pjdixon11
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2012
Posts: 1
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Post by pjdixon11 on Mar 24, 2012 7:52:48 GMT -5
I am getting back into rock tumbling. I had a tumbler as a kid and am now 50 and would like to tumble rocks with my niece and nephew and also think that I may want to tumbler tiger eyes or other stones that I might like to play around with in wire jewelry. I have been reading and I think I would like to purchase a lortone 45c rotary rock tumbler kit to start with. I will probably purchase more tumblers after I get started but think this is good to start with... Any thoughts, advice from the experienced tumblers??? I can afford to purchase what I want but do like to be frugal.
ps. I am located in Poland, ME so if there are any members that are local to me, I would love to get together in person and chat, see what/ how you are set up with your hobby, share ideas, etc... thanks
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 24, 2012 8:40:32 GMT -5
I would choose the 33B. You will quickly wish you had two drums turning with the 45C.
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Mar 24, 2012 8:47:27 GMT -5
I agree with John although we started with the Lortone six lb (single barrel) and then went to the 12 lb (double barrel). We have them both running 24/7. Our finished rocks are used for display at the house only, just for our enjoyment and benefit.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 24, 2012 9:32:03 GMT -5
I'm also new to tumbling, so I speak without much experience. I bought a 33B for my son and I for Christmas. He's even more of a perfectionist than I am, so the rocks are staying in for a long time. The current batches have been in for over a month and aren't done yet.
About a month after Christmas, I bought a Lot-O vibratory tumbler to finish the rocks quicker and to use less grit. My plan is to do the first stage in the 33B for shaping and then finish them in the Lot-O. We finished the first two batches in the Lot-O and then it's been sitting empty for a month waiting for the 33B to get more rocks through the first stage. So I already wish I had another rotary, but I'd like to stay married, so I haven't mentioned that to my wife yet. Maybe next Christmas!
So my recommendation is to get a 33B because more barrels are better. You're not supposed to mix rocks of different hardness, so it also allows more variety to be tumbled at one time.
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Mar 24, 2012 10:45:59 GMT -5
I started with a 45C. Ran it for over 10 years before I had to replace the motor. I think that was Karma because I bragged on this forum on how trouble free the 45C was - the motor died that week.
Bought a 33B for my daughter 4 years ago. I've already replaced the motor on the 33B twice. The 45C and 33B use the same motor. Either it was just bad luck or we kept overloading the 33B. It seems to be impossible to overload a 45C.
I also prefer the hex barrels found in the 45C. Also with the 45C you can tumble slightly larger material. When I reached the point of coveting a double barrel setup I went with the QT66. I found the a 45C and QT66 was a perfect combination. Roughing in a 6 lb would generally give the right amount of stone for polishing in the 45C.
The arguments made above for the 33B are quite valid - I just had different experiences. The 33B seems to be the most commonly used tumbler by the folks on this forum and I'm sure that's for good reasons.
Either way you go - have fun.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 24, 2012 11:22:46 GMT -5
Same motor on 4 lb. and 3 + 3 would maybe explain shorter motor life. I'm guessing if you had a new 45C it wouldn't last 10 years either. I think the motors are not as good. Thumler's uses much better motors so don't rule out an AR-2.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 24, 2012 16:38:22 GMT -5
My daughter had a Lortone 3x1.5# tumbler for a couple years that never did much until I jumped in at the beginning of the year.
I started with the Lortone QT66 and I really like it.
I also bought a vibe (Thumler UV10) because once they stones are shaped I can move them over to the vibe and get them done in about 10 days.
It really depends on how much restraint you have. Apparently I have little because now I have 3 MORE tumblers. Of all of them I think I like the Lortone QT66 the best.
I've not found better prices on Lortone's than at therockshed.com
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Mar 24, 2012 22:05:44 GMT -5
:2cents: Fer what its worth, any size Lortone. I am so fed up with my Thumlers. Lid wore out, always springn leaks yada yada. I also agree. The 33b. I would get an xtra barrel just fer polish. Later Clyde
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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 Mar 28, 2012 5:59:44 GMT -5
i made some lids for my thumblers out of thick plexiglas. now i don't have to worry about springing leads in the lids. one think i learned is that make sure the plexiglas lids are very smooth around the edge so you get a good seal. although now i am interested in buying a lortone double 6 to have variety in my choices for tumbling. charlie
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