adrian65
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Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,787
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Post by adrian65 on Nov 15, 2007 15:22:19 GMT -5
Hello, everybody but especially to the tumbling gurus here! For the moment I have only a Lortone 33A, and I want to make a step forward in this direction. What I'm searching for is a tumbler that must: - be able to tumble larger rocks - be RELIABLE (as finding change parts is very difficult to me). I focused on the Thulmer's 15 lb tumbler, after reading Kate's (LadyB) advice to someone here. It looks pretty sturdy to me, and with its capacity I'm sure it can tumble large rocks. So, please, any comments about this decision? Is it inspired? Should I forget it? Is there anything better for about the same price? Thank you everyone for the comments, Adrian
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Post by LCARS on Nov 15, 2007 15:46:12 GMT -5
I've been eyeing the QT-66 myself for a project that involves tumbling larger quantities of larger material but depending on exactly how "large" of rocks you are talking about here, you may be better off with a 12 lb'er. I am also reluctant to get into another tumbler that will require a lot of upkeep since I find myself meddling with at least one of the two I have going already once every week or two for every little squeak or ticky noise.
I would use a few major criteria to guage if it's a good investment, motor, barrel, bearing and belt quality would be the big ones for me but how to compare before purchasing is the real boggle if you'r not going to buy locally.
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 15, 2007 23:04:47 GMT -5
Adrian, If they'll ship to you you would be foolish to not buy the Thumler's. The price ladybeabea found is below my cost as a dealer. The model B has a commercial duty drum with liner and both are guaranteed for five years. The same drum is used by Diamond Pacific on their formerly known as Highland Park 12lb tumbler. Nothing Lortone makes will compare. You'll probably need a converter for your voltage.
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Post by Condor on Nov 15, 2007 23:34:08 GMT -5
I have a several different size Thumler's Tumblers. With the 12lb type I have tumbled some good sized rocks and they came out quite nice. Very little maintenence is involved here except for the lids which do wear out over time. I have posted these pics before, I don't think I stated that they were done on the 12lb TT. Only thing is, is that you can only tumble a couple mixed in with other smaller stones. Condor
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
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Post by Sabre52 on Nov 15, 2007 23:55:13 GMT -5
Adrian:I run all Lortones ( QT12 and QT66 for the big ones) except the vibe and the big Ball Mill (MJR) brand tumbler and find the Lortones a little delicate with a tendency to break down fairly often and need fairly frequent belt changes. Mine have all been kept running almost 24/7 for up to three years now but they do need to be messed with fairly often and I find my loads have to be lighter now than when I first bought them. The Ball Mill (MJR timblers) is good and has a huge motor but goes through belts fast, rotates real fast at 65 rpms and was fairly expensive ( about $200 e-bay)Wouldn't want to use it for finer stages due to fast rotation and rough action...mel
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Post by connrock on Nov 16, 2007 6:25:02 GMT -5
I have two 15 lb Thumler's that have been running forever.The only problem I have had were caused by myself trying to cheap belts for it. The cheap belts are nothing but "O" rings and only lasted 3-4 days!!
The belts made by Thumler's are made of a different material and last a long time.I change belts about 1-2 times/year.
connrock
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adrian65
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Post by adrian65 on Nov 16, 2007 8:01:00 GMT -5
Thank you for the advices, everyone above! Condor, your polished rocks look great! Looking at the coin, that black one in the 2nd pic is HUGE!
Adrian
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Nov 16, 2007 12:58:57 GMT -5
I have an AR 12 (Thumlers) Real nice tumbler- a bit hard on the lids (I fix mine with some old intertubes) but all in all a real nice tumbler-
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Post by Original Admin on Nov 16, 2007 17:53:01 GMT -5
Condor I had to just say that those large rocks you have managed to tumble polish are superb looking. I have some large agates Ive wanted to give a go since I started in this, I failed in my attempts - probably due to the barrel size being too small. Im sorry for diverting the thread - but did you "sacrifice" a lot of rough in order to gain the early stage shaping for the large rocks? I find I tend to have to put a load of smaller rocks in the barrel which I know Ill never see again In the hope that they will shape the target rock. Cheers Mark
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Nov 16, 2007 22:17:56 GMT -5
I have almost all homemade equipment so I might be biased, but I have been looking at this bad boy for a while. www.miim.com/thebside/tumbler/index.html40 lbs of rock!! now thats a tumbler ;D This site sells the plans but it looks pretty easy to fake it.
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Post by Condor on Nov 17, 2007 0:20:14 GMT -5
Mark,
Those rocks for the most part had fairly good shapes. What I did was use old tumbled agates that for one reason or another didn't tumble quite well. I used them over and over again. This way they too get smoothed and rounded and eventually end up coming out quite nice themselves. I don't remember how long they were in the tumbler for, but it was something like two or three weeks in stage one followed by one week each in the next stages.
Condor
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
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Post by Sabre52 on Nov 17, 2007 16:05:41 GMT -5
*LOL* Just had to happen. All this talk about tumbler brands and I went out to the shop to find my Lortone33B seized up and a couple of the shaft bearings had failed ( cracked in half so I'll have to order the parts and mess with it still again). Went to the Oxnard Gem show and picked up another one so I don't lose time in my process. Not a bad price, $98 tax included and now I'm rolling again already.....Mel
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Nov 17, 2007 18:09:22 GMT -5
Adrian, Buy a couple (or more - a 4 barrel tumbler will be a bit over a meter in length ~120 cm (4 feet)) of the 12 lb Lortone barrels, get a couple of cold rolled steel rods, find good used motor 1/4 to 1/3 horsepower gives more than enough power (sorry don't know the metric equiv.), 4 pillow blocks, couple of pulleys, a belt and a bit of lumber. This way other than the barrels you have full control over the spare parts. Any design I could give you would be in inches. I designed mine to run at about 30 rpm. When you buy the barrels get a couple of extra lid liners and the lid nuts. You should be good for several years of full time tumbling. Steve
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adrian65
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Post by adrian65 on Nov 17, 2007 23:30:33 GMT -5
Hey, thanks Steve! Buying the barel(s) only sounds like a good idea.
Adrian
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 18, 2007 6:37:04 GMT -5
If you are buying barrels look into the 15lb. Thumler's. Barrel with liner guaranteed for five years. After that you can order just the liners if needed.
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,787
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Post by adrian65 on Nov 18, 2007 10:38:20 GMT -5
Could ayone please tell me what's the height and diameter of a 15 lb Thulmer's barrel?
Thanks, Adrian
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