heather853
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2008
Posts: 1
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Post by heather853 on Apr 22, 2008 22:38:12 GMT -5
Hi
I am new here and will have lots of questions in the near future. First question is what is the best equipment to get an 8 year old who loves to collect rocks and wants to make his own"shiny" ones. Toys r us had a kit but it looks really cheap. Any ideas? I would like to keep the price down as low as possible but still get a good item. Thanks
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Post by parfive on Apr 22, 2008 23:36:59 GMT -5
Good idea to avoid the cheap ones. Too many problems, and they'll only frustrate you.
Try eBay for a good deal on a slightly used Thumlers Model T or a Lortone. Sooner or later you'll pick one up cheap.
Rich
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Apr 23, 2008 0:11:27 GMT -5
Unless you are fairly mechanicly inclined avoid CE tumblers. They can be modified to be reliable (remove top,replace belt, replace fan pulley) but out of the box they are unreliable (might last a week before breaking without modification).
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Post by akansan on Apr 23, 2008 7:35:02 GMT -5
I agree on the ebay route, but make sure it's the correct brand (Thumlers or Lortone). There's at least one seller of the Chicago Electric (also known as CE) tumblers that leads a person to think they are really bidding on a Lortone, unless you look at the pictures.
Over the course of two years, I picked up five different Thumlers on ebay, and I never paid more than $45 including shipping on any of the 3 pound tumblers (single or dual).
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Apr 23, 2008 8:43:12 GMT -5
Ditto to akansan, I bought one 2 barrel 3lb thumler(6lb total) for $35 including shipping, 2 single 3lb's for $37 and $35 including shipping, both of these had been used once, and they looked new. The 2 barrel was quite old, and well used ran 24-7 for 6 months, then motor went, but I also had the electricy go out and forgot about tumbler for two days it had stopped but jammed up and didn't run when electricy came back on. I think that is what blew out motor. They are all Thumlers, never found Lortone that cheap. Most of the Lortones I bid on went higher than a new one.
Terry
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Apr 23, 2008 9:05:40 GMT -5
I went on e-bay and found 3 Thumblers for $30-40 used including shipping. You might want to check it out. Go to search and type in Thumlers Rock Tumblers.
Terry
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ace
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by ace on Aug 23, 2008 20:51:35 GMT -5
Hi, new here also, and let me say, I really like this site. Very friendly and informative! I too am looking for my first tumbler and decided I want a double 3 pound model, probably a Lortone or Thumler. Decided to stay away from the Chicago brand as I just don't want to be working on it all the time. However, I have been watching ebay closely for any used models at a reasonable price. I am just wondering, is it a bad time of year to be looking because all of the auctions for used ones are ending up being nearly what you would pay for a new one? I have been using ebay for many years now, and I just can't see buying a used item unless its around 1/2 price of new or less. A used Lortone 3A (single 3 pound barrel) that DID NOT HAVE A BARREL INCLUDED ended at $33 plus $12 shipping!  By the time you buy a barrel you could buy a new one.  You can find new ones for around $70 shipped. And the 33B models can be had for around $100 new and used ones at around $65-70. If I don't find something reasonable soon, I will just hit a Buy It Now on a new one with free shipping. Sorry, don't mean to vent too much about ebay.  If you have any advice on finding a better price or if I should wait a little while, please let me know! I am just anxious to tumble the bucket of rocks we came home with from a "gem mine" experience we had in N.C. Thanks Randy |
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reelman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 114
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Post by reelman on Aug 23, 2008 21:27:15 GMT -5
I watch Craigslist. Two weeks ago I bought a 12lb and a duel 6lbs Lortone for $70. I found them under Rocks. Also check under Lapidary.
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Post by akansan on Aug 23, 2008 21:49:19 GMT -5
The Lortones on ebay have always been more expensive than the Thumlers. I personally think the Thumlers are higher quality (if you get over the barrel seal), but Lortones are better known because of jewelry people using them to polish their pieces.
It might be a time of year thing - hordes of them would flood the market a couple months after Christmas.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Aug 23, 2008 23:06:38 GMT -5
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jmyers
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2007
Posts: 20
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Post by jmyers on Aug 25, 2008 13:15:54 GMT -5
I too am relatively new to tumbling (roughly one year). I have burned out two Chicago Electric tumblers and ended up buying two double barreled Thumler's Tumblers. The first was purchased brand new from one of the regular posters on the board at his website, and the second was used on Ebay. It took me several weeks, but I was able to buy that unit at roughly 70% of the new price.
One suggestion. I kept my barrels from the CE's and recently ordered several Lortone barrels (very similar in size and design to CE (or probably CE is very similar to Lortone!)). The Thumler 3 lb. barrels just don't stay sealed after a month or so. I still use them, but need packing tape to add an extra layer of adhesion to the band.
I carefully forced the retaining nut out to give the rollers more room to accept the slightly taller barrels.
Jeff
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Aug 25, 2008 16:15:40 GMT -5
Welcome! I think that buying one of the Lortone kits (3A tumbler, grits, barrel) and 5 lb. of mixed tumbler rough is a great way to get a child started. I imagine that it would cost just over $100 to get everything needed to start. Buy it from a place that you can call to get good advice, such as The Rock Shed.
Good luck and have fun!
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 26, 2008 20:20:11 GMT -5
The 3lb barrels are a reasonable start. If you can affort the QT66, there will be much room to grow.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Aug 26, 2008 20:29:35 GMT -5
I got my double barrel Lortone for $65. It's in very good shape. I like the fact that spare parts are easy to locate. Set a price limit for yourself, watch multiple items and check back during the last few minutes of the posting to get your bid in. You'll eventually nail one for a good price. Make sure the shipping is fair.
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ace
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by ace on Aug 27, 2008 19:13:25 GMT -5
Watching the shipping costs is a real concern right now. A lot of sellers try to make their profit from the shipping and "handling" fees.
Randy
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 28, 2008 14:43:05 GMT -5
back to the original question of an 8 year old that may or may not like the hobby, a Chicago Electric may be a good starter machine......i ended up with 5 of them before i finally realized (six monthes later) i was in this tumbling thing for the long haul and replaced all the CE units with Lortones. i had mixed luck with some of the CE's, but always thought they were worth the 30 or so dollars, despite the belt replacement, fans, etc.
Heather, if you decide to buy a Lortone or a Thumbler and the 8 year old decides this hobby isn't for him...you always know where to come to sell it!
KD
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By the time you buy a barrel you could buy a new one. 
You can find new ones for around $70 shipped. And the 33B models can be had for around $100 new and used ones at around $65-70. If I don't find something reasonable soon, I will just hit a Buy It Now on a new one with free shipping. Sorry, don't mean to vent too much about ebay. 
