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Post by rockhoundingwithkids on Apr 21, 2020 10:39:52 GMT -5
Our Lortone 3A has died (I'll make a solid attempt to fix it someday but for now lets just throw money at the problem.) It worked well for our needs, we could throw stuff in and forget about it so time is not a problem. Now that we're in the market we are looking at double barrels. We have various rock, nothing in particular. We're "casual" tumblers and go off basic recipes and move them to the next stage when they look ready and the kids help. Is there really a huge utility bill difference with these smaller tumblers? After reading a bunch of threads I'm not really sure which route to go but I think either the Lortone QT66 (which it seems no one has in stock) or the Lot O Double barrel. There hasn't been any others that jump out at me... suggestions? Thanks for reading!
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Post by manofglass on Apr 21, 2020 11:35:14 GMT -5
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Post by RocksInNJ on Apr 21, 2020 16:44:06 GMT -5
I have and love the QT-66. As far as being in stock. It usually doesn’t take The Rock Shed to long to get them back in stock, but that may be different atm with all this Corona stuff going on. I’d call them and ask when they expect them back in. Also do note that the Lot-O can’t be used for the first rough stage and is meant only for stages 2 and above. Put both of them together and you have an excellent set up for polishing rocks. The rotary for rough and the vibe for everything else. The vibe will use a lot less grit and do the work faster than a rotary as well.
If you do decide to purchase both. There’s no need to buy a dual Lot-0 since it’s quicker with each stage. You’d have a hard time feeding both Lot-O barrels with just the Qt-66 and you can’t just run one Lot-O barrel. Both need to be full to balance the machine. So I’d suggest a QT-66 and a single barrel Lot-O if it’s doable. If not then just the Qt-66.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Apr 22, 2020 7:05:35 GMT -5
Hi - I'm a rock hound with kids and grandkids! I sent my daughter and her two girls in Seattle a Thumler's Tumbler A-R2 double barrel. It is sturdy and each granddaughter has her own barrel. That said if you want to step up a bit I might recommend the Thumler's 12 pound A-R12 which is a workhorse and will tumble all the kids rocks. The prices are comparable. If you want to go cheap Harbor Freight has one for $60 +/- but the quality is questionable. Have fun with the kids! Here is a link to the mentioned tumblers. rocktumbler.com/
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Post by knave on Apr 22, 2020 8:34:43 GMT -5
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Post by joshuamcduffie on Apr 22, 2020 8:39:40 GMT -5
The problem with moving to a bigger tumbler (like going from a 3A to a QT66) is keeping it fed. Your material costs will go up substantially. I personally am loving the combination of having a large rotary for the first stage and a vib for the later stages, but it's tough keeping the vib fed as well.
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Post by knave on Apr 22, 2020 8:49:27 GMT -5
The single loto is perfect for me. It can process a lot of rocks.
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stewdogg
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 388
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Post by stewdogg on Apr 22, 2020 10:03:35 GMT -5
Hi - I'm a rock hound with kids and grandkids! I sent my daughter and her two girls in Seattle a Thumler's Tumbler A-R2 double barrel. It is sturdy and each granddaughter has her own barrel. That said if you want to step up a bit I might recommend the Thumler's 12 pound A-R12 which is a workhorse and will tumble all the kids rocks. The prices are comparable. If you want to go cheap Harbor Freight has one for $60 +/- but the quality is questionable. Have fun with the kids! Here is a link to the mentioned tumblers. rocktumbler.com/I would advise against going with the cheap Harbor Freight tumbler because you will be back in the same place you are right now a lot quicker than with the Lortone you currently have. I have been constantly fighting to keep my HF double tumbler going and this week the motor took a poop. I was thinking of fixing it, but don't want to constantly be fixing the darn thing, I want to tumble rocks. I have cars and a house if I feel the need to fix things. I currently have Lortone 3A, TV-5 and will purcahse a QT66 or Thumler double barrel to replace my fragile Harbor Freight tumbler.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 22, 2020 10:04:40 GMT -5
I stick to Lortones, easy to maintain, easy repairs and overhauls... Sounds like the motor went on yours, easy fix!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 22, 2020 10:05:37 GMT -5
Hi - I'm a rock hound with kids and grandkids! I sent my daughter and her two girls in Seattle a Thumler's Tumbler A-R2 double barrel. It is sturdy and each granddaughter has her own barrel. That said if you want to step up a bit I might recommend the Thumler's 12 pound A-R12 which is a workhorse and will tumble all the kids rocks. The prices are comparable. If you want to go cheap Harbor Freight has one for $60 +/- but the quality is questionable. Have fun with the kids! Here is a link to the mentioned tumblers. rocktumbler.com/I would advise against going with the cheap Harbor Freight tumbler because you will be back in the same place you are right now a lot quicker than with the Lortone you currently have. I have been constantly fighting to keep my HF double tumbler going and this week the motor took a poop. I was thinking of fixing it, but don't want to constantly be fixing the darn thing, I want to tumble rocks. I have cars and a house if I feel the need to fix things. I currently have Lortone 3A, TV-5 and will purcahse a QT66 or Thumler double barrel to replace my fragile Harbor Freight tumbler. HF's are junk, not worth the effort to repair... Good call!
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stewdogg
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 388
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Post by stewdogg on Apr 22, 2020 10:25:40 GMT -5
I stick to Lortones, easy to maintain, easy repairs and overhauls... Sounds like the motor went on yours, easy fix! I completely agree it's an easy fix. I just don't want to keep fixing it every 3-4 weeks like I have been. The HF tumbler is so loud as well compared to the Lortone. I feel like I could leave the Lrotone for days without issue, but the HF I have to check every day due to the fear of failure or fire. I just keep thinking if I should let this thing nickel and dime me to the cost of a new QT66... I very quickly got the the same thought process as you and most around here that I stick to Lortones now...
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Post by rockhoundingwithkids on Apr 23, 2020 12:03:48 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies! Don't want cheap... not a fan of harbor freight anything. I'd much rather spend a few extra bucks and get quality. Is it really necessary to have a tumbler for the first stage? I realize it may shape them differently but from what I've read it sounds like the Lot-O can handle the first stage as well? I think we do want to stay on the smaller end, the 3A barrels seem a good size for what we're tumbling. As far as to what happend to the lortone it spins but the second you put the barrel on it stops and when I first discovered a problem there was black shavings covering the bottom, not sure what it was from didn't seem to come from the barrel or top. Like I said I haven't taken a screw driver to it yet. I stick to Lortones, easy to maintain, easy repairs and overhauls... Sounds like the motor went on yours, easy fix!
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Post by knave on Apr 23, 2020 12:29:34 GMT -5
You can get shiny rock with just the loto. They won’t be shaped as smoothly.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on Apr 25, 2020 9:39:15 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies! Don't want cheap... not a fan of harbor freight anything. I'd much rather spend a few extra bucks and get quality. Is it really necessary to have a tumbler for the first stage? I realize it may shape them differently but from what I've read it sounds like the Lot-O can handle the first stage as well? I think we do want to stay on the smaller end, the 3A barrels seem a good size for what we're tumbling. As far as to what happend to the lortone it spins but the second you put the barrel on it stops and when I first discovered a problem there was black shavings covering the bottom, not sure what it was from didn't seem to come from the barrel or top. Like I said I haven't taken a screw driver to it yet. I stick to Lortones, easy to maintain, easy repairs and overhauls... Sounds like the motor went on yours, easy fix! I have 3 Lortones and a vibe. I have a very old qt6 and when it has the following problems here's what I did: Spinning until you I put barrels on: I replaced my belt. 4 bucks at the rock shed. Motor died: got a new one for 60 bucks and replaced (super easy) at rock shed I think. Black shavings: likely from barrel, if metal likely lid. Squeaky: trIflow oil on the bar ends. I have the 3A and have run it for 1.5 y without incident. Had qt66 running for a year but hard to keep fed QT6 did great over motor change. The thumler's 10 vibe: wow, gets things done in a hurry! Hope this is helpful.
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Post by rmf on Apr 25, 2020 13:47:19 GMT -5
rockhoundingwithkids The obvious advantage of the QT66 is that if you wish to go with a larger drum the QT66 and the QT12 are the same tumbler frame. So it will take two 6lb drums or one 12lb drum. Lortone sell 3A replacement motors and they are easy to wire in. BTW are your kids pebble pups?
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Post by rockhoundingwithkids on Apr 25, 2020 17:28:16 GMT -5
Well my almost 3yr old picks up anything resembling petrified wood and says "Look! Petrified wood!" if that counts, along with anything yellow "oooooooooo looooook GOOOOOLLLLLDDDD" (I don't think we sound quite like that...) and knows her crystals. So in that regard yes, but the baby is still just a rock biter/eater. When we lived in Ventura, CA they had a pebble pups club and I haven't started looking into programs yet here. rockhoundingwithkids The obvious advantage of the QT66 is that if you wish to go with a larger drum the QT66 and the QT12 are the same tumbler frame. So it will take two 6lb drums or one 12lb drum. Lortone sell 3A replacement motors and they are easy to wire in. BTW are your kids pebble pups?
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on May 11, 2020 21:57:29 GMT -5
Update: I inspected my 3A today and noticed more black shavings than I normally see. I noticed the shavings are from the spinning rods (drive shafts?) that are covered in a foamy sort of plastic. In the case of the 3A some of those shavings are originating there. I find this annoying and will keep my eye on them, I'd hate to have to replace or recover them. Especially having a qt6 from the 60s that keeps on truckin'.
Happy tumbler shopping.
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Post by Pat on May 11, 2020 22:17:14 GMT -5
I like tumbled rocks all smooth and shiny. I’m so glad so many like to tumble because when I tried it, it made me all whiny..,😂
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Post by rockhoundingwithkids on May 15, 2020 17:53:08 GMT -5
Ended up buying a Lot-O and have been doing lots of reading. The rockshed was very helpful and added lots of additional information in with my order. From what I've read it needs to be secured to a cement block or floor. The floor is out of the question but as far as cement blocks go are all created equal or has someone found an ideal arrangement?
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Post by knave on May 15, 2020 17:56:28 GMT -5
Ended up buying a Lot-O and have been doing lots of reading. The rockshed was very helpful and added lots of additional information in with my order. From what I've read it needs to be secured to a cement block or floor. The floor is out of the question but as far as cement blocks go are all created equal or has someone found an ideal arrangement? It’s up to you, but any pavers stacked/glued together in appropriate size would be fine.
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