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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 12:34:05 GMT -5
^^ Gotta "Like" a post about the Gators pummeling anyone!
ETA: ZIP IT Michigan fans! grrrrr.....
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 12:31:57 GMT -5
Yup Jim, like those on the website. Roy had another name for that overhead thingy. Not sure sweep is the proper term. Tried to find a pic of Roy's machine, but he was using photobucket and his pics are all *poofed*. Seems like such a thing would be easy enough to make. The perfectly flat disc would be the expense. Wonder if your pans would be close enough. I NEED MORE SHOP SPACE !!!
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 11:51:43 GMT -5
I'm with ChicagoDave in that I strive for perfectly rounded rocks. Not saying the rocks need be spherical, just rounded edges. I'm not trying tumble rocks to create marbles! That said, I might recommend leaving that nub alone. Let it run as is. Thinking that if you knock off the nub and run it more to make the new cut off corner "perfect" that you will lose too much of the rest of the rock. Just keep an eye out for such in the future and deal with it before the rest of the rock is pretty much ready to move on.
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 11:44:54 GMT -5
I have never been to Flint Ridge, but would imagine that you will have to work (dig) for better quality rocks. Thinkin' that just surface collecting you would be looking at well picked over rocks.
Chuck?
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 11:37:48 GMT -5
Quality is key. The pits are full of flint but if you do not know the good from the bad it can be difficult. +1 !! Google Ohio Flint or Flint Ridge Flint and look at the images. The rocks with pinks, reds, blues and yellows are more desirable. Greens are pretty rare. That's what you are after - color. The rocks that are mostly shades of blacks & greys will still tumble just fine, but are not sought after so much.
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 11:19:43 GMT -5
You get quality flint Luminin (not all black & grey) and I'd probably be interested in a couple medium FR boxes. Really, you are gonna want to get all the (quality) rocks you can to make the trip worthwhile. Most of us that buy/trade rocks have saws, so we (I) would be interested in good sized rocks - like in the 5 to 10 lb range.
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 11:12:51 GMT -5
Jim, I have a Highland Park 27" machine and then 3 Raytech 15" Hustler units. Although, one of the Raytech machines is brand new in box - so I only use 2 of those. The new one I can sell someday for 3x what I picked it up for. I believe Roy's machine is a 27" vibrating lap. Just has the sweep to speed things up. (?) roy Polishes "regular" sized rocks & slabs. I want to build one of those sweeps sometime. Looks easy enough to do.
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 11:04:14 GMT -5
"5 pounds or so"
You're funny!
A 5 pound rock will be about the size of a softball. You need to start thinking in terms of 5 gallon buckets. And then figure out how many 5 gal buckets you can fit in your car or truck.
Figure out what your vehicle can carry and then get that much. Rocks don't go bad. Get a BUNCH and then post pictures so we can see what quality you got. You won't be able to get enough in one trip that you won't be able to trade or sell it all - if it is good quality.
A medium Flat Rate box will probably hold 20+ pounds.
Trust me on this!
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 9:39:04 GMT -5
You recall roy 's machine? He has a motor above which runs a sweep in the pan to move the rocks. Not even sure the unit would have to vibrate then, as it would work like a flat lap. But the rocks can be left unattended to do their thing. Need to see pics of his machine. Makes me smile every time I see it. Think woodman has a similar set up. (?)
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 22:55:52 GMT -5
How far in this rock thing you thinking of going?
You just want to tumble some rocks or do you have other plans?
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 22:32:08 GMT -5
Duke will learn very quickly that Cliff is just funnin' with him. No one is safe from his high jinks!
Gotta ask Mr. Duke, why do you want to switch hobbies? That's a whole bunch of neat toys you have there.
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 21:38:04 GMT -5
Intrigued.
Agree with Henry, add some water and a little grit to get truer motion. Dry is different action. Rocks will hydroplane on the water/grit slurry.
On mine, the rocks spin in circles. Kinda quickly, like 10-20 rotations a minute, depending on weight. And they move all around the pan. Like an ice skater doing laps on a circular rink. Rotating and running circles around the pan at the same time. Will bunch up on one side if pan is not level.
My concern was/is the weight the springs will support. They gonna hold up the pan, slurry (minimal weight), the motor and a full load of rocks without the hooks bending out? May need beefier springs?
Nicely done. And fast too!
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 16:36:24 GMT -5
Nope! Didn't watch! Haha! Jokes on me then. He needs a real quad. I could have some fun with a "real" Quad, but doubt I would use it enough around here to justify such a purchase. If I lived out west nearer the GOOD rocks maybe.
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 16:33:30 GMT -5
My neighbor has a few of those drones (annoying as hell!) and can fly it down the street at a foot high. Stopping to hover over something interesting is no problem. Not the kinda thing I would take rockhounding as I like to cover the ground myself, but it could probably come in handy to see if it's worth traversing some rough terrain or going over that cliff. Be good if hounding in places you are not supposed to be as well. A heads-up to see if you are about to get busted!
Probably a fun hobby if you have the time and desire to get really good at operating such machines.
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 15:54:25 GMT -5
You are kidding, right? Lemme see. Walk miles and miles cracking rocks to see what they are. Or Cruise the quad miles and miles and more miles, cracking rocks finding the good stuff. Nope.wont work. Quads suck for rockhounds. Specially if you have a small trailer behind. Never have extra capacity when rock hounding. uh... You are kidding, right? Did you watch any of the videos? You do know that his "Quad" is one of those flying drone things. His has a nice camera mounted on it and the videos were of the views from up there. Pretty cool. I would imagine that it would be kinda tough to hook a trailer up to one though ... Enjoyed the videos, thanks for sharing them with us! What is the range on one of those things? Note to those that haven't watched yet. Turn your volume down before you start the first one then adjust it as the video is playing. It's pretty loud at the get go.
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 13:14:22 GMT -5
He is creating a vibrating lap Scott. ETA: A flap lap would be WAY easier to make. Thinkin' he could have one done in half an hour. hmmmmm....
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 12:24:23 GMT -5
I hate to even post this, and I hope you know that I respect the hell outta you and value our friendship, therefore take in the way in which it is intended... but, you are spending a bunch of time (and materials) on an effort that ( I believe) simply can't work - as designed. Maybe I'm not seeing some grand finished project properly, and you will (once again) amaze the heck out of all of us. Looking forward to seeing mad scientist plan on motor & counterweight. Just a thought, but how about suspending the pan upside down, (remove the motor bracket) and mount the motor and all associated parts to the bracket. Then place the bracket, motor, shaft, counter weight, etal where it will have the pan better balanced to remain flat while suspended. Would have to add some extra to make up for the welds and even cord weight. Complicated. But I'm thinking that pan needs to be as close to balanced as possible. Maybe adding/welding fixed counter weight to bottom of the pan to even things out may work. Even then ... (thinking balance is crucial) I don't see how you can test what you are building without building the whole darn thing. Sorry to be the Doubting Thomas in the crowd, but that's what I do. Have you thought about using the supported rather than suspended pan design? Like the Raytech 15 Hustler or the Lortone vibrating laps? Balance wouldn't be so critical then as pan would be supported from the bottom. The motor on those machines are mounted dead center to the bottom of the pan and the pan is supported on balls. Don't see why that wouldn't work on a larger scale. The back issue doesn't sound good. Do you have to do something to it to throw it out or does it just happen and you wake up one morning wishing you could get up and go to the bathroom without making so many noises? Glad you are back up and running. (not wanting to hit Create Post button) meh ...
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 11:07:09 GMT -5
Why the crutches? You okay?
With that motor bracket & brace offset from center, and with the motor mounted, will the pan still be balanced to sit flat?
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 9:32:17 GMT -5
I think Captbob may be going to say something about not mounting the motor directly to the pan, ... Had to go look at mine and find pictures! Thanks for clearing things up as I wandered off Henry!
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Post by captbob on Sept 17, 2017 9:26:02 GMT -5
See the + piece sitting on the 2 tier frame in Scotty's build. That is what the shaft from the motor attaches to. Then the pan is attached to this piece. pssst... this ain't no 2 hour build I worded that badly. There is no shaft from the motor. The shaft is pulley driven from the offset motor. Scotty's build tread shows this all well. Except how the shaft is attached to the + frame work which the pan is attached to.
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