grapevillians
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2011
Posts: 90
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Post by grapevillians on Jul 31, 2011 12:30:26 GMT -5
I have a Fasco 1\50 hp motor that says the following on the label: Type U21B RPM 3400 HP 1\50 I can see a fan inside the casing which I'm guessing cools it.It is from an old furnace.Not sure what the larger blower motor is yet as I haven't removed it.Any help is greatly appreciated
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 31, 2011 12:39:32 GMT -5
At 3400 RPM, you'd need some serious reduction pulleys. 1/50th. H.P. would be enough to turn a small tumbler. Glad to see someone who tears things apart to salvage usable parts. Save any pulleys, and if the blower rides in pillow bearings, save those too. Don
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grapevillians
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2011
Posts: 90
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Post by grapevillians on Jul 31, 2011 13:11:12 GMT -5
Thank you for the advice.I'm anxious to get my first tumbler built and tumble our first stones :)The trip to Lake Erie has sparked a tumble bug in my children and myself and we can't wait to get started.I would like to build a proper tumbler in the coming weeks but for now will start with what I have.
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grapevillians
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2011
Posts: 90
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Post by grapevillians on Jul 31, 2011 13:17:26 GMT -5
Also forgot to add that I plan on making a few barrels out of 4" pvc as I have seen elsewhere on this site but not sure of the length.What would be appropriate for my little motor?Thanks again for any and all advice
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 31, 2011 14:04:01 GMT -5
Can't really help you with the barrels. All of the tumblers I've owned were store bought. As soon as the NASCAR race is over, it'll get busy on here. I'm sure someone will be able to help you. Don
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Jul 31, 2011 20:54:30 GMT -5
I cut my 4" pvc pipe 4" long. This gives you 50.24 cubic inches. This is the same cubic inches as in a 3 lb. Lortone barrel. It is realy up to you. I have some 8" long. I sugest one barrel for each grit. James
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grapevillians
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2011
Posts: 90
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Post by grapevillians on Jul 31, 2011 21:08:03 GMT -5
I will give that a try thank you Although I believe I may be purchasing a tumbler from Harbor Freight just because the children are anxious to start.As they use the store bought one I will be looking for a more adequate motor to build my own.
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Jul 31, 2011 21:08:56 GMT -5
Not sure if I'd use it for a tumbler - however might make a pretty snazzy vibra-lap LOL. I would for sure get the blower motor - those are usually a 1/3 or 1/2hp motors and they turn around 1725RPM which is commonly used for tumblers.
Good luck!
Jason
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Jul 31, 2011 21:30:25 GMT -5
Harbor Freight tumblers wont hold up. The belt will break in a few days, then in a few weeks the motor goes bad. For a few $$$ more you can get a dependable tumbler. Check out therockshed.com.
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grapevillians
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2011
Posts: 90
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Post by grapevillians on Jul 31, 2011 22:03:45 GMT -5
Well it seems that I will be purchasing a tumbler from the rockshed site only question that remains is rotary or vibrating?My son has gathered alot of glass chunks which I think would polish easier in a vibrating tumbler.Is there any difference?Guess I will hang onto this motor until I get a little more experience
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Aug 1, 2011 14:50:35 GMT -5
I believe a rotary is best to start with. Have never had a vibe, but will try one at a later date. Some of the other members may have other ideas. Best wishes on your decision. James
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 2, 2011 15:38:59 GMT -5
The only motor that fast and small on a furnace would likely be a combustion blower motor. I don't think it will be helpful for a tumbler. The larger motor will likely work as long as it doesn't say "cont. air over" on the data plate.
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Post by ColtChainmailJewelryDesigns on Aug 6, 2011 12:22:20 GMT -5
People say harbor F. tumblers are getting better. I'm waiting it out untill the dual barrle goes down to $40 to buy one. I want something I can through my jewerly in for a quick polish, and the other for a polish stage of tumbling rock.
~Colt
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Aug 8, 2011 0:22:16 GMT -5
A 1/50th HP motor at 3400 rpm will power a 3 lb. rotary. Use a 1/2" pulley on the motor and a 4" on the shaft. With a 1/4"shaft dia. The drive shaft and free turning shaft both covered in rubber tubing. Raise the driving shaft 1/4" higher than the free shaft on center height. Centered about 3.5 in. apart. It should give you very close to the proper RPM`s needed to tumble a 4" high by 4" diameter barrell and hold about 3 lbs. Try to get about 45 rpms. I power two drums this size with a 1/40th hp motor at 3300 rpms. What you have is called a totally enclosed fan cooled motor. They are much better than a exterior fan cooled motor. They are rated for continuous duty as needed for a tumbler. If you do buy a Harbor Freight tumbler the motor can be replaced with a goood one for about $35.
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grapevillians
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2011
Posts: 90
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Post by grapevillians on Aug 9, 2011 20:48:49 GMT -5
Thank You for the specs makes it quite a bit easier on me :)I did purchase 2 tumblers on ebay just waiting to receive them.Guess we will see how they run while I gather the supplies to make my own.
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grapevillians
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2011
Posts: 90
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Post by grapevillians on Aug 9, 2011 20:53:18 GMT -5
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 693
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Post by docharber on Aug 29, 2011 16:21:10 GMT -5
As for Harbor Freight tumblers, just DON'T. buy a lortone. Remember the PVC barrel must also accomodate a couple of plugs that can take over 3/4" on each end. your motor is a little too fast - look for a 1500-1700 RPM motor which should be easily obtained from an AC installer- they have lots of salvaged equipment you can get for free or really cheap. A 1/30 HP motor is a little more suited for a twin barrel tumbler- I think the Lortone is a 1/40 HP. i bought a Lortone motor to replace my CE tumbler motor for about $22 and it works fine. The nice thing about the Lortone is that you canorder other parts of the drive system from Lortone and they will wit the motor perfectly for your application. TEFC (totally enclosed, fan cooled motors) usually have an outer housing that protects the motor interior from dust, water, grit, etc. The fan is needed because this outer housing impedes cooling. I would recommend a continuous duty air-over motor (cheaper) if you can build a protective housing over it to avoid the above hazards and still allow good air flow. The Lortone motor has a vestigial fan on the shaft. but is an open, C-frame type motor. By the way, my CE tumbler had a robust looking motor but the shaft bearings were mounted in plastic end caps that allowed the shaft, under the strain of the drive belt, to be pulled to the side enough to contact the field magnet. Really crappy engineering. The belts do tend to break immediately, too. the chassis, though, is pretty sturdy and the bearings are metal, not plastic., which may or may not be a good thing. It had a heavier original cord, too. The bed is shorter than a Lortone (2-barrel 33-B) and so a pvc barrel can't be quire as long for a CE. I have found that the CE barrels, though heavier, wear much faster than the Lortone barrels. 30+ RPM is good for small 4" diameter barrels.
Mark H.
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 29, 2011 19:38:14 GMT -5
Not to argue but "air over" motors are used on blowers where blower air cools the motor. Not mounted in a blower housing they will overheat. Open drip proof and fan cooled are good choices. The fan cooled refers to the motor's internally mounted cooling fan. Always look for "thermally protected" on the data plate.
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 693
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Post by docharber on Aug 29, 2011 21:21:13 GMT -5
I am loathe to argue with John, and stand corrected. But I had to replace my gyroc motor, a TEFC Dayton and found a motor on eBay that fits perfectly. The Dayton failed from leaking slurry falling into the motor from above (the guard was missing) and the motor housing is double walled and open on top which allowed the slurry to drip into the motor. It stalled out and I haven't tried to do anything with it since. I can't even open the case to clean it out. I haven't run it yet and hope my efforts researching the motor thing for two months won't be in wain. I found TEFC motor, air-over motors, C-frames, but no drip proof motor as such anywhere. Many of the general purpose motors I sae of similar size andf output were listed as air over but were not blower motors. The HVAC motors I have collected from our old units are not in the air stream generated by the squirrel cage blowers they are attached to and ( one is the air handler blower and the other blower motor is the furnace combustion air blower) If myu house burns uop or the Gyroc dies again, I'll know you were right. The motor I bought was a like new Emerson 1/20 HP 4-stud mount with thrust bearings and cost me the small fortune of $1.25 plus $15.00 shipping, so no great loss. They all seem to labeolled (liekly by statute) as thermally protected.
Mark H.
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