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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.

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.

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’d buy it!!! It would work fine in my situation😁

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.

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 🙂🙃🙂

Great job on the rebuild. Even better learning / teaching experience.

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

You did a fantastic job bringing that machine back to life!

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.

Thanks!

Just picked up an FL15 on marketplace that need springs and some cleaning. I'm pretty excited!

Very nice

Heading to my appointment but am looking forward to seeing that giant beast vibrating away~ 👍👍

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!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it is much appreciated.🙌✌️🤠🤘

Jared, you’re gonna need a bigger sea can. Or a second story on the existing one lol!

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

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!

Lucky for us we only have 5 more months until warm weather in Washington! LoL Really nice rebuild!

Great job on the rebuild! Maybe the local rock club will have a space for it.

Yup, visualize the space before you get it. Hope you can get what you want for it.😊

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.

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😜

This was such a wonderful video today! Have you thought about doing a restoration series/playlist? Thanks for sharing that whole experience.

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 👍.

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.

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.

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. 😳

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.

I’ve seen where instead of water they used a little but t of antifreeze in the winter cold weather.

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,!!

@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

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

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

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.

try using windshield washer instead of water

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’m interested in purchasing it if it’s still available and also if you’ll ship it to Arizona. Great review brother 👍⛏🇺🇸

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.

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

👁👁 ☕️ 9:38

i need to rename to 30 mins late.

can you still get springs for these?

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

First! LOL