Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on May 5, 2018 8:15:09 GMT -5
Never tried cerium oxide, is that your routine polish ? Yes, Cerium Oxide is my go to polish, so far I have been using it with everything. When I started tumbling again several years ago, I had an assortment of different polishes picked up over the years. I did some research online, and found that CO was the preferred polish about forty years ago. So I gave it a try, and I really like the shine it gives. I still have a bit left, but I understand it is pricey. Unless I happen across some at an estate sale or something, I may have to switch to something else at some point. When I started out tumbling rocks I was buying -Grit Kits- , did not pay attention to the material that the polish was made from but it was a white powder. Then I found Kingsley North and purchased a Large Grit Kit from them, it came with 5 pounds each of 80-220-600 grits but only had 1 pound of Cerium Oxide polish. I asked about it here on the forum and was told to use much less CO polish than the other grits. So from that time about a year ago, in a 6 pound barrel I've been using about 3/4 cup of the larger grits and 1/4 cup of Cerium Oxide with great results. Normally I get 2 pounds CO at a time from Kingsley North . . . www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=46509&catID=189Just noticed that they sell Super Cerium Oxide too, that's the pricey stuff ... www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=91525&catID=189
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on May 1, 2018 7:24:37 GMT -5
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 30, 2018 17:36:51 GMT -5
Latest batch just came out of final polish and it all looks terrific. This 6 pound barrel had material from 3 different sources: The Traveling Rock Box, Rocks from the Dollar General store, and some rocks that i collected from a trip to South Carolina a coupla months ago. This is the family portrait including all of the rocks that were in the 6 pound barrel. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/30/20180430150103-5c4a3a06.jpg) These are all of the rocks that I thought were from the Traveling Rock box. I did not have a great selection of my own stones to add, so I only took the smallest most uninteresting from the box, but there were some real surprises in there, The Panama from alikat218 is top center. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/30/20180430150105-68831d12.jpg) Here are some closeups of the Rock Box stones. Left 2 pieces- Paint Rock Agate. Center Bottom- Turrentella slabs Top Right- Panama from alikat218, has pits, needs to be run again ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/30/20180430150105-49ea8de5.jpg) More closeups from the Rock Box. I don't know what this stone is ? ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/30/20180430150105-cf8e7d03.jpg) All the stones that I believe to be from the Dollar General store ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/30/20180430150105-39ed1aa2.jpg) All the stones I think are from my collecting in South Carolina. Quartz, Granite and more. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/30/20180430150105-999e9309.jpg)
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 30, 2018 7:54:48 GMT -5
It's Monday cleanout day and I have been looking forward to this one.
- 6 pound - Today is the day that the rocks from the Traveling Rock Box come out of final polish in Cerium Oxide and plastic beads. It's not all of them but enough to have fun with. That stuff has been looking excellent while wet during the last coupla cleanouts. Will post some pictures later today in another thread. Not sure what to start next in this barrel, either start more rocks in stage 2 headed to polish, or more rough in stage 1 ?
- 6 pound - I have a terrible habit of always rolling rocks in Stage 1 course, then doing the weekly check and passing rounded rocks to a Ready bowl to go on to polish, but I don't ever start the polish stages and now there is a Full bowl of Ready Rocks. So I have been using a 6 pound barrel to run the Ready rocks through polish. Today this batch will move from stage 2 in 220 grit, into stage 3 using 600 grit and plastic beads.
- 3 pound - Perpetually running rocks from the Dollar General store in Stage 1 course grind. There might be some clear glass in there too.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 29, 2018 14:41:28 GMT -5
funny note, would lips with fever blisters be a hot seller ? A product of too much tumbling. ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/825/41782622131_8708c068ac.jpg) That is a Planetary Nebula with Black Holes
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 29, 2018 7:57:22 GMT -5
that was interesting a video of a still image couldn't figure out how to load it at first
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 27, 2018 11:39:12 GMT -5
Love that machine ! ! I tend to try and make things permanent and would have probably glued everything together making it hard to modify. It's cool that you can rebuild it so easily. The top surface has survived really well.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 27, 2018 10:29:17 GMT -5
Another user was reporting bruises that looked to be metallic and crescent shaped.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 26, 2018 21:25:47 GMT -5
Are you using a metal colander to separate your rocks from the slurry ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 25, 2018 17:47:55 GMT -5
Finally got to the finishing point with my theatrical glass tumbles. Was really wanting to get a Clear Glass finish but it did not come out that clear, but I could be happy with the results depending on how I will use the material in the end to catch light. This glass seemed to be very hard and it took a month in Stage 1 course tumble to round them out enough to push through to polish. So am thinking that all the Polish stages needed to be run for 2 weeks instead of only one. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/25/20180425153603-fdcacf56.jpg) The blue glass is very fragile compared to the other colors. it chipped at the edges and reduced a great amount compaired to the other colors. Nice shine on everything but not very clear. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/25/20180425153605-473e7c80.jpg) Here is the uncolored glass. It is stained a little bit pink from the Cerium Oxide polish, even though it was washed for an hour in Ivory soap and water. I'm sure it is polish trapped into the almost rough surface. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/25/20180425153605-c1e22bd0.jpg) It is interesting that the ripples in the surface of these glass lenses grind down almost flat witout any ripples in the end grind. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/25/20180425153605-3051b07a.jpg) Was trying to make these into clear polished glass but you can see that it is still frosted a lot. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/25/20180425153605-cef70003.jpg) Also using Marbles as tumbling media to help keep the flat pieces from sticking together. They are used an many more of my operations so some are smaller than others. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/25/20180425153605-55ea091b.jpg) Sorry it took a coupla days to get this posted. Been working Celtec Woman and there has been bad weather for the pictures.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 25, 2018 13:06:08 GMT -5
But ... do you melt down old wine bottles into cheese serving dishes ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 23, 2018 16:40:59 GMT -5
When you go to a Monster Truck show, be sure to carry ear plugs.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 23, 2018 14:55:46 GMT -5
W h a t . . .
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 23, 2018 13:36:00 GMT -5
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 23, 2018 12:11:05 GMT -5
I just did mine the other day, its working so far......The RPM's picked up a bit too... I'd like to pick up a few RPM's as well. I'm really not that sure I'm dealing with a belt slipping issue, but that has to be the case, unless this motor is simply getting tired. I gotta play a bit. Just grab the driveshaft on the tumbler and see what it takes to stop it.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 23, 2018 12:05:35 GMT -5
Starting to get overloaded with polished rocks. I want to display the best looking rocks inside the house but 90% of them are shiny but not interesting. So I want to make some stepping stones to go in a muddy area between the tumblers and the cleanout sink. Looked at about 10 videos on YouTube but those people don't seem to know what they are doing and look to be making these things for the first time and videoing it. But i did get a few details that need to happen to get good results.
-- The cement needs to be kinda wet to help surround and stick to the stone. -- The stone should be planted at least halfway into the cement to be anchored good. -- The side of the stone that contacts the the cement should be roughed up some to help it stick. -- If laying transparent material the cement should be as white as possible to show the colors best. -- Include a wire mesh into the cement for added strength and durability. -- It's helpful to layout your stone pattern before you mix the cement. -- Use Muriatic Acid to clean the cement off of the stones after it has set.
So I'm looking for more pointers about making Stepping stones. Anybody made any ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 23, 2018 8:13:35 GMT -5
I have tumbled shells on 2 occasions, including some self collected Turritella shells from the Tennessee here in North Alabama. Both times I did shells they were done the same way. Placed the shells into a Lortone 3A 3 pound tumbler with #80 Grit. Only shells and grit less than half full in the barrel with water filled even with the top layer. Tumble for a week or two in Stage 1, they smooth out quick. No need to add or change grit cause it dosen't breakdown. Then normal 220, 600 and polish stages. Only Shells with the grit, less than half full with water filled to the top layer. The Turritella shells I collected had a paper-like coating on them, as soon as that coating is removed they will be smooth and ready to push past the Course Stage. Due to the spiral nature of the shell. they will need to be washed a coupla times between each stage. I tried to use plastic beads in the fine polish stages. but would never do that again because they get lodged in the opening on the shell and can't be removed without damaging the shell. The shells will polish themselfs fine shell-on-shell without the need for any media in polish. I looked for my polished Turritella shells but they weren't findable so I included a picture of some ocean found shells as an example... ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/23/20180423054359-0e64eb25.jpg)
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 17, 2018 15:05:49 GMT -5
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 16, 2018 22:17:54 GMT -5
well . . . which is worse ?
too tight of a belt burns the motor up. not tight enough and the belt slips.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 16, 2018 18:41:30 GMT -5
I refurbished my Lortone 3A tumbler coupla months ago. Replaced the belt at that time and it has already stretched, losing friction and the barrel will eventually slip to a stop. The motor mount screws for the unit go through slots in the side of the machine to allow the motor to move changing the belt tension. The adjustment was already Maxed out so I decided to make the slots longer allowing for a tighter belt. Used a regular hand drill and just forced the drill bit sideways making the slots about 1/4 inch longer. Now the belt is tighter but not tight enough. Need to add another 1/4 inch to the slots before I will be happy with it. This will involve cutting away a small portion of the blue housing cover. ![](http://www.rockshow.rocktumblinghobby.com/upload/2018/04/16/20180416162254-fd16a772.jpg)
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