Thanks for the heads up! I took the plunge and ordered two of them. The Lortone barrels have the same soft rubber thing going on so I have to use paper towels to prevent black marks on everything. Not great. Not an issue with the Nat Geo barrels.
I just want tumblers that can last a few years with great results that don't require a home equity loan or constant replacement! 🤔
Yes, the rock addiction can be strong...and costly 😂.
When you get them, they will have a roll of some type of brown tape in the package and the instructions will say to adhere it to the top and bottom rim of the barrel. Do not do that. I did it and the barrel wouldn't rotate as the tape is so slick that the rods can grab the barrels to turn them. The rods will turn but the barrel will not.
Also add a couple of drops of oil to the teeth of the drive belt. And I mean literally 2 drops. I put a drop, turn the shaft a couple of times and put on another drop. I use this oil:
It is a good and inexpensive synthetic oil. I use it on all of my tumblers. It lasts a long time. I apply the oil once a month. If you have any questions, just shout. 👍
Have the 2 Koolstones tumbling away. Nice barrels, much quieter with the barrel enclosure and easy to use. I like the on/off switch and day/speed controls - something Lortones lack for reasons only they know. I noticed the highest speed (3) is pretty fast - faster even than the Nat Geos. Do you use that speed for for first stage (as instructions recommend) or avoid it altogether?
I did put a tiny bit of oil on the belts as recommended though that seems kind of counter intuitive.
Now I just hope I don't blow a local transformer and put the whole neighborhood in the dark with all the barrels I'm running! 🤔
Nice! I hope that you have as good of luck with them as I have.
I was also surprised at how quite they are. I only use Spped 1. I have never used the other speeds. Speed 1 is much faster that most other tumblers that I have seen and see no point in using the faster speeds. The faster it spins, the chance there is of breakage and bruising of the stones.
I thought the same about the oil on the belt, I have never heard of oiling any type of belt before, but I did it anyway. I just suggested that you follow that instruction as well because it didn't seem to do any harm and they're still going strong with the original belts. I haven't had to replace one yet, so maybe it did do something. 🤷♂️
I have only been tumbling since July of last year (2024), but I have three of them and they have been running 24/7 since July and I have had zero problems with them. Other than the barrels being made with a softer type rubber and you will get black stuff on your hands after they've been used.
They have brushless motors which should outlast a brushed motor like the Nat Geo's use. They also come with a 1 year warranty.
I think the the barrels that Nat Geo uses may fit in the Koolstone, but I'm not sure. If they do, then you will have extra barrels from the broken Nat Geo tumbler. 👍
Amie, the Koolstone C1 Pro Max tumbler is currently on sale right now at Amazon. It is $110 and also has a 10% off coupon which will put it at like $100. That's a great deal at $50 off of the regular price.
Well darn it. My third Nat Geo tumbler just started having motor issues. That's 3 in less than a year. Maybe they are intended to be toys after all. I run my barrels 24/7 365 so I really need to graduate to something hardier. The Lortones are supposed to last for years and maybe they will. I just don't like the small barrels on the two 33B double barrel models I have running. I also don't want the giant models. It's not practical for me to run batches of 8 lbs or more.
I bought a couple of Thumblers but had to return them because the barrels didn't have knobs and try as I might, I literally couldn't get the tops off the barrels even empty. Who at Thumbler's thought THAT design was a good idea? Can only Sumo wrestlers or body builders open those barrels? I mean really.
So I need some advice. I do some serious rock tumbling but don't want to invest in tumblers that won't last a year. I'm disappointed too because I really love those Nat Geo tumblers for results, ease of use, quietness and cleanliness.
Well, you have a few options. All of the options are based on how much you will want to spend.
On the less expensive side:
Harbor Freight Double Barrel 3 lb Barrel Tumbler.
The downside to that is, they will be the same size as the Lortone tumbler that you currently have. 3lb barrels mean that you are limted to the size of rocks that you can run in them.
The plus side would be, inexpensive ($60-$70 depending if you catch it on sale) and you get two 3lb barrels which means you can run the equivalent of 6 pounds of rock at one time.
I think Harbor Freight has a 90 day no questions asked return policy in case you get a dud. And they also offer extended warranties where they will replace it if something happens.
If you like the faster speed of the Nat Geo, I would suggest getting a Koolstone C1 Pro Max.
It has a brushless motor in it which makes it more durable, and will last longer, than a brushed motor. The main failure point of a brushed motor is the brushes. Once the brushes wear out, the motor stops working until the brushes are replaced. Some motors, you can not replace the brushes, so you basically need a new motor.
It has a noise damping outer shell with a door.
I believe that it has a larger barrel than the Nat Geo. The barrel is definitely bigger than the advertised 3lb that they claim. It is at least 4lb, but I think that it is closer to 5lb.
It is available on Amazon and retail is $150, but they almost constantly run discounts on it ranging from $30-$50 off putting it around the $100-$110 range almost daily.
The only downside that I have experienced with it are the barrels. I'm not a big fan of the rubber that they use. It is softer than other tumbling barrels and they leave black residue on your hands when you handle them after they have been tumbling. However, I have not had a barrel fail on me yet. But I did pick up a couple.of spare barrels just in case. They sell for about $30 each.
I also run my tumblers 24/7 and I have 3 of the Koolstones running since July of 2024 and have had zero issues with them. They also have a 1 year no questions asked warranty. There are like 20 left in stock right now.
If you opt for either of those I named above, let me know before you use them. I have figured out a few things that you should know that will help you to get them running well. Especially the Harbor Freight. Do not follow the instructions with either of them. In fact, the instructions in almost every tumbler are wrong.
On the more expensive side, other than Lortone and Thumblers, there is Highland Park. If I do end up spending the money on a more expensive brand, this is the one that I will opt for. Based on my research, they SEEM very good.
Here is what they offer in the size range you're looking for:
Double Barrel 3lb tumbler for about $170
Single Barrel 4.5lb tumbler for about $160
Single Barrel 6lb tumbler for about $315
I don't have any experience with them to give any pros or cons.
I confess I haven't done any real field work yet but hope to when the frozen tundra thaws. Our claim to fame is Lake Superior Agate but from what I've read it's pretty hard to find good quality specimens unless you're a really experienced rock hound.
Check out Rocktumbler.com. They recommend 2 Tbsp per pound of material for nearly every recipe! I usually only burnish for an hour. Do you think it makes a big difference to do it much longer? I dont generally have unused grit left over in the Nat Geo 3 Lb tumblers. I use 4 Tbsp in the 3 lb Lortone tumblers (per manufacturer instructions) and it happens in those barrels ocassionally. They don't actually hold 3 lbs of material - more like half of that. Sort of misleading on their part.
Gotcha! I know the Nat Geos are considered toys by some but I have to say, I have 6 of the 3 Lb professional models and they hold 2.5 lbs and the results are better than the more expensive (and critically reviewed) Lortones for results. They have day/speed timers, nice rubber barrels, run pretty quietly and produce nice tumbled rocks. From my experience, not toys and pretty nice, workhorse tumblers that produce some lovely batches of tumbled gems.
They also stand behind their product. I had two with engine issues and they replaced them at no cost with no explanation required if they failed within a year.
Yup, that's exactly why I am hesitant to purchase more expensive "higher quality" tumblers. The only thing that I can think of to justify their cost is, like you said, perhaps longevity. But when you take into account that brands like Nat Geo's, Koolstone, etc much lower cost, even if they only last 2-3 years, it will be somewhere in the 6-9 year range of replacing them before you get to the cost of a Lortone or Highland Park.
Totally agree and frankly, I'm getting better, quicker finished results with the Nat Geos than the Lortones so I don't see many pricey tumblers in my future!
It's always walking a fine line between losing mass and how "perfect" you want the stone to be before polishing. The more perfect you want, the smaller they will get. Sometimes you just got to call them ready if you don't want them too small.
Just in case there may be some grit left in a crevice somewhere that I didn't catch. If grit dries in a rock, it will be in there like concrete and will contaminate the next stage. Keeping them wet prevents it that from happening.
Well here's the first batch of African Striped Jasper. I didn't grind them down to remove all pits and cracks because I didn't want to lose too much mass. At the polish stage it was a bit of cross your fingers and hope for the best but I think they came out with a nice shine! Five weeks from start to finish.
The fortification agate looks amazing. Such cool banding and color. Is it on your tumbling schedule yet? I wasn't quick enough to get any when it was available.
Unfortunately, not yet. That tub is outside in a tote and we had a big winter storm over a week ago that has covered everything in nearly a foot of snow (and now ice). It has been melting some and I've been working my way to the tote to get it because last week I had a barrel become available and wanted to start a batch of it and that is when I realized that they were outside 😬.
So I started a batch of Crazy Lace Agate instead that I did have inside. But, I should be having another barrel becoming free in the next week or two. That is why I've been out there trying to get to that Fortification Agate, because I want to run some next. I've been waiting for a chance to run a batch.
But on the up side, the Crazy Lace is looking awesome!
Oh bummer! I'm in Minnesota and we've had practically no snow this year - just a little dusting here and there. Very uncharacteristic for these parts. Not that I miss all the shoveling.
Publish some pics of those Crazy Lace when they're polished up! 🙂
The new striped African jasper looks pretty cool and I'm tempted but I noticed the "tough tumble" comment in the description due to pits and cracks in the rocks. Has anyone tried to tumble it yet?
Rock addict used to mean something different! Let me know if you find that 12-step program for the geologically obsessed. I'll probably need to sign up! 🤣
Beautiful! I've been consistently impressed by the rough I've received from Fossick/Meeko's Mine. I'd love to get my hands on more Sarape Jasper and Clay can tell you I've been a total pest about more variegated Tiger's Eye if they find more.
I just completed my first batch of Sarape Jasper and it definitely came out with the WOW factor.
I was sort of intrigued with the cathedral glass but worried it would damage my tumblers.
Once I found Meeko's Mine, it quickly became my favorite tumbling rough source!
Appreciate the advice! Just received them and will probably try to fire them up this weekend. 😊
Thanks for the heads up! I took the plunge and ordered two of them. The Lortone barrels have the same soft rubber thing going on so I have to use paper towels to prevent black marks on everything. Not great. Not an issue with the Nat Geo barrels.
I just want tumblers that can last a few years with great results that don't require a home equity loan or constant replacement! 🤔
This rock addiction has it's drawbacks! 😂
Hey Python,
You've had good luck with that model for longevity?
You rock Python! Great info. I need to ponder a bit. 🙂
Well darn it. My third Nat Geo tumbler just started having motor issues. That's 3 in less than a year. Maybe they are intended to be toys after all. I run my barrels 24/7 365 so I really need to graduate to something hardier. The Lortones are supposed to last for years and maybe they will. I just don't like the small barrels on the two 33B double barrel models I have running. I also don't want the giant models. It's not practical for me to run batches of 8 lbs or more.
I bought a couple of Thumblers but had to return them because the barrels didn't have knobs and try as I might, I literally couldn't get the tops off the barrels even empty. Who at Thumbler's thought THAT design was a good idea? Can only Sumo wrestlers or body builders open those barrels? I mean really.
So I need some advice. I do some serious rock tumbling but don't want to invest in tumblers that won't last a year. I'm disappointed too because I really love those Nat Geo tumblers for results, ease of use, quietness and cleanliness.
Sigh.
I confess I haven't done any real field work yet but hope to when the frozen tundra thaws. Our claim to fame is Lake Superior Agate but from what I've read it's pretty hard to find good quality specimens unless you're a really experienced rock hound.
Check out Rocktumbler.com. They recommend 2 Tbsp per pound of material for nearly every recipe! I usually only burnish for an hour. Do you think it makes a big difference to do it much longer? I dont generally have unused grit left over in the Nat Geo 3 Lb tumblers. I use 4 Tbsp in the 3 lb Lortone tumblers (per manufacturer instructions) and it happens in those barrels ocassionally. They don't actually hold 3 lbs of material - more like half of that. Sort of misleading on their part.
Those look great with a great shine!
It's always walking a fine line between losing mass and how "perfect" you want the stone to be before polishing. The more perfect you want, the smaller they will get. Sometimes you just got to call them ready if you don't want them too small.
Great job! 👍
Well here's the first batch of African Striped Jasper. I didn't grind them down to remove all pits and cracks because I didn't want to lose too much mass. At the polish stage it was a bit of cross your fingers and hope for the best but I think they came out with a nice shine! Five weeks from start to finish.
The fortification agate looks amazing. Such cool banding and color. Is it on your tumbling schedule yet? I wasn't quick enough to get any when it was available.
The new striped African jasper looks pretty cool and I'm tempted but I noticed the "tough tumble" comment in the description due to pits and cracks in the rocks. Has anyone tried to tumble it yet?
Beautiful! I've been consistently impressed by the rough I've received from Fossick/Meeko's Mine. I'd love to get my hands on more Sarape Jasper and Clay can tell you I've been a total pest about more variegated Tiger's Eye if they find more.
I just completed my first batch of Sarape Jasper and it definitely came out with the WOW factor.
I was sort of intrigued with the cathedral glass but worried it would damage my tumblers.
Once I found Meeko's Mine, it quickly became my favorite tumbling rough source!
Here are my Meeko's
Sarape Jaspers!
Wow!