daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2011
Posts: 104
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Post by daisyd681 on Feb 4, 2011 18:41:04 GMT -5
Well I guess I'll be buying a new tumbler sooner than I thought. Today when I went to seal my tumbler up for a borax wash it bubbled from the side. Upon further inspection it has a slit next to where the rubber ring sits. It is one of those craft store tumblers. I knew it wasn't going to last forever, but I did think it would last until I could get a better one. Any way, I can't afford a new tumbler for a few weeks yet. Is there a patch that will work in the mean time? I put a dob of E6000 on it and covered it with electrical tape so I could at least get the stones washed. I'm wondering if people think this gonna hold for the interum or if there's a better way to patch it. I would really like to keep going on these moonstones. TIA Meira
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bgast1
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2010
Posts: 1,076
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Post by bgast1 on Feb 5, 2011 15:09:51 GMT -5
Is this one of those Hobby Lobby types that are made mostly of plastic? How long did it last you? I was considering buying one myself a while back, but held out until I could get a better one. So I am without any tumbler at all but I have cab machine.
If the barrel is plastic, I think super glue would make an adequate patch. In fact the E6000 might work too. I think that it is almost the same thing as superglue.
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daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2011
Posts: 104
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Post by daisyd681 on Feb 5, 2011 16:03:49 GMT -5
Yes it is. It lasted a month. The E6000 worked, but when another hole turned up I looked inside the barrel and the way it is designed it has bumps inside that are all worn to where light is passing through. Luckily my husband runs an auto body store and has an adhesive that you can mold like plastic and fuses to plastic. He is patching it for me and I'll be up and running again this afternoon. Hopefully it lasts until I can get a better one.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Feb 5, 2011 19:01:10 GMT -5
Yup classic cheap begginers toy tumbler (I got one too that did the same thing). The course grit is what really kills these things. Hope the fix works for you long enough so you can get a new one.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 5, 2011 19:08:40 GMT -5
I think a heck of a lot of us started out with one of those.I think it was almost 25 years ago when I got one.Ordered rocks from Rockaway New York. Felt like Christmas when an order arrived.You know,stll does. ;D
snuffy
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Feb 5, 2011 19:57:45 GMT -5
Snuffy,
most of the cheap tumblers are built to brighten brass casings with walnut shells.
My first one was a two speed sears & Roebuck, 1957, 15 lb`er is still rolling rocks today. Though its my age. My second one was bought with 3 books of Green S&H stamps. junk barrel leak from day one. it did last to see the Lebanon Oregon dump though.
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daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2011
Posts: 104
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Post by daisyd681 on Feb 6, 2011 2:20:17 GMT -5
It was a trial. Hubby had to mess with it some more because the heat gun he used to cure the plastic shrank the barrel. Blah. After he realized how much time he spent fiddling with it he decided it wad worth it to just buy a better one. So Christmas number two for me. I have a Lortone on the way.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Feb 6, 2011 7:56:01 GMT -5
Congrates. Now the real fun can begin!
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bgast1
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2010
Posts: 1,076
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Post by bgast1 on Feb 7, 2011 3:44:31 GMT -5
Was it just the barrell that you were having problems with. I was wondering also how long the motor would last?
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daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2011
Posts: 104
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Post by daisyd681 on Feb 7, 2011 9:19:25 GMT -5
The motor seems fine. I actually the design of it. It has a cover over the barrel so it didn't make a big mess when it started leaking. Plastic and grit just don't go together. My husband is going to use it for his .41 caliber brass when my new one comes.
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Feb 7, 2011 19:13:42 GMT -5
You could probably make a new barrel out of pvc pipe. Its plastic too but stands up fairly well, its what most people use on home built tumblers.
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daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2011
Posts: 104
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Post by daisyd681 on Feb 8, 2011 10:00:43 GMT -5
I thought of that, but this one isn't the plain barrel kind. The base turns the barrel in the middle and it tapers down on the ends. It only shrunk maybe 1/8" and no longer turns the barrel. We put the spare belt over the first one and that works until it slides off. It's cool, I've got a good one that'll be here Friday.
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jrtrio
has rocks in the head
With10 tumblers tumbling the sound is so delicious!Send me more of those little red fellas, please?
Member since February 2006
Posts: 535
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Post by jrtrio on Feb 17, 2011 5:44:33 GMT -5
I've got about 7 of the little red "toys". And if handled right they can turn out stones that are just as nice as the $90 jobs from Thumler....of which I have one. I use mine mainly for smaller loads and softer rocks or just regular loads when I get a bigger load tumbled down to one small "perfect" load. The trick with these things is that since they are "inexpensive" you buy at least one barrel per stage. That way a barrel will last and last. I've just had to toss out two barrels that finally gave up the ghost at the point where the shaft meets the lid. I've tried everything to "plug" holes that do develop over time. But, most of the time you're spitting in the wind. The glues are either too brittle when cured or too soft and leak. Best thing to do is bite the bullet and buy new barrels. Speaking of which, I've "adopted" several machines from people that are fed up with the little guys. I give them a warm and loving home that gives them plenty to "eat"! So, if anyone has one they want to get rid of I'll be happy to take it off their hands. My daughter is a 4th grade teacher here in NC and each year she has me come in and talk to the kids about Geology, how rocks have affected mans history, and of course jewelry making, rock tumbling and polishing. I always have a bag full of polished rocks that I give each child a stone in one of those little "baggies" to take home with them. This year I've decided that I'd like to have each of the classes tumble their own load of stones from start to finish. But, I need supplies. Bad thing is I don't have an order sheet!! And Rock Kitten, whom I used to communicate with here about this little guys, (she's sent me a couple of the little guys, one working and one that I had to do a little work on to get it going) But, when I tried to get a message to her she no longer had an account under that name. So, I need your help gang. Can someone either e-mail a copy of the order sheet, front and back, or snail mail it to me? Please guys, I'd really love to get a big batch of Sodalite from the shed and get these kids hooked on tumbling and the love of what it's like to go out on a hike through a surface mine here in NC and find their own stones. (I've already got my 3 year old Granddaughter asking her mom when she and "Pa-Pa" are going to go "Sluishing" Any and all help will be appreciated. ---- Thanks, ------Joe
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