libertychicken
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2015
Posts: 2
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Post by libertychicken on Oct 16, 2016 23:17:05 GMT -5
Can I run a double barrel tumbler with only one barrel loaded ? ? and is their any disadvantages to doing so ? ?
Im looking into upgrading my single barrel harbor freight/Chicago electric single 3 pound rotary to a larger unit and like the idea of a more variable size load . Right now im thinking about the Lortone Model QT 66 or possibility just the single barrel model.
I also read hear about someone having decent results with 'comet' cleaner as a prepolish product . . . . Has anyone else tryed this ? ? or anything else like it as a budget way of learning the in's and out's of the machine ? ?
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Rockandroll
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 52
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Post by Rockandroll on Oct 17, 2016 8:16:15 GMT -5
QT66 would be a great machine. I have 4x 3lb barrels, and would love the larger capacity. Nice flexibility with the 66 and the 2x 6lb or 12lb barrels for future expansions. If you don't have enough material to tumble with the twin barrels, you could always just put water or random filler rock in the empty etc.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 17, 2016 9:29:32 GMT -5
I have ran a single barrel on a double machine,no harm in it.......Lortone is the way to go too,those tumblers never die!!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 17, 2016 10:42:15 GMT -5
No harm at all with rotaries running single on a double.
Chuck
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Post by greig on Oct 17, 2016 10:49:14 GMT -5
As stated, no problem running one barrel. The only "disadvantage" that I have found with large tumblers is you need lots of rock. It sounds silly, but sometimes I don't have enough rock to run the big tumbler, or during a run that it wears the rocks that I stared with down so much in stage 1 or 2 that I need a ton of filler if I want to keep going.
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cactusfire
starting to shine!
Member since September 2016
Posts: 31
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Post by cactusfire on Oct 17, 2016 17:56:11 GMT -5
I use a QT66. I use one barrel for the first two stages and one barrel for the last two stages. Most of the time the machine is running with just one barrel working on the first two stages.
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libertychicken
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2015
Posts: 2
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Post by libertychicken on Oct 18, 2016 21:41:56 GMT -5
Thanks for all the responses.
I think I have settled for the lortone Q6, with a extra barrel, But my rototiller just craped out so now I have another month or so to think about it . . .
My only concerns with the larger Q66 or larger machines is feeding it grit/polish can get expensive (and I tend to be cheap). I actually prefer to run rocks I found myself, so that helps thow.
Right now im buying the thumblers 3 pound grit packs from harbor freight for 12$ each, so that gets expensive fast. Im looking at the Rock Shead's bulk packs for 60$ + shipping. But hopping to find a local source, to save a few dollars on shipping.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Oct 18, 2016 21:46:13 GMT -5
Check out the prices at Minnesota lapidary supply, they are very reasonable !
Harley
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