rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Aug 22, 2024 8:51:39 GMT -5
I use a tablespoon of borax (although I have cut this back for the mini to maybe 1.5 tablespoons lately) Some great info! I'm assuming you meant 1.5 teaspoons? |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 22, 2024 9:29:31 GMT -5
Wow! There is some great information in this thread. Here is my two cents worth. I use both a Lot-O and a mini sonic MT4 for 220 and polish. In general for pre-polish and polish, I use the same amount of borax and polish from a recipe that I got from a Michigan Rocks video Jugglerguy which I think was from others on the forum probably including Chuck. So for pre-polish and polish I use a tablespoon of borax (although I have cut this back for the mini to maybe 1.5 tablespoons lately) and a half teaspoon of polish. Since the mini is approximately 2 pounds and Lot-O is 3 pounds, I am adding a little more polish than you would with the Lot-O on a weight basis. Since the motion and speed in the mini is every bit as much and fast as in the Lot-O, I have again followed the same times as Rob does with the Lot-O recipe. Now, I have to admit that my tumbles are not as perfect as Rob's and Chuck's (man they are great), but I can't detect any difference between the polish in the Lot-O and in the mini. The downside of the mini (MT4) is the smaller capacity and being careful not to get larger or longer rocks that will jam in the unit. I do like the fact that it is not as sensitive to adding water as the Lot-O is. Chris Here is the biggest difference I see between the two and this is what tells me that something about the lot-o is working much more efficiently. I have neve seen the mini-sonic give these results in the 500 stage no matter how long I run it.     Chuck |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 22, 2024 11:17:46 GMT -5
#4 and #8 must be two halves of the same rock. I really like those. 9 and 11 really stood out too. I have had a few people ask about the mini sonic in my YouTube comments. I haven't been able to find any really good instructions for how to use it. Looks like you have it down pretty good right now. Have you or would you be willing to make a thread on what your process is? I have an instruction manual for it, but it doesn't say anything about what speed to use. I can email it to you if you'd like. Thanks, but I don't have any plans to buy one. When the Lot-O tumblers started having motor problems and before people fiugred out how to replace the motor with a better, cheaper one, I thought about getting one. |
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Post by chris1956 on Aug 22, 2024 12:16:21 GMT -5
I use a tablespoon of borax (although I have cut this back for the mini to maybe 1.5 tablespoons lately) Some great info! I'm assuming you meant 1.5 teaspoons? Must be a wasn't awake yet. On the mini I usually use between a 1/2 and 3/4 of a tablespoon (I think I said 1.5 because I have a 1/2 tablespoon scoop in the borax). |
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Post by chris1956 on Aug 22, 2024 13:39:02 GMT -5
Wow! There is some great information in this thread. Here is my two cents worth. I use both a Lot-O and a mini sonic MT4 for 220 and polish. In general for pre-polish and polish, I use the same amount of borax and polish from a recipe that I got from a Michigan Rocks video Jugglerguy which I think was from others on the forum probably including Chuck. So for pre-polish and polish I use a tablespoon of borax (although I have cut this back for the mini to maybe 1.5 tablespoons lately) and a half teaspoon of polish. Since the mini is approximately 2 pounds and Lot-O is 3 pounds, I am adding a little more polish than you would with the Lot-O on a weight basis. Since the motion and speed in the mini is every bit as much and fast as in the Lot-O, I have again followed the same times as Rob does with the Lot-O recipe. Now, I have to admit that my tumbles are not as perfect as Rob's and Chuck's (man they are great), but I can't detect any difference between the polish in the Lot-O and in the mini. The downside of the mini (MT4) is the smaller capacity and being careful not to get larger or longer rocks that will jam in the unit. I do like the fact that it is not as sensitive to adding water as the Lot-O is. Chris Here is the biggest difference I see between the two and this is what tells me that something about the lot-o is working much more efficiently. I have neve seen the mini-sonic give these results in the 500 stage no matter how long I run it. Chuck Well gosh Chuck, you are going to make me do a side by side comparison to prove to myself which is better.  I have some small obsidian (not sure that is the best material to use) but I will try running some in both units and adjust grit and polish for less weight in the mini and see what happens. Probably be a few weeks before I get to it. I was trying to think of the reasons the mini mike not do as well as the Lot-O. One thing I have noticed is that the shape of the mini tends to get rocks rotating in a straight line rotation motion (from the straight sides?) whereas in the Lot-O it seems like the rocks move around side to side more than the mini. Another thing I like about the Lot-O is it seems a little more gental on rocks. I am more comfortable putting the Christmas ornaments in the Lot-O than I am with the mini. I recently tried a couple in the mini. One broke a lot but it was the crystal quartz and they always have a higher rate of breaking. The other was brown jasper which is really hard but I noticed it did chip in a couple places. Don't know if this was from "jamming" action or something else. Chris |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 22, 2024 14:12:32 GMT -5
Wow! There is some great information in this thread. Here is my two cents worth. I use both a Lot-O and a mini sonic MT4 for 220 and polish. In general for pre-polish and polish, I use the same amount of borax and polish from a recipe that I got from a Michigan Rocks video Jugglerguy which I think was from others on the forum probably including Chuck. So for pre-polish and polish I use a tablespoon of borax (although I have cut this back for the mini to maybe 1.5 tablespoons lately) and a half teaspoon of polish. Since the mini is approximately 2 pounds and Lot-O is 3 pounds, I am adding a little more polish than you would with the Lot-O on a weight basis. Since the motion and speed in the mini is every bit as much and fast as in the Lot-O, I have again followed the same times as Rob does with the Lot-O recipe. Now, I have to admit that my tumbles are not as perfect as Rob's and Chuck's (man they are great), but I can't detect any difference between the polish in the Lot-O and in the mini. The downside of the mini (MT4) is the smaller capacity and being careful not to get larger or longer rocks that will jam in the unit. I do like the fact that it is not as sensitive to adding water as the Lot-O is. Chris This is lot-o obsidian after 500. I have tried obsidian in the mini with nowhere near these results at 500.  |
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I have some small obsidian (not sure that is the best material to use) but I will try running some in both units and adjust grit and polish for less weight in the mini and see what happens. Probably be a few weeks before I get to it. 
Nov 14, 2024 18:17:57 GMT -5
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Nov 14, 2024 18:17:57 GMT -5
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
