For
38 years Tri -Dee has sold Lortone Rock Polishing Tumblers. Built right here in
Seattle Washington. These are heavy duty
rock tumblers meant to last you for years of collecting and polishing rocks.
Lortone rock polishing Tumblers are the absolute best value for your money on the market today.
You will enjoy the quiet and durable thick rubber barrel along
with the sturdy metal base. All LORTONE Equipment comes with a three
year manufacturer's/Tri-dee's defect warranty.
Tri-Dee will assist you if you ever need
repairs.
Tri-Dee Distributors - (360) 336-6131 10to5 PT 1to8 ET
We charge ACTUAL UPS pickup rates +
$3.00 handling for packing materials. Please call us at 1-360 336 6131 or e-mail Sales@tri-dee.com
with your zip code, and the items you'd like to order.
[How to
Polish Rocks] [Home]
| SMALL ROCK POLISHING TUMBLERS: Three compact LORTONE tumbler models offer 3 to 6 lb. capacities. Each is quiet, sturdy, simple to operate, and gives excellent results. All feature the patented LORTONE molded rubber barrel with a quick-seal closure, and a continuous-duty fan- cooled motor. UL and CSA listed. |
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Quiet,
sturdy and efficient. Extra-durable all steel base. Continuous
duty fan cooled motor. Features patented LORTONE molded rubber
barrel with quick-seal closure. One year warranty. Measures
6" W x 9½ L. LORTONE's most popular tumbler sold today.
It's the perfect size for most tumbling needs. Shipping weight 5
lbs.
Allows you to
tumble twice as much at once or polish one load while shaping
another. Twin 3 lb. barrels.
High
quality, top of the line tumbler with heavy duty, overload
protective motor and extra-durable all steel construction.
Features patented LORTONE molded rubber barrel with quick-seal,
leak proof closure and 10-sided interior surface. One year
limited warranty by manufacturer. Measures 6½" W x 10¼ L.
Popular size for tumbling 115 volt, 60 HZ motor. | MID-SIZED ROCK POLISHING TUMBLERS: Three larger capacity tumblers for 6 to 12 pound loads boast the same outstanding performance as our smaller tumblers. Designed for continuous shop use, they feature heavy duty overload protected motors and durable, welded steel construction. Perfect for moderate production use or larger items. All include LORTONE's patented barrels with positive quick-seal leak proof closures and 10-sided interior surface for optimum tumbling action. |
|
Single 6 lb. capacity.
High
quality, top of the line tumbler with heavy duty, overload
protective motor and extra-durable all steel construction.
Features patented LORTONE molded rubber barrel with quick-seal,
leak proof closure and 10-sided interior surface. One year
limited warranty by manufacturer. . Designed for larger quantity
production. 120 volt, 60 HZ motor. 
Same as QT12 but with twin 6 lb.
barrels.|
REPLACEMENT BARRELS: Patented LORTONE Tumbler Barrels are made of long wearing synthetic rubber and feature an exclusive water tight seal. 10-sided interiors on the 4 lb. and larger models nearly double the tumbling action of old style 6-sided barrels. Not for use with solvents or harsh detergents. |
|
| POLISHING
KIT:
includes: Step #1 16oz 60/90 Step #2 14oz 120/220 Step #3 12oz Pre-polish Step #4 12oz Polish #590-30 $ 18.95 5lb Estimated shipping Large 4 step Kit with 5lbs of each step #590-32 $86.95 26lbs shipping weight
|
One set of
#590-30 ROCK POLISHING COMPOUND Will do the following 4 times 3lb rock tumbler, 3 times 4lb rock tumbler, 2 times 6lb rock tumbler, 1 time 12lb rock tumbler, |
|
Silicon Carbide
Abrasive
The finest Silicon Carbide
available for grinding, tumbling or lapping. Also available in bulk quantities.
Broad Grades
Economical for Tumbling and General Use
STEP #1 60/90 Grit
1 lb. 5.95 5 lb. 17.90
STEP #2 120/220 Grit 1 lb.
5.95 5 lb. 17.90
STEP #3 Sisa
Prepolish Extra fine
A great pre-polish 1 lb.
4.95
5 lb. 18.90
STEP #4
Aluminum Oxide
Excellent cost-effective Alumina for a bright shine.
Cleans up easily 1 lb. 8.95
5 lb. 34.50
Plastic Pellets
Used in the prepolish and polishing stages to cushion stones and help
carry polish. also works well as a filler for small loads. Long wearing and
reusable. 1 lb. 4.90 5 lb.
18.90
Rock Polishing Questions
My
lid keeps coming off my tumbler after a few hours. What am I doing wrong?
Most likely the lid is either not
seated properly or the knurled nut is over tightened. Clean the edge of the lid
and the shoulder inside the barrel well. Make sure the lid fits down against the
shoulder. Install the outer lid evenly and firmly. Tighten the black plastic
knurled nut finger tight. The stud doesn't need to project through the nut -
leave a couple of threads showing. If the nut is over tightened it can actually
pull the lid off the shoulder and cause it to leak. NEVER use any kind of tool
to tighten the nut.
How can I get that
wet-look polish on my stones?
Keep in mind that not all stones
will polish to the same degree. Most high polishes are the result of a lot of
trial and error. You'll find that what works for someone else won't always work
for you but there are several things you can do to improve any finish. First,
always make sure you clean the stones and the barrel thoroughly between steps.
Contamination is the number 1 cause of poor results. Check your stones in the
pre-polish stage several times. Remove any that have chips as the sharp edges
can scratch other stones. Also make sure to remove any small chips floating
around. Use plastic pellets during the pre-polish and polish stages. They help
to reduce chipping and are especially valuable on softer stones. Take your time
in the pre-polish stage. This prepares the stones for the final polish and, if
rushed, will lead to a less glossy finish. Finally, don't be afraid to
experiment. Try Aluminum Oxide, Cerium Oxide, or Tin Oxide until you find one
that works best for you.
I'm using my tumbler
for burnishing Silver jewelry and find that I get a lot of black tarnish on my
work. This is worse than before ! Help !
Not all burnishing solutions are
compatible with rubber barrels. This applies to burnishing soap, Tide, Liquid
detergents and other compounds. It's made even worse by high concentrations.
Unfortunately, there are many types of burnishing compounds available and we
can't test much less keep up with them all.
We don't recommend anything greater than 1 tablespoon per gallon of water.
To prevent the black tarnish and damage to the barrel, cut back the amount of
burnishing soap you're now using. If you still get the tarnish - switch to a
different compound. Let me know what works for you and what doesn't (include
brand names and where purchased).
- Wash the stones thoroughly. Be sure there is no debris
attached to the stones. Use a brush and soapy water if necessary.
- Sort your stones by size and hardness into groups or
batches. Soft stones will grind away before hard stones are ready for the
next step. Stones of nearly the same size will have more points of contact
and therefore will produce a more thorough and faster grinding action. If
certain shapes or sizes are desired, you may want to pre form your stones by
grinding them first remember to keep the stones cool with water.
COARSE GRIND - The amount of stones put in a tumbler barrel depends on the
size of the barrel and the stones themselves. The best tumbling action
occurs when the barrel is filled 50% to 60% of its capacity. Fill the barrel
with your stones to 1/2" above the half-way mark. Remove the stones and
weight them. This weight will help you to determine how much grit is needed.
Record this weight for future reference. Use the following ratio to
determine the amount of silicon carbide grit needed for your batch:
One pound of grit per eight to ten pounds of rock.
Put your batch of rocks back into the barrel and add grit accordingly. If the rocks are chips or have rough crude surfaces, start with a coarse grit (60/90 grit). If the rocks are water worn from tumbling in stream beds or already tumbled by ocean waves, start with a medium grit.
- If baking soda is available, add about a tablespoonful to
the mix. The soda will help neutralize the gases that might be formed. Add
water into the barrel so it is either just touching the bottom of the top
layer of rocks or until it covers the rock by no more than 1/16 of an inch.
Put the cover on and secure it. Place the barrel into position on the
tumbler.
- Put the tumbler into operation and observe its action for a
few minutes. Check for loose or slipping belts or pulleys. Listen to the
sounds coming from within the barrel. Is there sufficient amount of action
taking place? If there isn't, shut down the operation, open the barrel and
inspect the consistency of the mixture. If the mixture is too dry, add a
little water. Put the cover back on and continue as before. If everything
appears to be functioning properly, you can leave and come back periodically
to check the operation.
- It will take an average of four to six days of coarse
grinding. Sharp-edged or broken pieces of agate may require as much as 360
hours of coarse grind operation. After each 24 hours of operation, shut down
the operation. Remove some stones from the barrel and examine them. You can
add or decrease the grinding time according to how much more rough grinding
you want performed. If you want to continue with the coarse grit, inspect
the grit and the consistency of the mixture. If the grit no longer has sharp
edges, you may want to add more coarse grit. If the mixture is too dry, you
may want to add a little more water. Place the stones back into the
container, seal the barrel, place it into position, and start up the
operation. Observe and listen to see if the operation is functioning
properly. You can leave and check back periodically. When the coarse
grinding phase is finished to your satisfaction, you can proceed to the next
step. If a few stones need more coarse grinding, you can remove them from
this batch and re-tumble them later in another batch.
- Remove all of the material and stones from the barrel and
place in a pan. DO NOT use an aluminum pan. It may discolor your stones.
Plastic is preferred. DO NOT wash the waste material down your drains. It
may harden in the traps or pipes and require major plumbing repairs to clear
the pipes. Clean the stones, the barrel, the lid, the pan and any other part
that has made contact with the grit mixture. Wash everything and your hands
thoroughly. You do not want any previous grit particle left to contaminate
the next mixture. It may produce scratches.
MEDIUM GRIND - Place the stones back into the barrel. If they do not fill
the barrel to the half-way mark, you may need some filler material. The
filler material is available from lapidary supply stores. Inexpensive
marbles, plastic pellets, or crushed walnut shells make good substitutes.
Add the filler material until the half-way mark is reached. Add about one
tablespoonful of baking soda. Add 220 or "240 & finer" grit
to the mixture in the same quantity as the coarse grit. Add water into the
barrel so it is either just touching the bottom of the top layer of rocks or
until it covers the rock by no more than 1/16 of an inch. Put the cover on
and secure it. Place the barrel into position on the tumbler.
- Put the tumbler into operation and observe its action for a
few minutes. Check for loose or slipping belts or pulleys. Listen to the
sounds coming from within the barrel. Is there sufficient amount of action
taking place? If there isn't, shut down the operation, open the barrel and
inspect the consistency of the mixture. If the mixture is too dry, add a
little water. Put the cover back on and continue as before. If everything
appears to be functioning properly, you can leave and come back periodically
to check the operation.
- It will take an average of about four days, or 96 to 100
hours. After each 24 hours of operation, shut down the operation. Remove
some stones from the barrel and examine them. You can add or decrease the
grinding time according to how much more grinding you want performed. If you
want to continue, inspect the grit and the consistency of the mixture. If
the grit no longer has sharp edges, you may want to add more grit. If the
mixture is too dry, you may want to add a little more water. Place the
stones back into the container, seal the barrel, place it into position, and
start up the operation. Observe and listen to see if the operation is
functioning properly. You can leave and check back periodically. When this
grinding phase is finished to your satisfaction, you can proceed to the next
step. If a few stones need more grinding, you can remove them from this
batch and re-tumble them later in another batch.
- Remove all of the material and stones from the barrel and
repeat the cleaning procedures used after the coarse grit operation. Clean
the stones, the barrel, the lid, the pan and any other part that has made
contact with the grit mixture. Wash everything and your hands thoroughly.
You do not want any previous grit particle left to contaminate the next
mixture. It may produce scratches.
FINE GRIND - Extreme care should be taken from this point on to prevent
the stones from chipping or breaking. Place some water in the barrel first
and then place the stones gently into the barrel. If they do not fill the
barrel to the half-way mark, you may need some filler material. Don't use
contaminated filler material from previous operation. Add the filler
material until the half-way mark is achieved. Add about one tablespoonful of
baking soda. Add PrePolish or 500, 600, or "600 &
finer" grit to the mixture in the same quantity as the coarse grit.
Add water into the barrel so it is either just touching the bottom of the
top layer of rocks or until it covers the rock by no more than 1/16 of an
inch. Put the cover on and secure it. Place the barrel into position on the
tumbler.
- Put the tumbler into operation and observe its action for a
few minutes. Check for loose or slipping belts or pulleys. Listen to the
sounds coming from within the barrel. If there isn't sufficient action
taking place, shut down the operation, open the barrel and inspect the
consistency of the mixture. If the mixture is too dry, add a little water.
Put the cover back on and continue as before. If everything appears to be
functioning properly, you can leave and come back periodically to check the
operation.
- It will take about 72 to 150 hours for the stones to be
ready for the polish phase. After each 24 hours of operation, shut down the
operation. Remove some stones from the barrel and examine them. You can add
or decrease the grinding time according to how much more grinding you want
performed. If you want to continue, inspect the consistency of the mixture.
If the mixture is too dry, you may want to add a little more water. DO NOT
add more grit. Place the stones back into the container, seal the barrel,
place it into position, and start up the operation. Observe and listen to
see if the operation is functioning properly. You can leave and check back
periodically. When this grinding phase is finished to your satisfaction, you
can proceed to the next step.
- Continue to take extreme care not to damage the stones.
Remove all of the material and stones from the barrel and repeat the
cleaning procedures used after the coarse grit operation. Clean the stones,
the barrel, the lid, the pan, the sink faucets, etc. Wash everything and
your hands thoroughly. You do not want any previous grit particle left to
contaminate the next mixture. It may produce scratches.
POLISH - Allow the stones to dry and then examine them very
carefully. Remove any stone that is chipped, broken, or has very sharp
edges. The damaged stones will scratch the rest of the batch if left to
remain. Place the stones gently into the barrel. If they do not fill the
barrel to the half-way mark, you may need some filler material. Filler
materials such as sawdust, wood shavings, cornmeal, walnut shells, and
rubber strips (cut-up rubber bands) are ideal. They will help prevent damage
to the stones by absorbing some of the tumbling (banging) action. Add the
filler material until the half-way mark is achieved. Add about one teaspoon
of detergent soap. Add cerium, tin oxide or Aluminum Oxide
to the mixture in half the quantity as the coarse grit. Add water
into the barrel so it is either just touching the bottom of the top layer of
rocks or until it covers the rock by no more than 1/16 of an inch. Put the
cover on and secure it. Place the barrel into position on the tumbler.
- If it's possible with your unit, reduce the speed of
rotation by about twenty percent. Put the tumbler into operation and observe
its action for a few minutes. Check for loose or slipping belts or pulleys.
Listen to the sounds coming from within the barrel. If there isn't
sufficient action taking place, shut down the operation, open the barrel and
inspect the consistency of the mixture. If the mixture is too dry, add a
little water. Put the cover back on and continue as before. If everything
appears to be functioning properly, you can leave and come back periodically
to check the operation.
- It will take about 48 to 150 hours for the stones to be
completely polished. After each 24 hours of operation, shut down the
operation. Remove some stones from the barrel, wash and examine them. If
they become duller as they dry, then they are not completely polished.
Carefully put them back into the barrel and polish them for another 24
hours. Inspect the consistency of the mixture. If the mixture is too dry,
you may want to add a little more water. Seal the barrel, place it into
position, and start up the operation. Observe and listen to see if the
operation is functioning properly. You can leave and check back
periodically.
FINAL CLEAN-UP
- When you are satisfied with the polish results, Remove all
of the material and the stones from the barrel and repeat the cleaning
procedures used after the coarse grit operation. Clean the stones, the
barrel, the lid, the pan, the sink faucets, etc. Wash everything and your
hands thoroughly. Carefully place the stones back into the barrel. Add
enough detergent soap powder and water to make a thick soapy solution.
Tumble the stones for 6 to 12 hours. Remove the stones from the barrel
carefully and place them in a plastic colander. Wash them thoroughly. Spread
them on a cloth or towel to dry. Those that are properly polished will have
the same appearance as when they were wet. If some stones are not
satisfactory, you can re-run them later with another batch as fillers.
Local Rock and Gem Clubs
Bellingham, Washington
Mt. Baker Rock & Gem Club
PO Box 30324, Bellingham, WA 98228-2324
E-mail: rbork1792@aol.com
Everett, Washington
Everett Rock and Gem Club
2nd Monday of each month at 7:15pm -- except December
Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 215 Mukilteo Blvd, Everett, WA
Marysville, WA
Marysville Rock & Gem
Club, Inc.
4406 92nd St NE, Marysville, WA 98270
Contact: Lloyd Bellman 360-659-2554
Marysville, WA
Port Susan Gem & Mineral Club
9406 164th St. NE (98223-8904) Arlington
Meetings: 1st Wednesday, 12:00 pm
12015 Marine Dr., Marysville
No website as yet.
Mt. Vernon, WA
Skagit Rock & Gem Club
PO Box 244, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273-0244
Contact: Dave Britten
No website as yet.
Snohomish, WA
Snohomish Lapidary Club
9108 105th Ave SE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258
Contact: Glenn Morita
E-mail: gmorita@seanet.com
Website: http://members.aol.com/snoco/snohomish.htm
Whidbey Island, WA
Whidbey Pebble Pushers
PO Box 279 Langley, WA 98260
Meetings: 1st Wednesday, 7:30 pm
4-H Bldg., Fairgounds
No website as yet.
Oak Harbor, WA
Whidbey Island Gem Club
Box 224, Oak Harbor, WA 98277-0224
Meetings: 2nd Wednesday, 7:00 pm
Oak Harbor Senior Center
No website as yet