catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 15, 2021 20:57:24 GMT -5
I am 68 years old, and know nothing of the lapidary arts. I just bought a Frantom monster and do not know anything about it, also a Craftool TR 8, a Craftsman polishing machine, and a Chicago electric tools Vibratory Tumblr. I have no knowledge of these machines, unfortunately. On the Frantom, all the numbers on it are illegible, so I don’t even know what model it is. I’m guessing I need manuals on how to operate, and set up these machines, schematics on how to set up the motors for use, and maybe some idea for a stand or something to put that Frantom on. They all do have to be mounted permanently, apparently. Does anybody know the worth of these machines? I wanted to do something with rocks for years, as I’ve been collecting them while on my truck driving duties for 10 years. I guess I also need to know how to do it all! I hope the pictures came through, cause I can’t see ‘em.
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 15, 2021 21:07:47 GMT -5
Not seeing your pictures.
To set up a Cloudinary account see the tutorial here. It takes a little bit to set it up. Just follow the instructions exactly and then all you have to do is click the Upload File button in the upper right, navigate to your picture and click. Hope that helps.
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 15, 2021 21:14:44 GMT -5
I am a registered member, I guess, in good standing of Cloudinary, I joined today. I hit the upload file button, picked my four pictures, watch the upload bar on all four of them a white upload bar, till they filled up, and then what? They didn’t go to math my thread so where’d they go? Do you pick the pictures first, before you write your thread, because I did it after I wrote my thread. I’m kind of at a loss here.
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 15, 2021 21:20:49 GMT -5
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 15, 2021 21:22:12 GMT -5
You have to wait for the white upload bar to completely fill, and then wait for the type and the bars to disappear they’re ready for upload at that time
|
|
|
Post by perkins17 on Aug 15, 2021 21:25:27 GMT -5
wow! Great equipment! So far I only have tumblers
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 15, 2021 21:44:58 GMT -5
I guess I got lucky, I went into a local fossil shop and just happened to mention that I would like that learn how to do something with rocks, polishing or tumbling or something. The owner said “Just a minute, Let me get my husband.” Turns out he wanted to sell all that equipment, he wouldn’t break it up, he had to sell it all at once, so I do think I got a good price on it, I hope conversation here confirms my thinking. Oh, the gentleman never used any of it, he bought it at an estate sale hoping to use it, but now all he works with is Amber, so these machines won’t help him. But… I can’t run anything, because I’ve got no knowledge of how to set anything up, or what to do when I get it set up. This is something I wanted to do for years so I’m going to do it. I am wondering if the Frantom would do the work of the saw and the polisher. That would kinda reduce the space taking up in my shed.
|
|
|
Post by perkins17 on Aug 15, 2021 21:55:48 GMT -5
I guess I got lucky, I went into a local fossil shop and just happened to mention that I would like that learn how to do something with rocks, polishing or tumbling or something. The owner said “Just a minute, Let me get my husband.” Turns out he wanted to sell all that equipment, he wouldn’t break it up, he had to sell it all at once, so I do think I got a good price on it, I hope conversation here confirms my thinking. Oh, the gentleman never used any of it, he bought it at an estate sale hoping to use it, but now all he works with is Amber, so these machines won’t help him. But… I can’t run anything, because I’ve got no knowledge of how to set anything up, or what to do when I get it set up. This is something I wanted to do for years so I’m going to do it. I am wondering if the Frantom would do the work of the saw and the polisher. That would kinda reduce the space taking up in my shed. Wow! I think the franton should do the job of a trim saw and a grinder/polisher.
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 15, 2021 22:06:07 GMT -5
GREAT encouragement, now I just need to learn how to set the thing up. And then learn how to cut rocks, polish and whatever else I need to learn!
|
|
JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
|
Post by JR8675309 on Aug 15, 2021 22:19:06 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by perkins17 on Aug 15, 2021 22:22:53 GMT -5
GREAT encouragement, now I just need to learn how to set the thing up. And then learn how to cut rocks, polish and whatever else I need to learn! My first recommendation is to join a rock club. Some offer classes that you could learn how to cut rocks and make cabachons. Maybe there, you could meet someone that could help you set up.
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 15, 2021 22:23:05 GMT -5
I am a registered member, I guess, in good standing of Cloudinary, I joined today. I hit the upload file button, picked my four pictures, watch the upload bar on all four of them a white upload bar, till they filled up, and then what? They didn’t go to math my thread so where’d they go? Do you pick the pictures first, before you write your thread, because I did it after I wrote my thread. I’m kind of at a loss here. Once you have Cloudinary set up, all you should have to do is click the Upload File button while you are in your post and navigate to where you have the pictures on your computer, select the pictures you want to uplaod, click the open button and Cloudinary will do the rest.
Great job on getting your pictures up! That Frantom looks really clean.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Aug 16, 2021 12:26:04 GMT -5
Right on Bill mr catfish That Frantom is certainly a nice looking clean machine first thing- as mentioned- is to get a stand for it Sure Frantom made a custom stand for The machine is belt driven & the motor was probably mounted underneath the machine with the proper stand Those stands may be may be difficult to obtain The machine can also be mounted on flat table top w/ the motor mounted behind the machine Lots of you tube vids of operation table mounted FranTom demo,,,Plus you have stand alone 10 inch trim saw and a vibe of some sort Plus a Craftsman flat lapping unit ! That real nice Did that machine come with any disc flat laps ? Like this The grinding wheels on the Frantom look ready to roll Grinding wheels and accessories is largest chunk of the hobby expense they last loong time tho Ya know enough, Bill to knohs you have some high level experience lapidary equipment. Certainly a wise investment and you jumped into the rock pile with both feet Enthused and looking forward... EdMohs
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 16, 2021 14:36:11 GMT -5
Yes Ed,, I do have grinding wheels, polishing discs, Sawblades and I really don’t know what all. I’ll post a pic of what I got.
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 16, 2021 14:45:32 GMT -5
And I still haven’t unpacked the motors. Hopefully I’ll get to that this afternoon.
|
|
|
Post by perkins17 on Aug 16, 2021 14:56:34 GMT -5
Yes Ed,, I do have grinding wheels, polishing discs, Sawblades and I really don’t know what all. I’ll post a pic of what I got. wow! You have a ton of equipment! If you you don't mind me asking, how much did a of that cost?
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Aug 16, 2021 15:08:44 GMT -5
w/ mr perkz you have a rock shop ! the motors are good ! there pretty indestructible but it is lots of stuff, catfish! and I can imagine the weather is not greatly conducive to lots of fooling around your good with a camera too!
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 16, 2021 18:26:35 GMT -5
Well Perkins, I’d kind of like to find out what this stuff is worth individually, before I reveal what I paid for it collectively, because I really just want to know if I got a good deal or not. I feel like I did, but, maybe I got ripped, I don’t know. Right now the little lady is pretty sure I got ripped, so I’d love to show her, what you think is junk is really treasure. But, I will tell you what I paid.
Ed, a rock shop huh! I don’t know my nose from a piece of calcite, and you say I got a rock shop, LOL. I got a lot to learn before I got a rock shop. But I did get to the storage and grabbed all the rocks I picked up while trucking. The metal milk crate probably weighs 60/65 pounds, because I could not pick it up without taking out almost half the rocks. I will take some pics of the ones I think are really cool, and post them. I’d love to find out if they’re valuable and what they are. I think one of them might be a meteorite, but that’s probably just wishful thinking.
|
|
catfish
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 39
|
Post by catfish on Aug 16, 2021 18:33:55 GMT -5
Oh, Ed, thanks for the compliment on the pix. I am a photographer by another hobby, I guess it was professional cause I got paid. I was a racing photographer at several circle tracks here in Florida, shooting video and still, I’ve done weddings and bar mitzvahs and drag racing also.
|
|
|
Post by perkins17 on Aug 16, 2021 18:40:25 GMT -5
Well Perkins, I’d kind of like to find out what this stuff is worth individually, before I reveal what I paid for it collectively, because I really just want to know if I got a good deal or not. I feel like I did, but, maybe I got ripped, I don’t know. Right now the little lady is pretty sure I got ripped, so I’d love to show her, what you think is junk is really treasure. But, I will tell you what I paid. Ed, a rock shop huh! I don’t know my nose from a piece of calcite, and you say I got a rock shop, LOL. I got a lot to learn before I got a rock shop. But I did get to the storage and grabbed all the rocks I picked up while trucking. The metal milk crate probably weighs 60/65 pounds, because I could not pick it up without taking out almost half the rocks. I will take some pics of the ones I think are really cool, and post them. I’d love to find out if they’re valuable and what they are. I think one of them might be a meteorite, but that’s probably just wishful thinking. Wow! Sounds like you did collect a lot of rocks! I look forward to seeing what they look like polished. Those machines look like they're tough to learn but they really aren't all too difficult. Once you learn how to use them, you will really enjoy them. I wish a had some of that stuff in my house!
|
|