Lortone NS8 Arbor Restoration // A New Life for a Vintage Lapidary Grinder

This is very likely way more than you would ever want to know about arbors, but for those of you like myself who do lapidary on a budget, these arbors are completely incredible when built into a functioning lapidary grinder.
Want to build up an arbor for yourself? / archive-video-85951817
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Be sure to check out my website at currentlyrockhounding.com for tons of additional rockhounding resources and much more!
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. / currentlyrockhounding
#CurrentlyRockhounding #Lortone #Lapidary

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

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

[@Willrocs]

Glad I found ya again. Mad respect for anyone restores/builds these.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you very much!

[@GRIZMAN1109]

Nice job of showing us the steps necessary to rebuild an old arbor into a new piece for less than a new unit!

[@endidasdis]

I loved the ghost intro

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@Mike-br8vb]

I agree, that was cool af!

[@gator83261]

Star Trek intro…

[@locktown]

This was a great how to video. You have shown how simple some of the lapidary equipment can be. I now have an idea of how I can modify an old non-working bench grinder I've had laying around. Thanks!

[@largent45]

Awesome video and really helpful for anyone she wants to build out their own machine as well as repair a broken or worn machine. I'm sure even if it doesn't have that exact arbor, they can use the information to repair or build out what they do have, because they are all, in essence, the same type of arbor! And that one you now have 3 of, really is the perfect arbor and can be desired a Or built out easily with this information, and they are pretty readily available, if you ran into a deal on the three of them you have. Thanks Jared for this video. You always are doing so much for the rockhounding and lapidary community! Between your videos, which are all helpful, and your website, that has soooo much good, useful information on it, as well as trip reports for every hounding site you visit, you are a one man savior of this hobby! And we really need to find a better word for that! It's so much more than a hobby to most of us! It's a way of life! Thanks Jared! ❤

[@marcussmart3275]

Your absolutely correct with the statement of dis similar metals corroding at an accelerated rate. I have spent days on electrical problems with cars to find a tin connector that corroded the wire except the very center strand. Giving it continuity but no ability to carry any amperage.

[@patriciamckean4186]

Your informative videos are great. We've gone back and watched some multiple times.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm glad you like them.

[@princessadventures1285]

I gotta NOS NS8 sitting on my shelf going to follow your ideas for it. I'm pretty good at fabrication but i'm a big fan of following someone elses work if I like it. Big time saver. Thanks.

[@paddiman772]

Jarod, Watched this vid this morning. Great job! Am always interested in resuscitating used/or older equipment. In fact, I've spent the greater part of my life doing just that. Was a bench mech. for many years. Even now, of late I've been having to restore a bunch of equipment in the shop due to years of long use. Bearings just won't last forever! And they are so expensive these days! I just spent $60ea for some specialty spindle bearings for my CNC. Incidentally, it would be a good idea if you applied some Silicone sealant in that housing joint to keep moisture from getting to the bearings. Those large wheels can stir up a real storm when spinning. And even though the bearings have seals, that won't stop vapor from getting to them eventually. Good job BTW! When I was in Rebuild, all our repairs had to begin with restoration of the component's skin. It gives confidence to those in the production lines who depended upon them. Also, I'm envious of the ABS bandsaw! Now I've got to get one! Any deals out there I should know about? I have a Milwaukee band saw with a SWAG table mount for it. It works, but not as nice as the clam-shell type like you've got. Contact me on the side if you know of any deals.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I like that idea of adding a seal between the two halves. That's smart! Also, I feel you on the costs of things... I have had this ABS bandsaw for almost 9 years now, and it's fantastic! I also have a portaband on the SWAG table, it's good, but it's not super accurate, and it doesn't have a nice vise for repeatable cuts.

[@JouleEon]

Great instructional video for non-mechs like myself. I have a Scott Murray which is similar.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@sandmaker]

Good DYI info. Thanks!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you for being here and watching!

[@ocklawahaboyrocks]

I don't have this particular arbor but I have 2 lortone 2-wheel arbors that come with their own housing. One is 6 inch and one is 8. I much prefer those to my multiwheel cab machine.

[@yogiber21]

Wow I just found one too at second chance goods here in Arizona I want to do a video on it to but nowhere near the confidence that you have keep up the great videos

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

That's great! What condition did you find it in?

[@yogiber21]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Very rusty seized up no makers Mark maybe I’ll do a short on it

[@MrTurtleMontana]

Hey Jared! Another great video! Thank you for taking the time to share this information with us. I have a couple of questions, if you don't mind.. First, how much did the total build cost (including the drums and belts)? Next, what RPM is ideal for this implementation? I'm guessing something like a furnace blower motor is too fast? Finally (two part question), since you only have two wheels, which grit levels do you run? What do you use to finish the job after those two wheels? BTW - I love watching you work. Everything is neat, organized, and in its place. Your work is very clean, and never half-assed. The paint job you laid down on that arbor is a perfect example of what I'm referring to. Your work ethic is impressive and is something we should all aspire to. Well done!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Are you talking about the cost of my arbor setup that I fully built out already? 1725/1750 RPM is the max speed for these and what I run them at. As for the wheels, I have my arbor setup with expanding drums on it that I can put any belt on it of any grit I want. This will have a 140 and 220 hard wheels on it. This will be for rough shaping. Thank you for noticing, I love working in my shop and I want it to be as nice and neat as I can get it for being such a small space.

[@DivitusSodak]

Never fixed a nsa lortone only have a polly and Scott murry.

[@Mike-br8vb]

What is the Rpm rating on that 3/4hp motor? Is there a limit for spinning those expandable drums? Or the diamond hard wheels?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

1725 rpm, thats pretty much the top speed of most lapidary machines, wheels, and blades.

[@Mike-br8vb]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding thanks Jared!

[@eanholt]

Is it doable to put a longer shaft on these old arbors? What would be a reasonable limit?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

You can, and in fact they did make a version of this that allowed for two wheels on each side.

[@TheRogueRockhound]

Thanks for the walkthrough buddy

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@RyanWeishalla]

Do you use linkbelt with on your arbors?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I do. I have been using link belts for years and years on all my lapidary machines with great success.

[@RyanWeishalla]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding I thought I remembered seeing them. I’ve used a couple different types of make your own length belts on my metal machining equipment. That design so you don’t need to remove the arbor to change the wheels is nice.

[@jeffdillon-zg7oq]

Great video great project.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!