Mazanec
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 355
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Post by Mazanec on Apr 1, 2004 14:39:41 GMT -5
OK, if this does not start a flame war, nothing will :-) Which are better, Lortones or Thumblers?
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Post by creativeminded on Apr 1, 2004 15:49:58 GMT -5
I have never heard of Thumblers and in my research on the internet for tumblers all I saw were Lortones. I love the one I got. Of course I have only had one other tumbler to compare the Lortone to and that was the toy hobby tumbler, not much of a comparison.
Tami
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 1, 2004 16:20:54 GMT -5
Hey Tami, try Thumler's. They are part of Tru-Square Metal Products in Auburn, WA. The best one, is the one that makes you and your rocks happy.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Apr 1, 2004 16:58:44 GMT -5
Never used Lortone...But they seem like the generic brand to me. I'd rather spend a little extra money and get a genuine Thumlers Tumbler.
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Post by sandsman1 on Apr 1, 2004 17:31:06 GMT -5
hi all ---only thing i can find dif is the lortone has a nicer barrel they both do the same job i just like lortones easy barrel design im sure there both same quality seeya john
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Post by Noosh9057 on Apr 1, 2004 17:46:08 GMT -5
I love my lortone. It is very quiet.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Apr 1, 2004 19:10:13 GMT -5
I love both my Lortones - a QT66 and a 33b - both are in my bedroom and don't disturb my sleep at all.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Apr 1, 2004 21:47:50 GMT -5
The sound of the tumblers actually helps me sleep.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Apr 1, 2004 22:20:46 GMT -5
The sound of the tumblers actually helps me sleep
I have always slept better with the sound of a motor running. When I was a teenager I used to keep my hairdryer (those cap type ones) on the bedside table turned on. When it was cold, I moved it to the floor at the foot of the bed, took the cap off and ran the hose under the covers to keep my feet warm. I did some serious snoozing!
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Apr 1, 2004 23:22:29 GMT -5
Hi All, I have a used 15 lb. Thumler's that I finished my first load in last week. It's pretty loud, but close to 15 lbs of rocks rolling around would have to be loud. I kept it in the bathroom with the door closed, so we now 'fondly' refer to that room as the 'rock tumbling room'. During that first process, I had one belt break, and the set screw on the motor shaft came loose so that the belt didn't line up and came off. Just minor problems which I kinda expected with a used machine. Started my second load last night in a brand new Lortone 3A. It's much quieter than the Thumler's, but it's also only a 3 lb'er. I have it in my bedroom. Came home from Llana's this evening after helping her with a minor RV prob and discovered that the Lortone motor was running, but the barrel was not tumbling. Turns out that the belt pulleys were not aligned so the belt had come off. It's too soon to say which one I like the best, but I wasn't expecting to have to take apart and fix the new Lortone after just 24 hours. Does everyone have these type problems, or is it just me? Barbara
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 1, 2004 23:39:37 GMT -5
Hi Barbara, welcome to the board! I had to line up the pulleys on my Lortone 45C when I got it as well. I have two Thumler's Model Bs and the first one I had to line up the pulleys, the second one good the way it came. On your Model B, you should have about 1/8 inch of endplay in the shafts. If you don't, then bend the sheet metal sides until you do. Between the endplay in the motor shaft and movement of the barrel on the rollers, you need a little lateral movement in the shafts to allow things to line up.
Ron
ps. Forgot to mention, my Model Bs are louder for sure, but then they're doing a lot more work. When I start a new load it is noticable louder until the slurry forms. Also is much louder when I have baseball size rocks in there.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Apr 2, 2004 1:25:06 GMT -5
which is better is a matter of opinion, which machine you buy you still need to check belt alignment and the set screws to make sure the belt is "on track" and will stay that way. and you will need to check it from time to time as the rocks will set up a little vibration and they may move.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Apr 2, 2004 5:03:59 GMT -5
Came home from Llana's this evening after helping her with a minor RV prob and discovered that the Lortone motor was running, but the barrel was not tumbling. Turns out that the belt pulleys were not aligned so the belt had come off. It's too soon to say which one I like the best, but I wasn't expecting to have to take apart and fix the new Lortone after just 24 hours. Does everyone have these type problems, or is it just me? Barbara I think you're the third person to mention this problem in the last 4 months. Some of the other members said they had to put the thing on a decline to keep it tumbling. Thats why I choose Thumlers brand...
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Post by Noosh9057 on Apr 2, 2004 10:12:13 GMT -5
Yes I did have that problem. But after fixing it. It has given me know problem at all.
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Mazanec
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 355
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Post by Mazanec on Apr 2, 2004 13:34:02 GMT -5
Here are a couple things to think about in making a choice for me: 1) I am not mechanically inclined. If anything, I am gremlin inclined. 2) I currently live in a fairly isolated home but will soon move to an apartment, so noise is a consideration.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Apr 2, 2004 13:57:32 GMT -5
Well, any tumbler is going to make noise no matter what brand it is. It's the size of the thing that determines the noise. If you place the tumbler on a towel it should dampen any vibations. Other then that, it depend on the size and/or number of barrels that you have running.
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Post by creativeminded on Apr 2, 2004 16:27:03 GMT -5
I fixed the alignment problem on my lortone with a piece of duct tape, after I figured out which side to put it on to stop the belt from slipping. I also removed the housing of the tumbler because the motor was getting too hot making the belt slip worse.
Tami
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Post by Noosh9057 on Apr 2, 2004 18:38:07 GMT -5
The lortone tumbler do run hot. This is Normal. I would call Lortone and see what thay say.
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Apr 3, 2004 20:57:20 GMT -5
Ron, Warren, James, Roger, Thanks for the info about belt alignment. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that's happened to. I'm awaiting delivery of a new 33B. I will be sure to check it before I start anything in it.
Mazenec, Belt replacement or alignment certainly doesn't require a mechanical genius. I'm not terribly mechanically inclined, but I can take care of those minor irritations myself. Just requires a screwdriver and/or an allen wrench and you're back in business!
Since noise is a consideration, I would think one of the smaller models, like a 3 lb or double 3 lb would be the way to go.
What do the rest of you think about the size of the tumbler in relation to the noise factor??? Barbara
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Apr 3, 2004 21:12:01 GMT -5
;D hi all shorty here i have a loriton double three and the noise is sweet music to most of us like classic rock haha.
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