jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Nov 2, 2012 20:49:44 GMT -5
It is a large version of two 16 pound capacity pvc pipe tumblers i have been running for years.Cost was an 8 inch coupling-$22 a 8inch to 6inch bushing-$34 an 8 inch end cap-$32 a 6 inch Fernco rubber end cap-$12 a 26 inch section of 8 inch sch 40 pvc pipe and a 5 inch section of 6 inch pipe.The giant fittings are from Online Home Depot-Dura brand.Shipping was free.The barrel weighs a lot.Heavy duty stuff.It's overall length is about 35 inches.So it is much longer than it's diameter.It will be used to do the grueling job coarse grind only.And i run pvc pipe barrels on steel shafts-no rubber coating,hose over shaft etc.But i do connect both shafts with a v belt so that both shafts drive.And i use giant v-belts that are farm(mower) duty.A tumbler is murder on drive components-hours and hours of running time.It may hold 80 pounds,i just stuffed it with 1-2 inch pebbles for rough weight.Tumble mix should have little space using a mix of sizes and therefore be heavier.When using pvc pipe and fittings for all or multiple grits/polish always grind an internal bevel on the pipe to eliminate places rocks can wedge.Amazing how hard it i to 'unwedge them'.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 8:57:17 GMT -5
I was reading about cheap tumblers on other threads like from ebay or whatever.People said they were lubricating dailey.Those bearings on this machine were 4 x $17 at Surplus Center. They get greased once a year.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 9:03:43 GMT -5
A change is needed.The 6 inch rubber cap is big enough to have a large force from gas pressures related to normal tumbling.Will cut a little notch around the neck so the band clamp will hold it better.4 inch rubber caps never pop off,but this larger design 6 incher has me concerned.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 9:19:58 GMT -5
This barrel is running a fast 60 RPM.A lot for an 8 inch diameter.As long as i keep the barrel 80% full i never experience any chipping or fracture at higher speeds.Being a lazy southener,i resent extra work.I am against adding media,paper,peat moss,pellets,shells and whatever else unless absolutely necessary.I have found keeping a barrel 75-80 percent full is a great way to protect the rocks being tumbled at these higher speeds.After 24 hours this big tumbler's load was reduced almost 20 percent in volume.Lot of the agate being tumbled had soft spots like caliche or lime that quickly wore off.Added rocks to make up for the loss and may not have to add any more for couple of weeks.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 9:36:08 GMT -5
These are replies to myself-sanity issues.Call it a diary.Will run another 2 shafts off of the end of the driven shaft-the one w/the giant v-belt pulley.On the pictured machine ie, one motor with 2 sets of 2 shafts.Will use pulleys with speed reduction so that it will run new barrels at slower prepolish and polish speed of 25 RPM.Motor is oversize for one barrel at 1/2 horsepower TEFC.Added tumbler parts are around $100 from Surpluscenter.com and will make bulletproof no maintenance addition.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 9:39:12 GMT -5
Build next one on a wood base.Metal base is hard to drill,modify,mount to,etc.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 7, 2012 14:14:46 GMT -5
Well, I, for one, am glad for your diary/sanity entries... I am still moving towards building my own tumbler and have just started looking into sch 40, 8" pipe and the info for fittings is very helpful. I do have a question for you though... is the rubber cap better than a fitting with a threaded cap (a waste clean out plug)??
Thank you again for the thread, I look forward to your next entry!!
and please !! post more angles of the tumbler so I/we can see the drive train components and the rest of it too !!! and the other tumbler that was peeking out in the pic!!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Nov 7, 2012 14:29:38 GMT -5
I recently did the 2nd set of rollers project on a smaller scale and my 2nd set is running slower for polish just because there's no rubber hose on the shafts so that diameter is smaller then my first set of rollers. Chuck
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 14:46:30 GMT -5
I like it a lot.the bearings,the wood,the heavy belts,it's quiet,it's reliable,zero maintenance and it has 2 different speeds,one motor . that tumbler will out last us both.I wish i copied you when i was experimenting.Bet it was inexpensive to build too.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 14:50:14 GMT -5
Grit gets rammed in the threads of a cleanout plug so that you can saw it apart.It can be done but it renders the threaded plug useless after each use.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 15:03:17 GMT -5
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Nov 7, 2012 20:21:31 GMT -5
Very nice set up. That Southern engineering is shining!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2012 21:00:39 GMT -5
I love engineering and building on the spot. Those will not self destruct for a long long time. Jim
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2012 21:45:12 GMT -5
i feel like a genious:>. i just want trouble free so there are no hassles.The big barrel is like wrestling a torpedo.It is very heavy.I am going to Rio Grande for 2 weeks at the end of the month to collect.I can't wait.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 7, 2012 23:38:34 GMT -5
so I would guess that you ae using a 2 inch and 14 inch for the slow polish tumbler and a 2 inch and 10 inch for the faster course grinder? or something along those lines?
I think its a great setup you have there... and can't wait to see the Rio grande material when you get back... safe journeys to you when the time comes!!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 8, 2012 10:50:42 GMT -5
Mario Those giant pulleys were the most expensive part of the project.The big tumbler has a 22 inch pulley i believe,the little one about an 18 inch pulley BUT,the little tumbler has a cool little slow 1/8 HP motor that turns around 750RPM.These low RPM motors come out of fans from roof top AC units.To avoid a double reduction i went w/giant pulleys. BUT,on the big tumbler even with 22 inch pulley i still have a fast tumbler due to 1725 RPM motor.Those low RPM fan motors are the trick.Scrap yards are full of them.Make sure they are 110 vac and not 208,240 or 277 volt 3 phasers,etc.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Nov 9, 2012 4:02:32 GMT -5
When building a PVC barrel use a roundish cap and a bushing reducer.And of course,schedule 40. 1)The closed end Flat caps wear out in the center where the internal avalanche of rolling rocks rub against.The rounded cap avoids most of this wearing action.Probably not a problem w/flat cap using sh 40.Photos show grey PVC sheet that i glued onto the now retired thin wall barrels purchased from EBAY.Thin wall pipe is usually green so beware.The wear starts in the center and progresses radially outward. 2)The open end Never use a bell reducer.The shoulders catch a lot of internal avalanche impact and wear the absolute fastest.Alway a bushing. They are just big chunks of PVC that last forever.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 9, 2012 4:20:02 GMT -5
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 13, 2012 6:34:20 GMT -5
This big tumbler has been taken out of service for modifications.Chuck's multiple shaft rotary using one motor is too cool.I must follow suit.And i collect glass and it requires a lot of capacity that i don't have.And i like posting too many photos.Again,i will post more photos of this modification as i do it out in the shop.It is an all metal project w/lots of welding,torching and plasma cutting.Call it phase 2.Phase 3 will be considered as phase 2 is being done,consisting of a 3rd set of shafts-same motor.The over kill Surplus Center parts have arrived and it's time to get down.They look like parts removed from Sherman tank.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 13, 2012 20:37:50 GMT -5
Parts for phase 2(add two 1 and 1/2 inch solid shafts 57 inches long)
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