nickspapaw
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2012
Posts: 4
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Post by nickspapaw on Oct 9, 2012 20:36:04 GMT -5
Hi, my name is Steve and I am from Knoxville, TN. As a kid I got into tumbling rocks. Now, many years later, my grandson Nick is into rocks also. I want to get him started out correctly but still be able to afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. In my short time researching this stuff, I am led to believe that the two players in the tumblers are Lortone and Thumbler's. Also, after reading a couple of things on the home page, it looks like I might want to get him some extra containers for the different grits (although I just had one and cleaned it out). So, I am looking for reccomdations on what to buy him based on your collective knowledge. I might also add that he has already been gem mining and has panned for gold and is the ripe old age of 8. I look forward to spending some time here with him once he gets his Christmas presents..... hint hint
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RockIt2Me
has rocks in the head
Sometimes I have to tell myself, "It's not worth the jail time."
Member since December 2009
Posts: 668
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Post by RockIt2Me on Oct 9, 2012 20:41:50 GMT -5
Welcome from Arkansas!
I am an utter failure at tumbling, but there will be lots of expert help here shortly to answer all your questions.
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Oct 9, 2012 20:43:48 GMT -5
welcome and these people will lead you rite
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 9, 2012 20:49:01 GMT -5
my suggestion would be either lortone or Thumblers, but get 1 with dual barrels so he can move more materials through them, also get the extra barrel for polishing only... at it's best he can run 2 barrels of rough then probably combine them for the medium stage and run another batch of rough in the first barrel, then when the medium is ready to go to the pre-polish you can add more rough to the first barrel while grinding the 2nd batch of medium in case your low for the pre-polish, then add it all to pre-polish while tumbling more rough to medium to pre-polish, then... taking a deep breath... put it all in the polish barrel and let it go for a week while still grinding more rough to medium but put it in a bag until you have more medium so you will grind more rough to add to the medium pile till you are ready to do a medium, and if you still have enough a pre-polish and by then the polish will be done and you can set that barrel aside while you grind more rough to medium to pre-polish and continue until you have enough for another batch of polish... drink 2 cases of alcohol while you are wondering what the heck did i get myself into then go back to grinding while slightly tipsy and fall asleep watching the grinder going round & round and wake up to find 3 days have passed and instead of rough to medium you now have rough to dust get P.O'd and throw it all out the window while yelling WHY WHY WHY !!! Muah=hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
And this is what we call fun !!!!!
so... any questions??
Oh, & welcome to the forum, Steve!!
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 9, 2012 20:57:08 GMT -5
but seriously... any tumbler that comes with 2 barrels will do you best an if you get a third barrel for only polishing you will do fine!! I currently have an older lortone QT66 that is 2 -6 pound barrels and a Chicago electric that I bought before joining here that I have not had any issues with yet, although I have heard a lot of problems exist with them.. the CE not the Lortone. I also have a new Vibrating Tumbler that I am using for polishing only, no info on it yet only had it a couple days... but it sure is noisy!! I like the Thumblers design better but the deal that got me the Lortone was too good to pass up. I a still saving my pennies for a bigger tumbler and may go with the Thumblers next just so I have 1 of each !! Check out www.therockshed.com for tumblers, supplies & tumbling info for stater level and there is lots of info here too for starter & advanced. an again... welcome to the forum Steve!!
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Post by paulshiroma on Oct 9, 2012 21:35:45 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum Steve. Great Christmas present!
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Oct 9, 2012 22:53:54 GMT -5
I am still new to this but....I bought a lortone 33b recently. I have had no problems with it yet. I also am going to get a 3rd barrel for polish. The main thing I would say is pick a good beginner stone. I got a mixed bag with my tumbler and resulted in failure. The mixed bag is good but had quartz materials in with everything else and I ended up with lots of chipped and cracked stones. So I am saving the rest of the bag for later. I have learned that this forum is full of experienced, polite and very kind people. Stick around and ask lots of questions. Oh and...Welcome to the group!!
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Oct 9, 2012 23:53:47 GMT -5
Lortone 33b is nice because it uses less grit than a 66b and takes less rock too. Get a grit pack from therockshed.com, it will get you started with the right grits without having to buy too much to start.
If you have access to chalcedony, flint, chert, agate and/or jasper you shouldn't have to buy any rock.
You can also get a good tumble if you do quartz only.
If you can keep the one barrel for polish it may slow you down, but that dedicated polish barrel can make sure the stones sparkle.
This is slow going, just warning you now. Be ready for months of time passing, not weeks to get to the super shine.
Remember to let one stage completely finish before moving on, and 60/90 (the coarse stage) needs to last until all the stones are smooth, free from pits and cracks.
I just keep grit in the bag it comes in, and put them in different places so they don't mix. The only other things that you might get are a 5-gallon bucket and a big enough colander to fit over it.
Don't run the slurry down the drain, it will kill the plumbing. Just a garden house out to the edge of the lawn or something to get the slurry away from the house (i trend to track it into the house, another big no-no)
Folks are very helpful here, just let us know what you need, and welcome from Colorado.
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nickspapaw
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2012
Posts: 4
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Post by nickspapaw on Oct 10, 2012 4:59:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome guys. I was looking at the QT66 if for nothing else but the better motor. I seem to get the feeling that the rock shed is the place for grit and such. Am I correct or is there better alternatives? I appreciate all the tips given so far. One other question. Other than our locally grown rocks, is there a good source for other varieties? I know that is probably a stupid question since I haven't spent any time on the boards and done my research yet. I just hate to pay big bucks to retailers when there is a better, more economical source. Again, thanks for your time.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 10, 2012 8:26:16 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum,
Rock shed is great for grit and there aluminum oxide polish is all I use for tumbling. When we started tumbling all of our rocks were bought from Rockshed too and I really liked everything we ordered from there, It just got too expensive to keep feeding the tumblers at "retail" prices. We have gotten a bunch of flat rate boxes full of rocks from the buy and sell section here so keep an eye out there.
Chuck
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Oct 10, 2012 9:35:09 GMT -5
Hi again Steve. You won't be unhappy with the QT66, I run one constantly and when you get it PM me and I can give you a quick and dirty recipe to get started.
As far as rock, is there something you are looking for?
I lived for several years in North Georgia as a a kid (your general vicinity) and there were all sorts of quartz options that I think would tumble really well - rose quartz, amethyst and various other varieties. Quartz is nice because it tumbles a little faster than agates and jaspers (at least for me it does, as long as it's not too fractured)
If you are looking for something else, I can set you up with a bunch of stuff I've hounded for the cost of shipping (USPS medium flatrate shipping is ~$12 with tracking). It would be Wyoming agates and some cherts and jaspers. Nothing too fancy but maybe cool for you and Nick. They are harder though and would take longer than quartz to tumble. PM me if you are interested. I might throw in some other goodies too...
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