The Lot-O Used To Be My Favorite Tumbler. It's Not Now. See Description Below.
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- Опубликовано: 24 мар 2022
- The old description of this video is below. I have heard so many stories about how quickly the motors on this tumbler die and how horrible the customer service is, that I can no longer recommend it. I don't have a recommendation for a different vibratory tumbler because this is the only one I have ever used. Both of mine are still running, but I think it's only a matter of time before their motors give out. There is some really good information about possible replacement motors discussed here: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/t...
Old Description:
I have been using a Lot-O tumbler for over ten years. This is what I think of it. I'll also show you how I use it. If you need information about the difference between rotary and vibratory tumblers, check out this video: • Should You Buy a Rotar...
Since making this video, I have heard more and more stories about the motors failing after just a few months. Please be aware that the quality of the motors in the more recent machines seems to be much lower than it was with my original Lot-O.
See the Serape jasper tumbled in this video: • Serape Jasper-Rocks in...
How to tumble Petoskey stones in dry corncob media: • How to Tumble Petoskey...
Rock Tumbling Hobby Forums: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com
Thanks to Christina Jelinek for editing the closed captions for this video.
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Hi Rob, I finally received my long-awaited Lot-O, after months on back order... From some of the horror stories I've heard of the motor, I sure hope it lasts. I did find out that moving the dowel towards the barrel did indeed improve the performance. Runs like a champ! Awful of the manufacturer not correcting this & leaving it up to us to fix?! Again, I thank you for your time & great instructional video to correct this problem & others that may arise. Glad we have you as a teacher! Blessings to the family. Go Blue!
I'm glad you finally got one! Both of my newer motors are still running fine, so hopefully yours last too. I've heard rumors that the motors they're currently using might be better.
This video is amazing! So many tips, like the PVC pipe to balance the barrel, not using plastic in the vibratory, the rubber band seat belt, dampness, fill level, and on and on. Thanks for sharing all of your tips from years of using a vibratory tumbler. In combination with the rotary vs. vibratory video I believe you have answered all my questions and musings about tumbling!
I'm glad you found it useful, Maggie. It always make me feel good when I find out I helped someone.
Neat. It’s always fun to get new toys. That was clever of you to move the dowel. It really worked. It’s a shame that the factory doesn’t calibrate them properly. I’m sure that they have a lot of unnecessary returns because of that. The towel made a big difference in sound. You could barely hear it with the towel. The rocks polished up beautifully. The rock tumbling award that you won is something to be very proud of.
The towel underneath helps a lot, but the machine still makes noise. Don't expect it to be silent.
Moving the dowel wasn't my idea, it's right in the instructions that come with it. I don't feel like it's something that should have to be done very often though.
Thank you for showing the whole process! Since acquiring my Lot-O, I've been thrown off track getting to use it by selling my house and surgery, you know, life! Now that I'm getting back on track this is going to be really helpful. You answered a whole bunch of questions I've had about it. I'm going to watch the video again and take notes this time. The used Lot-O I bought has the dowel set where you recommend and I'll be listening to its sound and will know better about the condition of the motor. I've had a bowl of agates ready for the Lot-O for over a year now. Can't wait to get to it! Thanks again, Rob!
You're welcome, Gwynn. I'm glad your life is getting back to normal and that you're finally going to get those agates done. Good luck!
Just moved my dowel and my tumbling action is about twice as fast now! Thanks Rob! I was already getting pretty shiny rocks, can't wait to see how they turn out now!
You're the king, love your vids!
Good luck!
I also had to move my dowel to get the tumbling action faster. I wonder if they are trying to make the motors last longer by reducing the vibration?
I just told him that last week lolol :)
I appreciate your update on the Lot-O. Your integrity is much appreciated. I can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring from your videos.
I'm curious too. I have a few things planned out, but the rest will be a surprise to me too!
I was ready to give up on my Tumbler, have been using it for a year and could not get the rocks to move. watched this video and moved my dowel and now it's like a new tumbler, THANK YOU.
You're welcome, Suzann.
Awesome review here Rob, I really appreciate this. It's good to know all the tips and tricks about it. Thanks for showing us the setup and a sample batch.
I'm glad you found it useful, Nicolas.
I'm glad I watched this video. I recently started using a Lot-O twin barrel vibratory tumbler, and I noticed the action didn't seem right (it didn't look like the action I've seen in your other videos). I may need to move the dowel. I'm glad to see others in the comments here have done the same and had positive results.
Just be careful not to move it too far. It can break springs if the action gets too violent.
I want to thank you for your informative videos that inspire and use the KISS methods. When I first turned on Utube I had stepped away to fill my coffee cup and heard your voice and my first impression was that you sounded like a teacher. Congratulations. Laura Francis
You caught me. I'm a teacher.
Rob, excellent Lot-O overview video. I will say I purchased my Lot-O a couple of years ago based off of your work. It seems every single Lot-O is slightly different. I didn't fill my block base before painting and mounting and instantly regretted it. The base needs density more than weight for action sake. I placed railroad rail pieces in the block base and that added density helped action tremendously, so I'm glad you filled your holes. I put an old solid rubber doormat under my block between it and the concrete shop floor. Also, I found the use of a fine mesh sink drain strainer helps me drain the water without losing small ceramic pieces between my fingers, it fits over the mouth perfectly. I have a video on it here. I also discovered upon advice from another Lot-O user that my action works best if I give the bowl a slight, less than level, forward towards the motor tilt. Thanks for all your videos!
Hi Lance. One thing that I have noticed is that if you put two of them under your stairs like I did, the noise is more noticeable. You can sort of hear and feel it on the far end of the house upstairs. It's still not loud, but more noticeable than with just one. I have always had a folded up towel under mine. Since buying this second one, I bought some foam blocks designed for noise isolation. They didn't help at all. Now I have bubble wrap wrapped in the towel and placed under the block. I don't think that helped at all, but I left it under there.
I have used the strainer like you mentioned, but I worry that grit will get stuck in the rim around it and contaminate my batch. I drop a few between my fingers, too, but I keep doing it that way because I can be sure my hands are well rinsed.
That's the first I've heard of slanting the barrel. I'll have to try that.
Thank you so much for putting out this video. I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. I noticed how the rocks in your Lotto really were moving faster and couldn’t figure out how to make the change. Moving the dowel seems to have made the difference!
Worked for me!
I got a Lot O for Christmas and had the same problem. People on the Rock Tumbling Hobby Forum (including you) suggested moving the dowel and it made a big difference. I'm just glad that I knew from watching your videos that mine wasn't adjusted right.
I'm glad you were able to get it figured out. Is the Rock Tumbling Hobby a great place to get good advice?
@@MichiganRocks It is a great place, and seems to be filled with people eager to help with advice and kind words. Not what you would expect from rockhounds who are well known for being mean and ill tempered. :)
@@ricksmith1647 Oops, I meant to say "Isn't RTH a great place". I know it's great.
Hi Rob,
Thanks so much for this video. It was a lot of help to me.
Just a few days ago I finally got around to setting up my single barrel Lot-O Tumbler. After filling it and turning it on (yeah!) my rocks barely moved. They just kind of vibrated a little, like dancing up and down. So first I thought maybe I had the barrel too full, so I removed some of the rocks and ceramics. Going so far as to actually weighing out two pounds of rocks and 1 pound of ceramics. Still barely any movement to the content of my barrel. No standing water in the barrel was to blame for the inaction either.
I remembered your video and rewatched it and writing down the measurements for the location of the dowel. Mine was not in that location so after a short trip to my local hardware store for an 1/4" open end wrench (I think that is the only thing that can remove the 2 bolts underneath the motor bracket) and some 3/8" dowel material the next morning. I went about taking the machine off it's baseboard and repositioning the dowel. Good thing I already have a brad nailer and hot glue gun.
Finally my rocks are moving with a nice rotation in my barrel.
It even seems to me that the motor is not making as much noise as before and also is not getting as hot.
My motor gets plenty hot, so I wouldn't worry about that. I fill my barrel right up to the top, no need to weight anything. I'm glad you've got good action now.
I bought two of these as part of used lot a while back, that tip about putting epoxy into the dimple at the bottom of the barrel is great, I need to do that. And thank you for showing your process for getting it mounted on the block. I've chewed up rocks by not having mine mounted and know I need to do it, I just wasn't sure what the best way how is. Great content as always, thanks!
To put epoxy in the hole in the bottom, I twirled some epoxy on a stick of wood, like you would do with a honey dipper. Then I lowered it in and just let it drip off into the hole. It has never come out in over ten years.
I’m so glad I watched this! The action on my Lot-O never seemed very good but I could never figure out why.
You’re dowel trick worked like a charm!
Thanks for making these videos!
I'm glad to help, Marc!
Thank you so much for the great video! I am going to try adjusting my wooden dowel tonight on my double barrel since I am not getting as fast of a tumble as others seem to get.
Sadly I have had my single barrel for about a year, and the motor needs to be replaced. Sealed bearing are ruined and local repair shop said that it cannot be fixed, but must be replaced instead.
I LOVE my lot-0 tumbler! WIth my twin lotto, it 's motor went out (bearings went bad) just 80 days after use, but luckily that one was still within the warranty period and Calway/Belt replaced it very quickly for me! Even with the few issues, I absolutely think these are wonderful tumblers!
Thanks for all of the great videos!
Tina
I have gotten a lot of comments on this video about people’s motors going bad after a short time. That’s really disappointing since these are great tumblers otherwise.
Thank you so much! I recently got a lot-o and mine is adjusted just like yours was and I have seen the same speed. I thought I was the problem. Now I have a project today of adjusting my dowel. Thank again.
You're welcome, I hope it works out well for you.
Really nicely done Rob. I've had my Lot-O tumbler for about a year and I wasn't all that happy with the results and went back to mainly my rotary tumblers. Now I see I need to adjust the dowel on my tumbler. I can't wait to see how it goes after that. Thanks for all your details. You are the Man!
I find the Lot-O much easier to use to get a really good shine. I think you'll like yours if you get it tuned in and learn how to use it.
Thank you! I have run one course of polishing like you demonstrate in this video through a new double barrel Lot-O. It was a struggle because I couldn't get an active enough rotation within the barrel. I paused the video at 18:35 and went to the garage to measure the location of my dowel. It's 3 cm from the inside screw, and one side is even a little more: the dowel isn't parallel with the frame. I'm going to take the measures you did and see if I can get that rolling rotation like you did. Thanks again for making such a helpful video. I really believe the Lot-O tumbler is a superior tool --- once you get it tuned in.
With my first one, I didn't have to do anything to it, it just worked right away. It's a great tumbler. I use it on almost every batch of rocks I do.
I just bought the double barrel Lot-o because it was only $10 more than buying the single with an extra barrel. It won’t get shipped for a while and the prices have gone up, but I’m excited! Thank you for such helpful content!
For an extra $10, I think that was probably a good move for the extra barrel alone. I'd get enough ceramics to fill the extra barrel and then keep that one for your polish barrel.
Hey Rob I just ordered a New Lotto tumbler. I am glad you showed the potential problems I might have, that will definitely help me out! Thanks
I think you'll love it. I sure love mine!
@@MichiganRocks I am sure I will I love the way your rocks shine.
Thank you for putting out this video.
I couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting the results I wanted.
Moving the dowel seems to
have made a huge difference! 🙂
I'm glad I could help!
Thank you for buying a second vibratory! You solved my question and concern of why my rocks didn't match the speed of yours . It's the poor quality control my dowel rod was way off just like your new one . Moved it today and it was like magic fixed ! Thanks again for your knowledge.
I didn't buy a second Lot-O just for this video, it was because I had too many rocks piling up waiting for the other one. It was a good excuse to make a video about it though. I'm glad I could help you get yours adjusted.
Hans Beyer
Watched your video on the Lot-O vibratory tumbler review and enjoyed it. I was pleased with some of the information I didn't know like where the dowel is located on mine. I checked and it was like your example. One item that may be worth mentioning in the Cons section, the fact that the motor is warranted for only 30 days. I have to admit I didn't do my homework so I have only me to blame. I purchased my Lot-O last October (2021) and after less than six months the motor was shot. I noticed the noise getting louder and louder so I checked the shaft on the motor. There was considerable play, I could move one side of the shaft up and down, what seemed more than 1/16th of an inch (just a guess). Needless to say I was disappointed. I have tried to locate a replacement but there seems to be no stock. Hopefully that will change soon. Enough complaining. I really like the tumbler, just bummed for my bad luck. Keep up the good videos. I enjoy them and respect the quality of your shiny rocks.
A couple other people have made similar comments about their motors wearing out really quickly. That's definitely a con. Since mine lasted ten years, I was pretty happy. That's my only experience, so that's all I could say.
@@MichiganRocks I have had the same experience of the motors wearing out quickly. From info I have gathered from others, they changed manufactures of the motor and the quality has gone down. I still LOVE my lot-o tumblers!
@@tinawilliams6020 That's really a shame. I'd rather pay a little more up front and avoid the headaches.
Thank you for this video, I love that you went step by step and I learned a lot. I love that you do a pros and cons as well. Can't say enough about the great content of your video. I look forward to watching more of your videos!
There are plenty to watch. I hope you like the other ones too.
Thank you Rob! Mine hasn’t been moving well since I got it, just watched this video and now know what I need to do. As always, thanks for the educational videos!
No problem, I enjoy helping people out.
I've always wanted to try tumbling and my wife and I just got back from a vacation in Gaspé Quebec, and I was able to stash about 25lbs of rocks in the SUV without too much of a fuss. I was fortunate to find your excellent videos and will be ordering a Lot-O very soon. Thank you for making great videos with clear explanations and information that even a novice can understand.
I'm glad to help. Did you watch the companion video to this, showing the difference between rotary and vibratory tumblers?
Rotary and Vibratory Tumblers Compared: ruclips.net/video/5V33xUTkmRM/видео.html
@@MichiganRocks I did indeed, and it helped me decide which I think I should own. Unfortunately, I was also introduced to the price when I started shopping around. Looks like I'll have to wait awhile before I can spend that much money on something my wife deems frivolous. In the meantime, I'll have to content myself with watching your results, or maybe try the less expensive NG rotary model you tested with decent results. Thanks again for all the great videos and information you provide. I especially enjoy the slide show comparisons.
After putting it off and putting it off, last night I decided to move the dowel on my double barrel Lot-O tumbler and I’m super happy with the results! My 220 stage was always a nightmare, barely moved, and usually ended up adding too much water. It runs perfect now, and can’t wait to get through the other stages. Thanks Rob, you rock!! Ric
I'm glad it worked out well for you, Ric.
I’m so glad you posted this!! I’ve had a double barrel Lot O Tumbler for the last couple of years and stage one has always been very slow. I’ve wasted more than one batch of grit thinking there wasn’t enough water, but ended up adding too much. I will have to check the position of my dowel. I’ve always wondered why I didn’t have that “Michigan Rocks “ shine lol. Thx Rob!!
I suspect that there are a lot of people in your situation based on the comments I've read in some forums. How would you even know if you had never seen one working correctly?
@@MichiganRocks exactly, this video is a great help. Thx again!! I always enjoy your videos. Maybe someday when the border opens and things are safer, we can do a colab. I’m in Sault, Ontario
@@RockAndRollRockhound I have tentative plans to meet up with someone else up in your area, but I'm not sure of the details yet. I just watched one of your videos and it looks gorgeous up there. Of course our side of the lake is pretty awesome too.
@@MichiganRocks there are some beautiful spots for sure. If you do come this way, let me know. 😁
I just did the "Rob mod" on my LotO and it improved significantly!! Thanks for being the test subject for us all! :)
Hope it works out well for you.
Hi Rob, I'm glad I found this video today because last night I did some research on vibratory tumblers and decided on this exact model!!! I was wondering if I'd chosen the right one, for me, and then I find your video today, talk about perfect timing!!! Now I can't wait to buy it, get it home and start saving time, money, grit and patience, lol. Great job explaining everything, I will use this video as a guide when my new tumbler arrives. Thanks a lot for all your help!!! Hi Nancy!!! Take care!!! :~D
Hey Suzie, I think you'll really like the Lot-O. I'm glad I could help you with your decision.
Thats really awesome to know your channel , and i really appreciate your video about Lot-O Vibratory rock tumbler review, It's good to know all rock tumblers Thanks for showing us. Have a beautiful day !!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
I've also been concerned over the speed of my rocks in my Lot-O-Tumbler and then here comes Mr. Michigan Rocks who figures it out, just like that. Thanks for the video, Rob, you saved my sanity. Lots of great info, too.
I'm glad to keep you from going crazy, Steve!
Thanks Rob, I had to adjust my new Loto-O tumbler based on this video, now its running like a champ.
I'm glad I could help.
I learned how to tumble rocks watching your videos. And I noticed my Lot-O didn't have the same action as yours. I thought maybe you were very good at having the precise amount of water in the tumbler. Now I know why my vibrating action seems so week. And I now know how to fix it.
Thank you👍
Was it working with the action you had? I have always had more action in mine, but honestly I didn't try the new one the way it came. I changed it the next day like you saw in the video.
@@MichiganRocks
I did get a shine on the rocks but I feel like everything will be better with more action. I will make the same adjustment you did, tomorrow.
I'll let you know if I see any difference.
@@virginiarockhead237 Good luck!
Thanks for the tip. I had already called the lot-o factory and spoke to Tom. He said they are all "carefully calibrated" at the factory. LOL. A little movement of the dowell makes a real difference.
Maybe their idea of how they should be calibrated is different than mine. I like how mine is running now.
What an interesting process, the polished rocks are stunning.
That's what I love about this tumbler.
Thanks, Rob! Lots of useful information and tips!
Thank you Mr. Rob! Very helpful
I did buy the double barrel a few months back. Haven’t used it yet. You explained how to weight it down etc…. So well I don’t feel as intimidated. Hopefully (time permitting) I’ll start the process this week!😊
What are you waiting for? Fire that puppy up and start tumbling!
@@MichiganRocks
Lol 😆 I know right !!!
This video was quite helpful, I recently got the Lot-O vib tumbler and it just was not working as the others I saw in RUclips vids, not as vigorous in movement of the rocks. Then I saw this video and sure enough the dowel was positioned at a slant, not perpendicular to the base, etc. Fixed it and works pretty well now.
Great, I'm glad you have it figured out. These machines are awesome when they're well tuned and the motor is working.
Great review! I learned that I have been pushing the barrel too far down into the frame. Thanks...
Glad to help, Dan.
Wow and wow, I have used a Lot o tumbler and am glad to get two years out of a motor! Unfortunately motors are not covered under warranty! My lot o has sounded like a machine gun since new, and indeed the dowel was closer to center between the two reference points, I just “corrected” the dowel position, amazing change to the hum I was always wanting, and yes the rocks and media still rotate about the same, I strongly suspect the wear and tear on the bearings will be different with the smoother operation. FYI I mounted an outlet box on the extended wood plank that was lag bolted to my cinder block with lot o base attached securely to the plank. The 4x outlet box affords two outlets beside a light switch, very convenient. Also a flat 1” piece of board insulation on the bottom of the cinder block makes a quiet installation and does not allow the project to walk. Many many thanks!
Thanks for the tips! I can't remember if I showed it in the video, but I have a folded hand towel under the block to keep mine a little quieter.
Thanks for all the great information!!! I need to start tumbling some of my rocks !
Keep rockin!!👍😎
Yep, they're not going to tumble themselves!
Your channel is amazing!! Thank you so much for all of your wisdom!! ❤😊😊😊😊
You're welcome!
I love my double barrel Lot-O tumbler, I also have a single one as well. I am still learning a lot and have a long way to go to even be half as good as you Rob. Right now my back won't allow me to mess with my tumblers so I'm on hold for a while still. I do have several rocks I need to polish better, because I had bought a cheaper grit. Lesson learned. I have learned so much from you. Thank you so much. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, you have three Lot-Os (double + single)? That's a lot of space in very fast tumblers. I went the other way and put my money toward a lot of rotary tumblers just to feed one Lot-O. Until about a year ago, one Lot-O was plenty for me. Then again, I'm sort of obsessive about that first stage and getting all the holes out of my rocks so I need more rotary barrels than vibratory barrels.
Yes I have both a single and a double. Most of what I bring home is pretty smooth already. But I do have to let some go longer in the first stage still. I don't always have all my tumblers running at the same time either. I'm down by 2 of my rotary tumblers now as well. The 2 I got from harbor freight both died and in less then a year. So disappointing. I'm hoping to build a larger capacity rotary tumbler this year. I finally get the camper here that I'm turning into my workshop, so now I have to fix it up the way I want it to be. I just need the tumblers out of my tiny home to run them. I have tons of rocks just sitting here that I have collected over the years that need tumbled.
I think I was not too selective in what I brought home in the past years, so I have a lot of sorting to do now. I know I have rocks I just won't tumble or they won't tumble well so I need to weed them out. I am super selective now days on what I bring home. I need to catch up with what I have first. So I guess it's a good thing I couldn't get out much last year. LOL
@@donnalantz7981 Sounds like you're going to be busy!
Keeps me out of trouble. LOL
You are genius and the best. I mentioned to u i recently got one and that for sure it was running slow but thought it was because I had a big rock in it. Can wait to make the adjustment. Thank u sooo much
I'm no genius. I just hung around the Rock Tumbling Hobby forums for years and learned a lot from all the experienced people there. Now I'm just passing it on to others.
Very cool! The jasper and stone crosses came out really shiny and beautiful! 😍🥰😇👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Of course they did! I owe it all to this tumbler.
@@MichiganRocks Your new tumbler ROCKS! 😍🥰😇👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Priceless & inspiring educational video!
That looks like a fun process, I can see why you enjoy it so much.
It is fun. I enjoy the process and the transformation almost more that the finished product.
Thank goodness for your videos, exactly how mine is running, I'll need to tune it the same as you did, the instructions from the factory now even state that they may need to be tuned to work right, disappointing, since it should be simple to do it right in the first place if someone actually cared about doing a good job.
Thanks again for your help Sir.
I think the instructions always had the method for tuning it. That's not new, what is new is that they tend to come untuned.
im just getting into rock tumbling and you are increadible! Your videos and advice is second to none. Also, GO BLUE!!!! (I grew up in TC and now in GR) Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
I'm glad to help out!
curious, does it hurt to add a step of 1000g Al oxide? before the Polish? also, besides wasting grit, does it hurt to use 1tsp instead of a half tsp for the 500, and polish?
@@schramajamma Adding a 1000 stage doesn't hurt. I used to run 500 for two days and 1000 for two days. I switched to running 500 for three days and skipping the 1000 and haven't noticed a difference.
I don't think using a little more grit should hurt anything, but 1/2 teaspoon works fine, so I haven't tried more.
Great video! I love all the tips and tricks ✅😁👍👍
I bought a double and it's still in the box, I bought it right before the prices jacked up.
A buddy of mine has two or three of these, he changed the caps out because they popped off all the time, replaced with perforated lids, they never pop off now...
One day I'll get it set up, so I can tumble obsidian...
For now I use my 9 Lortone rotary tumblers ( different sizes)..
Thanks for sharing....
PS: This is Fossilman off of RTH....😊👌
Hey Mike, this comment came through blank. That's been happening a fair amount lately. I contacted RUclips about it, but they were not very helpful.
Love these informative videos! Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome, Brian. I try to answer the questions I get a lot with new videos.
fantastic tip to adjust the dowl rod for better vibration.
Don't adjust it too far, though. If you make it too aggressive, you'll break springs.
Why did someone think it was a good idea to permanently fix an adjustable calibration device (the dowel)? The whole idea of such things is they can be adjusted to accommodate the operating conditions applicable to the final user. Hot glue is fine, perfectly acceptable even, but nailing it down is just bad design. The average, or first time, user is going to have no idea the dowel is supposed to be adjusted because it appears to be permanently fixed. Good job people like you are out there to inform us! 👍
I agree, but in the manufacture’s defense, they do mention that the dowel can be moved in the instructions. I don’t know if my first Lot-O has nails or not since I have never had to adjust that one.
I like that new vibration polishing machine. Beautiful rocks!
I love my first one. It's a great machine.
Thanks for the info, don't have a vibratory tumbler...yet!
Great Information on your channel. Thank you so much!
You're welcome, Ryan.
Great review, I’ll be following your tips!
I hope they're helpful!
Very informative and well put together video. 👍
Would you say it was fantastic?
@@MichiganRocks Definitely!
Nice Rob, I just learnt I need to use more ceramic media, guess I’ll order some now. Thanks.
I keep learning new stuff all the time too. Gotta keep improving!
I had to move my dowel also had to replace mine too it works great now! Thanks for sharing that. Saved me a headache.
You’re welcome!
@@MichiganRocks Hey Rob did you nail your dowel down?
@@greatnorthernviews3052 No, I just glued it. Seems to be staying in place.
@@MichiganRocks Thanks I don’t want to split the dowel. I just used hot glue I think that’s enough thank you again.
I am new to tumbling. :) This video was a Godsend for me as they all seem to be! I have an older Lot-O Vibratory tumbler that I bought probably close to 25 years ago at a garage sale. I have never plugged it in until now. Other than a broken spring and a missing cap it seemed like everything is operating fine. I did not realize how the rocks should be moving inside the barrel until I watched this video. Unfortunately the website for this tumbler seems to be out of stock of many things including the spring I needed. I was able to get a cap though. I just happen to have a 3" x 5/8" mending brace that I bought from Menards a few years ago. I wasn't sure if it was going to work because it is more stiff(thicker) than the original spring. The holes lined up perfectly and I installed it anyway just to see if it would work. I also filled the pit at the bottom of the barrel with clear Gorilla glue and replaced the dowel. I started a batch today and "Wallah" it's moving fantastic! I'm still not sure if the glue will help or hinder because the one batch I ran after I filled the pit with glue ended up becoming a big clump at the bottom and I have not had the happen before, even with a broken spring. I'll know in the next day or two if the glue has been a help or hindrance. I ordered two more barrels so that I can have one for each phase. So if I have to remove the glue it will not be a big deal. Thank you for putting together such fantastic helpful videos and congratulations on the first place win of your young student. That's inspiring. :)
That information about the spring replacement might come in handy for some other people. I have heard that they're not able to get springs from the spring manufacturer right now. It's nice to know that there's an alternative.
I used epoxy to fill in the holes of the original barrel. If your Gorilla Glue doesn't work, give that a try. Doesn't Gorilla Glue expand as it dries? I'd think that could be a problem. Epoxy doesn't do that.
@@MichiganRocks There is a Gorilla glue that expands. The one that I used did not. I used the clear version and let it dry for a few days. The front of the bottle says 'no foam' and 'water resistant'. So far so good with this batch. I did a couple of spritzes of water this morning. Tomorrow I will remove the rocks and update what the bottom of my barrel looks like. :)
@@mrsluvtolearn Oh, ok, I didn't know there was another kind. That type sounds like what you want.
I updated this this morning but it disappeared for some reason. Here goes again. :) The bottom of my barrel did have a slight clump, not as big as the last one but still there. I popped out the glue just by pushing in the nub on the outside only to find out that there was still a bit of wet glue underneath even after letting it dry for two days initially. Fortunately I have my new barrels already and was able to move to the next stage. If I were to do glue again, I would let it dry much longer than two days or use epoxy as recommended here. I just checked my tumbler after having it ran most of the day and it is moving faster than ever. I'm super pleased. :)
Followed the link to replacement motors and went with the cement vibrator, works almost to well, going to have to experiment with how much ceramic media to use it definitely moves the rocks more aggressively
You can adjust that motor to work just like the original. I forget which forum post I linked here, but look at this one to see how someone with a ton of experience with a Lot-O adjusted his motor weights: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/101470/finished-batch-watt-concrete-motor
Another great review, thank you!
Thanks for a great review Rob.
You're welcome, Heather.
This is how mine moves, too! Gonna have to have the hubs fix that for me! Thank you!
Be careful that you don't move it too far because if the action is too violent, you can break springs. I've heard that replacement springs are about impossible to get right now.
Very cool video!!
Thank you for sharing!!
You're welcome!
Thank you for the how to with the Vibratory Tumbler 👍🐯😻
You're welcome!
Thank you. That is so useful. If I would have bought one with the problem that you describe, that it was not adjusted correctly, I would not have known that it was not ok, and if I would have realised it had a problem, I would not have known how to fix it. I think this video will help a lot of people. The how to use is also really useful.
I see you put your hand behind it when you put the grit in it. In another video you say it is to protect your eyes. But you put your hand on the opposite side of your eyes, so I don't understand how it protects your eyes?
I'm off to the side in this video, but unusually I'm in front of it when I add grit. I don't know if it would actually blow grit into my eyes but I don't want to know how that would feel.
Good information! Super helpful!
Good, that was the point, so I'm glad it worked!
I love my lotto tumbler. I used a stimulus check about a year ago and spent close to $500 for a double lotto tumbler and only used it for the polishing stage and the stones were beautiful. I only used it about 5 times and the motor went on the fritz. The company we got it from wouldn’t do anything for us. My husband looked for months and couldn’t find anyone who had a replacement motor. It also took until last month for him to find a whole new tumbler. Everyone was out of stock. This time we were able to find one at about half the price. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼I hope this one last longer. If you have any idea where we can get a replacement motor for the first one I would really appreciate it. Thanks for all the great videos. “Happy tumbling!”
I got mine from the Rock Shed. Kingsley North also carries them. I have links to both places in the description of all my videos. That's why they're there. They're both really good companies who are a pleasure to work with.
Hi Cordy, just to piggyback on the information Rob gave you: The Rock Shed's web site indicated for a long time that the Loto motor was out of stock. I finally called them and they had one in stock and mailed to me inside of a week. The Rock Shed is great to work with so give them a call. They will also contact you when an item is restocked.
Since making this video. I have heard many stories about how quickly the motors on this tumbler die and how horrible the customer service is, that I can no longer recommend it. I don't have a recommendation for a different vibratory tumbler because this is the only one I have ever used. Both of mine are still running, but I think it's only a matter of time before their motors give out. There is some really good information about possible replacement motors discussed here: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/100982/experience-lot-failed-motor?page=1&scrollTo=1253535
I have noticed my motor gets so hot I can’t hold my hand on it. It is only a month old. Is that heat normal?
@@flyingweinerdog Yes, mine gets really hot too. My first motor lasted about ten years. It was quiet at first and developed a buzzing sound over the years. I think that sound was the bearings going bad, because that's what eventually did it in.
@@MichiganRocks Uh-oh... I bought my wife Mary a Lot-O a year ago, and we're mounting it as we speak (Thanks for this video by the way!) I hope the motor doesn't go on us. We lost a National Geographic 3lb tumbler after about 6 months due to that motor dying. It would be a shame to see the Lot-O go too! I wonder if there's any kind of engine oil or something that you can put in there to help it last longer... Hmm.....
@@DavidShockley I don't really know. I don't think those motors come with an oiling hole.
Thank you for addressing this issue.
Thorough review and demo sir.
Thanks, Rosalind.
Thank you for such detailed videos, this one and the one with comparison of two tumblers. I needed this instructions desperately when I bought my first Loto tumbler few months ago and was looking for a good instructions. I ran few batches on it already and was able to get decent polish, but I also noticed how rocks moved slower than what I saw in videos of others. Now I know why - thanks to you. That dowel on my Loto is also in the middle and now I know how to fix it!. But one my question still remains - why the one cannot use loto for the coarse stage? Just run it longer, three-four days maybe? I do have rotary tumbler for that but was just curious why this not even explained anywhere :)
Look at the other video, "Rotary vs. Vibratory" at 3 : 15 where Rob shows rocks he tried to shape in a vibratory for 28 days.
I have never tried a more coarse grit in the Lot-O. I have heard that more coarse grits are too heavy and just fall to the bottom of the barrel. This doesn't grind the rocks and also wears out the bottom of the barrel faster than usual.
Just the info I was looking for, I am getting good results but my rocks never moved like yours did (your old model) I thought maybe the older models were better designed. Another thing to be aware of is the bearings will come loose on the motor, mine lasted about 2 years. The motors are replaceable but be prepared for the price.
My first motor lasted ten years or so, but you’re right about the price of a new motor. Ouch.
Thanks so much! Now I just need to find one in stock!
Send a note to Kingsley North or the Rock Shed and ask them to hold one for you.
Hello Rob, so glad to have been watching, and learning ,and being entertained by your videos. I tuned my Lot O tumbler per your instructions and the movement in the barrel has improved by 100%. On another note, I have a few batches of rock that have metal streaks in them from my original rotary tumble in my Lortone 12 lb barrel. It does not happen not happen every time, so its not the barrel. I have put these rocks aside and have been afraid to move them along due to the streaks. I have has both copper colored streaks and silver streaks from different batches. Any advice about what I can do wit these rocks , and what can be done to prevent this? Thanks much, Mike
I have never gotten streaks like that on my rocks. I wonder if they're coming from your colander. I use plastic colanders, except for the one I use right after the coarse stage. That one doesn't leave streaks either, although it's metal.
If they're just streaks of metal on the outside of your rocks, then tumbling them in 220 grit in your Lot-O should easily remove them.
Excellent tips.
I just added a second rod next to the other one and that solved my problem. I don’t know if this will cause any issues but the movement is a lot better!
That's the first I've heard of anyone doing that. It seems like moving the existing dowel to the same place as your second dowel would accomplish the same thing.
@@MichiganRocks it probably would be the same I was scared to disassemble the bolts and move the rod and mess something up. Maybe I’ll eventually move it
@@MichiganRocksso I finally removed the second dowel moved the original and I can’t believe how much better the action in the barrel is! Thanks for the tips!
@@outdoorsmorgasbord3036 You're welcome!
@@MichiganRocks would love to send you some agate and jasper from Utah to thank you!
I bought one of these barrels. And made one of these.
I used a 500watt spindle motor and a whiskey barrel band it’s all suspended on top a single metal rod stuck into a wood block. to act as the spring or give for the vibration.
40 dollars and parts I had laying around.
That's awesome. You should make a video showing it off. I think a lot of people would be interested in seeing that.
First off thank you so much for the videos it's opened a new world for me. My question is, if you're not recommending the lot o tumblers anymore, what are you recommending now? There are many other types of vibratory tumblers out there but I have no idea which to look at. Thanks again for all the insight on My new hobby!
If it was me, I'd still buy a Lot-O, but I have trouble recommending that other people do the same. I did hear a few months ago from someone who should know that the motor problem may be better now than it was. I can't make any guarantees but hopefully, they're using something a little more reliable now.
I don't know what else to recommend. I asked Diamond Pacific to send me a Mini Sonic to review, but they didn't answer my email. I have one friend who says it works great, but takes about twice as long and another friend to who said that it would just make me appreciate how good my Lot-O is. Since they wouldn't send me one, I can't give you my own opinion. I'd also take a look at the Thumler's UV series.
Thanks for the quick reply! I'm going to go ahead and stick to looking for a Lot-o once they become available again at Rock shed or Kingsley. Everybody seems to be out of stock.
@@MichiganRocksThe DP vibes are terrific. Super-thick barrels, and you control the speed with a dial.
They look amazing, I really want a loto now.
And I'd love to get some better polish
Can you get a Lot-O in New Zealand?
@@MichiganRocks no i haven't seen one.
There is a place that imports the tumblers one I think.
A friend of mine has been trying out one of those metal vibes, and having some good results.
There's one importer of loritone stuff, so pricey though.
Nearly 500 for a 33b, but that what happens when you live down here in NZ.
I'd definitely like another 12 pound barrel, but they are nearly 300 nz
Thank you ,amazing,makes me feel like maybe I could use one.
It's a great tumbler, but very hard to find right now. I heard the company was just sold.
Thanks for the amazing video. Watched while waiting for the Lot-OTumbler to arrive. Ran ceramic first and had little motion. Took your instructions for moving the dowel and that helped. A day after moving the dowel one of the spring bolds sheared, easily replaced. Running first load with 120/220 grit and the load is racing like a banshee. Is too fast a bad thing? Maybe twice the speed of your video. Anxious to see the results. Thanks again for the great info. Gene
I have heard that if you move the dowel too far that it can break springs. I think you have already seen that by shearing a bolt. You should probably tune it while it's running to get the action to be about like how my original machine runs. I wouldn't want it running twice as fast.
What I've found with this tumbler is that if you don't fill it up enough with rock and especially with ceramic tumbling media, it just won't roll like it's supposed to. So if it looks like yours is just really weakly tumbling, or just sitting and jiggling, check how much stuff you have in there. Ideally you should have about half rocks and half tumbling media, and together they should be nearly to the top, no more than an inch below the top rim. Also, don't try to tumble too many large rocks at the same time. A mix of medium, small, and a couple or three larger rocks works well.
That's right, it does need to be filled up pretty well. I sometimes run it with more than an inch of empty space and it does fine, but I'd rather utilize all the space inside if I can. I don't think you need to have 50% ceramics, but it doesn't hurt to. I'd say for me about 30% is the minimum amount. If I'm tumbling lots of flat things, like Christmas ornaments I make, or cabochons, then I bump the ceramics up to 50% or more.
You sir have gotten me into rocks thank you
I'm not sure if I should say "you're welcome" or "I'm sorry".
@@MichiganRocks I’m very appreciative of it I really enjoy it and your videos
The first thing I noticed when you pulled it out of the box is that the tuning bar was pretty far back -- like the two Lot-O tumblers I've bought in recent years. In fact, both of mine came with the bar even further back than your new one, and the action was even slower. Now you can see what I was dealing with for a long time, and why it was driving me crazy.
The motor bearings on my double barrel Lot-O only lasted about a year and a half before they got loose and loud. I hope your newer motors last as long as your old one. I would be more than pleased with 10 years. I was not pleased with 1.5 years.
Nope, 1.5 years is not good. Both of my motors are fairly new, so I'll find out I guess.
I can't figure out why they're sending out so many (all?) tumblers that are so poorly tuned. I don't think that would do much polishing with the slow action that mine had.
@MichiganRocks it might be a new builder who hasn't learned every detail yet.
Another helpful video, thanks so much! You may have said it and I missed it, but... when using a vibratory, do you still have to separate rocks by hardness? Or does the different type of tumbler eliminate that sorting?
It's still a good idea to tumble rocks of similar hardness together but I think vibratory tumblers are more forgiving. Honestly, I don't have as much experience with rotary tumblers. I do mixed batches of rocks quite often in my Lot-O. Some are beach rocks which I'm sure have somewhat of a range of hardnesses. Most of those turn out fine. I would never mix in rocks known to be really soft with hard rocks though.
@@MichiganRocks thanks Rob! More forgiving, that is the key. Also, last week I happened to watch your "Lot-O from start to finish" video, then yesterday I watched the Lot O review. I had eliminated the Lot O from my wish list because I worried about the noise , but in your review it seems much quieter. Demonstrating the towel, and describing the noise as a hum really brought back my confidence. Lot O is back on my wish list!!
@@jazzy1849 Since adding a second Lot-O, it's more noticeable upstairs. It does make noise, just a steady noise.
Thanks for all the info. If I make a relief in a rock pendant or etch lines into rock using a rotary tool, will the lines and small areas I cut away polish out if I put it through the stages of the rock tumbler? The grit will be enough to polish those crevices?
I doubt it. It's not just the grit that needs to get in there. You need something to rub the grit into those areas. Even rocks with larger concave areas don't tend to polish very well in the concave parts. I once broke up bottles and tumbled the glass. The outsides of the bottles got nice and shiny, but the concave curve on the inside didn't get nearly as shiny.
Is the added water evaporating out through the loose lid. or is it getting bound up within the muddy matrix? This is a really great video with lots of information I haven't seen before.
It's the rock dust that sucks up the water. I know this because it's much worse during the 220 stage when a lot more material is being removed. In the 500 and polish stages, I don't have to add much water at all.
Hi Rob, I have a question about the Lot-O that I'm hoping you can answer. I just got a single barrel and the spring are knot straight, do I need to straight them out?
The springs are supposed to be bowed. There should be an upward curve to them, higher in the middle than on the ends.
Good review. Just a couple of additions, FOLLOW MICHIGAN ROCKS directions, not the confusing ones that come with the tumbler. Those instructions, say "adjusting the dowel is not recommended until you are familiar with the machine", which if isn't working from the factory, you'll never be able to become familiar with it. The buyer will just have buyers remorse. My Lot-O didn't move rocks either, until I readjusted the dowel. Ten minutes after I plugged it in for the first time. You also need to make sure the weights are in same place, which is another quality issue. If the weights are even slightly off they can cause very bad shaking, and no rolling action. The rubber band holding the lid is best way to keep lid on, don't poke a hole in the lid as instructions say. The lid will still come off and the slurry turns into sludge while you're asleep.
I poked holes in the first tow barrels I had, but not the new ones. The lids aren't so airtight that they're going to come off due to any gas pressure build up. They're much more likely to come off because of a rock pushing them up.
I don't think the directions say to never move the dowel. I would be careful to know what you're doing before moving it though.
Good point on the weights, although I didn't check them that closely. I'll probably check them now that you mentioned it though.
@@MichiganRocks Thanks Rob, I dug up the Lot-O's instructions and edited my comments. You are correct. In addition, I have had to adjust dowel (other times) for different sized rocks to get the correct roll.
@@powerlinekid4296 On my first machine, I have never adjusted anything. It just works.
I added a cement vibrating unit to mine after the motor died. I bolted it to the top and it is adjustable for how much it vibrates. Much better bearings and cheaper that the original.
Did you get that idea from Chuck (Drummond Island Rocks) on the Rock Tumbling Hobby forums? It wasn't his idea, but he did a nice job of showing his process.
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/101470/finished-batch-watt-concrete-motor
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/101420/lot-motor-concrete-video
@Michigan Rocks I don't know. I like to think I thought of it but I'm old.
Maybe you did. I've just seen other people discussing doing the same thing.
this is great info. thank you. now if only they would make a barrel with a larger opening to accept upto 5 inch slabbed and shaped pieces.
There are other vibratory tumblers. The Thumbler's Ultra Vibes come in several sizes and have much larger openings. I have never used one, but they have a good reputation.
@@MichiganRocks I will be looking into them. My husband has a vibratory tumbler for his brass shell casings, but I really don't want to end up with another of those style.😅
@@KaneLouiseOconnor The tumblers for brass are not built for the weight of rocks and the barrels aren't as strong either. Better not to use his anyhow.
I didn't move my dowel, just unscrewed the 4 screws holding the machine to the board, drilled 4 new holes, moving the entire machine, but leaving the dowel in place. This is much easier because the dowel is connected with multiple--irreversible--fasteners. It's obvious that the closer the dowel is to the balance point of the machine, the more vigorous the action. With the machine unbolted, it can be slid along until it just tips over. Mark and drill the new hole position, replace the screws, done. No need to mess with the dowel at all.
Sounds like that worked well. Thanks for posting an alternative method.
wow! very informative.
I researched the Lot-O tumbler when I was shopping for a vibe, but ended up buying the Diamond-Pacific Mini-Sonic instead. The price is roughly equivalent, but the Mini has some advantages.
No need for mounting to a concrete block, just set it on a table. It doesn't walk around and it's not terribly noisy.
No moving parts to wear out. The barrel will wear out eventually, of course.
Dial-adjustable speed of rotation, nice when you're tumbling softer stone.
However, it does not hold as much stone per load as the Lot-O does, and I do have to check it a little more often for water loss, as the lid isn't very tight. And of course, it's out of stock everywhere right now. If you want one, you order one and wait...and wait...and wait. It took 10 weeks from order to delivery for me.
I have never tried a Mini Sonic. A good friend of mine has a Lot-O and a Mini Sonic. He has a lot more experience with the Lot-O and prefers it, but I've seen him produce some nice rocks with the Mini Sonic too.
Have you tried their Vibratory-Dry polishing compound? I'd love to try that stuff, but it's really expensive.
@@MichiganRocks No, I've not tried the dry polishing compounds...same as you, I took one look at the prices and went nope. I do use a finer micron size polish than you do, I'm using Raybrite A, which is 0.5 micron and is not expensive at $12 a pound...and a pound lasts quite a while when you only use a half a teaspoon per load. BTW, I'm notfragile on the tumbling forums.
@@r.awilliams9815 I don't know if I'll remember that name but I'll try. I'm assuming you're talking about the Rock Tumbling Hobby forums.
I have some other polish that I sometimes use called OMG2. The Rockshed's aluminum oxide usually gets me the shine I'm looking for, so I don't usually use anything else. Theirs is about 2 micron. I wonder if it breaks down as small as Raybrite after a couple days anyway.
I have the DPMSonic as well. Love it! Has an on/off switch as well as the speed adjustment. Not sure the barrel will ever wear out, seems super thick. The barrel opening is square and quite large. The vinyl top has a nice snap on feel, no worry about it coming off during operation. Very stabile no crawling around. Best of all, it’s all electromagnetic, meaning no bearings, no oil, no blades, hopefully nothing to burn out. So, turnkey out of the box, no modifications necessary, highly recommended.
@@jackburns804 Maybe one of these days I'll have to add one to my growing collection of tumblers. I might need to find a place to use it where my wife doesn't see it though. So far, she's been very tolerant of my hobby, but there might be a limit to that.