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 13, 2012 20:51:00 GMT -5
Duuuuuuuuuuuude....This is way too awesomely cool for words!!!!
I am loving every minute of reading the post and every time there is a new entry I have to read the entire post to put it all into perspective and to increase my enjoyment of the whole thing!!
Thank you again or sharing your thoughts, ideas, innovations with all of us!!!
I have just secured 2 sources for thick glass bottles because my daughter wants to try to make sea glass too.... watching & waiting Mario
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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 13, 2012 21:54:05 GMT -5
I went online to home depot and couldn't get the pipe or fittings from them... went to a pipe store online and the total cost is $200.00 for the following items; 1 - Sch 40 8inch Rigid PVC pipe Custom Length, size: 3 ft 0 in -$58.68 1 - QC106 Fernco Rubber Cap for 6 inch PVC pipe $5.88 1 - Sch 40 6 inch Rigid PVC pipe Custom Length, size: 0 ft 5 in - $6.21 1 - QC108 Fernco Rubber Cap for 8 inch PVC pipe $29.95 1 - 437-585 8x6 reducer bushing, $47.59 PVC-Reducer-Bushings-Slip-Spg Order Totals Item Cost Subtotal: $148.31 Standard Shipping: $51.43* ------ Total $199.74 That's a lot for just 1 barrel.... is that near what you spent?? Company is HTTPS://flexpvc.com
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rockfarmer
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2011
Posts: 93
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Post by rockfarmer on Nov 14, 2012 0:10:12 GMT -5
Check out any of the recyclers around your area, you would be able to cut your costs greatly.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 14, 2012 0:12:51 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 14, 2012 0:25:16 GMT -5
You can save a lot of money by doing a long 6 inch barrel also Mario.And Rockfarmer said it well,recyclers,plummers,pipeline contractors often have this stuff laying around. I paid $45-8in.-6in. bushing $32-8in. end cap $23-8 in. coupling That is $100 with free shipping.Then i finally found cutoff 8 and 6 inch at pipeline contractor.The rubber cap was $15 at Lowes store.A 24 inch 6 inch barrel holds 20 pounds---a bunch.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 14, 2012 0:50:13 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 14, 2012 22:20:08 GMT -5
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Nov 16, 2012 10:21:45 GMT -5
James,
I just had a thought. (My wife always says that is scary, LOL).
Are you still running a rubber top with the raised rounded shoulder. If so, then can't you just use a razor blade and cut an "invisible" tiny pressure release slit in the very center of the rubber top? The rubber is thick enough and should reseal/heal itself fine so that it doesn't leak liquids. But if the pressure does build up enough, the gas will push enough to open the slit and burp. Might be a bit messy though, but since you are outside it might not be too bad. Don't want to get any grit on the moving parts though. I have seen this idea used very successfully on other applications, not sure if it would work here.
Thanks for the journey! - Mark
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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 16, 2012 11:06:58 GMT -5
WOW!!! I'm really liking where this build is heading... I can imagine a whole bank of barrels tumbling along like a conveyor belt....hmmm just got an idea off that.. better write it down... anyways I can't wait to see it finished!!
Keep on, keepin on!!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 16, 2012 15:47:39 GMT -5
Must be a way for a pressure relief Mark.It has to be very reliable.IF YOU loose your fluid that high speed it runs at will chip and frost the entire load.Been there done that.Of course those rocks are your babies and they may be cabs or peridot our my lowly agates.All your time and rocks are tossed away.Bet there is a pressure relief valve that could handle it.It would have to relieve in very difficult conditons-gas grit particles rotation...
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 28, 2012 6:26:27 GMT -5
The 70 pound barrel is aproaching 3 weeks.Did a full cleanout of the 70 grit(turned to fine mud)after 7 days. Noticed the rose quartz had light frosting.Also had some chipping on the sharpest edges.Thought about slowing from 60rpm to 30rpm in an attempt to reduce frosting on the sensitive rose.Decided not to because i decided to run the next 2 weeks without a wash out.Meaning i would add more grit after 7 days to the existing mud to let the slurry stay thick to offer more protection.Checked the rose quartz a couple of days ago and found the frosting was almost completly gone,but also about as round as marbles.The agates are not rounding near as fast.Have added preground rocks at day 2,7,12,16.Seems to be grinding the rocks down at the same rate as the 6 inch barrels that turn 80 rpm,maybe not as fast.I will take pics of the 21 day breakdown just as the 7 day breadown above to see the actual wear on the jewels.My 56 year old back is not to fond of lifting that barrel.I will end up splitting it into two 35 pounders.For versatility too.The barrel has developed a slight ripple in it like an out of balance tire probably from running on solid shafts.I have fixed them before on the 6 inch barrels by running a grinder up to the barrel while tumbling to level or round the barrel(like a lathe).However,this heavy thing has set up a vibration in the whole frame.It is vibrating the wrench laying on the frame. A vibrating rotary tumbler-imagine that. Can't wait to do the breakdown.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 28, 2012 10:27:02 GMT -5
Hi James,
I hear you on the weight. I have a 70 lb. tumbler out of 10 inch PVC (wood caps) and it's hard on my back. I was thinking of using an engine hoist to lift it...
Keep up the good work and the running diary!
Chuck
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 28, 2012 19:06:23 GMT -5
The shape of that barrel is awkward to handle.When you get a chance put up some pics of your beast Chuck. Thanks
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Nov 28, 2012 19:12:43 GMT -5
This is a flicker link to the rocks at 3 weeks.The segregated groups have only been in there a week-they were preground on diamond cup wheel.One group is Rio Grande and the other is heat treated coral. The rest is a mix of coral,rose quartz,Savannah River agate,Rio Granders.The pregrinding is amazingly fast.In the end cheaper on electricty and coarse grit www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/72157632127564838/with/8228643368/
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 3, 2012 23:56:52 GMT -5
Do not like the large barrel.Will cut it in half and make two 35 pound barrels.They can run together on same set of shafts.Too hard to handle.Too much weight on the bearing surfaces of the PVC,Rubber coated shaft would solve that problem.Two smaller barrels allows more flexibility.Like splitting the rocks rounding faster...And the 6 inch rubber cap will be changed to a 4 inch rubber capped opening.Gas pressures against the larger cap worry me,especially with so much volume.And feeding the monster-rocks rocks rocks grit grit grit.But commercial quantities are now in reach.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 5, 2012 20:23:14 GMT -5
Six inch rubber cap pops off twice this week.First gaseous load did it.Cutting it in half and making 2 thirty pound barrels with old reliable 4 inch openings. Forgot to grind stop off in coupling.Rocks wedging constantly.
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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 Dec 6, 2012 22:57:19 GMT -5
I kinda thought you'd be doing that. We started our big one out at 2 ft. long, didn't take long before it got cut in half. I think you will be happier with it. Like the style of the scooter too. Larry
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 7, 2012 3:24:17 GMT -5
Hi Larry.I had been nervous about the big cap coming off too.I noticed several times the cap had started to come off-even with double band clamps.Remember the easy access i was bragging about....Well the 4 inch caps never have come of with just one band clamp.And i can walk by and see if they are bulging out then i have a gaseous load. I open things up at least every 3 days to see what things look like anyway.The 16-20 inch barrels weighing 20-35 pounds are no effort.But that big heavy beast-no way.But live and learn.I felt like experienced tumbler may say something and they did...Thanks
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 8, 2012 8:37:50 GMT -5
Bevel internal connections before glueing together to avoid rock jams that wedge with incredible force. This is the stop in the center of the coupling.The upper piece is the 8-6 inch reducer bushing.The lower piece is the 8 inch PVC pipe.That little stop lip caught rocks constantly.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 8, 2012 8:57:17 GMT -5
Cut the 36 inch long barrel in about half.The left side of the top half will have a cap glued to the left end.The right is the reducer bushing. The bottom half is a little more complicated.The left side is a shortened coupling(shortened on both sides) to splice the dividing cut.It was shortened because i only have 36 inches space to run both of these half drums.It is ready to recieve an 8-4 inch reducer bushing.It will be a smaller barrel.Guessing 26-28 pound cap and the upper barrel should hold about 35 pounds.
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