Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Jan 13, 2014 19:28:11 GMT -5
Happy Monday everyone, I have a quick question, After months of having my tumblers shut down while traveling, I finally started up the old Lortone monster today. The previous owner had used what looks like electrical tape to keep the shaft from slipping the barrels when rolling. I noticed most of the tape was so dried up I peeled most of it off. The barrels are still running good but wanted suggestions on what to use in place of electrical tape. Or is that generally the way to go for keeping barrels from slipping? Or is it even necessary to tape? Currently with the tape on only parts of the of the two shafts it seems like a little bit of a bumpy ride for the barrels. I am currently using 2x 12 pound and 2x 6 pound barrels. Thanks for your imput, Matt PS, I gave the tumbler a good cleaning and greasing before the photo
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Jan 13, 2014 21:15:08 GMT -5
Use a solvent and take the tape off. It's not needed. The rubber Lotone barrels do fine on the bare metal.
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Jasper-hound
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 208
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Post by Jasper-hound on Jan 14, 2014 0:28:15 GMT -5
Could probably find some sort of vinyl tubing at the hardware store ... but as was said, those Lortone barrels are rubber to begin with.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Jan 14, 2014 0:53:02 GMT -5
That's the answer I was going for. I figured the barrels would stick without the tape. I've picked up a couple used tumblers and they all had some king of after market tape or tubing. I picked up a new in the box Lortone QT6 that was bought in the 80's and it came with a red rubber tubing on the shafts. It got me questions if the big guy needed it as well.
Thanks for your help. Matt
Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
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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 Jan 16, 2014 20:58:40 GMT -5
you can also use old garden hose sections to replace the red rubber tubing that came on the shafts originally... that's what I did and it worked well.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Jan 29, 2014 2:10:20 GMT -5
Thanks Dad O
Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 29, 2014 13:15:45 GMT -5
I use "Tygon hose" which is a braided, reinforced type hose. Old garden hose with braided reinforcement can be split lengthwise and slipped over the shafts without taking everything apart.
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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 Jan 29, 2014 18:57:05 GMT -5
I use "Tygon hose" which is a braided, reinforced type hose. Old garden hose with braided reinforcement can be split lengthwise and slipped over the shafts without taking everything apart. I came into possession of 100 feet of old style reinforced garden hose that had serious kinks and breaks in it. I was able to make it into a 50 7 a 25 ft hoses and the rest I used for various things including redoing the shafts on my tumbler. the rest of it got thrown out by the wife during her one & only foray into cleaning the shed!! lol. Lowe used to sell it in 10 foot lengths that wasn't too expensive and I figured next time that I would go buy it and use new stuff unless I luck into anymore.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 30, 2014 11:43:41 GMT -5
I know Home Depot carries the Tygon hose by the foot. I imagine Lowes does as well. The rubber barrels will wear slick on the steel rollers. The hose helps get a grip.
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Post by Starguy on Feb 2, 2014 14:09:58 GMT -5
Mattatya
You should use something that approximates the size of the original rollers. Without the drive shaft being covered, you are essentially changing the gear ratio of the tumbler. It will turn slower without the covering and won't be as efficient.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Feb 2, 2014 15:20:20 GMT -5
Great point Starguy, Lortone manufacturers is here in town and I stop by from time to time to but supplies and show off my tumbles next time I'm there I'll ask them what they used in the past for this old guy. I have very little paperwork for this older model and it doesn't provide any info on what it used. Cheers Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
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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 Feb 2, 2014 18:07:00 GMT -5
just a quick idea that popped into my head... plenty of room in there late;y !!! LOL
That stuff you dip plier handles in think it is called plasti-coat, but anyways, they make it in pints, quarts, and gallons, but the gallon is harder to find .... anyways you could do the axles in that stuff and should get the traction you need without changing the size of the rollers much. And you cn tape off the ends where the bearings go or cut and peel it off the ends with a razor blade.
just another suggestion to add to the list!!
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Post by Starguy on Feb 3, 2014 21:51:03 GMT -5
Great point Starguy, Lortone manufacturers is here in town and I stop by from time to time to but supplies and show off my tumbles next time I'm there I'll ask them what they used in the past for this old guy. I have very little paperwork for this older model and it doesn't provide any info on what it used. Cheers Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards You're lucky to be so close. I'm sure they will have an idea what the original shaft diameter was. You want your barrel(s) to turn as fast as possible without throwing the stones. Lortone makes great tumblers. I love the rubber barrels. I've used a bunch of old rubber lined metal barrels that didn't last as long or grind as efficiently.
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