Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
|
Post by Trylobyte on Mar 11, 2004 16:42:39 GMT -5
Just purchased a Thumlers Ultra vibe 18 Industrial for $179.95. This is WAY cheaper than most. I saw $260 at The Gem Shop, and several others in the high $200's.
Saving 100 bones allows me to buy [let's see divide by 5, carry the 2...] 20 more lbs of nice lake superior agates. ;D
I called to verify that it was in fact the industrial, and Sue said "yes it is."
This place is way cheaper than anywhere else for almost all thumler's stuff...
|
|
Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
|
Post by Trylobyte on Mar 11, 2004 17:35:55 GMT -5
Had to call Sue back to buy a spare barrel, and she said that she noticed the post on Thumlers Model Bs at Cabelas for $127, so she dropped her price to $127! You'll save tax with her too, unless you're in state.
Great little internet business she's got going!
|
|
James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
|
Post by James on Mar 11, 2004 18:02:37 GMT -5
Just purchased a Thumlers Ultra vibe 18 Industrial for $179.95. This is WAY cheaper than most. I saw $260 at The Gem Shop, and several others in the high $200's.quote] Thanks for the info. Sounds like a hell of a deal. But are you sure it was "The Gem Shop" who wanted $260 for the Thumlers Ultra vibe 18? They don't even carry any tumblers made by Thumlers... |
|
Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
|
Post by Trylobyte on Mar 11, 2004 19:18:05 GMT -5
Dohhh!
It was The Rock Shed...
|
|
James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
|
Post by James on Mar 31, 2004 2:24:34 GMT -5
Well, I just placed an order for my third Model B. We'll see how these guy's turn out. I hope the thing doesn't have one of those high speed motors you guy's have been talking about.  |
|
bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
|
Post by bschultz on Mar 31, 2004 9:52:43 GMT -5
Just checked out the Kempf prices for a Thumlers Model B. $127. Thats the cheapest I've ever seen them. Don't know what the S&H is though.
|
|
bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
|
Post by bschultz on Mar 31, 2004 10:43:40 GMT -5
Whats the problem with the high speed motors on the model B's? I must have missed that thread.
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Mar 31, 2004 10:51:36 GMT -5
Hey Bob, Cabela's was the original $127 Model B, which is where I bought my last one. Problem is, and I didn't know this till mine arrived, that there are two Model Bs made by Thumler's. The one for wet rock polishing has a 1550 RPM motor and the one for dry brass polishing has a 3000 RPM motor. Only difference is the motor, but the 3000 RPM really rocks, so to speak. It cost me $10 to send my motor to Thumler's and they sent me a 1550 RPM motor. That was still way cheaper than my first Model B cost me. Thumler's told me that Cabela's only sells the high speed unit. Don't know about Kempf, but they are a gunshop as well so I would be careful.
Ron
|
|
James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
|
Post by James on Mar 31, 2004 12:59:27 GMT -5
Shipping was $15.00. Trylobyte said that he bought a few of his model B's from here, so they must not have the 3000 rpm motors. Unless of course, he doesn't know that he's using them for his rocks... |
|
bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
|
Post by bschultz on Apr 1, 2004 9:49:25 GMT -5
Hey Ron, thanks for the advice. I just sent an email to Sue to clarify motor speeds. I'll post my findings later. Did Thumlers just swap you even on the motors and shipping cost you $10? How did that work?
Later, Bob
|
|
bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
|
Post by bschultz on Apr 1, 2004 14:45:11 GMT -5
Just heard from Sue at Kemph. She says the one that they sell are the 1500 RPM models but you can specify 3000 RPM for the same price. So I guess just make sure that you specify 1500 when you order one for rock tumbling.
Bob
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 1, 2004 16:35:19 GMT -5
Hey Bob, yea they swapped me even on the motor. Cost me $10 to ship mine to them. Could have shipped for much less, but I sent it Priority Mail (what can I say, I was in a hurry ;D).
Ron
|
|
RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
|
Post by RedwoodRocks on Jul 30, 2004 23:11:44 GMT -5
3 thumbs up for Kempf! I ordered on Sunday night and it arrived today. A Thumler Model B $127 plus $15.21 for shipping.
I started a batch of Botswana Agates and a couple of handfuls of apricot agates from James!
Cal
|
|
James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
|
Post by James on Aug 3, 2004 5:03:56 GMT -5
Good call Cal! Beautiful selection for rough to break it in with too.  |
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Aug 3, 2004 18:18:43 GMT -5
Hi all, I also bought one of my model B's from Cabela's and it came with the 3000 RPM motor. I've tried all sorts of crazy things trying to speed up the rough cycle even a little because,as you know,it seems to take forever to get the rocks shaped right and also get rid of any pits and cracks. My first attempt was to use #30 grit.I ran it for 3 weeks and all I had for my efforts was a tumbler full of unused grit and some dirty water! Somewhere in one of todays posts someone called themself a moron and I guess the name fits me as well because I kept right on washing rocks and grit for quite a while!! I had bought 25 lbs of the #30 grit and didn't want to just let it sit on the shelf but that's exactly what it did! It sat there for about 3 years and was driving me up a wall every time I looked at it knowing there HAD to be some way to get it to work! Well now the model B with the 3000 RPM motor enters my life!! I was just about to phone Cabela's about a motor exchange when I walked by the infamous shelf with the #30 grit and a bell went off in my head !! MAYBE this IS the answer! I couldn't work fast enough to get the tumbler charged and running and as Ron said "it really rocks"!! It "rocked" for a week and the water was ditier but no slurry.Aha,,,,,maybe less water and I'll be in clover!! I sucked as much water out as I could using a very large syringe (spelling?) trying not to take out the grit with it.After I got the water out,,back it went for another try. It was running with less water for 3 days and when I got home from work I heard "that" tumbler was making a noise that I never heard before.The rocks were making a kind of "ker-plunk" sound as if there was glue in there with them! I opened the tumbler and Holy Cow,,I had the thickest slurry on earth!Most of the rocks were stuck to the sides and bottom of the barrel and I had one hell of a mess on my hands.I put in about a quart of warm water and some soap.let it run for 1/2 hr and drained and rinsed the load off. The rocks were worn away MUCH more then in the 60/90 and I was finally in clover!! I've modified my recipe to 10 lbs of rocks,1 lb #30 grit,about 1/2 cup of water and a tad of soap.I let it run for 3-4 days until I get the "glue" sound, I rinse and start over again. I still have to run the rough stage for what seems like forever but it does make it a little shorter. Some where along my "tumbling line" I read that we "tumblers" rough way to slow and polish way to fast,,,,could be true!! Tom |
|
RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
|
Post by RedwoodRocks on Aug 3, 2004 23:28:06 GMT -5
Tom, Great observations! I am thinking that I am using too much water also, I was over at Stoner's house, and he was showing me his setup. The slurry in his barrel looked as thick as pancake batter.
When I got the Model B. I used a lot less water than the "bottom of the top layer of rocks". The grit was almost all gone after 4 days, and the slurry was much thicker than earlier tries using a Lortone 33B (and, the "right" amount of water). The rocks also seemed very smooth for only 4 days! Well.... the rocks (Botwana and Apricot Agate) was in a roundish shape to start with.
I am also wondering if the larger barrel lets the rocks roll more while tumbling; and, if this helps shape the rock quicker.
Cal
So... the less water the better.
|
|
James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
|
Post by James on Aug 5, 2004 3:46:40 GMT -5
With the Model B's, I fill the water up to about 2-3 inches under the rock level. When I open the barrel to recharge the grit, the water level is usually an inch or so above the rock level! Can't argue with that kind of errosion. Still, even with that progress, I keep adding more rock and removing the good shaped stones for several months. Be patient and over time, you'll turn out enough rock week after week to move along to the later stages in a hurry. The 3000 rpm motor has definately been a life saver. |
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Aug 5, 2004 19:54:11 GMT -5
Hi James,,, You said the 3000 RPM motor is a life saver . Are you using it in your roughing stage? I've tried to convince others to do so but they all think i'm nuts!!LOL Am I ?? Tom |
|
James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
|
Post by James on Aug 6, 2004 2:59:58 GMT -5
No, you're arn't nuts! You're just smart.
I use mine exclusively for the rough grind. I can recharge the grit every 3-4 days if I want. A 1500 rpm motor taks 5-7 days and is much less efficient.
|
|
