Big Jeff 16 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Just wondering what brand and size you chose. Like I mentioned in a previous thread I need an addition to the beeping . I want something of good quality that will last me for quite awhile. Also any other helpful advise for someone looking the get into other lapidary aspects as well (sawing, polishing, etc.) would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 4,612 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 For starting out a 1.5 pound barrell is perfect, takes around a month to properly do a batch of rough stones to smooth and beautifully polished and you start with coarse grit, medium, pre polish, then polish. I have 2 running now, 3 lb will do more stones. Loritone makes a good one as does Harbor Freight but made in China though well built (3 pound) and you can run either barrell 3 or 1.5 and ....I actually sell the Loritone through one of my vendors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
adam 3,123 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Bill or othersHow loud is the tumbler while its running? I ask because I live in an apartment ....Could I get away with running it just during the day ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Jeff 16 Posted August 14, 2012 Author Share Posted August 14, 2012 Would it be better to get one of the Lortone's that did more than 1 barrel at a time like the ones that do 2 3# at the same time?... Maybe for different grits?...Sorry for my ignorance on this. I just really don't know anything about this subject at all.... Bill, Great to know that you sell these too. Shoot me a price list for whatever you recommend maybe a kit with all the grits etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 4,612 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Would it be better to get one of the Lortone's that did more than 1 barrel at a time like the ones that do 2 3# at the same time?... Maybe for different grits?...Sorry for my ignorance on this. I just really don't know anything about this subject at all.... Bill, Great to know that you sell these too. Shoot me a price list for whatever you recommend maybe a kit with all the grits etc.Yes cause I wished I would have... There are other good ones out there so maybe wait for some others to chime in before you jump? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 4,612 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Bill or othersHow loud is the tumbler while its running? I ask because I live in an apartment ....Could I get away with running it just during the day ?Not loud enough to bother anyone if in a back room and its a light grind swish sort of sound like dishwasher running I'd say, but messy when changing grit and slurry and never dump down the drain or your plumbing will be doomed when it settles and sets like concrete.... I kind of like the sound Quote Link to post Share on other sites
elder-miner 59 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My DIY mill & 12 inch diameter jars.I don’t do rocks.It’s for milling gunpowder, etc.3rd generation 8 inch diameter jars Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Goldfinger 43 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Another thing to consider is whether you want a regular tumbler or the vibratory tumbler. The latter is faster and in my opinion, quieter. I suppose you could muffle it somehow if you wanted to run it 24 hours a day but have never tried it.Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 4,612 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I also have a vibrating tumbler for doing cabs etc. doesn't give you the rounding effect like a tumbling model so indeed if you want to keep the original shape of the stone vibrating works well for that. To get the nice round looking stones tumbling works well... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garimpo 2,288 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My DIY mill & 12 inch diameter jars.I don’t do rocks.It’s for milling gunpowder, etc.3rd generation 8 inch diameter jarsEM excuse my ignorance but why in the world do you mill gunpowder? I reloaded shotshells for over30 years but never heard of this..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garimpo 2,288 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I agree with Bill on the tumbling....many years ago in another life time I tumbled rocks....usually 1-2 months running 24hours a day.....in the far corner of my garage.....I traded them with rock shops and sold a few at trade shows at the fairgrounds.....my favorite stones were Apache Tears....Every time my first wife went in the garage (my man cave) the grinding sound would almost drive her crazy....for her itwas a short drive....she didn't have to pack a lunch.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Haderly 99 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Lortone makes great equipment but my suggestion is to get a Harbor Freight and see if you enjoy tumbling rocks. If you continue then you can upgrade to a bigger better tumbler. If you burn out on the idea you have not wasted much money.Another option is to join a lapidary club and see if that suites you. That is what I did a few years back when I could not take the heat prospecting in the summer. The Old Pueblo Lapidary Club http://www.lapidaryclub.org/ is supposed to be great but I have never seen their facility. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Goldfinger 43 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My DIY mill & 12 inch diameter jars.I don’t do rocks.It’s for milling gunpowder, etc.3rd generation 8 inch diameter jarsMill gunpowder???? No offense but that's crazy...Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Jeff 16 Posted August 14, 2012 Author Share Posted August 14, 2012 Another option is to join a lapidary club and see if that suites you. That is what I did a few years back when I could not take the heat prospecting in the summer. The Old Pueblo Lapidary Club http://www.lapidaryclub.org/ is supposed to be great but I have never seen their facility.Thanks. I will check them out for sure. Seems like they offer some interesting classes there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
elder-miner 59 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Mill gunpowder???? No offense but that's crazy...SteveLOL... How do you think black powder for muzzle loader rifles, cannons, pyrotechnics & rockets is manufactured?You don’t mix the basic ingredients (75% Potassium Nitrate, 15% Charcoal, 10% Sulfur) with a big stick in a bucket.You ball mill it, with multiple safety precautions. If you are smart, the ball mill (in use) is inside a blast proof bunker & remotely operated.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
elder-miner 59 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 EM excuse my ignorance but why in the world do you mill gunpowder? I reloaded shotshells for over30 years but never heard of this.....I make my own gunpowder & it's far better quality than any you can buy.A good read at the link below.http://www.musketeer.ch/blackpowder/recipe.htmlI also make my own smokeless powder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Jeff 16 Posted August 14, 2012 Author Share Posted August 14, 2012 And you guys make this stuff at home?... That takes a big set of cohones :wubu: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Goldfinger 43 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 LOL... How do you think black powder for muzzle loader rifles, cannons, pyrotechnics & rockets is manufactured?You don’t mix the basic ingredients (75% Potassium Nitrate, 15% Charcoal, 10% Sulfur) with a big stick in a bucket.You ball mill it, with multiple safety precautions. If you are smart, the ball mill (in use) is inside a blast proof bunker & remotely operated..It would make more sense to ball mill them individually , then simply mix. And not all black powder is always made the same way.Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
elder-miner 59 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 And you guys make this stuff at home?... That takes a big set of cohones :wubu:NOT AT HOME. That is illegal, at least in a city or residential areas & without a permit or license.I have a shop on 60 acres of isolated land. Back behind the shop a considerable distance is a powder magazine. Further away is a blast bunker (4x6 posts, plywood & composition roof & sand bags). Just in case something goes badly wrong.The milling media is very expensive small ceramic cylinders.Cost of the milling media is enough to make you vomit.It is (almost) as heavy as lead & will not create sparks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 4,612 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Dang man, you got skills! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garimpo 2,288 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Dang man, you got skills!Bill this man has got a lot more than just skills!!!! :wubu: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garimpo 2,288 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 NOT AT HOME. That is illegal, at least in a city or residential areas & without a permit or license.I have a shop on 60 acres of isolated land. Back behind the shop a considerable distance is a powder magazine. Further away is a blast bunker (4x6 posts, plywood & composition roof & sand bags). Just in case something goes badly wrong.The milling media is very expensive small ceramic cylinders.Cost of the milling media is enough to make you vomit.It is (almost) as heavy as lead & will not create sparks. Ok since nobody else is going to ask I'll once again be the fool and ask what are these little brown things... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
elder-miner 59 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 The link below explains what MINING type ball mills are & do.http://www.mine-engineer.com/mining/ballmill.htmThe “little brown things” are the grinding media that goes in a very small (spark proof) ball mill jar, along with whatever pyrotechnic chemicals or thing you intend to intimately mix and/or mill (grind) down to a very fine powder.Browse around in the link below.http://www.hobbychemicalsupply.com/servlet/StoreFrontThese are all constituents of various pyrotechnic compositions (oxidizers, fuels, binders, etc).The link below is another source of pyrotechnic chemicals, components, along with tutorials & kits for making some.http://www.skylighter.com/Some of these components are rather expensive per pound. If you are innovative, have the mind & means to. Many can be made in a shop at far lower bulk prices. For instance, I make my own magnalium (alloy of aluminum & magnesium) & others.Making high end pyrotechnics, low or high order explosives, blasting agents, incendiaries, rocket fuels & the like is NOT child’s play & requires licenses, discipline & certain skills. Nor is it a hobby for the timid. :hmmmmm: Over the span of my long life, we ran into situations where we needed something (explosive, blasting agent, flare, incendiary, ignition system, etc) to do something, but it didn’t exist. So, where possible, I made it.Ever seen a tiny incendiary that would vaporize holes in stainless steel?Below is a burn test in a small stainless steel ramekin Attched is a PDF file (dated reading) on the subject matter.Ellern - Military and Civilian Pyrotechnics1.pdf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garimpo 2,288 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 EM were you by any chance a Army Sgt. in around 1966? You sound just like the one that tried to get me in thebomb disposal business back then.....At the end of the first day he asked me what I thought.....just the opening I was waiting for all day and in front ofthe whole class I informed the Sgt. that if I ever found a bomb I was going to run like h-e-l-l and call his arse....I could see his jaw muscles moving and the veins in his neck starting to bulge when he said: Martin you don't haveto be in my class any more.....timid no.....100% chicken.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
elder-miner 59 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 EM were you by any chance a Army Sgt. in around 1966? You sound just like the one that tried to get me in thebomb disposal business back then.....About that time I was an Army Chief Warrant 2.Drafted, accepted a commission.Glad that one is behind me.Vietnam sucked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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