jabomb9
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2018
Posts: 6
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Post by jabomb9 on Dec 28, 2018 20:05:16 GMT -5
Hello,
I’m new to the forum and hobby, but I picked up a QT6. I am confused about the capacity though. I understand 6lbs is what the tumbler is rated for, but is that 6lbs total (contents of barrel AND barrel/lid) or 6lbs of rocks/media/pellets/water?
Just trying to not overwork the motor
Thanks!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 28, 2018 20:47:14 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. QT6 is a nice tumbler. For the most part it is less about the weight and more about proper fill level. General rule of thumb is to fill the barrel 75% full. I used several Lortone tumblers for years and never weighed any rocks.
A lortone 6 pound barrel is 3.5 inches from the bottom to the lip where the lid goes. Leaving 25% at the top means the top of the rocks would be 7/8" below the lid lip. Some people make little templates they can rest on top of the barrel to make it easier to get that right every time.
Chuck
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 28, 2018 21:02:28 GMT -5
If you make a template the dimension from the bottom of barrel to the template would be 2.625". In this drawing the template is shown in red. Pretty easy to make out of wood but a temporary one can be made from thick cardboard. Chuck
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Post by aDave on Dec 28, 2018 22:50:02 GMT -5
Chuck and Rob have given you great advice. Nothing for me to add. I will say, however, I'm using the same barrels in a QT-66 (2 six-pound barrels), and I just "eyeball" my levels. I just know where I need to be, and I add rocks to that level. That's just me. If you're new, maybe the template will help you for now. ETA: Hmm...I thought Rob posted here. I had multiple tabs open, so maybe I was looking at another thread.
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Post by parfive on Dec 29, 2018 11:15:00 GMT -5
It ain’t rocket science – don’t sweat the little marks on the ruler.
No rockets here either . . .
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 29, 2018 12:40:25 GMT -5
It may not be rocket science but there are helpful guidelines, tips and tricks that may actually help NEW tumblers.
Chuck
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hnhstngs
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2018
Posts: 93
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Post by hnhstngs on Dec 29, 2018 16:43:15 GMT -5
It ain’t rocket science – don’t sweat the little marks on the ruler. As a new tumbler I had trouble estimating "75% full" and found a template to be useful in learning what that level looked like in my barrels. Sometimes it's good to pay attention to the little marks until you figure out what marks you can ignore ....
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Post by aDave on Dec 29, 2018 22:55:19 GMT -5
It ain’t rocket science – don’t sweat the little marks on the ruler. Would love to see your expertise as it relates to your opinion. Photos would be helpful to illustrate your point. Do you even tumble?
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Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 29, 2018 23:30:38 GMT -5
I actually emailed Lortone one time because this question comes up fairly often. The six pound rating does not include water or the barrel weight, Chuck gave you some good advice, don’t worry abought the weight, the fill level is more important.
I have a QT66, which I believe has the same motor, but has room for two barrels the size of yours, so overworking the motor should not worry you.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 29, 2018 23:44:32 GMT -5
I actually emailed Lortone one time because this question comes up fairly often. The six pound rating does not include water or the barrel weight, Chuck gave you some good advice, don’t worry abought the weight, the fill level is more important. I have a QT66, which I believe has the same motor, but has room for two barrels the size of yours, so overworking the motor should not worry you. Good catch on the motor size. I forgot Lortone uses the same motor for the single six and double six bases. They do that for the single 3 and double three bases too. Chuck
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kskid
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2014
Posts: 98
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Post by kskid on Dec 30, 2018 0:28:53 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. QT6 is a nice tumbler. For the most part it is less about the weight and more about proper fill level. General rule of thumb is to fill the barrel 75% full. I used several Lortone tumblers for years and never weighed any rocks. A lortone 6 pound barrel is 3.5 inches from the bottom to the lip where the lid goes. Leaving 25% at the top means the top of the rocks would be 7/8" below the lid lip. Some people make little templates they can rest on top of the barrel to make it easier to get that right every time. Chuck X2 Welcome to the forum, jabomb9 & congrats on your QT6!
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Post by parfive on Dec 30, 2018 1:09:01 GMT -5
It ain’t rocket science – don’t sweat the little marks on the ruler. Would love to see your expertise as it relates to your opinion. Photos would be helpful to illustrate your point. Do you even tumble? Yeah, but the wife’s got me on a really tight budget so I only fill the barrel about 32.625% and skip half the stages to save on grit. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/29736/experiment-60-90-ao-polish
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jabomb9
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2018
Posts: 6
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Post by jabomb9 on Dec 30, 2018 1:47:33 GMT -5
Great information. Thanks for all the help!
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Post by grumpybill on Dec 30, 2018 8:03:44 GMT -5
It ain’t rocket science – don’t sweat the little marks on the ruler. Would love to see your expertise as it relates to your opinion. Photos would be helpful to illustrate your point. Do you even tumble? My dad always said "There aren't any marks smaller than 1/2" on a bricklayer's ruler." Sure enough...his folding rule was usually worn so bad you could barely see the numbers, let alone any little lines. <laughing> Never ask a woman to estimate distance. We men have them convinced that this {holds fingers 6" apart} is 10".
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 30, 2018 12:07:40 GMT -5
One can cut off a one gallon milk jug and make a large measuring cup out of it. Fill it level to the top with rocks. Shake it a bit to get the rocks to settle as it is filled. Transfer them to barrel. It doesn't hurt to record weights on the measuring cup with a Sharpie but it is the mechanical volume that counts; rocks vary in density. A barrel 3/4 full of garnets can weigh 35% more than a barrel 3/4 full of agate. Don't go by weight. It is the volume that counts.
Short stumpy barrels like the Lortone 6 and squarish barrels can be tricky to get an accurate 3/4 fill. Long barrels are easier to measure a 3/4 fill.
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