a better grip and doesn't slip so much. It's been real cool here in Michigan lately and my tumblers are in the unheated garage. The motors definately run warmer now -- warm enough that I'm not sure they'd hold up in hot weather. (And YES, everything is well lubricated turning freely.) Shalom, Mark |
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shorty
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2004
Posts: 122
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Post by shorty on Nov 16, 2004 20:59:54 GMT -5
hi mark and welcom to the bord and where you from in michigen i live by traverse city up north where it real cold haha
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Post by cookie3rocks on Nov 16, 2004 21:52:30 GMT -5
What up Mark,
Welcome to the board. lots of great info and fun people here. We are allways up for new ideas and quick fixes, let us know how the rubber bands hold up ;D
Blessed Be!
cookie
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Nov 17, 2004 14:54:31 GMT -5
Hello and welcome,
Some of the finest peolpe in the world are on this board!
John,
Souhtwestern Kansas
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Nov 17, 2004 14:55:25 GMT -5
It's me again ...
That is supposed to be people ...
I really need a spell checker ;D
John
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
Posts: 91
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Post by 1Mark on Nov 17, 2004 16:42:43 GMT -5
hi mark and welcom to the bord and where you from in michigen i live by traverse city up north where it real cold haha Ypsilanti (about 30 miles west of Detroit). T.C. is WAY too cold for me... Shalom, Mark |
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
Posts: 91
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Post by 1Mark on Nov 17, 2004 16:48:04 GMT -5
What up Mark, Welcome to the board. lots of great info and fun people here. We are allways up for new ideas and quick fixes, let us know how the rubber bands hold up ;D Blessed Be! cookie So far so good... but even if they last a month or less, rubber bands are CHEAP! New belts arrived today -- left the rubber bands in place when I installed them. The drums are definately turning faster now. Part of the excess heat was due to a mis-aligned motor pulley. Almost chewed the outer flange of the motor pulley right off, but it still works (for now, at least). Shalom, Mark |
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shorty
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2004
Posts: 122
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Post by shorty on Nov 17, 2004 17:20:40 GMT -5
hi all mark i was born in ypsilanti haha lived on devinshire rdin ypsi then moved to milan then fl then back do you now where the milan drag strip is i lived acros the road from there moved upnorth 30 years ago small world haha
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
Posts: 91
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Post by 1Mark on Nov 17, 2004 20:43:33 GMT -5
Yeah... U.S. 23, Plank Road exit. I was at the KOA campground near there one Saturday late this summer with a group from Michigan Treasure Hunters. At one point during one of our hunts we noticed a big cloud of black smoke coming from the direction of the drag strip -- we figured somebody must have crashed and burned. Never did find out for sure though.
Shalom,
Mark
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
Posts: 91
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Post by 1Mark on Nov 17, 2004 20:49:21 GMT -5
I'm about 2 miles from Devonshire as the crow flies. Hearthside Drive... just off of Grove Road.
Shalom,
Mark
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). Been tumbling since July of this year when I caught the C.E. tumblers on sale at Harbor Fakes for 20 bucks each. I've done one load of mixed quartz that I bought at a local rock shop, but so far I prefer tumbling common granite, quartz, and other rocks that I find on the ground here and there. I'm gathering parts to build my own 5 gallon (~50 pounds) tumbler so I can tumble the larger stones from our garden.
... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew