mariemartin
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2020
Posts: 1
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Post by mariemartin on Jun 9, 2020 15:05:30 GMT -5
Hello My Name is Marie. I got a rock tumbler for Christmas. I am not a kid but i have wanted one since i was a kid and so i finally got one. I have been collecting all kinds of rocks that i find pretty and tumbling them.. some turned out really nice others not so much... however i have managed to break 4 belts and make a lot of messes. I think i finally have the belt thingy conquered but i have a question about weight... i have a 3lb rotary tumbler. it isn't anything fancy.. it is a harbor freight special... chicago electric to be exact.. so i know it is not the top of the line or anything.. but for someone new to this it works just fine... my dumb question is... does 3'bs include the weight of the tumbler with nothing in it? if so then following the instructions that say 3/4 full will not work.. and in fact has been the cause of belt breakage. i followed the instructions.. how much water and grit and rocks etc... when i weigh it it comes out nearly 5lbs. sooo i reduced the rocks and now i have a barely half full barrel and it is exactly 3lbs on the nose! i am doing a polish step.. the rocks i am tumbling do not need anything else.. they will look soo pretty as they are all shiny. I just happen to have a bunch of already smooth rounded stones that just need to shine. soooo does it include the barrel and if not can i just subtract the barrel weight so i can continue to follow the instructions? a lil help would be lovely... or a lot.. thanks in advance!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 9, 2020 15:11:29 GMT -5
Welcome aboard from Virginia. May I offer a tip? Change your font color. A lot of us use a dark background and can't read this without highlighting first.
Sorry I can't help with tumbling, but we've got a lot of great tumblers here who can.
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stonemon
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2017
Posts: 1,024
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Post by stonemon on Jun 9, 2020 15:18:23 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum!
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Post by knave on Jun 9, 2020 15:59:34 GMT -5
Hello My Name is Marie. I got a rock tumbler for Christmas. I am not a kid but i have wanted one since i was a kid and so i finally got one. I have been collecting all kinds of rocks that i find pretty and tumbling them.. some turned out really nice others not so much... however i have managed to break 4 belts and make a lot of messes. I think i finally have the belt thingy conquered but i have a question about weight... i have a 3lb rotary tumbler. it isn't anything fancy.. it is a harbor freight special... chicago electric to be exact.. so i know it is not the top of the line or anything.. but for someone new to this it works just fine... my dumb question is... does 3'bs include the weight of the tumbler with nothing in it? if so then following the instructions that say 3/4 full will not work.. and in fact has been the cause of belt breakage. i followed the instructions.. how much water and grit and rocks etc... when i weigh it it comes out nearly 5lbs. sooo i reduced the rocks and now i have a barely half full barrel and it is exactly 3lbs on the nose! i am doing a polish step.. the rocks i am tumbling do not need anything else.. they will look soo pretty as they are all shiny. I just happen to have a bunch of already smooth rounded stones that just need to shine. soooo does it include the barrel and if not can i just subtract the barrel weight so i can continue to follow the instructions? a lil help would be lovely... or a lot.. thanks in advance!
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Post by knave on Jun 9, 2020 16:01:15 GMT -5
Welcome. Disregard weight, use volume. 2-3 to 3/4 is correct. Clean shafts, oil bushings. Get a Lortone welcome again!
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Jun 9, 2020 16:12:51 GMT -5
Welcome from the Desert Southwest, Marie! You have found the right place. I would be willing to bet that many of us RTH'ers have the same model of tumbler as you do, and should be able to help out Suggestion that you copy / paste your post here, and create a new thread in the 'Rock Tumbling" forum. That will give it a lot of visibility, and the most people can chime in to help out. It actually sounds like you are on the right track and learning a lot about your new tumbler. Some times the "polishing" step which the manufacturer gives your, or the "polishing" powder (very often AO-1200) is not actually a finishing polish at all. But is considered rather, a Pre-Polish stage. To get truly outstanding results you might want to consider buying some "Aluminum Oxide polish" from the 'Rock Shed'. link: therockshed.com/grit.htmlIf you end up finding the time to take pictures, even better!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 9, 2020 21:21:41 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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Post by Pat on Jun 9, 2020 23:03:59 GMT -5
Welcome from California ! Not a tumbler, but there are tumbling experts here.
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Post by rmf on Jun 10, 2020 5:30:49 GMT -5
mariemartin as knave pointed out ignore the weight. The 3# barrel is suppose to hold three pounds of rock but you can't actually get 3# of rock (normal Quartz/Jasper) in the barrel since it comes to the top and you could not close the lid. It is marketing, not how you use it. The tumbler drum when 75% - 80% full allows enough room for the grit to and the movement of the rock to grind each other. The total weight is the issue. The shaft will support the weight and as Knave said oil the bearings. the big issue with your tumbler from people who I have seen is the belts are brittle.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 10, 2020 9:49:43 GMT -5
Howdy.... Sorry can't read your message, because of the color..
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jun 10, 2020 10:07:52 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington.
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Post by TheRock on Jun 23, 2020 9:26:10 GMT -5
from SW/Michigan ~Duke
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