lillian
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2018
Posts: 2
|
Post by lillian on Apr 28, 2018 16:28:42 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 28, 2018 17:08:46 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. There have been a few new members showing up lately that have purchased that tumbler. My first reaction is to talk you out of it and tell you it is a very entry level toy tumbler. On the other hand if that is what it takes to get people started then I say go for it. My only fear is that if people that are new to the hobby start off with inferior equipment they may not have as much success and therefor not continue. Regardless what tumbler you end up with I advise you to ask for instructions here VS using the ones that come with it. Here is a link to a recent thread about the National Geographic tumbler that might be helpful National Geographic TumblerChuck
|
|
lillian
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2018
Posts: 2
|
Post by lillian on Apr 28, 2018 19:42:17 GMT -5
Chuck: thank you for the link to the thread. After reading through it I think I will go ahead and order the Nat Geo tumbler for his birthday. From what I can tell, the biggest considerations are putting the right mix of rocks (sizes), grit and water vs. the tumbler itself.
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 28, 2018 20:01:10 GMT -5
Chuck: thank you for the link to the thread. After reading through it I think I will go ahead and order the Nat Geo tumbler for his birthday. From what I can tell, the biggest considerations are putting the right mix of rocks (sizes), grit and water vs. the tumbler itself. Glad to hear you are getting your son into rock tumbling. Myself and many others here got our start the same way. My first son was around 11 when I got him his first "hobby" tumbler and at that time I had no interest in rocks. Seven years later and now he is 18 and has other interests and I have stuck with the hobby and now have my second son into it. Chuck
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Apr 28, 2018 20:39:36 GMT -5
I purchased a Nat Geo tumbler for my Grandson as a Christmas present 2016. He opened it up... said woopii... and put it on a shelf never to touch it again.. Oh well... at 11 yrs he is a tough kid to buy presents for. Doing the research for the purchase of the tumbler was not very in-depth at the time, but it fueled my own interest in a new hobby... which since has become HAPPILY an obsession. I found this Forum and gained a little bit more knowledge about tumblers and guided me to purchase my first tumbler.. a Lortone 3A Kit.... Great Good Happies! I now wish I had purchased a Lortone 3A (or 33B) for my Grandson instead of the Nat Geo one. It is better engineered and quiet... IT LASTS! No problems for over a year of continuous use. It might have cost a few $$ more, but totally worth the extra. Chuck's (@drummond Island Rocks) advice is solid... as is Rob's ( Jugglerguy ) advice given in the link. Glenn
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 28, 2018 21:07:56 GMT -5
I’d highly recommend you buy a better tumbler, like a Lortone. The Rock Shed sells the Lortone 3A for $15 more than that National Geographic tumbler costs on Amazon. Personally, I sprang for the slightly more expensive 33B and got twice as much tumbling capacity. I’m still running that tumbler six years later.
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Apr 28, 2018 21:23:39 GMT -5
If you do buy from The Rock Shed, take advantage of their discount on grits and stones and get more coarse grit than the finer grits (recommend 5 lbs. It goes fast). In order to get the rocks well shaped, you will probably need to run the harder ones for up to a month or more in the coarse grit (60/90 grit or 80 grit for those smaller tumblers)... run the stones for a week then recharge with fresh coarse grit. Keep that up until the stones are shaped the way you want them to be.
The company instruction sheets usually call for way more grit than is necessary (unless you are using the small Nat Geo packets... then you are probably not using enough). I have been using the same number of tablespoons of coarse grit as the tumbler barrel is rated for (3-TBS grit for a 3 lb tumbler... all stages... all grit sizes).
Glenn
|
|
saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
|
Post by saxplayer on Apr 28, 2018 21:51:20 GMT -5
Everyone here will tell you to get the Lortone instead of the Nat Geo for $15 more. Better advice to get the double barrel one =)
You won't regret it at all.
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Apr 28, 2018 22:00:07 GMT -5
I'll be more blunt than others. Don't buy it. The entry level Lortones are a much better machine for not too much more money. You're basically considering a "toy" tumbler with a small capacity that may not produce results you are hoping for. With the Lortones, parts are readily available and capacity is a bit bigger. And, they're a proven product. Those are pluses at the end of the day. I'm glad you asked, but the decision is ultimately yours. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't spend the money on the NG tumbler if I was just starting out.
|
|
Daimon
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 20
|
Post by Daimon on Apr 29, 2018 16:41:50 GMT -5
I bought the NG Professional model (2lb capacity) in January. I followed the instructions and was initially disappointed with the results. Luckily I found this website and have taken the advice of the experts here. I have no problem with the machine but the instructions with it are too generic. I was expecting fully polished rocks in three weeks. To the delight of my grand daughter, I took my first batch out of the final polish yesterday, after 3 months!! In the intervening period I have bought two further small machines. A 2 and 3lb Beach. Unfortunately Lortones are hard to come by in the UK but I am ready if one does and have even got my hands on a voltage converter for the US standard. On the plus side my birthday was easy this year. I am hard to buy for being 60 and self sufficient. This year my reply to what I wanted was "rocks, rocks and more rocks". And that's just what I got.
|
|
salpal48
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2015
Posts: 136
|
Post by salpal48 on Apr 30, 2018 20:58:25 GMT -5
I do back the idea Of a small machine @ first. this is not to get the new person Overwhelmed @ first. Toy tumblers are just That . anyone remember the old skill craft . 1.5 lb. sometimes they worked , then There were time they did not. buy a small Lortone or thumler. the best will always be the best
|
|
|
Post by grumpybill on May 1, 2018 5:47:11 GMT -5
I never see it mentioned here, but in my opinion the Lortone 3-1.5 would make a pretty good beginner's machine. Doesn't require a lot of stones to get started and lets you run different stages at the same time.
|
|