quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Aug 2, 2023 21:32:05 GMT -5
I've been using tripoli with leather scraps for cushioning as final polish for over 20 years in rotary tumblers. As mentioned in the link above, you may neeed to let it run a little longer, but you will get good results. My tumbed rock quality has drawn compliment from several people with a great deal more experience than I, and from one person who sells big volumes all over the country. Give a try, if you don't like it the experience is worth it.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 31, 2023 21:32:45 GMT -5
How about making one, not too difficult.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 25, 2023 21:52:55 GMT -5
That's a very tidy way to mount the rollers, like the idea.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 23, 2023 21:48:16 GMT -5
Due to the tumbler being variable speed I wonder if the drive motor is a direct current motor with the AC current from the wall being rectified to DC for the motor. DC motors have permanent magnets in them that result in a bit of gentle "notching" as the motor is rolled by hand. Check both pulleys to make sure the grooves are smooth, I've seen a couple plastic pulleys that have ridges crosswise in the grooves from the molding process and not completly cleaned up. A ridge could be chewing on the belt.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 16, 2023 21:52:06 GMT -5
Thanks so much for your story, Ed will always be missed, but never forgotten. He had a unique way to make a day better, everyone here on the forum would probably agree.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 16, 2023 1:50:58 GMT -5
Son Of Beach, driving both rods assures the barrel will turn. Especially with small light barrels slippage of only one driven rod is very common, rod will turn, but slip under the barrel, not turning it.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 9, 2023 22:32:44 GMT -5
The best way to get traction on the barrel is to run a belt that powers both rollers at the same speed.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 4, 2023 22:35:04 GMT -5
I've been through 3 of these over several years, one had the 2x4. I think it is to raise the coolant level, tossed it out. I did put a half pipe coupler in for a drain at the same location shown on the newer ones. Two of mine were way more rusty, sandblasted the tub and painted the inside with "Hammerite Rust Encapsulating" paint. It is a little hard to find here but works well. Bearings aren't expensive if you need them and I put everything together with stainless fasteners.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 4, 2023 22:14:16 GMT -5
I have seen numerous motors that would barely turn or not turn at all simply because the shaft bushings were dry. Do what you have to to get the motor clean {blow out with air is good} and lube the shaft bushings before springing for a new motor. As mentioned above check to see that all electrical connections are sound.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 2, 2023 22:19:42 GMT -5
I made my replacements out of 1/4" UHMW plastic, I think available at Tap Plastics, likely will outlive me.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 28, 2023 22:24:00 GMT -5
Do some motor performance comparison shopping on the Grainger website. It seems a very minor change to a motor results in a new part number and the old one goes obsolete. An interchange might be there.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 21, 2023 21:48:36 GMT -5
Nothing to it, very practical, cheaper, and generally more durable. I've built a dozen of 'em, several different sizes. Pictures available on your request.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 20, 2023 22:16:33 GMT -5
I've had good luck getting wood glued or waterglass glued slabs to release off a board end by soaking them in water heated on a hotplate, outside for less mess, half hour at most.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 19, 2023 22:11:43 GMT -5
I've built a double barrel tumbler set, each barrel 5 gallon capacity, about 60 pounds of rock. I rough with 16 grit in it, then follow with 80 and on down. Also have a pair of 1&1/2 gallon capacity, or about 18 pounds, it won't break down the 16 grit well at all. the 46 and 60 range work well in it. It takes a big barrel with lots of weight rolling in it to break down the larger grits. I got some of that really misc. size grit from jamesp, some of the large pieces still didn't break down in my large barrel set. Some of the pieces of grit in that stuff ran upward of 1/8 inch.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 15, 2023 22:17:04 GMT -5
Certainly a reasonable idea given how much he enjoyed the zoo.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 15, 2023 22:07:37 GMT -5
Did Ed want his ashes scattered, or does anyone know. I lost my wife in Feb., cremation was a given for both of us, and the one thing Carol said is "I want a marker in a place where people can come visit and my existance will not be forgotten." Just an opinion to think about Thanks to all who have volunteered time to be a part of his remberance.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 13, 2023 21:27:54 GMT -5
tedphil, as mentioned above, the motor shaft bushings need to be relubed after a soak cleaning. I prefer 3-n-1 Electric motor oil {it's 20wt. a bit heavier than regular 3-n-1 oil}, I get it at Lowes.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 8, 2023 21:48:56 GMT -5
Thanks to both of you for putting these videos up, just facinating what those people do.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 7, 2023 22:43:55 GMT -5
The mechanism alone is amazing, then all the decoration visible makes the project little hard to describe, certainly a brilliant effort. Wonder how long it took start to finish.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on May 7, 2023 23:37:57 GMT -5
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