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Post by oregon on Jul 31, 2018 10:11:07 GMT -5
I had been doing exactly what you wrote above in the Lot O, but wanted to streamline the process a little. Now, after rounding them out nicely in Sic 46/70, the rocks move to the Lot O for AO 80. They stay for 4-5 days, getting a squirt of Dawn and a splash of water in the last hour. After a quick rinse, they go into the polish stage. I use TXP polish from rocktumbler.com, which is a little larger size grit than what everyone else seems to be using. I believe it is like 8,000 AO, or close to that. That stage stays for 2 days, then a quick burnish in Borax and done. The actual time in the Lot O hasn't changed much for me, but there is less hassle with cleanouts. I only have to give a squirt of water after about 12 hours and again on day three. I bought a 10 lb. bag of AO 80 and I have a pound of polish, so I shouldn't have to buy those for many years. Now, I only have to worry about keeping Sic 46/70 on hand. I just got 50 lbs. last week, so I'm all set to go. I will get some pics from the last few batches to show the results. I am totally satisfied with the end product and I wouldn't make this change if I saw any loss of quality in my tumbles. For all the time the rocks spend in the first stage, it wouldn't be worth it to cut corners so close to the finish line. Thanks - so I think I saw 2Tablespoons of AO80 somewhere yesterday, is that how much you're using? Will have to give it a try. No signs of barrel abuse?
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Post by oregon on Jul 31, 2018 0:24:27 GMT -5
I use the general 4step loto process like others, and am happy with results: 2 TABLEspoons 120/220 or 220 Silicon Carbide for 2 days. 1/2 TEAspoon 500 aluminum oxide for 2 days. 1/2 TEAspoon 1000 aluminum oxide for 2 days. 1/2 TEAspoon aluminum oxide polish for 2 days.
But I am lazy, and wouldn't mind getting rid of a few of those cleanouts if larger AO made that work.. I know several folks experimented with AO 40 or 80 in the Lot-o, but I didn't come up with a real cohesive story of outcomes.
Have any of you been running AO 80/40 regularly and using a different recipe? Thanks!
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Post by oregon on Jul 25, 2018 9:56:23 GMT -5
Participants can guess the total weight of the taped box once per 24 hour period, in a format of pounds and ounces to the thousandths. Example of 22.492 lbs. Sounds fun, and nice of you to give back. To avoid confusion, you might want to clarify: 22.492 lbs. or 22 lbs 7.872 oz... Stupid metric system indeed.
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Post by oregon on Jul 24, 2018 0:12:54 GMT -5
I love my lotos, but plastic fan supporting the offset weight seems to often lead towards replacement. Really just seems like a not so great way to provide an offset weight.
I have an very old version with metal fans that's holding up very well. And the other day I saw an image of one of the original loto with counter weights without any fans at all.
The way the current fans are set up is that a metal plate that supports the weight is pop riveted to the plastic. Most of the units I've seen the plastic fans slowly deform. I currently have one with the fan wobbling enough that it shifts the shaft horizontally every so often - ie needs replacing.
So Ive been thinking of just letting the plastic fan blade do its own job (cool) and mount a different counter weight outside the fan so it's independent and I don't have to buy replacement fans every so often.
Has anyone tinkered with the weights/fans on their loto?
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Post by oregon on Jul 14, 2018 9:52:20 GMT -5
likewise, I'd buy it if you were closer. If you're heading up I5 for some cooler weather let me know.... Sry for the bad direction on that one.
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Post by oregon on Jul 6, 2018 0:49:05 GMT -5
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Post by oregon on Jul 5, 2018 20:42:20 GMT -5
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Post by oregon on Jul 5, 2018 20:30:14 GMT -5
My apologies - that'll work. I wonder why nobody suggested doing it that way. no apologies needed. Your post was spot on, Ground Fault Circuit interrupters are for when current is flowing where it shouldn't be. If the power goes out, and comes back on that should not trip a GFCI. So if you're worried about a restart after a power blip, the latching relay is probably the best way it seems to me. I have them on my saws, mostly so I don't get an oil bath when I pull the vise back!
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Wheels
Jul 4, 2018 15:30:31 GMT -5
Post by oregon on Jul 4, 2018 15:30:31 GMT -5
I mentioned at the top that these wheels were better than what came with my stardiamond machine and I used them for about a year. For someone who wants to replace wheels even worse than these, I wouldn't bother. If someone who wants to start cabbing at a reduced expense and has a machine with silicon carbide or an arbor, it could make sense. The 80 and 220 grit wheels would cost over $300 plus shipping for the pair and I'm asking $20 plus shipping. The only hard wheel that has a fair amount of life (visually) is the crystallite. I expect that I replace my wheels sooner than most. Sounds like me, pm sending
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Post by oregon on Jul 4, 2018 1:08:18 GMT -5
None of my GFCI's trip when my power goes out. What you really want here is a latching relay. You can buy them prewired, or wire your own easily enough.
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Wheels
Jul 4, 2018 1:00:40 GMT -5
Post by oregon on Jul 4, 2018 1:00:40 GMT -5
I'll add pictures of the 8 inch wheels tomorrow. 8" sets prices too?
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Post by oregon on Jun 28, 2018 15:02:51 GMT -5
Just looking to make some material available to those of you who don't live in Volcano territory. Western Oregon has lots of material but it's covered by a few years worth of debris, stuff grows where it rains! Anyway, It's hard to tell when digging, so we cart a lot of possibles home. I've tossed most of the really bland material in the garden pile. Looks like ~25 lbs fits in a medium flat rate box, say 10$ plus the postage/paypal fee $14, so $24 for a medium box? Think there are 3 boxes worth of material at hand. pm or email me if you're interested. representative below dry: wet
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Post by oregon on Jun 6, 2018 19:15:31 GMT -5
just in case any one doesn't know, you can also turn on contour lines on google maps, under the location menu, click on the menu button (hamburger) and select terrain. (only shows at certain zoom levels, not too close, or too far). Nice to be able to toggle with Sat. imagery, and the 3D lidar data is also helpful... goo.gl/maps/umWJfbXMcMT2
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Post by oregon on Jun 1, 2018 22:59:07 GMT -5
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Post by oregon on May 31, 2018 13:09:05 GMT -5
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Post by oregon on May 21, 2018 17:07:25 GMT -5
that little white box above your title, type in 'lortone bearings' and click Go!
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Post by oregon on May 16, 2018 18:18:59 GMT -5
very nice... (skate board wheels work great as guides, no problems with mine, lots of abandoned boards around for scavenging parts So what's your take on the motor up top? Think early on you were wondering about it? My benchtop's too cluttered so I'd be worried about always shoving something into the belt. Suppose there wasn't room under, or above on the cartridge?
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Post by oregon on May 7, 2018 19:13:24 GMT -5
46,000 + 4 years @ 15,000 (average miles for regular person) x 2 since you're a rockhound = 166,547!
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Post by oregon on May 5, 2018 20:25:16 GMT -5
Could also mount the pillow blocks on unistrut or 80/20. to allow for some spacing adjustment to fit the belt... Can much build anything from 80/20 but that is not the look I am after here. I could have it built from tube steel and powder coated for free at my work but my rock area is in a finished basement so we prefer the finished wood look. Chuck Besides looking good, it also seems to dampen sound, also a big plus compared to a metal frame.
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Post by oregon on May 5, 2018 16:09:54 GMT -5
Could also mount the pillow blocks on unistrut or 80/20. to allow for some spacing adjustment to fit the belt...
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