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Post by Cher on Aug 8, 2004 14:23:51 GMT -5
I just got a used tumbler on ebay for $23.50 plus shipping. It's a 1.5 Lortone, small I know but I'm to impatient to wait anymore. ;D At least I'll be able to start something while I look for a bigger one.
Cher
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Aug 8, 2004 16:26:12 GMT -5
I told myself the same thing. Then I started buying all sorts of new rock and soon realized that I needed a 15 lb tumbler. After that, I said "I need another one." Now, I have a total of four, 15 lb tumblers and I'm looking into buying a new vibe for polishing! Oh, thats not to mention the almost 500 lb of rock I've accumulated. My credit cards are exausted! ;D
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Post by Cher on Aug 8, 2004 16:40:37 GMT -5
LOL yeah, I'm already looking for another one. Hubby already said, why'd you get a small one. Not going to buy the rocks though, have to go out and pick them myself.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 8, 2004 18:29:16 GMT -5
Not going to buy the rocks though, have to go out and pick them myself. i live where i have to buy to get anything really good but i'm betting even if i didn't i'd still have to buy them AND pick them up. i have rocks outside, rocks inside, on the counters, in my vehicle, in buckets, in boxes, in tupperware and butter bowls...............kind of sounds like something from dr. seuss ;D. i really need to have a day of organizing the rocks. kim
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 8, 2004 20:28:14 GMT -5
I've got a 3# vibe and, for the time being, it's all I can handle, takes up most of the little spare time I have. That and the fact that I'm using a dremel to shape an just got my jewlery findings from Kingsley North. Also got an extra bowl for pre ploish/ polish. Gonna start making some things tonight! In my humble opinion, a three pounder is a good place to start. You can keep up with it while you learn. The 1 1/2 lb will only satisfy you for a short time Good Luck! I started with local rock and very quickly began to trade a nd puchase. cookie
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 8, 2004 20:39:56 GMT -5
Hi, my name is krazydiamond and i started with one 3 pound Chicago Electric, now i am up to 5-3 pound tumblers and a 6 inch trim saw......my addiction keeps getting worse and i am looking to get a grinder next. i am one happy camper ;D de plane, de plane..... KD
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Aug 8, 2004 21:26:54 GMT -5
My name hasn't changed over the years , but my addiction to rocks has ...IN A BIG WAY ... ;D
I bought just the one QT6 and use a borrowed machine. Since a few weeks I have these big heavy barrels in my lapiday workroom and even managed to find a motor to drive them. Well , the short end of the story is that I get too many stones with flat surfaces. I have a feeling that they are not going round fast enough. I think I have to increase the size of the small pully on the motor, from 2 to 2.5". Shoudl increase the revolutions of the Barrels from 30 to hopefully 40 revs/minute.
Keep 'm rolling
Jack
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 8, 2004 21:52:20 GMT -5
jack somewhere is the massive amount of info in this forum i remember reading that if you don't use enough size mix in the tumbler you'll get these flats. seems like it said if the stones were all basically the same size this would happen. but there may be other reasons it would happen too.
kim
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 8, 2004 22:20:41 GMT -5
I like the flat surfaces. But then again, I'mbegining to see how a piece of jewlery would sit on the neck or ear. Or how a stone could be best mounted. Since I got my findings I'm having way too much fun ;D
cookie
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Aug 8, 2004 22:35:58 GMT -5
You have truely been infected with rock sickness. I started with a 3lb chicago tumbler then I made a couple of frames now I have 4 6lb lortone barrels and a 15lb on the way from ebay shoot now I have to make another frame
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Aug 8, 2004 22:57:06 GMT -5
Hi Kim, Are you saying that I should try first to change the mix instead of the pully? or should I do both ?
I contacted the person that I purchased the barrels from , and he came out here with a box full of petrified wood for me to cut, as well as a number of intersting lapidary books. He showed me one with speedy barrels and he thought I might benefit of an increased tumble speed ....as well as put more smaller stones in the mix.
I was trtying very hard to keep all the rocks from a certain beach as one batch.....but it seems that was the wrong way . I think now that there were enough smaller ones in it.
What the heck , might as well ruin my pebble path as it is and return the smaller ones in due course...polished or not .
Jack
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 8, 2004 23:52:31 GMT -5
i tried to go back and find the info on the flats with no luck so far but did find this post from ron about speeding up the barrels. When you say that the motor is running slower, it sounds like you really mean that the barrel is running slower. Assuming that is the case, you can increase the rotational speed of the barrel by simply increasing the diameter of the drive roll. I would try and clean the roll, and then wrap it with tape. Wrap it twice and try it, then add more or remove some if necessary. Remember that there is a direct porportional relationship here. Since the drive roll is so small to begin with, small changes make a big difference. A 10% increase in roll diameter will give a 10% increase in barrel rotational speed. It could be that over the years the drive roll has just worn down a bit and a little tape will fix it. Ron worth a try. kim
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 9, 2004 0:14:31 GMT -5
hi jack--- i think you will do better with both change pully more movement and smaller pieces mixed in to carry the grit---im pretty sure it was james that just said he was useing a faster motor in his model b-s and it was shaping faster with the extra speed
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Aug 9, 2004 0:23:50 GMT -5
I just won a Thumler 15 pounder last week on Ebay (and, was outbid on another one this week). Got it set up and running on Saturday, my wife just noticed today! She didn't believe me that the tumblers were breeding and multiplying! She said something like "do you think I was born under a rock?" No fooling my wife.
I am thinking that I need a vibrating tumbler for the intermediate steps and polishing to "speed up" the process. But, I am worried that the Vibe will make too much noise. And, I am not sure how I will explain the Vibe to my wife.
Cal
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Aug 9, 2004 0:56:56 GMT -5
That phrase has a whole new meaning to us rockhounds now doesn't it. I wonder what her reaction would be if the next time she says that to you, you tell her that if she was born under a rock that it had to have been the most beautiful piece of agate ever seen!
Otter
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Aug 9, 2004 23:29:06 GMT -5
Your right Otter, I use to pull her leg all the time. So, she started asking are you serious. I would reply that I was joking, then she would bop me one.
I think she is starting to see the beauty of the rocks. Hmmmm, let's see, we can use the blue lace agate as an accent piece in the bathroom, the adventurine has a neat banded pattern, that botswana agates looks cool, etc.
If I use the agate line on her, she'll be asking whats an agate.
Cal
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