salmonammon
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2009
Posts: 5
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Post by salmonammon on Apr 30, 2009 0:26:13 GMT -5
I'm a newbie. I looked through the "Home Made Equipment" posts and didn't find an ideal place, but I don't know all the Jargon either, is this a barrel tumbler? Anywho, I looked allover for a motor and then realized my best options were right in front of me. It was between an old dusty pasta maker and a cordless drill that I had no battery for. I decided not to ruin a perfectly good pasta maker. I think I need to place a hexagonal container inside this cylinder for optimal rounding, right now you can see there is just a bar that offers some resistance. Hmmmmm.............. The bars that the barrel rolls on are from a printer and a scanner. I'll find some circle that bolts tight to the top for a lid. What else do I need besides grit and rocks? Thanks for advising a newbie, and why not give me a lesson in the Jargon, so I can navigate around this site too? More pics at salmonammon.blogspot.com
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salmonammon
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2009
Posts: 5
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Post by salmonammon on Apr 30, 2009 0:31:30 GMT -5
Well the images didn't show up, but they are all on my blog (salmonammon.blogspot.com) and there is a youtube video at
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Apr 30, 2009 0:36:08 GMT -5
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Apr 30, 2009 0:41:23 GMT -5
Just saw the video. Not trying to disapoint you but the can won't last either. It will wear through long before the rocks finish. For home made barrels try PVC pipe. Its a little loud but lasts really well. Keep in mind it has to run 24/7 for at least (absolute minimum) of a month. Probably more unless your rocks are all river rounded to begin with.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 30, 2009 2:23:20 GMT -5
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 30, 2009 3:26:32 GMT -5
Hi Salamond-- On looking at your Blog I see your design. Why not make a proper tumbler using a contin use motor as well ? I have made several home made a tumble,s The best one uses a oil fired Central heating pump / Motor , I used some Stainless steel rods I got at the scrap yard cheap The 10mm rod and 13mm OD bearing,s fit into the two ends of 1" block board, I set the bearings into the board the thickness of the bearing on the outside (so if there was a spillage no grit would get into the bearings) I used a Plastic Pram wheel (baby carrage) took the tyre off and you got a cheap plastic pulley This is running with a 6lb load at present in a RUBBER barrel. Loretone, Now the only thing to run rocks and grit is a good barrel a rubber barrel I see you are thinking of useing a tin well it goes like this You charge up and fill all goes well for a few days then it wears a hole in Soooooooooooo!! You line the tin with rubber ( car mat ) goes a few days longer then the end leaks Sooooooo!! You cut a plastick end to fit it runs a few weeks then the top starts to leak Soooooooo !! You get Plastic carrier bags several thicknesses to get a good seal, Then it starts to leak from the inside ring where the lid fits , Soooooooooooooo!! you cut a 3/4" thick disk of ply wood to fit on the lid inside the barrel to shove the rocks further down the barrel Then the barrel leaksSoooooooooooo !! you throw it in the Bin and get a Rubber Lortone ,And with the quick realease you can check the rocks daily (or More) and it dosent LEAK ;D Have a Laugh at this , this is MY experiance with tins and why I have 2 6lb rubber barrels and a Vibe from 2nd stage Jack Yorkshire UK
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Apr 30, 2009 6:01:26 GMT -5
You are much better off either buying a barrel or building one out of PVC. You make barrels from 4" PVC with test plug ends very easily.
I had similar experiences with a barrel from a can. I used a paint can and the lid separated from the sides.
Chuck
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salmonammon
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2009
Posts: 5
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Post by salmonammon on May 1, 2009 0:16:10 GMT -5
Jack/Saskrock, Thanks for all the advice! I can't wait to start on the improvements. I'll keep my eyes out for a Washing machine motor and a big piece of PVC. I'm a strapped student so the cheaper I can keep things the better. I guess I made this one just thinking it would spin, but hey it was free!
Where is the best source for cheap grit? Any luck with local hardware stores, or do I have to get it from hobby shops and online?
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on May 1, 2009 1:25:30 GMT -5
For a motor try your local heating/AC shop they usualy have a few old furnaces waiting to be recycled that they will let you have a motor out of. Just be sure to pick one that does not have air blowing over/through it. That kind will overheat and quit on you.
With grit I have been buying from Kingsley North online. I have looked at hardware stores for grit wth no luck. I got some aluminum oxide sand blasting grit once but that was a waste of time/money.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 1, 2009 3:15:20 GMT -5
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salmonammon
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2009
Posts: 5
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Post by salmonammon on May 8, 2009 17:00:30 GMT -5
That's cool. Looks similar to what I have going on, except witha better motor. I like the idea of avoiding the belt and using the friction of a wheel making contact. Belts seem to slip and need just the right tension and so forth. Friction wheel-to-wheel seems simpler. Is there any problem you foresee with that?
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salmonammon
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2009
Posts: 5
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Post by salmonammon on Mar 13, 2010 18:12:35 GMT -5
I finally acquired a washing machine motor. What is the best way to power it. How do I know the right voltage, etc.... What about adjusting speed? Any tips or good websites to view are welcome! Thanks guys!
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Mar 13, 2010 20:09:31 GMT -5
Friction drive, not the best idea, difficult to get drive system parallel, belt drive is more dependable and has less slippage. (plus you should have gotten a pulley with the motor).
Look for a repair site online for that make of washer and they should have a wiring diagram for the unit. Voltage is normally 120VAC. Some washers had reversing motors and several speeds. Just try to get one speed going for now so the barrel rotates about 45 rpm's.
It's OK to try and go cheap on parts (you get what you pay for), but there is a reason that these designs have been around for so long (they work).
You'll see some designs on youtube that are called tumblers, but they are really ball mills and are only meant to be run for a few minutes at a time for making different grades of powders.
Good luck and keep trying!!!
Dr Joe
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Post by Toad on Mar 13, 2010 22:46:34 GMT -5
Vote for Pedro!
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