rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 11, 2009 20:03:38 GMT -5
A while back I posted a thread on how I expanded my 36 lb tumbler to 72 lbs by adding an additional frame, roller bearings, shafts, and couplers. Well, I could never get the couplers to stay tight enough and one of them would work loose almost daily. I watched the shafts in motion and they would flex with the weight of the barrels and that flexing was transmitted to the end of the shaft and cause the coupler to come loose. Here is a picture of the original design with couplers: So I gave up on the coupling idea and with a couple phone calls I located 5/8 steel rods for a whopping $19 and change. The couplers cost me $12 each. So I replaced the 4 coupled shafts with the two 6 foot shafts and problem solved. My mega tumbler has been running 24x7 since without any problems. And as a bonus there is space enough to fit a 15 lb barrel in between the two frames giving me a total capacity of 87 lbs. Here's shot of the fully loaded tumbler: Here's the original tumbler that I swapped for with some friends: Here is the frame I built for the expansion: Here is the bonus of being able to run a 15 lb barrel in the middle:
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syfun
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since January 2009
Posts: 85
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Post by syfun on Feb 11, 2009 20:57:39 GMT -5
That's a nice setup. Is that electical tape on the rods? How long does that hold up?
I like the "Hi daddy Hi mommy" on the 2X4's. It seems everything I build gets graffiti on it like that. LOL
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 11, 2009 22:41:57 GMT -5
Nice work! Looks like you have a few slabs there, too. :-)
Did you get the shafts from McMaster?
Chuck
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Post by llana2go on Feb 11, 2009 23:13:58 GMT -5
Holy Cow! Now, that's a tumbler!
llana
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 12, 2009 0:22:50 GMT -5
syfun, Yeah, that graffiti is pretty old. My daughter is 20 and married and my son is 17. I buy electrical tape on sale at Harbor Freight. To remove it I stop the tumbler and cut along the length with a box cutter and it peels right off. Then I start the tumbler and stick the electrical tape on one end and let the roll spin around my finger and got back a forth a couple times. Its kinda fun. It takes a couple rolls of tape for the whole tumbler but it lasts a long time except the 15 lb thumler barrel likes to eat it up. Chuck, The rods are just plain cold rolled mild steel. I looked at the shafts sold by Grainger and the were a little too rich for my blood. The only cost me $19 for both 6 foot pieces... Rick
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 12, 2009 8:35:25 GMT -5
Rick, I'm envious of your setup. I have a lot of rocks to tumble and with my 15 lb tumbler it's going to take a lifetime. I'm in the process of rebuilding my large tumbler (almost done with a 10" diameter by 18" long PVC barrel), but it won't be nearly as big as yours. I bought cold rolled steel from HD and between the cheap Chinese bearings and a couple of leaks that caused barrels to use the silicon carbide to grind the shafts, they aren't holding up very well. I'll have to see if I can find a better local source. I priced McMaster-Carr last night and 1/2" diameter, 24" shafts were about $14 each, plus shipping. It must take you some time to wash and sort all those rocks! But that's part of the fun for me, like opening a treasure chest. ;D Chuck
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 12, 2009 10:26:21 GMT -5
Chuck,
Check your local yellow pages for steel dealers. Cold rolled steel rod is common and can be purchased locally. It's probably not the quality of McMaster-Carr but for the slow speed of a tumbler it works out.
I spend about 2-3 hours every two weeks checking barrels, washing, sorting what's ready to go into the vibes and what needs to rough grind more. I always pick out a few stones that I want to finish as cabs. I find some of my best cab material while washing out my tumblers...
Rick
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 12, 2009 10:41:21 GMT -5
They say that as you get older, 3 things start to fail. The first is memory and I can't remember the other two. :-) There's a place called Discount Steel here in town and I've even shopped there before (but it's been a few years). I don't know why I didn't think of them before! Doh! I think I spend about an hour a week just washing my 15 lb. tumbler inside in the winter. Much less time outside when it's warmer. So do you have local rock that you tumble? Chuck
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 12, 2009 11:57:40 GMT -5
Chuck,
I tumble a variety of rock. I am a silversmith and lapidary. I cut 100's of pounds of stone looking for the 1/2 of one percent to use in my work. I also produce a lot of cabs to sell as well as polished flats that wirewrappers really like. Along with that I sell and give away polished rocks when I do shows. Give the kids a shiny rock while mom and dad are looking at my jewelry and stone is my sales tactic.
I also slab up rocks for people for 25% of the stone. With all that cutting there is always a lot of "tumbler food" produced. The rule in my shop is everything that doesn't fall through a sieve goes in to the tumblers.
Rick
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syfun
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since January 2009
Posts: 85
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Post by syfun on Feb 12, 2009 17:05:56 GMT -5
Rick, I use 1/2" rolled steel for my rods. I then took 1/2" ID 5/8" OD vinyl tubing and slid that over the rods. It was a tight fit, but a little soapy water works wonders.
Chuck, I found the rods at a local hardware store. I visited 3 different hardware stores and they all had the rolled steel at various diameters in 3' lenghts. Tractor Supply Co, also had it in 3' 4' and 6' lengths. They don't roll exactly true, but I don't think the shafts would anyway with the weight of the barrels on them and the length of the span.
Steve
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Mudshark
fully equipped rock polisher
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,083
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Post by Mudshark on Feb 12, 2009 18:02:05 GMT -5
Wow,nice job.It must sound like a waterfall when that baby is rolling a full load!! Mike
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 13, 2009 12:26:02 GMT -5
Oh Yeah. I forgot to mention I bought the original 3-foot 5/8" rods at Home Depot. I think they had 1/2" as well...
Rick
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Post by NM Stone Supply on Feb 15, 2009 9:34:20 GMT -5
That is very nice. Where do you get the pillow block bearings?
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 15, 2009 12:51:29 GMT -5
nmonyx,
I got them on eBay for about $8 each. Burdon's Surplus Center (www.surpluscenter.com) sells them for about the same price and heavier duty. All kinds of neat junk and good prices on electric motors and nice people to deal with.
RIck
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