yelshaear
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2020
Posts: 1
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Post by yelshaear on Nov 22, 2020 21:10:16 GMT -5
Hello all! First of all, my apologies if this has been asked a thousand times before. I have been rockhounding, mostly in Nevada, for the past few years and have amassed quite a collection of rocks that are just sitting around. I meant to join a gem and mineral club this year to start working with them but unfortunately COVID put a damper on that. Ultimately I would love to slab and cab my finds, but I figure that tumbling is a good place to start (I am lazy and I like the idea of tumble finishing a cab). Do you have a recommendation for a tumbler for a beginner? Perhaps a brand that I could look for on Ebay used? Also open to new, preferably <$150. I appreciate your patience and advice. I'm looking forward to sharing photos and finished creations in the future!
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rocket
spending too much on rocks
Quality slabs for quality cabs in 2022
Member since September 2020
Posts: 292
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Post by rocket on Nov 22, 2020 21:37:18 GMT -5
Welcome from Maryland...there is lots of great advice here...I started exactly like you are planning
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Post by rmf on Nov 23, 2020 7:02:41 GMT -5
the Lortone 3A is a good beginner tumbler. Easy growth to a 33B which takes two drums of the 3A.
I for my self got into tumbling last after cabbing. It was a way to deal with the left over scraps. Tumbling is too slow to feed my need for excitement. I really like the immediate reward of slabbing. though cabbing is my go to.
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 23, 2020 7:54:24 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota!
Some of your decision hinges on the size of rocks you want to tumble, but if they are all less than 2", you could go with a new single 3 pound barrel Thumler's A-R1 for $118 or a new double 3 pound barrel Thumler's A-R2 for $130. You can get these from rockshed.com...once they're back in stock. They slowly get them in at the moment due to Covid creating issues at the Thumler's factory.
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Post by aDave on Nov 23, 2020 14:40:44 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
Hmmm...tumble finished cabs? I'm not so sure a rotary tumbler is the best way to go for that, but I really don't know. Based upon my tumbling experience, I'd be more inclined to recommend a vibe for this. The results are more predictable and breakage seems less likely. Again, I'm just guessing, but the bad part about getting a vibe is that some are above your budget. I think a Lot-O would be perfect, but a new one is well above what you'd like to spend. Good luck.
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Post by Mel on Nov 23, 2020 14:43:45 GMT -5
I know some people use a dremel for polishing and doing small cab jobs, but I have zero experience there. Are you already cutting cabs? A vibratory tumbler for finishing them would be the way to go (or use the wheels on a cabbing machine). A rotary is a lot cheaper, but will take off mass and round the rock out (which you may or may not want). For getting started doing slabbing and rough cabbing on the cheap, a tile saw & lapidary blade, along with a vibratory tumbler would probably be the best way to go about it. Watch your local Craigslist or similar for used lapidary equipment too; some great deals to be found if you're patient. Edit: For a rotary tumbler, I suggest the Lortone 3A or 33B (often found used in the ~$100 range, check your Facebook marketplace or Craigslist) and then if you decide you're really going to go into rocks it becomes a massive can of worms
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 23, 2020 15:38:54 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. Hmmm...tumble finished cabs? I'm not so sure a rotary tumbler is the best way to go for that, but I really don't know. Based upon my tumbling experience, I'd be more inclined to recommend a vibe for this. The results are more predictable and breakage seems less likely. Again, I'm just guessing, but the bad part about getting a vibe is that some are above your budget. I think a Lot-O would be perfect, but a new one is well above what you'd like to spend. Good luck. Good catch Dave! I did not pay close enough attention where the OP said he wanted to finish "cabs" in the tumbler! OOPS! I saw "tumble" and "price"... I have not heard of anyone finishing a cab in a rotary...but numerous people do in the vibe...again, good catch. I know some people use a dremel for polishing and doing small cab jobs, but I have zero experience there. Are you already cutting cabs? A vibratory tumbler for finishing them would be the way to go (or use the wheels on a cabbing machine). A rotary is a lot cheaper, but will take off mass and round the rock out (which you may or may not want). For getting started doing slabbing and rough cabbing on the cheap, a tile saw & lapidary blade, along with a vibratory tumbler would probably be the best way to go about it. Watch your local Craigslist or similar for used lapidary equipment too; some great deals to be found if you're patient. Edit: For a rotary tumbler, I suggest the Lortone 3A or 33B (often found used in the ~$100 range, check your Facebook marketplace or Craigslist) and then if you decide you're really going to go into rocks it becomes a massive can of worms Very true...an option to finish a cab would be with a dremel...but the OP said "lazy" (his words - not mine LOL), and I wouldn't say the dremel would fit that. It's pretty time consuming - or at least it has been for me thus far.
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Post by miket on Nov 23, 2020 16:08:29 GMT -5
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Post by Mel on Nov 23, 2020 16:31:37 GMT -5
jasoninsd - I always equate "lazy method" to "cheap method" because I'm (generally) both ). I opted to skip the dremel and go to cutting with a tile saw & polishing in the rotary (was not making cabs, just round pendants, nothing fancy; work with what you've got right?)....and then it sorta snowballed....
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