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Hey, brother I may have a solution to your issue here. I just put a wood stove in my garage and vented it out the window. I used some styrofoam insulation, a thin wood panel, and sheet metal with copper pipe spacers to shield the walls from the heat. I do carpentry and painting and now I can store paint and do other temperature-sensitive things out there. I love it and it was pretty cheap because I shop around and buy used. Wood heat is warm radiant goodness! Thank you for all the very informative videos. The family and I are just beginner rockhounds and so glad we found your channel.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding It would be a shame to let that beautiful machine go to collect dust. Also, wood heat is awesome. I am specializing in camper builds and tiny houses. I am installing a wood stove in my camper and only working with 18"x22" square on the floor up to the ceiling. They make some pretty awesome tiny stoves like the Kimberly, and the one I got from the north woodsman. All I'm saying is, are you sure you don't have space? Best of luck!
I'm glad you can chalk it up to a learning exercise. When we stop learning, we stagnate. I'm glad you didn't take a loss on it either. Because of you, I have chosen to do some modifications to my older equipment instead of just replacing it. You are always trying out new things to learn as much as you can about this hobby and are not afraid to pass that knowledge along to others. There are those who teach because it's a job and pays their bills, then there are those like you who teach because you want to pass on knowledge because it's the right thing to do. As always, nice informative video.
Thank you so much. I learned a ton with this machine restoration and yeah it wasn't the correct fit for my shop but I will take what I learned and apply it to the next machine.
Great restoration. I have a Covington vibra lap and agree with a lot that you said when it comes to these very machines. I can really only use it when it’s warm. It doesn’t quite freeze in the garage, but trying to clean between stages it is a pain in the winter when I can just take it outside and hose it down in the spring and summer.
I bought the exact same one a number of years ago. There is a learning curve. If you try slabs, you need to weight the pieces. Works really well on bigger pieces. Need to be very level. Need to keep an eye on moisture level. Can't just start it and forget it like a tumbler.
I hope it has found a new loving home by now too. I know you spent a lot of time, effort, and money on it. And it looks like brand new now! Those old machines are really great for someone who has space and time for them. Im glad that you got to fix it up. Im sure anyone who buys it will know that it literally is as good as new, if not better, when you have repaired it. Thats a guarantee that you cant just get anywhere. Thanks for showing us all the work that went into it, as well as the cautionary warnings about thinking before you buy! That is very important and the difference between a good buy and a mistake! Thanks Jared.
Thank you! It is for sure at a lovely shop now. I agree with you here that these old machines are really good when fixed up but the restoration of them can be rather difficult at times and I think the advice that is so common these days of "just buy old machines" really can mislead many people into buy project that are too big for their skill set to repair.
I work in construction. In the winter I need to put antifreeze in the water. It is specially made to mix with cement, makes it freeze thaw stable. I do not believe anti freeze in the tray would help you. The only approach that would work would be a heat light of some kind aimed at the tray. Would keep the tray warm so it doesn’t freeze up.
Another great video! About forty years ago I saw a pile of worn out lapidary equipment at a rummage sale and started my career. It was all beaten, neglected and yet it kinda worked. It would take all day to cut a few cabs but I stuck with it and replaced each with the best on the market as I could afford. I'm now running my third Genie and a Hi-Tech Diamond 6" trim saw. I have a UltraTec V5 that I use almost every day. Your advice is solid as it's apparent that you're resourceful. Buy the tool that you need and the best that you can afford. By the way, all of the old stuff went to a knife maker who continued to use it. Stay inspired and keep after it!
I'm glad you didn't take a lost on it I'm sure you came out very good and I couldn't use something like that either my lapidary room gets very cold ❄️ to
Pretty clean restoration. Also guilty of acting on a "good deal". Trained by my mother. I've watched her take everything in a clearance rack, because if she didn't someone else would.
Hi Jared, appreciated this video as I have been considering making one of these machines in the future. A friend has had one made and has the plans. Fortunately I don’t have to worry about temperature restrictions, average here is around 12deg C to around 22deg in winter with averages of 21 deg to 29 deg in summer. I do have an issue with room as I too much “stuff” in the garage, 😂😂, a lifetime of tools, equipment, machinery etc. Keep Safe 👍.
Yes, I hope you do more restoration videos: there are a lot of vintage machines out there, and it would be wonderful to know what to look for in both brands and particular machines. You have good mechanical skills to go with good video and personality.
Wow, Jared! What a great job restoring this machine! Maybe you can sell it to someone locally who will let you use it occasionally. I'm sure there is someone would love this. I see a new business opportunity for you. The best to you.
I picked up the same machine last year. luckily the only things mine needed was new springs and balls (I had to use what I could find since I couldn't track down any originals) . I used it once and found out I need to get a new mat for the polishing tray and it has been sitting unused since then. One of these days I will get back to restoring and using it but till then it is just sitting in a corner of my garage.
The polishing pad in mine wore out as well. I purchased a felt pad as a replacement, but after receiving it, decided that it would wear through with the first batch of rocks. Recently I retrieved some discarded new installation carpet scraps. I’ll cut one of them to fit and glue it in place with contact cement. I’m guessing that the carpet will work as well as the original polishing pad.
That's a an awesome engineering project! I was looking down from across the river and that first bend past the bridge at bowl and pitcher looks like it's got a lot of exposed rocks from the low water levels that I might have to go through this weekend!
Awesome video man!..I find this highly interesting as you have always beat it into my head about this. Space, time, money invested, money return, functionality etc. I'm very surprised by this video. 😳
I think this is a great machine and I learned a lot restoring it and working with it but it just wasn't the right fit for me. Sometimes you don't know what you don't know until you're in the middle of it.
sweet, I got that same one about a month ago. I just built a platform that goes in place of tray that has hoppers on it to use it as a vibratory tumbler
@@CurrentlyRockhounding i havent polished any slabs yet so i cant say much about that. We have done a couple batches of rocks and they turned out pretty nice. We have a lot-o-tumbler and it seemed on par with the results we get from that. The two batches were with a single 10lb gyroc hopper on there. We went to quartzite last week so I picked up two 6lb viking hoppers and I added those. We should be able to do up to 22lbs at a time in 3 separate batches now. I could probably have added a larger hopper but multiple smaller ones seemed better suited for our needs.
Great job, I have vintage equipment as I have just started pursuing the joy of shiny Rock's. Small slab saw oil bath lead weight powered feed ☺ and just put into service a 6×6 star diamond tumbler that's been highly modified plus a couple double 3lb tumblers. Shiny Rock's I like! Have question? I am thinking 8inch hi-tech flat lap and it seems like the best option for me and would help round out my experience. Question I have is can you use the flat for faceting gemstones if you buy the attachments. I can see that will be my next thing since I'm a retired machinist and I understand all the angles since that was part of my work experience and looks fun,,, besides I have a half gallon jar of beautiful Oregon sunstones I mined last year and some of them have to be cut,!!
The 8" Hi-Tech lap is a great little machine but its not a faceting machine. Maybe you could build it out to do the job but you would likely be better off just looking for a used faceting machine.
Nice video. I m6self am in the middle of this restoration. May I ask, we're did you find a replacement bearing ? And, do you think it actually needs it ?
I know we take 1step forward and 2 back at times. I am trying to setup a shop. First I tried in a 3 season room. Although, it freezes 🥶. A learning process, noise in warmer areas may be disruptive. Hmm,🤔 !!!
I just bought a lortone FL that looks almost new but does not have the rare and obscure bearing you mentioned here. The motor shaft had wobble and I have replaced the motor bearings but I am thinking this might be due to the missing bearing you refer to. Do you have any information on this bearing? Thanks -Steve
If there was one bit of advice I'd give my younger self it would be... YOU NEED A TOOL SHOP! People in their 20s underestimate how much this will hit you as you get older LOL
There is a solution for the problem of keeping those the correct wetness without babysitting them but that's only one of your many problems. I have two 15inch units and a 10inch and just haven't dedicated the time to setting them up. I would love to turn my flat surface polishing over to them.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding that's what I figured i've just been overly busy lately and was hoping there was a presto buy now button somewhere lol. Not much time for rocks lately unfort
nice machine.... im new to this community of lapidary and noticed that every single person with machines/equipment sanders, saws, polishers etc are very self centered/greedy/stingy however you want to word it..... they only look out for themselves to make there own cabs/slabs etc to sell ..... i have yet to see anyone lend out a hand to do work for anyone else to help out someone unless you buying there cabs or polished specimens etc
In all my years of doing this, I think this might be the stupidest comment I have gotten. So let me get this straight, you're new to the hobby and have already passed judgement on everyone in it because they won't give you their time and rocks for free... Sure, the problem is definitely them and not you. Why in the world would I spend years of my life, spend thousands and thousands of dollars on machines, store them, maintain them, pay for power to run them, and expendables like oil, blades, and rock to just give my work to people like you? The only self-centered and greedy person I see around here would be you. Sounds like you might want to find another hobby.
@2:25 same. I sold mine to @RockHoundQuest. In my xp, I have misunderstood the function of some of these tools. I have a brand new Covington 16" single speed lap that I cant even use...great feeling man
I think they are great for the right person, with the right shop, that wants to polish lots of flat things like slabs and thundereggs. I just don't have the time, or space.
Did you enjoy this video and find it to be informative? You can help ensure that more videos just like this get made by supporting the project on Patreon. www.patreon.com/currentlyrockhounding
Hey, brother I may have a solution to your issue here. I just put a wood stove in my garage and vented it out the window. I used some styrofoam insulation, a thin wood panel, and sheet metal with copper pipe spacers to shield the walls from the heat. I do carpentry and painting and now I can store paint and do other temperature-sensitive things out there. I love it and it was pretty cheap because I shop around and buy used. Wood heat is warm radiant goodness! Thank you for all the very informative videos. The family and I are just beginner rockhounds and so glad we found your channel.
I would love to do something like the but I don't have the space.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding It would be a shame to let that beautiful machine go to collect dust. Also, wood heat is awesome. I am specializing in camper builds and tiny houses. I am installing a wood stove in my camper and only working with 18"x22" square on the floor up to the ceiling. They make some pretty awesome tiny stoves like the Kimberly, and the one I got from the north woodsman. All I'm saying is, are you sure you don't have space? Best of luck!
I’d buy it!!! It would work fine in my situation😁
Just picked up an FL15 on marketplace that need springs and some cleaning. I'm pretty excited!
Ha! That's funny, I just saw one get listed here in my area as well.
@CurrentlyRockhounding that was exactly the one! He only posted it for about 20 minutes before I bought it. 😅
I'm pretty sure you just helped me figure out what I discovered in a friends shed
I'm glad you can chalk it up to a learning exercise. When we stop learning, we stagnate. I'm glad you didn't take a loss on it either. Because of you, I have chosen to do some modifications to my older equipment instead of just replacing it. You are always trying out new things to learn as much as you can about this hobby and are not afraid to pass that knowledge along to others. There are those who teach because it's a job and pays their bills, then there are those like you who teach because you want to pass on knowledge because it's the right thing to do. As always, nice informative video.
Thank you so much.
I learned a ton with this machine restoration and yeah it wasn't the correct fit for my shop but I will take what I learned and apply it to the next machine.
Great restoration. I have a Covington vibra lap and agree with a lot that you said when it comes to these very machines. I can really only use it when it’s warm. It doesn’t quite freeze in the garage, but trying to clean between stages it is a pain in the winter when I can just take it outside and hose it down in the spring and summer.
Winter does make hard for sure.
I day dream of having a fully heated shop.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it is much appreciated.🙌✌️🤠🤘
Thank you!
I bought the exact same one a number of years ago. There is a learning curve. If you try slabs, you need to weight the pieces. Works really well on bigger pieces. Need to be very level. Need to keep an eye on moisture level. Can't just start it and forget it like a tumbler.
No harm no foul whatever it takes to further ones experience, keep up the good work, just started my channel 11 days ago and counting
You did a fantastic job bringing that machine back to life!
Thank you! :)
Thanks!
Thank you very much. I really appreciate the support.
Great job on the rebuild. Even better learning / teaching experience.
Thank you!
Turns out I have an older model flat lap.thank you for making thus video because I couldnt figure out what ut was.thought it was for gold
I hope it has found a new loving home by now too. I know you spent a lot of time, effort, and money on it. And it looks like brand new now! Those old machines are really great for someone who has space and time for them. Im glad that you got to fix it up. Im sure anyone who buys it will know that it literally is as good as new, if not better, when you have repaired it. Thats a guarantee that you cant just get anywhere. Thanks for showing us all the work that went into it, as well as the cautionary warnings about thinking before you buy! That is very important and the difference between a good buy and a mistake! Thanks Jared.
Thank you! It is for sure at a lovely shop now.
I agree with you here that these old machines are really good when fixed up but the restoration of them can be rather difficult at times and I think the advice that is so common these days of "just buy old machines" really can mislead many people into buy project that are too big for their skill set to repair.
I work in construction. In the winter I need to put antifreeze in the water. It is specially made to mix with cement, makes it freeze thaw stable. I do not believe anti freeze in the tray would help you. The only approach that would work would be a heat light of some kind aimed at the tray. Would keep the tray warm so it doesn’t freeze up.
Lucky for us we only have 5 more months until warm weather in Washington! LoL
Really nice rebuild!
Don't remind me! I want to believe the warm weather is around the corner.
Wow that restoration made it like new again!!! Very cool!!! Wants Vs Needs is a valuable lesson in life and as a minimalist very important 🙂🙃🙂
Thank you!
Another great video! About forty years ago I saw a pile of worn out lapidary equipment at a rummage sale and started my career. It was all beaten, neglected and yet it kinda worked. It would take all day to cut a few cabs but I stuck with it and replaced each with the best on the market as I could afford. I'm now running my third Genie and a Hi-Tech Diamond 6" trim saw. I have a UltraTec V5 that I use almost every day.
Your advice is solid as it's apparent that you're resourceful. Buy the tool that you need and the best that you can afford. By the way, all of the old stuff went to a knife maker who continued to use it. Stay inspired and keep after it!
We all have our own path getting into this for sure.
Currently I only have one new machine in my shop and everything else is used or homemade.
Heading to my appointment but am looking forward to seeing that giant beast vibrating away~ 👍👍
Yup, visualize the space before you get it. Hope you can get what you want for it.😊
I'm glad you didn't take a lost on it I'm sure you came out very good and I couldn't use something like that either my lapidary room gets very cold ❄️ to
I spilled water in my shop last winter and I it soaked into the wood bench and froze and well it was an ice bench for a long long time.
Pretty clean restoration. Also guilty of acting on a "good deal". Trained by my mother. I've watched her take everything in a clearance rack, because if she didn't someone else would.
Thank you, I think it came out really well.
Very nice
Hi Jared, appreciated this video as I have been considering making one of these machines in the future. A friend has had one made and has the plans. Fortunately I don’t have to worry about temperature restrictions, average here is around 12deg C to around 22deg in winter with averages of 21 deg to 29 deg in summer. I do have an issue with room as I too much “stuff” in the garage, 😂😂, a lifetime of tools, equipment, machinery etc. Keep Safe 👍.
The freezing weather is an impact on what I do for sure and I simply didn't take it into consideration.
Great job on the rebuild! Maybe the local rock club will have a space for it.
Thank you!
This was such a wonderful video today! Have you thought about doing a restoration series/playlist?
Thanks for sharing that whole experience.
Thank you. I haven't done a playlist or anything like that but maybe I should change that.
Yes, I hope you do more restoration videos: there are a lot of vintage machines out there, and it would be wonderful to know what to look for in both brands and particular machines. You have good mechanical skills to go with good video and personality.
Wow, Jared! What a great job restoring this machine! Maybe you can sell it to someone locally who will let you use it occasionally. I'm sure there is someone would love this. I see a new business opportunity for you. The best to you.
Someone locally here did buy it and it has a good home now.
I picked up the same machine last year. luckily the only things mine needed was new springs and balls (I had to use what I could find since I couldn't track down any originals) . I used it once and found out I need to get a new mat for the polishing tray and it has been sitting unused since then. One of these days I will get back to restoring and using it but till then it is just sitting in a corner of my garage.
The polishing pad in mine wore out as well. I purchased a felt pad as a replacement, but after receiving it, decided that it would wear through with the first batch of rocks. Recently I retrieved some discarded new installation carpet scraps. I’ll cut one of them to fit and glue it in place with contact cement. I’m guessing that the carpet will work as well as the original polishing pad.
From talking with people that run these many just use normal ourdoor carpet.
They really are good machines to have if you have the right space for it.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding I have gotten great results from mine over the years I have owned it!
That's a an awesome engineering project! I was looking down from across the river and that first bend past the bridge at bowl and pitcher looks like it's got a lot of exposed rocks from the low water levels that I might have to go through this weekend!
Now might be a good time to go look at the river!
Too bad it won't work out for you Jared. I'm sure it's already been said, but feel free to send it my way😜
Jared, you’re gonna need a bigger sea can. Or a second story on the existing one lol!
Ha!
Awesome video man!..I find this highly interesting as you have always beat it into my head about this. Space, time, money invested, money return, functionality etc. I'm very surprised by this video. 😳
I think this is a great machine and I learned a lot restoring it and working with it but it just wasn't the right fit for me. Sometimes you don't know what you don't know until you're in the middle of it.
sweet, I got that same one about a month ago. I just built a platform that goes in place of tray that has hoppers on it to use it as a vibratory tumbler
How do you like it so far?
@@CurrentlyRockhounding i havent polished any slabs yet so i cant say much about that. We have done a couple batches of rocks and they turned out pretty nice. We have a lot-o-tumbler and it seemed on par with the results we get from that. The two batches were with a single 10lb gyroc hopper on there. We went to quartzite last week so I picked up two 6lb viking hoppers and I added those. We should be able to do up to 22lbs at a time in 3 separate batches now. I could probably have added a larger hopper but multiple smaller ones seemed better suited for our needs.
Great job, I have vintage equipment as I have just started pursuing the joy of shiny Rock's. Small slab saw oil bath lead weight powered feed ☺ and just put into service a 6×6 star diamond tumbler that's been highly modified plus a couple double 3lb tumblers.
Shiny Rock's I like!
Have question?
I am thinking 8inch hi-tech flat lap and it seems like the best option for me and would help round out my experience.
Question I have is can you use the flat for faceting gemstones if you buy the attachments.
I can see that will be my next thing since I'm a retired machinist and I understand all the angles since that was part of my work experience and looks fun,,, besides I have a half gallon jar of beautiful Oregon sunstones I mined last year and some of them have to be cut,!!
The 8" Hi-Tech lap is a great little machine but its not a faceting machine. Maybe you could build it out to do the job but you would likely be better off just looking for a used faceting machine.
I’ve seen where instead of water they used a little but t of antifreeze in the winter cold weather.
Nice video. I m6self am in the middle of this restoration. May I ask, we're did you find a replacement bearing ? And, do you think it actually needs it ?
I got mine on eBay, I would always replace the bearings as its cheap insurance to know it won't be a problem later on.
try using windshield washer instead of water
put a cover ie cardboard box and put a 60W light bulb inside and the heat from the bulb and running motor will prevent freezing to very low temps.
That is an option but it just wouldn't really work for my space.
I know we take 1step forward and 2 back at times. I am trying to setup a shop. First I tried in a 3 season room. Although, it freezes 🥶. A learning process, noise in warmer areas may be disruptive. Hmm,🤔 !!!
Yeah its a process for sure learning all this stuff, what we need and don't.
I realize this is an old video.
Have you sold it yet, if not I will buy it!
I did sell it.
I just bought a lortone FL that looks almost new but does not have the rare and obscure bearing you mentioned here. The motor shaft had wobble and I have replaced the motor bearings but I am thinking this might be due to the missing bearing you refer to. Do you have any information on this bearing? Thanks -Steve
The bearing in this is the SL3/4B Dodge Ball Bearing.
If there was one bit of advice I'd give my younger self it would be... YOU NEED A TOOL SHOP! People in their 20s underestimate how much this will hit you as you get older LOL
It does take a lot of time and tools to restore some of these machines.
I’m interested in purchasing it if it’s still available and also if you’ll ship it to Arizona. Great review brother 👍⛏🇺🇸
It has a new home now.
@Currently Rockhounding ok thanks for letting me know!!
There is a solution for the problem of keeping those the correct wetness without babysitting them but that's only one of your many problems. I have two 15inch units and a 10inch and just haven't dedicated the time to setting them up. I would love to turn my flat surface polishing over to them.
What is that solution?
@@pdemkovich some use an IV bag for a drip. Get it dialed in and they say it will keep it the right dampness all day.
@@ocklawahaboyrocks Thanks for the tip! Makes sense!
can you still get springs for these?
I just used springs from my local hardware store.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding that's what I figured i've just been overly busy lately and was hoping there was a presto buy now button somewhere lol. Not much time for rocks lately unfort
i need to rename to 30 mins late.
👁👁 ☕️ 9:38
nice machine.... im new to this community of lapidary and noticed that every single person with machines/equipment sanders, saws, polishers etc are very self centered/greedy/stingy however you want to word it..... they only look out for themselves to make there own cabs/slabs etc to sell ..... i have yet to see anyone lend out a hand to do work for anyone else to help out someone unless you buying there cabs or polished specimens etc
In all my years of doing this, I think this might be the stupidest comment I have gotten.
So let me get this straight, you're new to the hobby and have already passed judgement on everyone in it because they won't give you their time and rocks for free... Sure, the problem is definitely them and not you.
Why in the world would I spend years of my life, spend thousands and thousands of dollars on machines, store them, maintain them, pay for power to run them, and expendables like oil, blades, and rock to just give my work to people like you? The only self-centered and greedy person I see around here would be you.
Sounds like you might want to find another hobby.
First! LOL
@2:25 same. I sold mine to @RockHoundQuest.
In my xp, I have misunderstood the function of some of these tools. I have a brand new Covington 16" single speed lap that I cant even use...great feeling man
I think they are great for the right person, with the right shop, that wants to polish lots of flat things like slabs and thundereggs.
I just don't have the time, or space.