jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 8, 2012 9:19:44 GMT -5
No more 6 inch openings.The first gaseous load and it pops off the 6 inch rubber cap and damages some of my rocks when they run dry.Even double band clamps could not hold it on.Wished i had a stop switch to turn the tumbler off(like a pan under the tumbler w/a switch). The 4 inch caps had never been blown off.4 inch cap has 13 sq. inches and a 6 inch cap has 28 sq. inches.So pressure can have twice as much force on 6 inch cap... Not to mention large drum has a lot of volume to collect a lot of pressurized gas. Removed 6 inch pipe by splitting it length wise and hammering screw drivers along the pipe till the glue let loose(lucky).Will be replaced with 6 inch to 4 inch reducer bushing.So the end of this barrel is real heavy-an 8"-6" bushing and then a 6"-4" bushing.Then a stub of 4 inch pipe to attach the cap to. The access was good with the 6 inch opening but not necessary.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 8, 2012 16:57:34 GMT -5
Well, I couldn't find my original post of my build, so here are some photos: Side View: Drive End: Linked Drive End: Caps (waterproofed plywood): Lifters: Barrel Interior with Lifters (I've since added 4 more): End without 4" Test Plug Installed: Because I developed leaks from the caps when they were just sealed with Liquid Nails, I added threaded rod through the PVC lifters and put nuts and washers on the outsides of the caps to pull the caps tighter onto the barrel. That worked well. Broken Seal that Lead to Threaded Rod: If you use PVC lifters, be sure to add a fillet between the lifter and the barrel side, otherwise rocks will get wedged in there. Chuck
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 8, 2012 22:11:52 GMT -5
Sweet tumbler.I am not surprised about the threaded tensioner.And that both shafts are driven.It is ama zing how rocks will wedge in any place they can.Did you have to add lifters?Were the rocks slipping?I have used SDR 35 pipe and thought that the rocks were slipping in the barrel-but not sure.It feels slicker than the plastic used in sch 40 pipe.It looks like your going about 10 RPM.I run at 25 and 60 rpm.It seems like nothing is slipping.Nice machine Chuck Thanks for sharing
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 9, 2012 19:44:19 GMT -5
Sure James! I run at about 25 also. I just planned to add the lifters from the beginning so that I would have better tumbling action.
Chuck
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 11, 2012 21:11:36 GMT -5
Here are the new barrels with the 4 inch bushings ready to accept short stubs of 4 inch sch 40 pipe and it's Fernco rubber cap They should hold 30-33 pounds.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 15, 2012 17:35:25 GMT -5
Split complete.Two 8 inch barrels each holding about 33 pounds in back. Slower moving 6 inch finishing barrels in front each hold about 16 pounds.All have 4 inch openings.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 18, 2012 10:48:21 GMT -5
Altered the end roller yesterday on back rollers so that the 6 inch barrels could also run on the fast shaft.When those smaller barrels a flying at 80 rpm they still coarse grind agates faster than any combo i have.The distance between the rolling shafts easily accomodate 6 or 8 inch barrels.But a 6 and an 8 on one shaft tears up the barrels where they touch due to speed difference.Those 6 inch barrels are tough.Hope the 8's are that way.Running so fast speeds up damage,so far so good after 2 years at about full time operation
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 18, 2012 18:36:08 GMT -5
I had a lot of pressure last week that kept blowing the caps off.Never had such pressure.Do not know what caused it.It was enough pressure that i took one of the barrels outside and slowly loosened the band clamps and the rubber 4 inch cap shot about 50 feet in the air.Hope that problem never comes back.You can see where the cap popped off and the barrel unloaded on to the large spoked pulley and slung slurry all over the bloody place.
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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 19, 2012 0:21:02 GMT -5
Does the mtl. you are tumbling have any metal content? Most metals will react in a closed, water filled, moving container, making a bunch of gas. A couple years ago, after having one of my big barrels get real close to blowing, I found a chemical explanation of the process, but can't find it again. Figured I was pretty smart using the slurry off our vib. lap to help start the tumbling process, the barrel almost blew after 3 days. Apparently was the slight amount of aluminum picked up from the vibe table.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Dec 19, 2012 6:07:20 GMT -5
Sorry to hear it Larry.I tumble all kinds of stuff.Rusted steel,concrete with crushed glass/agates,mixed metal jewery blanks,glass,drift wood,burls,and things i don't want to mention.I use all kinds of media,sands,agates soaked in muratic acid,peat w/PH4.5,road granite,polished pea gravel granite,georgia sand paper garnets,newspaper,magazine paper w/kaolin coatings,shattered safety glass,stainless steel balls/rollers. Of all those insane mixtures,the worse gas pressure has come from the 3-4 times i forgot to tighten the clamps on one of the tumblers and the load fell out and on to the floor.When i scouped up all that mess and put it back in the tumbler-that made bombs on restart.Well,the other day the 70 pound barrel did not get tightened.Jack ass forgot to.When i scouped the mess off the floor i split the load up to the three 16 pound barrels-knowing the risk.Cranked her up a went back to the house.Sat uneasy,went back over after a couple of hours and 2 of 3 had blown 4 inch caps and the third one about to pop.So i put my hand on top of the cap ans started to loosen the band clamp.It popped off so hard that it snapped my wrist back and hurt my wrist!Never had the 4 inch caps blast off.Reloaded one 16 barrel and ran it till i noticed a bulge,took it outside,loosened the clamp and pop-cap went like 50 feet in the air! I got no answers.But have had bad luck reusing used slurry.It seems to be a problem every time.And i see others doing it on this forum... I have a slant rotary tumbler.I use it for tumbling rusty steel to 4 feet long.To remove the rust for welding operations.Road gravel for abrasive.It is a 4 foot steel pipe about 8 inches in diameter cantilevered-so one end is open.For experimental loads i will put a shower cap over the end to measure gas production with different materials.It has told me in advance what things not to mix together. Oh well Thanks for nthe input Larry. .Have a great Holiday
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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 19, 2012 23:47:41 GMT -5
James, It's gotta be the beans you are using for cushioning material, try something else. Realistically, if you are welding in the area, you are likely doing some grinding too, how much metal fines are you sweeping [or shoveling] from the floor and putting into your tumbler? Happy Holidays to you and yours. Larry
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 20, 2012 14:51:50 GMT -5
Wow, I've never, ever, had gas in a tumbling load. I hear about it frequently, but I've never experienced it. Others have suggested it's organic material, like algae or dirt on the rocks. Dunno.
Chuck
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Dec 20, 2012 16:03:15 GMT -5
I wish to have your luck Chuck.
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darstcreek77
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2011
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Post by darstcreek77 on Jan 7, 2013 9:11:02 GMT -5
I built my tumbler out of pvc but on the opening I used test plugs (they screw in with rubber )they do not leak . been over 2 years .
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Jan 7, 2013 9:20:41 GMT -5
Great idea.Test plugs made of rubber?Are they Home Depot variety?So you don't even have to use a clamp.I have seen cheap polyethylene ones.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Jan 26, 2013 22:16:19 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Feb 6, 2013 21:34:39 GMT -5
One of the 6 inch barrels started leaking slowly.Had forgot to glue the 4 inch stub in.After 2 years it decided to wiggle loose a bit.It was just pressed in!Glued another fresh one in and all is well.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Apr 10, 2013 4:04:55 GMT -5
This home made tumbler is still running fine 24 hours a day.Four barrels,30,35 pounders for coarse and two 16 pounders for steps 220,600 and polish.It looks like $25/month for 1/2 HP motor and about the same per month for grit.The coarse grit represents 80 percent of grit cost.The two 16 pounders can keep up with the 30 and 35 pound barrels about even.There is room for a 3rd 16 pounder to do catch up. I have learned that your end product is only as good as what you start with.Breaking,sawing,grinding,reducing rock down with a 'tumble-a-bility' shape is the key to success.About the 2nd and 3rd coarse grit change inspect for shapes that are often improved by breaking them into smaller pieces especially on fractures.And continually pick out the rocks ready to move from the coarse stage and adding their replacements.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2013 11:27:50 GMT -5
How the he|| did I miss this thread???
What an epic thread. EPIC!!
Jim thanks for sharing, please keep it updated with new knowledge!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Apr 10, 2013 14:53:45 GMT -5
It's been around for a while.Thanks Scott
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