Tumbling Rocks

[BigWave]

I've recently bought a Lortome 3A tumbler to start tumbling rocks from the goldfields.
I have some great pieces of black banded red, yellow and green jasper from WA and some interesting quartz from the GT (some with gold glints).
When I split them to tumbling size, can I then roughly shape them with an angle grinder (ceramic blade) before tumbling?

 

[LONEWOLF]

Yes but not real important to shape as the Tumbler will do that for you......BUT beware that a lot of Dust you make could be deadly to you and Others... Wear a Quality Mask rated for Silica or better still a Respirator that is rated for Silica and Eye Protection..

Any Quartz you do is VERY DANGEROUS, as Quartz contains Silica and inhaling that will give you Silicosis.....
Just as deadly as Asbestosis.... :skull: O

There is a major issue in the Construction Industry with the cutting of Hebel Bricks(even normal bricks/besser blocks are under scrutiny) and the Compressed stone Bench tops that are on the market ATM...
Lots of Cases of Silicosis and 'other' deadly Lung related Diseases happening all over Australia in the Stone-Mason Industry... O

You may want to put any further Q's in the Lapidary Section... Right place for this sort of stuff... :koala:

LW.....

 

[Booney]

Looking forward to seeing some pics And hearing how you go with your tumbler ,would like to do this myself.
Rock n Roll BigWave .
Cheers Booney

 

[Bjay]

Glad you bought that up LW. Its slways been asbestos was the bad one. But we now know silica dust is just as bad.

 

[Bjay]

Wow MT thats crazy ****. By the way can you tell me the tatslotto numbers for Saturday.(seeing as how you know everything apparently) layful:

 

[OzzieAu]

Back to the Big Smoke MT....
https://www.prospectorspatch.com.au/product/lortone-3a-rock-tumbler/

 

[madtuna]

My appologies BW...shouldn't have posted that in your thread

 

[madtuna]

Back to the Big Smoke MT....
https://www.prospectorspatch.com.au/product/lortone-3a-rock-tumbler/

Many thanks Ozz....... Kalgoorlie is only medium smoke and I can get it picked up and delivered anyway

 

[LONEWOLF]

Actually Bjay, ANY Dust can be a Killer.... Even dirt dust... All depends on what it contains..... With Asbestos and Silica, you only need one tiny Fibre or speck of Dust to lodge into your Lung wall and your body will do its bit.... Most of these Diseases, once you have a diagnosis it is well and truly too late...
No treatment for them, Only Prevention..... O

MT, with your skills you should be able to make a Tumbler for very little outlay and spend $160 on Beer or Winks this week-end. .. Im sure you have what you need just outside your shed... If you need some plans or ideas just let me know...

LW.... PS will I also win lotto this year, and if so when, so I can buy a ticket for that week..... :koala:

 

[goody2shoes]

My mum died from Asbestos poisoning....

Got it from where she use to work...

Goody :/

 

[madtuna]

Going to make a ball mill shortly LW, but probably a bit to aggresive for a rock tumbler.

I did toy with the idea a while ago while looking at my brass tumbler but at that price I'd probably just buy one.

Cheers!

 

[Bjay]

Sorry to hear that Goody.

My mum died from Asbestos poisoning....

Got it from where she use to work...

Goody :/

 

[LONEWOLF]

Slightly too aggressive if you want anything left MT... {)
Fair enough...

Cheap Tumbler My way...

I made one for $30... 2x 12mm 'Bright' steel rods, $12 worth of 'pillow block' bearings from Ebay, bit of Duct tape and an old washing machine motor and pulleys from same washing machine or 12v wiper motor from a pre 1984 car and a pair of pantyhose for belt... and some 100mm pvc pipe and end caps for tumbling barrels...

So sorry to hear about your Mum Goody. Such a terrible way to go.. And so Preventable, if only they knew then what they Know now.. :brokenh: :flowers:

I have to get X-rays every 12 months for the rest of my life, after being exposed to Asbestos in 1985... While working on an 'Asbestos Free' Construction site...

LW....

 

[goody2shoes]

My mum worked down at Tassie,

They told the worker's that they was not in any danger while they pulled down asbestos walls in the factor,

No air vents..

Asbestos was getting into the tin food that they was producing at the time, plus frozen veggies,

Mum would not let us kids eat tin pea's, or any tin or frozen food that came out of the factory for 12 months,

It should of been longer... But she did not no

Goody :|

 

[savage bitter]

I've recently bought a Lortome 3A tumbler to start tumbling rocks from the goldfields.
I have some great pieces of black banded red, yellow and green jasper from WA and some interesting quartz from the GT (some with gold glints).
When I split them to tumbling size, can I then roughly shape them with an angle grinder (ceramic blade) before tumbling?

bigwave the 3a tumbler is a great start up tumbler with 60 grit for a week you will turn good size rocks to pebbles very sharp quartz will round off pretty quick have fun any questions just ask I have been tumbling rocks for years its a fun hobby hope you enjoy :Y: :Y: :Y: :Y: :Y:

 

[BigWave]

My mum died from Asbestos poisoning....
Got it from where she use to work...
Goody :/

Very sorry to hear of your mum Goody.
Thanks to LW for the warning re silicosis - I definitely had not thought of that :Y:
I purchased the tumbler and grit from:
https://www.prospectorspatch.com.au/product/lortone-3a-rock-tumbler/
and it arrived (cross country) the next day - the fastest delivery I've ever experienced

 

[RM Outback]

Thanks for the link BW :Y: I just sorted Kate's birthday pressy

 

[silver]

I'm perplexed.
According to a private message I recieved yesterday "you're just a hick who knows everything".

So knowing everything, I should be able to answer your question.....But I can't! I'll have to reply and let him know he's wrong.

Mean while, I'm with Booney, have been wanting to get into this for a while. Can I ask where you got the tumbler from?

Cheers!

Seeing as you have made it public Ill stand up to the plate an say indeed I did , but I used the phrase ( thinks he knows everything) as I said to you in that pm you know nothing about me and yet you come out and openly call me a liar :N:
When what I said was the gospel truth my friend! My advice to you is stop crying and build a bridge and get over it!
Id would much rather be called a hick than a liar :N: and you still cant man up and admit it was bad form :N:
Ya lost me pal

:lol: now I'm lost too.... must be something missin..... can't read your pm's properly from hear... even the shops weren't open before this chain of non events didn't take place where it shouldn't have.... at least I've seen one apology O

 

[goody2shoes]

Thank you

Goody :|

 

[BigWave]

Have started the tumbler. In retrospect, I would have bought a double such at the Lortone 33B.
Even though it was called a 3pound tub (1.1kg), it turns out that it would only load around 0.8kg of stones, and I collected around 3kg on my last trip.
So, with around 4.5 weeks per load (start to finish), will take around 4 months to complete.
I think that the twin barrel (33B) would have been a better choice, as at the end of stage 1 (say 7 days), you can combine the completed stones into one barrel (and start stage 2 grit), and continue the uncompleted stones in the second barrel with the original grit - adding new stones or filler as need be.
Now, I may have to buy a second 3A