n8hounder
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 177
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Post by n8hounder on Mar 3, 2013 13:25:08 GMT -5
Just had a thought ...probably just brain fart BS but would anyone think making a tumbler out of a old dryer with the inside coated in rhino liner....I wonder if that could work..thoughts?
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blackout5783
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 248
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Post by blackout5783 on Mar 3, 2013 13:29:05 GMT -5
I think the paddles inside would make it too rough and give lots of fractures. If you could remove them, then you might be onto something...
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n8hounder
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 177
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Post by n8hounder on Mar 3, 2013 13:41:11 GMT -5
hmm good point. After seeing how well rhino liner worked for explosive proofing cinder block walls on myth busters. I really want to get some ,and see how it holds up to tumbling stones...
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Mar 6, 2013 23:50:54 GMT -5
The paddles remove real easy, the problem I see is that rocks are a lot heavier than cloths. The motor may not handle the load and I am pretty sure the belt system won't. What was your plan on how to add water to the drum? Great idea but I think it may need beefing up as it would hold a couple 100 pounds of rock at least.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 7, 2013 9:43:42 GMT -5
You would also have to slow it down considerably.
Chuck
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2013 10:30:16 GMT -5
I don't think a standard home dryer would hold water but a commercial dryer or even a horizontal commercial washer with the transmission removed and a motor hooked up to the drum might be good. I would also like to see what you come up with. Making sure there is no residue on the drum before it was sprayed would probably be a good thing. I doubt that the spray would stick to a soap scum. Jim
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 7, 2013 11:22:39 GMT -5
Commercial washer would probably work, but you have to remember that they have a glass window in the door. Also, it would be pure living hell trying to clean that beast before changing grits.
A better large home built might be a good second hand cement mixer with a home built lid. It could be tilted down and pressure washed between grits.
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Mar 7, 2013 17:20:35 GMT -5
I think you would have much better luck at trying to adapt a cement mixer.
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n8hounder
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 177
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Post by n8hounder on Mar 8, 2013 6:58:37 GMT -5
That was all very interesting , I hadn't planned on getting much response , I was just throwing it out off the top of my head. But yes a cement mixer , I even happen to have one .. Now the question is are there any suitable replacements for grits? So I don't have to spend as much to operate the thing?
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 8, 2013 9:26:48 GMT -5
Some people have used quartz sand. But it will take much longer in all stages of tumbling. What you save on SC grit will be made up for on your electric bill. And you'll still have to use a polishing compound, which is the most expensive of the grits.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2013 10:44:25 GMT -5
I had not thought about cleaning the thing like Don said unless you could run a wash and rinse cycle to clean it.
A lot of people go with the tire tumbler and you can switch tires for the different grits. I had one that was given to me but I did not have sense enough to do some research on them to find out how they can be sealed with discs on both sides. Mine just slopped stuff all over the place. I used sandstone chunks and it ground them pretty good but like Don said, it takes a long time. I had problems with tumbling larger rocks in it too. A couple of them would hang up in the tire on the up stroke then drop them from the top which caused more slop everywhere Jim.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Mar 8, 2013 11:04:40 GMT -5
The problem with the cement mixer is the avalanche within.The problem with a tire tumbler is the avalanche within.If you can not fill your tumbler 2/3 to 3/4 full you are asking for a lot of impact creating frosting and conical impact fractures like a BB hitting the barber shop's window.Remember those perfect cones-too cool. Large diameter like tires,cement mixers,washing machine tubs,any thing over 10-12 inches in diameter requires a really heavy duty structure,bearings,continous duty rating and $$.If you fill a little 2 cu ft cement mixer 2/3 full it will self destruct unless it is built like no other.Large diameter may be OK for marble and stuff that don't fracture.Best is to stay with 6,8,10,12 inch stuff.I swear by PVC pipe sch 40.An 8 inch pipe two feet long will wear you out supplying rocks to it. If you insist on using a tire-inflate a ball in the hole.It will seal both sides of the tire 100 percent.Look at the tire tumbler in my avatar-i used a 24 inch exercise ball to seal that big hole.That tumbler destroyed every piece of agate that ever went into it.ffaaiilluurree cciittyy
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Mar 10, 2013 10:43:55 GMT -5
Set the timer for 60 minutes and hope for the best. LOL. Nothing wrong with crazy thoughts I have them all of the time. If you have a use for a large tumbler I think after weighing the pros and cons my as well build something like a tire tumbler. Unless you have tons of times and just want to try it to do it which there's nothing wrong with. Kinda like my crazy idea of turning a pushmower upside down and using the crankshaft as an arbor and making a flat lap out of it. Do I really have time for that? No. Probably should've never mentioned that now there will be homemade saws with briggs engines hanging off the side lol.
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 10, 2013 10:57:45 GMT -5
Nothing wrong with a Briggs powered saw. Off an on over the last couple years a buddy and I have been trying to figure out a large drag saw, using a spare snow blower motor that I have laying around. It would be trailer mounted so it could be hauled behind an ATV for use in the field.
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Mar 11, 2013 8:45:26 GMT -5
"Nothing wrong with a Briggs powered saw. Off an on over the last couple years a buddy and I have been trying to figure out a large drag saw, using a spare snow blower motor that I have laying around. It would be trailer mounted so it could be hauled behind an ATV for use in the field."
I didn't elaborate but I was actually thinking along the lines of taking out the piston rod and cam shaft and using the motor as the arbor which would be turned by an electric motor. One of my 'dream' projects is a trailer mounted 36" saw. I already have the trailer, blade and some various other parts. I also thought about gas powered as I have seen gas powered field saws and then decided since I have 3 generators to just go all electric and use that to power it. This is nothing that's going to happen anytime soon I don't even need it. I get some fairly colorful and large quartzite boulders here, perhaps could make walking stones, pet grave markers etc.
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Mar 11, 2013 10:29:15 GMT -5
Of course I realize the pushmower idea you my as well just use the electric motor with a shaft adapter but since we're on crazy ideas.........how about a 3-blade riding mower deck flipped over you could have 3 different grits running lol.
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markjosol
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2013
Posts: 3
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Post by markjosol on Oct 16, 2013 3:36:23 GMT -5
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Post by DirtCleaner on Oct 16, 2013 22:49:20 GMT -5
Not a huge tumbler but interesting repurposing of an old sewing machine: This sold for $75 just before I arrived at the yard sale.
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