Tumblers and Polishers
Introduction
Due to an increased local interest, we wanted to do a short feature on tumblers.
We at CigarBoxRock Lapidary realize that we are far from experts when it comes to tumbling. We do, however, have a fairly good knowledge of Lortone products. We recognize that others will have a vastly superior knowledge of tumbling and as such we strongly encourage them to share their knowledge and wisdom of what equipment and methods they have employed, and the results that they have achieved.
CigarBoxRock Lapidary is an Authorized Dealer of Lortone Products.
Tumblers work by creating motion which gently works an abrasive across the surface of a desired stone to smooth and polish it.
What To Know…
There are a couple of different kinds of tumblers vibratory or rotary.
Rotary is the most common.
They typically use a little more abrasive but tend to leave a much more professional finish.
Tumblers are rated by the weight of the material to be polished, usually on a per drum basis.
Some units only have a single drum like the:
Lortone 3A (1 drum @ 3 lbs)
Lortone QT6 (1 drum @ 6 lbs)
Lortone 45C (1 drum @ 4 lbs)
Lortone QT12 (1 drum @ 12 lbs)
Some units have multiple drums like the:
Lortone 33B (2 drums @ 3 lbs each = 6 lbs)
Lortone 3-1.5 (3 drums @ 1.5 lbs each = 4.5 lbs)
Lortone QT66 (2 drums @ 6 lbs each = 12 lbs)
Vibratory tumblers are more commonly used in the latter stages, for pre polish and polish. They are also great for burnishing raw stones to remove mineral deposits. They do not grind down the stones and the stones done in a vibratory tumbler maintain their angular shapes.
Consumables
Really the only consumables for running a tumbler are your abrasives.
Step 1- 60-80 Silicon Carbide Grit
Step 2 -120-220 Silicon Carbide Grit
Step 3 1000 Alumina Oxide
Step 4 8000 Alumnina Oxide
These can be purchased individually.
Infrequently but on a occasion the tumbler belts or gaskets do wear out over time.
We carry replacement tumbler barrels, belts, gaskets, and inner and outer lids as well as barrel washers and knurled nuts.