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Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 5, 2010 18:07:28 GMT -5
I'm thinking of adding a larger rotary tumbler to feed my UV-10. My A-R2 (6 lb) can't keep up. I've got plenty of time to think about it, so would like to poll the users for input.
I'm looking at the Thumler AR12 (12 lb capacity) or the Thumler Model B (15 lb capacity). There's only $12 difference in the price and the cost of shipping.
Any experiences (good or bad) or input would be appreciated.
Darryl.
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller 
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
Posts: 3,105
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Post by Thunder69 on Jan 5, 2010 18:10:52 GMT -5
I have been using the ar 12 for the past year without any problems ...It is a pretty durable machine...I also have a 15 lb tumbler but nothing to run it on yet ...If it were me I would go with the 15 lb tumbler......More rocks ...more fun...John
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 5, 2010 18:30:40 GMT -5
Yep, I'd go with the 15 pounder as well.
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on Jan 5, 2010 20:44:45 GMT -5
I have 2 Lortone QT12s. Once I get rolling (pun intended) after a few weeks, I get a batch a week for my UV-10. After I get things going, I put only rough rock in one, The second one gets rocks that get fairly rounded in the first one. That ought to confuse you.
Lee
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 5, 2010 21:34:40 GMT -5
Randy's advice is good, especially since he uses a UV-10 also. I think you'll want the larger capacity so you'll end up with enough rock due to losses in the coarse stage.
Chuck
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Post by Toad on Jan 6, 2010 8:15:12 GMT -5
Bigger is better - if you have the rough to run in it.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Jan 7, 2010 12:21:10 GMT -5
I've been using the Thumler Model B for a while now and really like it. My dad gave it to me after it had been sitting unused for about 3 years & I have been running it non-stop for the best part of this past year. My tumblers share my bedroom with me and one thing I like about the Model B is it's fairly quiet!
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 7, 2010 12:54:04 GMT -5
I've had a Lotrone QT12 and QT66 die over the years leaving me with extra barrels so I got an MJR Tumbler unit without the barrels. It runs one Lortone 12 pound and one 6 pound barrel at the same time so I can do coarse and fine grind all at once on one machine. It wore out a shaft in a few weeks the first time I tried it but the manufacturer gave me a replacement shaft and bearings and it's been going great guns for a long time now. It does turn almost twice as fast as Lortone and Thumbler rigs but seems to work well for me because I do mainly quartz gems....Mel
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Jan 7, 2010 14:25:02 GMT -5
I bought a Lortone QT12 new and completely refurbished an old Thumler Model B about a year ago. They've both been tumbling 24/7 since that time and the only thing I've done to either is replace the lid gasket on the model B and regular maintenance to each. They both tumble great.
The QT12 rotates faster than the Model B and completes a 60/90 rough grind faster. I can usually do a 5 day cycle with the QT12. The B at least 7 days. The B's barrel holds a lot of rock and is built like a tank. Maybe a little slower to remove and put the lid back on the B, plus it has more parts to lose, drop, misplace etc.
I like both machines.
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Jan 7, 2010 20:39:29 GMT -5
My rotary tumbler is a home made contraption that turns Lortone 6 and 12 pounders and Thumler 15 pounder. So I can only speak from a barrel perspective.
If it was me I would go with the 15 pound Thumler. The barrel is built like a tank and the rubber liner and seal can be replaced. Plus I like being able to tumbler bigger rocks in my loads. Each 12 and 15 pounder has at least one large rock in them.
But with 97 lbs rolling at any one time my UV-10 and UV-18 still sit idle about 2 weeks out of a month. Of course as soon as it warms up some I will be cutting cabs and finishing them in my ultravibes. That will get things humming.
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Post by montanamuskrat on Jan 8, 2010 0:50:03 GMT -5
We have two QT12s and a 33B running 24/7 and we are just keeping the UV10 busy. We do like the UV10, it's feeding it that sometimes gets to be a problem.
Debby and Tom
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