lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 9, 2017 19:15:54 GMT -5
Don't tell the wife In 8 months I went from one humble tumbler to two lortone 33B's and now a Lot-O Anyway, I ordered my Lot-O from the Rockshed as I've found their service to be outstanding. A few questions- A: I am planning on attaching this to a cement block- any tips or glues that you would recommend? Also is one block sufficient? B: The factory box I received didn't have instructions in them- I am planning on doing the rough in my rotaries and the later stages in the Lot-O-- how much water and how much grit should be added each step? I watched a video that recommended covering the rocks in water and then dumping all the water out- so the rocks are wet and then adding 2 Tablespoons per round C: Is the 1000 grit stage recommended? With my rotary I was doing rough, 120, 500 and the polish. Any and all help is appreciated and I'd love to send a completed banded amethyst to those that help (that's the next ones out of the rough stage)
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Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 9, 2017 19:33:29 GMT -5
Not a Lot O user so no amethyst for me , but I still won't tell your wife .
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Post by Garage Rocker on Aug 9, 2017 19:46:14 GMT -5
Congrats on the new purchase. You have now made life easier on yourself. I'm sure others will chime in with advice on securing the Lot O. I attached my Lot O with the adhesive tape that came with the machine. I filled the block with concrete and painted before attaching. Have had no problems. Many ways to do this part. But...
The recipe for success with the Lot O is found here:
Lot O recipe
You listening, @shotgunner?
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 9, 2017 19:54:05 GMT -5
Interesting! I watched a youtube that recommended filling the block with concrete. Is this commonly done?
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Post by Garage Rocker on Aug 9, 2017 20:03:17 GMT -5
You could also stack two blocks. Gives you waist high access to the Lot O. The point of filling the block is to add weight. More weight, no chance of the machine walking and one hopes to dampen some of the vibration transmitted to the floor. I also epoxied a piece of foam board insulation to the bottom of the block to try and absorb some vibration.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Aug 9, 2017 20:05:00 GMT -5
I think they recommend like 90 pounds for the base, or something like that. Mine is not quite that much, maybe 75-80.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 9, 2017 20:18:47 GMT -5
I just wrote out my method a few days ago, which is about like the method Garage Rocker linked to. I did fill my block's holes with concrete, and painted the whole thing before attaching the tumbler. I know several people here who stacked their blocks so they wouldn't have to bend over to open the tumbler. Another tip is to fill the hole in the bottom of the barrel with epoxy. I used whatever they sell at Home Depot or some other local hardware store. Mix it up, twirl it on a stick, stick it in the barrel and let it drip off into the hole. If you don't do this, you'll quickly find it frustrating to dig small rocks and ceramics out that get wedged in there. I put epoxy in about five years ago and I have never had to replace it. One last tip is to get a short piece of PVC pipe and a canning funnel. Use them like this:
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Post by Garage Rocker on Aug 9, 2017 20:23:26 GMT -5
Excellent, Rob! I knew there would be other good tips. Forgot to mention filling that stupid hole in the bottom. That's a big deal. Jugglerguy ETA: I use a roll of duct tape on it's side to hold the Lot O when filling it.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 9, 2017 21:53:48 GMT -5
Juggler guy that was immensely helpful! So helpful in fact that I opened my barrel to see this hole at the bottom only to find my instructions I will paint and mount tomorrow and I will take you advice for pouring epoxy into the bottom hole
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Post by grumpybill on Aug 10, 2017 19:38:41 GMT -5
Maybe I'm missing something (I don't know anything about a Lot-O), but why not use a solid concrete block instead of going to the trouble of filling the cells with concrete?
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Post by Garage Rocker on Aug 10, 2017 20:10:29 GMT -5
Maybe I'm missing something (I don't know anything about a Lot-O), but why not use a solid concrete block instead of going to the trouble of filling the cells with concrete? If you've got it, use it! Great words to live by. I happened to have a bag of quickcrete and scavenged a block.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 11, 2017 6:46:46 GMT -5
Maybe I'm missing something (I don't know anything about a Lot-O), but why not use a solid concrete block instead of going to the trouble of filling the cells with concrete? I don't think I've ever seen a solid block.
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Post by fantastic5 on Aug 11, 2017 7:56:47 GMT -5
Congrats on the new purchase. You have now made life easier on yourself. I'm sure others will chime in with advice on securing the Lot O. I attached my Lot O with the adhesive tape that came with the machine. I filled the block with concrete and painted before attaching. Have had no problems. Many ways to do this part. But...
The recipe for success with the Lot O is found here:
Lot O recipe
You listening, @shotgunner?
X2. Filled block, painted(two coats) and used the provided tape. No problems. I ordered an extra bowl, so I could have a dedicated polish. Epoxied both holes in the bottom of the barrel and almost immediately the one that is the coarse bowl had the epoxy fall out. Haven't redone it, but it is worth doing. Real pain to dig out the remains. Don't know why one stayed and one didn't. Same epoxy, same time, same technique.
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Post by grumpybill on Aug 11, 2017 14:27:12 GMT -5
I don't think I've ever seen a solid block. I've never run into a block manufacturer that didn't make solid block in all the common sizes. You probably won't find them at places like Lowes and Home Depot, but most "builders supply" places would stock them. (I'm a retired brick/block/stone mason.)
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 11, 2017 17:27:19 GMT -5
I don't think I've ever seen a solid block. I've never run into a block manufacturer that didn't make solid block in all the common sizes. You probably won't find them at places like Lowes and Home Depot, but most "builders supply" places would stock them. (I'm a retired brick/block/stone mason.) You would know then. I live in a cement town, but I don't work in the field. We make cement here (LaFarge) and we make block makers here (Besser). I've just never seen a solid block. I guess I just learned something new!
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ontherocks
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2017
Posts: 76
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Post by ontherocks on Aug 11, 2017 20:02:24 GMT -5
I never filled the holes in the cement blocks before I attached my Lot-O. I stacked about 4 blocks high (the blocks are not glued together). Seems to work fine. I wonder if it makes much of a difference.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 14, 2017 21:27:00 GMT -5
Congrats on the new purchase. You have now made life easier on yourself. I'm sure others will chime in with advice on securing the Lot O. I attached my Lot O with the adhesive tape that came with the machine. I filled the block with concrete and painted before attaching. Have had no problems. Many ways to do this part. But...
The recipe for success with the Lot O is found here:
Lot O recipe
You listening, @shotgunner ?
Amnt Grit Borax Hours 1 2 T 120/220 SiC None 24-48 2 ½ t 500 Al2O3 1 T 24-48 3 ½ t 1000 Al2O3 1 T 24-48 4 ½ t Polish Al2O3 1 T 24-48 5 - - 2 T 3-5 this member has borax in the recipe- is this thrown in with the grit or done after the grit stage and before then next?
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