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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 17, 2011 19:23:10 GMT -5
Howdy all. I'm working on acquiring a polish line for vibe tumblers. It is a blend (secret formula). The current producer mixes ingredients in a 30 gallon cardboard drum and has a plastic molding company tumble mix it on their equipment. If I get it I will need either a tumbler large enough to turn it or downsize recipe to something I can build economically. I've also considered plastic drum cement or compost mixers but am concerned with open drum I would risk contamination with the flying dust/sand/gravel we have too often here. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Post by onatah on Jun 17, 2011 20:26:48 GMT -5
What about a clothes dryer? Would that work as long as the heating element is taken out and the lint vent sealed off?
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Post by Rockoonz on Jun 17, 2011 21:11:50 GMT -5
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jun 17, 2011 21:56:03 GMT -5
The composter is a great idea if it can handle the weight and keep the polish from leaking out. I think a giant tumbler would be fairly straightforward to build. Might need a 2 or 3 hp motor, though, and maybe chain drive. You could also turn it by hand with a long handle; you probably wouldn't need to turn it that many times.
I'd have trouble with the weight, myself, but you could easily make a hoist to lift the barrel.
I love an engineering challenge, so I'll let you know if I come up with anything better.
Chuck
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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 17, 2011 22:55:48 GMT -5
Wondering if a blue plastic barrel might be strong enough to hold the mix, fairly inexpensive. Wouldn't be hard to make a tipping frame to ease unload and reload.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 18, 2011 8:30:34 GMT -5
Thanks all. He uses a cardboard barrel now so blue plastic would work also.
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Post by catmandewe on Jun 18, 2011 22:42:36 GMT -5
Should be really easy to make a tumbler of that size. Just a matter of shafts, bearings, motor, pulleys, and a barrel. I would think a plastic 55 gallon drum would be about perfect, would give you extra room which will make it mix faster and I have seen them with resealable lids so it would make a perfect barrel.
keep us posted on what you make, sounds interesting.
Tony
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 19, 2011 8:58:26 GMT -5
If the deal goes through, I'll likely get the cardboard barrel. I'll have to see what the weight is before designing things like shaft size, etc. Biggest tumbler I have is only 12 lbs.
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Post by catmandewe on Jun 19, 2011 13:36:45 GMT -5
I bet you could use some smaller tires such as wheel barrow tires or the good soft rubber wagon wheel tires for the barrel to ride on and as traction/cushion for your barrel. That big tumbler I had at Quartzsite had a gear reduction motor and a chain going to the shaft, I put about 300 lbs of rock in it and it turned it no problem.
Tony
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 19, 2011 19:19:34 GMT -5
That's interesting, Tony. I actually have a chain drive/reduction gear motor tumblers out in the yard. My dad picked it up as antique rockhound yard art. The barrel is only 20-25 lbs though. I'll have to see if the gear motor is any good.
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Post by connrock on Jun 20, 2011 8:06:44 GMT -5
john,,, I'm a bit confused,,,,,as usual! LOL
Are you going to tumble rocks or a secret recipe of ingredients for vibes?
connrock
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 20, 2011 8:41:52 GMT -5
Mixing polish only. Not sure at this time how much weight at a time but believe it is at least three different types. Dry mixing, no rocks planned.
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Post by Toad on Jun 20, 2011 9:09:23 GMT -5
If you go with plastic, make sure to have it grounded - can build up a heck of a static charge...
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 20, 2011 9:29:04 GMT -5
When I had my HP 40 lb. tumbler, you could see sparks flying between the metal barrel and guide rollers with light off. Here in paradise you can get a static jolt when the wind is blowing and you touch a car door handle. Plastic barrel may be wrong thing to use here.
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Post by Woodyrock on Jun 23, 2011 0:23:30 GMT -5
John: A cement mixer would be a good rig to mix the polish since it is already geared to handle a heavy load, and it tips to unload. It should be easy to fabricate a lid to keep out the dust and sand. Plastic is easily welded, and with luck you might be able to graft a screw top 55 gallon drum top to the mixer mouth. Woody
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 23, 2011 8:37:14 GMT -5
Thanks all. I'm having a problem pinning the current producer down before I leave on my next show trip. Looks like a few weeks before I hear more.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2011 17:30:06 GMT -5
+1 to the cement mixer idea. I used to grind flakes of starch in one. Recipe 50# potato starch 10 pounds granite river rock, run for 20 minutes and the potato starch is now powdered. To keep the dangerously flammable dust down I made a bonnet from canvas with a bungee cord drawstring.
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 3, 2011 8:49:01 GMT -5
I agree with Woody. Make a lid for a HarborFreigh cement mixer. Cheap. Easy.
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