Nice set up.. this spring when the weather gets warmer I will dig out my big rock tumbler.. I can polish about 20 pounds of rock in the dual side very large tumbler.. though I hardly ever use it except for my bigger rocks I have a small 3 pounder for doing stones. The little one is the one that impresses me.. it has a small motor. like the ones you find on those box fans and it just goes and goes.. I have had it for about 15 or 20 years now and it just keeps cranking and never stops.. it does get a bit hot these days so I have a fan for it to keep it cool.. I bought a replacement motor for it 12 or more years ago.. it is still in the box never been opened.. I have picked up some very fine pointers from your shannel and find it very interesting to watch.. Thanks Steve for all of your help even us old farts can learn new and better things eh? carry on ole son.. see ya in the next one!
It is a great hobby isn't it? You get out in the fresh air to collect rocks, have fun testing new ideas in the workshop, get the wonder of seeing beautiful rocks and ... we get to mess about with clunky machines! Cheers as always!
just stumbled on your video, I bought the same tumbler 4-5 years ago to test it thoroughly for our shop but it was not a product we could resell in that state, too many flaws and not much will to refine the product from the manufacturer. Ball bearings sounds nice but in reality nylon bushings used in fex. Lortone is quieter easily replaceable and will most likely outlive the bearings anyway. The barrels was wandering extremely much on our unit, I think some precision was missing, barrel guides like on fex. Highland park tumblers would be nice. Motor ran pretty hot but I still think the motor size was an extreme overkill for two 3lb barrels (I remember they advertised it as 15lb though). Belts are the cheapest chinese O-rings and the pulleys are not very good quality either. I actually tested it today to see if it ran after being in an unheated shed unused for years, it started without problems but the powdercoated paint was cracking off which it is not doing on the german machines I have running in the same shed.
Great video as usual from you. I have the Professional National Geographic rock tumbler with variable speed. The manual says to use high speed(3) for Grade 1 grit, medium (2) for Grade 2 and slow speed (1) for grades 3&4 etc. High speed on Grade 1 seems to round rocks reasonably fast.
Hi Morris, Thanks for the info! does it tell you the RPM at each speed? I am really not convinced that different speeds make much difference. Perhaps when you have used your machine a bit more you can let me know what you think? All the best.....
@@thestonecraftingworkshop7490 it doesn’t but I just measured it (time for 50 rotations). It comes out as (1) 80 rpm, (2) 100rpm and (3) 120 rpm.. So not a big difference, just 50% faster on 3 compared to 1. I have my second batch of rocks in now using the (3) for the first stage. When I have finished this I will try it on (1) for first stage and see the difference.
@@morrismurray3621 Hi Morris, if you go to my website you can use the contact form: www.stoneengravings.co.uk/information/contact/ If this doesn't work let me know
I have not, I am pretty sure the barrels would simply climb over o-rings or bands. The National geographic machine employs plastic washers, that would work if I can get some the right size and figure out how to retro fit them! Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming.
Hi Steve. Thanks for the very informative review. I'm following about a year behind you in my rock tumbling hobby, and like you I feel the need to upgrade to a 6lb tumbler. I have considered the Evans CR2 but I like the idea of the ball races on this tumbler having destroyed a plastic bearing on my 3lb Evans machine. So after 6 months, how is this machine performing? Have you needed to replace the belt and are the barrels holding up?
Hi Graham, nice to hear from a fellow tumbler. My 15LB is holding up well, the barrels especially seem pretty good, much more convenient than the Evans rubber barrel (I have both). I have replaced the belt once but as I do my own it's no big deal ( I have made two vids about this, it is easy!). The machine itself has run flawlessly so far. I was not too happy about the plastic screw knobs rubbing on the side of the machine but so far not much sign of wear. I do oil mine pretty nearly every week. On balance these machines are such good value it seems a no brainer, pity they are made in China. Only time will tell of course but thats true of every machine we can buy in the UK. If you would like to keep in touch occasionally about tumbling contact me thru my website contact form (stoneengravings.co.uk) and I will reply with my email address. Cheers.
Thanks for the update. That has decided me and I've just ordered one. I was looking around earlier and found them listed on alibaba for $45US (+$105, 30 day shipping). I'll stick with the ebay seller who possibly has upgraded the original belt. No doubt in another 6 months I'll be thinking about buying a vibratory tumbler...
Hi Steve, I have come to the conclusion, you are a cheapskate!! Buying all these cheap tools.. And I like your style!! I am interested in tumbling, so I liked your video. You brought up buying poly belt material for replacements. I would like you to explain that at sometime, maybe a follow up, when you make a belt? Thank you for sharing.
I am not cheap I am a poor old retired stonemason watching every hard earned penny! 😂 I will post about the belts soon, thank you for watching, all the best!
Hi, I have been ill and had a serious operation but I am on the road to recovery and will start making videos soon. Thank you for your concern, PS not dead yet!
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Nice set up.. this spring when the weather gets warmer I will dig out my big rock tumbler.. I can polish about 20 pounds of rock in the dual side very large tumbler.. though I hardly ever use it except for my bigger rocks I have a small 3 pounder for doing stones. The little one is the one that impresses me.. it has a small motor. like the ones you find on those box fans and it just goes and goes.. I have had it for about 15 or 20 years now and it just keeps cranking and never stops.. it does get a bit hot these days so I have a fan for it to keep it cool.. I bought a replacement motor for it 12 or more years ago.. it is still in the box never been opened.. I have picked up some very fine pointers from your shannel and find it very interesting to watch.. Thanks Steve for all of your help even us old farts can learn new and better things eh? carry on ole son.. see ya in the next one!
It is a great hobby isn't it? You get out in the fresh air to collect rocks, have fun testing new ideas in the workshop, get the wonder of seeing beautiful rocks and ... we get to mess about with clunky machines! Cheers as always!
just stumbled on your video, I bought the same tumbler 4-5 years ago to test it thoroughly for our shop but it was not a product we could resell in that state, too many flaws and not much will to refine the product from the manufacturer.
Ball bearings sounds nice but in reality nylon bushings used in fex. Lortone is quieter easily replaceable and will most likely outlive the bearings anyway.
The barrels was wandering extremely much on our unit, I think some precision was missing, barrel guides like on fex. Highland park tumblers would be nice.
Motor ran pretty hot but I still think the motor size was an extreme overkill for two 3lb barrels (I remember they advertised it as 15lb though).
Belts are the cheapest chinese O-rings and the pulleys are not very good quality either.
I actually tested it today to see if it ran after being in an unheated shed unused for years, it started without problems but the powdercoated paint was cracking off which it is not doing on the german machines I have running in the same shed.
Ok
Always enjoy your rock tumbling vids. Thanks.
Rock on!
Great video as usual from you. I have the Professional National Geographic rock tumbler with variable speed. The manual says to use high speed(3) for Grade 1 grit, medium (2) for Grade 2 and slow speed (1) for grades 3&4 etc. High speed on Grade 1 seems to round rocks reasonably fast.
Hi Morris, Thanks for the info! does it tell you the RPM at each speed? I am really not convinced that different speeds make much difference. Perhaps when you have used your machine a bit more you can let me know what you think? All the best.....
@@thestonecraftingworkshop7490 it doesn’t but I just measured it (time for 50 rotations). It comes out as (1) 80 rpm, (2) 100rpm and (3) 120 rpm..
So not a big difference, just 50% faster on 3 compared to 1. I have my second batch of rocks in now using the (3) for the first stage. When I have finished this I will try it on (1) for first stage and see the difference.
@@thestonecraftingworkshop7490 is there an email or whatever for you that I can discuss Cerium oxide etc?
@@morrismurray3621 Hi Morris, if you go to my website you can use the contact form: www.stoneengravings.co.uk/information/contact/
If this doesn't work let me know
Have you tested to use some type of rubber band on the long metal rods so the don’t move around, or maybe some O-rings?
I have not, I am pretty sure the barrels would simply climb over o-rings or bands. The National geographic machine employs plastic washers, that would work if I can get some the right size and figure out how to retro fit them! Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming.
Hi Steve. Thanks for the very informative review. I'm following about a year behind you in my rock tumbling hobby, and like you I feel the need to upgrade to a 6lb tumbler. I have considered the Evans CR2 but I like the idea of the ball races on this tumbler having destroyed a plastic bearing on my 3lb Evans machine. So after 6 months, how is this machine performing? Have you needed to replace the belt and are the barrels holding up?
Hi Graham, nice to hear from a fellow tumbler. My 15LB is holding up well, the barrels especially seem pretty good, much more convenient than the Evans rubber barrel (I have both). I have replaced the belt once but as I do my own it's no big deal ( I have made two vids about this, it is easy!). The machine itself has run flawlessly so far. I was not too happy about the plastic screw knobs rubbing on the side of the machine but so far not much sign of wear. I do oil mine pretty nearly every week. On balance these machines are such good value it seems a no brainer, pity they are made in China. Only time will tell of course but thats true of every machine we can buy in the UK. If you would like to keep in touch occasionally about tumbling contact me thru my website contact form (stoneengravings.co.uk) and I will reply with my email address. Cheers.
Thanks for the update. That has decided me and I've just ordered one. I was looking around earlier and found them listed on alibaba for $45US (+$105, 30 day shipping). I'll stick with the ebay seller who possibly has upgraded the original belt. No doubt in another 6 months I'll be thinking about buying a vibratory tumbler...
Hi Steve, I have come to the conclusion, you are a cheapskate!! Buying all these cheap tools.. And I like your style!! I am interested in tumbling, so I liked your video. You brought up buying poly belt material for replacements. I would like you to explain that at sometime, maybe a follow up, when you make a belt? Thank you for sharing.
I am not cheap I am a poor old retired stonemason watching every hard earned penny! 😂 I will post about the belts soon, thank you for watching, all the best!
Why did you stop posting videos? Did you die
Hi, I have been ill and had a serious operation but I am on the road to recovery and will start making videos soon. Thank you for your concern, PS not dead yet!
@@thestonecraftingworkshop7490 glad to hear!!