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Post by rockrookie on Mar 22, 2008 16:20:40 GMT -5
i'm looking for plans or advice for a tire tumbler ,i'm no mechanical wiz ! thanks ! paul
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Mar 22, 2008 19:20:01 GMT -5
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Post by rockrookie on Mar 22, 2008 20:15:17 GMT -5
thanks grayfingers , i'm going to check out sites now .
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flatlander
starting to shine!
Member since May 2007
Posts: 27
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Post by flatlander on May 3, 2008 23:29:42 GMT -5
If anyone else is interested I have a PDF of a 50 lb tire tumber. I never tried to build one but it is well written, and looks easy to follow.
I have had a couple of requests for the PDF. Excuse my ignorance but does anyone know how to post a PDF to this thread? Until you see it here please send your email address with a pm request for the PDF
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hveragerthi
starting to shine!
Member since May 2008
Posts: 25
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Post by hveragerthi on May 10, 2008 5:29:23 GMT -5
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Nov 17, 2008 20:22:51 GMT -5
I like the idea of the 5-gallon bucket tumbler. My brother has a MIG welder, all I need is some bearings and a shaft...have tons of new 5-gallon buckets laying around....HMMMMM
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Nov 18, 2008 22:41:03 GMT -5
The company I work for, let's me have all the buckets I can pack off. I have a tumbler that I finished a couple months ago. It was made with a 5 gl bucket. The bucket only lasted for one week, and it ate a hole in the side. I replaced the bucket, then lined it with a 1/4 thick peice of conveyor belt. This time it lasted about two weeks, and it ate a hole in the end. I called it quits right there. Since then, I have picked up a 16" round pipe by 18" long. I have the metal to weld in the ends, I just have to have time to do it. In theroy the bucket seemed a good idea, but from what I have experienced, it is a waste of time and effort. Maybe a peice of Schedule 80 PVC pipe would work better, glue a couple ends on, and you have it. I am sure someplace in your area would have it, and be willing to cut off a foot or two. Here is a link to schedule 80 PVC. As you can see, a peice of 14" has a wall thickness of 3/4" www.harvel.com/pipepvc-sch40-80-dim.asp
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 19, 2008 8:48:09 GMT -5
I agree on the 5 gal. buckets. I've used 2 and 3 gal. buckets on a horizontal tumbler and the sides crack pretty quickly (within a couple of weeks). I would expect that running them at an angle would concentrate the load more and cause them to break down even faster. I suppose you could put one bucket inside another so that when the interior one breaks it won't cause a big mess. But it will still wear out before long.
The major drawback to Schedule 80 (aside from availability to average consumers) is the price of fittings. You might be able to run it open top and create a bottom out of wood or metal (if you have the tools), provided you can get a good seal.
The barrels are the most difficult part of a homemade tumbler, IMO. After over a year of tinkering with a homemade tumbler and trying to find suitable large barrels, I gave up and bought a 15 lb. tumbler. In retrospect, I should have just done that in the first place as I ended up spending more money and a lot more time trying to get it to work with 15-20 lb. loads than the 15 lb. tumbler cost.
Just my experience. Your mileage may vary, particularly if you can weld and have ready access to bearings, shafts, pulleys, etc.
Chuck
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Nov 19, 2008 9:29:50 GMT -5
PVC barrels stand up good but are really loud. Threaded caps tend to get stuck on too. I just bought some plumbers plugs that I'm going to try to fix the stuck problem with. They are similar to this one. Except black and from Home Depot
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 19, 2008 13:14:54 GMT -5
The test plugs work well for 4" PVC. Good luck finding them for Schedule 80, let alone paying for them! :-)
Yes, PVC barrels are loud, but they're durable.
Chuck
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Nov 19, 2008 16:02:32 GMT -5
With as durable as the standard sched 40 pvc has been for me I don't think I would bother with sched 80. Just not worth the cost.
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Nov 23, 2008 0:17:54 GMT -5
If anyone else is interested I have a PDF of a 50 lb tire tumber. I never tried to build one but it is well written, and looks easy to follow. I have had a couple of requests for the PDF. Excuse my ignorance but does anyone know how to post a PDF to this thread? Until you see it here please send your email address with a pm request for the PDF Flatlander, I'll happily host the PDF on my site and then post a link here. PM me for my email. Dean
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