robbiejohn
starting to shine!
Member since July 2010
Posts: 36
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Post by robbiejohn on Dec 6, 2010 19:17:38 GMT -5
Hello fellow cabbers, I'm still very much a newbie and relying entirely on info I find on this forum for how to move things ahead. I'm tumbling away quite successfully. Doing novice wiring on tumbled material. Starting to cut small slabs--and tumbling some of them. I've just landed a used Lortone Max-Pro 8C ($25.00). It has a 110 grit SiCarbide green grinding stone (which needs dressing) and a 8x3 flexible wheel for sanding/polishing. Also, on the right end is an 8" aluminum polishing wheel with black foam rubber under a leather pad. I have several questions about where to go from here: -If I stay with SiC grinder and belts, what grits of belts do I need to polish quartz, rhodonite, jasper and agate? How long will these belts last? They seem very reasonable in price. What kind of polish would I use on the polishing disk at the end.? -I've read comments from members about "converting to diamond". Is that as simple as buying diamond belts of different grits to fit the same flexible wheel? The 8x3" wheel is a relatively large surface area compared to the smaller multi-wheel machines. The cost of the belts is heart attack material. What grits would I want and would diamond belts last a lot longer than the SiC belts? -If I did go to diamond belts would I keep the 100 grit SiC grinding wheel or replace it with a 100 grit diamond belt? If so, what would I put in its place on the machine? -Is there another way I might reconfigure this machine that anyone can suggest? Could the shaft be made quite a bit longer on each side and fitted with more wheels? It would be easy enough to cobble together a hood and a pan under the machine. -As the machine came to me it has three sizes of pulley on both the motor and the shaft. The belt is on the smallest pulley on the motor and on the largest (about 3.5") pulley on the shaft. The motor is 1750 RPM. Does this indicate a much faster RPM of the shaft? Thanks to everyone who's taken the trouble to read these questions. Thanks in advance for your advice and encouragement. Cheers to all! Robbiejohn.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 6, 2010 20:08:41 GMT -5
That's a lot of questions. Covington and Diamond Pacific both have pulley charts in their catalogs and websites. You didn't say what size the motor pulley is. If it is smaller than the 3.5"it is slower than 1725. Bigger on motor equals faster, bigger on driven equals slower. If both pulleys are the same that would give you 1725. If your drum is an expandable drum you can use either diamond or silicon carbide (25 7/32" ). If it is the cheesy old Lortone drum with two aluminum pieces in the center and a foam rubber over you have to use Exact Span belts (25 1/8"). Those are only available in silicon carbide as far as I know. If you want to stick with SC then grind with the wheel you have and get 220, 400, 600, and 800 SC belts. Save a worn out 600 or 800 for pre polishing or buy a 1200 diamond belt. When the SC wheel wears out you can decide to replace or upgrade to diamond. If you ever try a diamond wheel you will never want another SC wheel. To polish you can use cerium oxide, tin oxide or a submicron aluminum oxide on the leather disc.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Dec 6, 2010 22:50:41 GMT -5
$25!!!!! I'm callin' the cops cause you stole it! ;D (retails from Lortone for $995) post a pic of yours. What John said. For a few bucks get the SiC and a dressing stick and try it as is for a while, it's just a little slower cutting but gets the job done...A good experience and like John said, you will really appreciate diamond if you change. You could downsize the expando wheel to a 6 inch and save on diamond belts that way too. Some say diamond belts last about 10 times as long as SiC belts, but it all hinges on how you treat the belts, if you force the stone into the wheel you can't expect much of a life for the belt. You can modify anything, just have extension shafts machined and the base extended for outboard bearings to support the long shafts. Or check out the Homemade section to build a nice cabber for cheap. Great find, keep us posted on your progress too. (you do realize there's no turning back now right? Dr Joe .
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robbiejohn
starting to shine!
Member since July 2010
Posts: 36
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Post by robbiejohn on Dec 7, 2010 0:55:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the very encouraging advice Dr. Joe. I'm really sorry about this, but I have to tell you, while you're thinking of calling the cops, that when I got the Max-Pro 8C grinder/sander/polisher, I also scored a Lortone LS14C gravity-feed slab saw (with motor) for another $25! THEN, for $50 I got a twenty-five-year-old-but-never-used FS8C Trim Saw including never-used brand new motor. The first 2 machines came with about 400 pounds of assorted stones (as yet unidentified), for slabbing. All about the size of 2 or 3 quart milk bottles. AND about 20 large pails of baseball-size poorly tumbled stones all ready to be cut on the trim saw or the slab saw. These stones include lots of rhodonite and jasper, lots of unknown stuff which I'll learn to identify as time passes. I just can't do it all at once. It's like being in graduate school again. The learning curves are really steep in the rock world. Anyway, I want you to know that I'm really grateful for my good fortune and I actually do feel a sense of obligation to keep moving forward; and I'm keenly thankful for your help. Cheers! Robbiejohn.
P.S. I hope my tale of good luck hasn't made you feel too green. And by the way, included were 5 Lortone tumbling barrels. I think they're 12 pounders (about 3 quarts). Alas, no tumbler to be found, but I see lots of good plans on the forum. I think I have enough motors.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Dec 7, 2010 8:56:24 GMT -5
UHhh! How can you sleep at night with all the guilt!! :nono: Where is the Fantasy world you live in ? (and is there room for one more?!?!) I'm not sure I can really believe it without pix (you know what they say...No pix...It didn't happen) hint hint. What a great score! We hope to see lots of your work on here regularly now! Dr Joe .
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 7, 2010 10:02:37 GMT -5
I always had access to bearings, shafts, motors but never built a tumbler because of high cost of drums. You have it made with the 12 lb. drums. I hear of these great deals too late. Maybe it is better because I would clean them up and make a fast profit instead of giving them a good home.
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 7, 2010 21:58:43 GMT -5
IMO stick with the 110 grit SiC wheel and the SiC belts for now. You will most likely eventually graduate to diamond but the SiC is an inexpensive way to learn the ropes. The ideal thing to do would be to join a local rock club where you can find a willing teacher.
Lee
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robbiejohn
starting to shine!
Member since July 2010
Posts: 36
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Post by robbiejohn on Dec 7, 2010 23:38:55 GMT -5
Thanks Lee for the reassuring advice. I think I'll try the SiC first. Why not save the joy of diamonds until I can afford them? I'd join a club tomorrow but I live on an island with a small population. Our local club has one member: me. So, in the meantime, I'm busy teaching myself. Cabbing is next. I'll get the belts next week as well as a dressing tool for the grinding stone. Also some dopping wax. I've dismantled a broken Ikea dish drying rack and now have a load of dopping sticks. I think they'll work. The outside lean-to/greenhouse/rock lab is all closed in with vapour barrier and clear fiberglass roof, No rain or wind. BTW, thanks for the chili fart story. I got the whole household roaring with it. I'll be down in SF at a friend's wedding from Dec 9 to 15 and will check out any local rockshops I can find. Thanks again, Cheers! Robbiejohn
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 8, 2010 1:26:29 GMT -5
Be sure to check out Ralphs cabbing video, if you haven't already. (Cabalong Cassidy) Theres a lot of good info on this site. Post some pictures when you're up and running.
Lee
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 10, 2010 18:58:36 GMT -5
Okay, now I want to hear the chili fart story!
Congrats on the great deals!
Chuck
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Dec 15, 2010 21:32:33 GMT -5
Good score and good for you. after you have made a few cabs you will get the hang of it and they will improve as you go. remember to pass your good fortune on to the next generation when it is time. I have to warn you that you are getting the signs of rock sickness. there is no cure
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