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Post by scared0o0rabbit on Nov 23, 2009 23:50:49 GMT -5
I wasn't really sure if this is the right forum or not but here goes:
I'm designing a DIY rock tumbler that will ideally be able to take a single large barrel and a few smaller barrels all off the same motor (separate sets of shafts of course).
As far as the small barrels go, I'm not sure if I want to try building somewhat disposable barrels out of large pvc pipes and working off that, or if I should just spec it for actual barrels (Lortone/Thumler). Do DIY barrels work out alright? If not, I think I'd want to buy Lortone barrels to use on it, but I don't have one to work the specs out on, Does anyone have the dimensions of the actual Lortone barrels (both 3lb and is it 12lb?)? How do they compare to the thumler barrels (I do have a 3 pound thumler barrel)?
As far as the large barrel is concerned I was thinking of using a standard 12" 5 gallon bucket with a gamma seal lid, but I haven't actually handled a gamma seal lid yet to see if they'd hold up to the abuse, has anyone else tried one yet?
Am I headed for disaster or is there some chance of making this work?
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number21
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 72
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Post by number21 on Nov 24, 2009 0:11:16 GMT -5
My tumbler that I built a few days ago uses 4" pvc pipe, endcaps and a plumbers test cap. I pvc'd a strip of pipe in the inside of the barrel to make a bump. It seems to work fine, just took out my first batch of sodalite out of the 80 grit grind, looks like tumbled rocks. I run my barrel at 42 rpm.
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Post by Rockoonz on Nov 24, 2009 2:19:19 GMT -5
The small barrels are all about 5" outside diameter, and the rollers on the small tumbler bases are about 5 inches center to center on bars that are 1/2" to 3/4" diameter. Since 3" PVC is 3" inside diameter and about 3 1/2 the PVC barrels would work on that spacing as well but 4" would work better.
The larger rubber barrels, at least the Lortone ones, are 8" OD and the lortone tumbler base has about 5 inches center to center between the drive rollers.
The large metal barrels that are hexagonal shaped and have rubber inserts work fine with the 5" spacing as well, they are about 9 1/2 inch diameter.
My yet to be made design for a multiple barrel tumbler will have enough room on the lower level for 4 larger barrels and a set of rollers above to support 5 or so small barrels.
Hope this helps, Lee
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Post by scared0o0rabbit on Nov 24, 2009 10:56:08 GMT -5
I haven't actually seen a Lortone barrel in person. Are the smaller ones round inside? The Thumler barrel I have is made up of flat surfaces inside and isn't rounded inside, though it's more than 6 sides, so it's not hex.
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Nov 27, 2009 13:32:03 GMT -5
the Lortone 1.5 and 3 lbs barrels are round/smooth inside not sure about the other sizes Wolf
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 27, 2009 18:09:25 GMT -5
I've also made barrels out of PVC, 4" and 8". I wouldn't call them disposable---in fact, they're very durable.
My experience with 5 gallon buckets (and smaller, down to 2 gallon buckets) is that the sides fatigue out. They develop stress cracks and then leak. You might get 2 to 3 loads out of them and a lot of mess.
Hope that helps, Chuck
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