rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
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Post by rockhoundmn on Feb 8, 2021 17:48:47 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
Hoping to get some info on Lot-O maintenance, specifically what everyone does as far as cleaning or oiling, how often etc.
Also a more specific question about tumble times and frequency. I'm currently using mine to clean cement off self collected rocks so I can tell whether they are worth keeping. I'm using a mix of borax and dish detergent for 4 hours at a time which has had very good results. But I can't help but feel like this might be an extra burden on a machine that is designed to run for longer periods without stopping and starting so frequently.
I do plan to contact Belt Inc once they are open again. In the meantime, does anyone have any thoughts or experience on this?
Thanks in advance!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 8, 2021 18:08:55 GMT -5
I don’t oil my motor, but I did just burn one up after about ten years of use. I think the motor says “sealed bearings” on it, so I don’t think you can oil it. As far as cleaning, I just while the dust off I with a damp cloth occasionally.
I almost always tumble in rotary tumbler first for many weeks and then do seven days in the Lot-O..
Recipe: Rotary tumble using coarse grit, such as 46/70 silicon carbide. Check rocks weekly and set aside any that are acceptable. Lot-O Tumbler: 2 days with 2 Tablespoons 220 or 120/200 silicon carbide grit 3 days with 1/2 teaspoon 500 aluminum oxide grit and 1 tablespoon borax 2 days with 1/2 teaspoon aluminum oxide polish and 1 tablespoon borax Optional: burnish for 2 hours or more in 2 tablespoons of borax
Here’s a video if you want to see exactly how I tumble:
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
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Post by rockhoundmn on Feb 8, 2021 18:45:41 GMT -5
Thanks! I'm a big fan of yours!
Appreciate the bonus recipes. I'm using rotary only for stage 1. Waiting for enough stones for a load of stage 2 currently and thought I'd get through my small mountain of cement covered stones. Which is why I was worried about wear and tear. I have quite a pile!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 8, 2021 18:50:35 GMT -5
Thanks! I'm a big fan of yours! Appreciate the bonus recipes. I'm using rotary only for stage 1. Waiting for enough stones for a load of stage 2 currently and thought I'd get through my small mountain of cement covered stones. Which is why I was worried about wear and tear. I have quite a pile! What do you mean by “cement covered stones”? Is there literally concrete on your rocks? I assume you mean some sort of other crud, but I don’t know what that would be. I rarely put rocks in that haven’t been through rotary tumbling, so I don’t know what effect really rough rocks would have on the barrel. The rotary barrels hold up to rough rocks pretty well, so I don’t know why a vibratory tumbler would be much different.
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
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Post by rockhoundmn on Feb 8, 2021 18:58:06 GMT -5
So I'm talking about a fine layer of white, hardened cement dust. The rocks came from a lot that was being used as a loading point for the upgrade of a highway.
It is impossible to remove without using some hard-core chemicals that I'm not willing to use (muriatic acid, for example) or by grinding away, which is not an option for me either. So they are being tumbled in the Lot-O with Borax and dishwasher detergent for 4 hours at a time. So far I've done 3 loads with excellent results, but I don't want to inadvertently cause any damage I might've avoided by asking before I get do too many.
So, here I am.
I'm going to be speaking with Belt, Inc as soon as possible to get their opinion and am asking here in the meantime.
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
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Post by rockhoundmn on Feb 8, 2021 19:01:53 GMT -5
Oops, forgot to add. My rotary is constantly running stage 1 loads only. My vibe is idle. I am therefore using the vibe to run quick small batches so I can sort the rocks into keepers and throwers. It's much more efficient for me. I'm not polishing the rocks in the vibe. I'm cleaning them. Though I am a fan, I generally modify your advice as needed. We do not share the same level of patience
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
|
Post by rockhoundmn on Feb 8, 2021 19:13:53 GMT -5
Here's an agate nodule I discovered in one of those loads. I didn't get a before pic, but it was basically covered with the white coating beforehand: So I'm hoping to get through some more rocks which I suspect are worth saving, but can't tell because they're so covered in the white "stuff".
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 8, 2021 20:29:07 GMT -5
Ok, that all makes sense now. Cool agate!
I think everyone should altar tumbling methods to their own situation. You've got to make it your own.
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