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Post by MoMarineRockHound on Jan 8, 2016 11:16:24 GMT -5
Good Morning and greetings to you all! Wanted to introduce myself and ask a quick question Father, Marine, and have a house-full of rock hounds. Have been interested in creating my own tumbling/lapidary equipment vice purchasing (some) over-priced equipment. I'm fairly handy, been considering using a pulley system to set up a grinder, wheel, tumbler and such. I'm still going through the many threads and forums and wanted to ask for anyone's "top 5" sites/users/etc. they would suggest noob's check out? There are SO many awesome links/forums/topics and such by everyone and wanted to see where/who/what you all might suggest to check out THANK YOU in advance, the winter is upon us and my kiddo's and I would like to use various parts on-hand, pick up others and make our own stuff - with a lower end of the cost spectrum if possible - while realizing you get what you pay for Thank you all so very much and any pointers/tips/forums/topics/threads and such would greatly be appreciated! Kindy, MOMarineRockHound
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Post by Peruano on Jan 8, 2016 16:39:16 GMT -5
You are in the right place. Checkout our Homemade Equipment subsection. It covers the gamut. Whose homemade is best?? We'll let you decide and build better if you choose. Pay attention to rpms when considering grinders and saws. Its pretty hard to beat used commercial stuff but if that's not available it is possible to fabricate much of what we use. It helps if you know your way around a welder or a machine shop, but its not mandatory when building your own. If I had to have only one piece of equipment it would be a vibratory tumbler. Raytech Tumble Vibe 5 is about the cheapest good one. If I had to have only two pieces I'd add a grinding rig (as many wheels as you can afford or an expando wheel with belts). If I had three pieces of equipment, I'd add a small trim saw (use a tile saw with appropriate blade if pennies are real tight). The total luxury and most fun item of all is a slab saw (larger blade, power feed, good vice), but it's of limited value unless you have the tumbler or cab machine to process the material you saw. Notice I've not mentioned a rotary tumbler (basic to many shops) because I have never had one and largerly get around needing one by using my grinder, trim saw, and vibe to preform, and process. I guess if I didn't have my vibe, I'd really want a rotary badly. Its hard to rotary badly, unless you quit before you learn how to do it. Some folks are able to substitute a flat lap quite effectively instead of the traditional cab machine, but the flat lap can do things that the cab wheels cannot as well. Welcome. Tom
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Post by Pat on Jan 8, 2016 16:51:46 GMT -5
Don't know about making machines, but you are in the right forum. Many people here do make their own machines.
Go to HOME on the first page, scroll down to HOMEMADE EQUIPMENT, you you will find the subform for that.
Good luck and welcome!
Pat
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 8, 2016 17:28:58 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
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Post by MoMarineRockHound on Jan 8, 2016 17:42:07 GMT -5
You all are great! Thank you ever much, will start checkin those out - really looking forward to building our own stuff. My kiddos ( all under 13) are big tinkerer's :-)
Thanks!!
Mike
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 8, 2016 19:32:18 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.....................Great place for all your rockhounding questions and etc............ Semper Fi Marine!!!!!!!!!!!
I did some time in Missouri,early 70's-Did "Boot" at FLW.......
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 8, 2016 21:26:18 GMT -5
welcome to RTH! Lots of good info here, but some of the content may need parental discretion, we are a crazy lot.
KD
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Post by radio on Jan 9, 2016 4:26:27 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH What part of the State you in? I'm in S.W. Mo in the heart of the Ozarks
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Post by gingerkid on Jan 9, 2016 7:00:58 GMT -5
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Jan 9, 2016 10:11:33 GMT -5
Pulleys, bearings, belts, shafts, and motors...the basic do-it-yourself fun kits. Welcome to the forum Marine!!!! Thanks for your service to our country!!!!!!!!!!!
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