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Post by Toad on May 9, 2011 8:28:46 GMT -5
I'm looking to buy a new rotary tumbler. Without going huge (40 lb.) I'd like to get a large capacity tumbler for doing larger rocks. These are the two I was looking at: Thumler's Model B 15lb. I know some people don't like the Thumler's lid design, but this heavy duty version looks different from the usual. Any thoughts on the steel barrel with liner - good/bad. The motor looks tiny, and I imagine that loading that barrel to 3/4 or even 2/3 full will put me over 15 lbs. Can it handle the workload? The other is the Lortone C200-12. Slightly smaller barrel, but I really like the all rubber construction as well as how the lid sits on the barrel. Has a 1/3 hp motor that is also used to turn the C300 (with an additional 12 lb barrel). So power shouldn't be a problem even if the two barrels are slightly overweight. The only thing I'm concerned about here is energy draw - not a deal-breaker, just something to consider. The Thumler is cheaper and I can get 2 of them for less than the price of one C200, but I'm worried about motor capacity with fully loaded barrels - and I have no experience with lined barrels vs. solid construction. With the Lortone just worried about energy use and price. Any thoughts on one, the other, or both?? Maybe something else entirely?
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on May 9, 2011 8:40:02 GMT -5
Look at a Thumlers AR-12- All rubber barrel, 12 Lb Capacity (I have done fist size rocks in it) Good solid workhorse motor, able to convert to a 2x 3Lb machine for just the price of the barrels. Only design flaw is that problematic Thumler Lid (I use a cobination of Plasti-Dip and Plexi to get more than a years use out of a lid- thats running 24/7 in 60/90). Cost is lower than the B. Heck get a Cabelas Credit Card and save up the points and you can earn a free one (thats how I got mine!)
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on May 9, 2011 9:52:22 GMT -5
You can also convert the Model B to run two 3lb barrels.
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Post by Toad on May 9, 2011 9:56:12 GMT -5
Not interested in smaller barrels - this is to do larger rocks, volume
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Post by rockrookie on May 9, 2011 10:37:32 GMT -5
Hi Todd , i favored the Lortone . because of my experiences with owning , both a 12 lb lortone and the 15 lb Thumler . not because of lid design . but the way the 2 contact points of Thumler barrel wore tracks into the roller shafts . i've had them ''climb '' off and cause problems with drive belt .
on a side note .
both of mine were used seveal years before i bought them . so new equipment should be better . --paul
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Post by susand24224 on May 9, 2011 13:15:38 GMT -5
Toad, I voted for Thumler. I prefer the lids and have on rare occasion had the "jump the tracks" experience that Rockrookie had. However, my 9 lb Thumler (purchased used) is chugging along, and my 3 lb Thumler lasted about 25 years until it finally needs a motor replacement.
To the contrary, my 3B Lortone needed a new motor after a year, and my 6 lb and 4 lb need frequent belt replacements, the first one being before a year was up. In conversations with Lortone, I was advised that they are *very* sensitive to being overloaded weight-wise. Since my barrels often go over the "recommended weight," and Thumler handles that just fine while it speeds up the break down of the Lortone, I voted for Thumler.
Susan
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on May 9, 2011 18:45:06 GMT -5
I have (2) QT6 and (1) QT12. One of the 6's date back from the mid 60's that my dad gave me. Lots of rocks and brass was tumbled in it. It's all original. The other 6 I purchased used off Ebay about a year ago. Both are the original green Lortone color. Purchased the QT12 new about a year ago. All have been running 24/7 since then without a bit of trouble. I clean and oil the bushings weekly. I originally had problems following Lortone's and other instructions off the web and was having lots of bad batches. I weighed the rocks, etc. Their instructions might work for some rocks but not mine. I then read Steven Hart's book, Modern Rock Tumbling and chatted with him a few times and problem solved. One heck of a book and Steve is one super nice guy. He returns e-mail and will answer all your questions. I only tumble local Mojave jasper & jasp-agates that me & my wife hand pick. We never bought a rock online or at a show....yet! We get joy out of gathering our own, which we're fortunate to live not too far from some great rock hounding sites. I over load the heck out of the barrels, fill them 3/4's full along with as much ceramics I can stuff in there. I even run a little more water than to the bottom of the top layer of rocks, usually mid level of the top layer. Works for me! I run my QT12 on first stage only for 4-6 weeks, recharging weekly. Most advance to stage 2 and some are kept back. The picture shows a batch I just recharged moments ago. Most are over 2" in size, many in the 2 1/2" - 3" and even have one triangle shaped one that is 4" long. All against the instructions of course! I then use the QT6 barrels for stages 2-4. I just weighed the QT12 full and it weighed 18 pounds, rocks & water. Empty is 5. If I was to do it all over again, I'd buy the same Lortone set up. I'm am pleased. Larry
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on May 9, 2011 18:55:41 GMT -5
LarryS, no wonder your tumblers last forever, looks like they have never been used. ;D Just joking,nice and clean.
snuffy
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Post by Toad on May 9, 2011 18:59:34 GMT -5
So your vote for the C200 then Larry?
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on May 9, 2011 19:13:42 GMT -5
Toad, yes on the C200 but I'd buy some extra 6 barrels too. The rocks eventually grind down to a smaller size and if one rock cracks in half during the later stages, it's no big deal. I've read many posts saying how important it is to weigh the rocks. Might be true with the smaller machines but not these. I'm living proof!
Snuffy, now this is dedication to the lapidary hobby. I'm actually using my reloading bench for the tumblers. And I thought guns and reloading was expensive over the past 40 years!
Larry
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Post by Toad on May 10, 2011 17:18:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the input all. Anyone else have any suggestions/warnings?
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charles kuchar
spending too much on rocks
getting ready for the second coming
Member since November 2010
Posts: 300
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Post by charles kuchar on May 15, 2011 19:35:40 GMT -5
i have the 12# thumbler tumbler. just cleaned it to polish rocks that are too big for my 3# or the lot-O. the load weighed 16# and i have 12tsbp of ao polish and soap and borax. i will let it go now for three weeks and then see if the rocks please me. the only problem i had with the barrel is a hole wore in the opening. i made one out of plexiglas and it solved that problem. charlie
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