JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Jul 29, 2021 7:22:28 GMT -5
I'd like to build a cabber at some point this year like this one: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/42508/homemade-10-wheel-arbor-150?page=1&scrollTo=471230 and figure the best place to start is with a shaft. I have searched the net for something suitable, but all I've found are bench mandrels, nothing of the length I'd like. I figure this will be a lot of fun and a good challenge. I'm sure I could locate someone to make something locally, but that seems time consuming. Any help with my search is appreciated.
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on Jul 29, 2021 19:23:28 GMT -5
McMaster Carr might be an option, but you still might not be able to find the exact length you want. That is not the end of the world, it just means that you will need to build around that dimension.
Another possibility would be at a metal supply shop. Pretty much any reasonably sized city will have a couple. My suggestion for material selection is 1144 turned, ground, and polished (TGP) shafting stock in 1 inch diameter. It isn't terribly expensive, and machines exceptionally well. Then take it to a machinist to have both ends threaded (LH and RH threads respectively), and a 1/4" 20 tpi hole drilled and tapped on the right end for thread on face plates.
I suggest 1" because most wheels are bored that size to begin with and it is a very common size in industry. Which makes the bearings, pulleys, shaft collars, and spacers both cheaper and easier to find.
The only other thought is to avoid the temptation of just using threaded rod from the hardware store. It is not straight enough to use as an arbor shaft, and will lead to boundless frustration.
Good luck, and I'm excited to see another build
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Jul 29, 2021 19:54:13 GMT -5
McMaster Carr might be an option, but you still might not be able to find the exact length you want. That is not the end of the world, it just means that you will need to build around that dimension. Another possibility would be at a metal supply shop. Pretty much any reasonably sized city will have a couple. My suggestion for material selection is 1144 turned, ground, and polished (TGP) shafting stock in 1 inch diameter. It isn't terribly expensive, and machines exceptionally well. Then take it to a machinist to have both ends threaded (LH and RH threads respectively), and a 1/4" 20 tpi hole drilled and tapped on the right end for thread on face plates. I suggest 1" because most wheels are bored that size to begin with and it is a very common size in industry. Which makes the bearings, pulleys, shaft collars, and spacers both cheaper and easier to find. The only other thought is to avoid the temptation of just using threaded rod from the hardware store. It is not straight enough to use as an arbor shaft, and will lead to boundless frustration. Good luck, and I'm excited to see another build Super info. Thank you. I've seen some machines that have face plates on both ends, which seems handy. I may pursue that.
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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 Jul 29, 2021 21:43:07 GMT -5
You said you could probably find someone to make a shaft locally; where is locally? nik said to not use threaded rod, good suggestion, it is also several thousanths under standard size, nothing would fit tight enough.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Jul 30, 2021 2:35:03 GMT -5
You said you could probably find someone to make a shaft locally; where is locally? nik said to not use threaded rod, good suggestion, it is also several thousanths under standard size, nothing would fit tight enough. yep. No, threaded rod definitely isn't on the menu. I'm in Central Oregon. manofglass also mentioned a premade covington shaft which also looks like it would suffice. Thanks!
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on Jul 30, 2021 7:04:46 GMT -5
What length shaft and how many wheels are you thinking? Also 6 or 8 inch
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Jul 30, 2021 11:22:48 GMT -5
What length shaft and how many wheels are you thinking? Also 6 or 8 inch I don't know yet. I don't know all of the Possibilities really. I.e. what's feasible ans what's excessive!
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Post by Peruano on Jul 30, 2021 12:22:36 GMT -5
Where are you? I have a shaft from an old Star Beacon cab machine that could be incorporated into a custom housing, or for that matter the old housing could be copied or resurrected as a starting point.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Jul 30, 2021 14:10:36 GMT -5
Where are you? I have a shaft from an old Star Beacon cab machine that could be incorporated into a custom housing, or for that matter the old housing could be copied or resurrected as a starting point. Hey Peruano I'm in Central Oregon. That would be great! I'm totally interested.
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on Jul 30, 2021 17:40:00 GMT -5
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Post by Peruano on Jul 30, 2021 17:59:43 GMT -5
Here is a thread describing the shaft and skeleton of a cab machine that I mentioned. I can provide detailed measurements and a naked arbor photo if you want. It would not take much more than shipping costs and promise of a couple of nice Oregon rocks to make it yours. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/93288/older-beacon-star-combo-unitNote: Mine is not a combo unit; just the four wheels (6"). I can explain why it is disassembled if you are indeed interested.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Jul 31, 2021 9:59:58 GMT -5
nik I should be clearer. 10 wheels sounds awesome, I just haven't been cabbing long enough to know what's useful and all the levels of grits for wheels. I need to research more, but the project itself sounds like a blast. Peruano that's a generous offer. I have a 3 wheel w/spin polish head, so I'm not sure how many more wheels I could fit on the star diamond shaft that you have. That said, I can still ship Oregon rocks. . Maybe polka dot mine ones, I'm thinking of digging eggs today. nik
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Post by Peruano on Jul 31, 2021 14:25:48 GMT -5
As the photos illustrates, the shaft can handle 4 wheels, one of which obviously could be an expando giving you multiple options. The end wheels can be changed easily, but the two between the bearings are more resident. I have the shaft, the bearings that fit on it, and the housing that holds the bearings but it has one flaw that calls for a fix or replacement of the overall housing. As a small cab unit it could become a great machine and ahead of a custom made arbor, but if you want more wheels, its not your machine. Its your decision.
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on Jul 31, 2021 18:31:58 GMT -5
nik I should be clearer. 10 wheels sounds awesome, I just haven't been cabbing long enough to know what's useful and all the levels of grits for wheels. I need to research more, but the project itself sounds like a blast. No worries. My grinder is way bigger than it really needs to be, and in the end, wound up being nearly as expensive as a really good used DP titan. At the end of the day, the reason that we build stuff is because we want to, and it makes us happy. That being said, if I were to build another grinder with more constraint on space and budget, I would end up with an arbor in the ballpark of 24" with two hard wheels, two expanding drums, and at least one end threaded for spin on discs.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Aug 17, 2021 23:21:09 GMT -5
nik I should be clearer. 10 wheels sounds awesome, I just haven't been cabbing long enough to know what's useful and all the levels of grits for wheels. I need to research more, but the project itself sounds like a blast. No worries. My grinder is way bigger than it really needs to be, and in the end, wound up being nearly as expensive as a really good used DP titan. At the end of the day, the reason that we build stuff is because we want to, and it makes us happy. That being said, if I were to build another grinder with more constraint on space and budget, I would end up with an arbor in the ballpark of 24" with two hard wheels, two expanding drums, and at least one end threaded for spin on discs. Set this topic aside to come back to as I needed to focus on the saw I bought. The info about the cost to build vs buy was Interesting. As you say we do because we like doing. The project isn't a go yet but it isn't on the chopping block either. I'll pick up the thread once I've decided how to proceed. Thanks for the input!
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on Aug 18, 2021 20:32:18 GMT -5
Set this topic aside to come back to as I needed to focus on the saw I bought. The info about the cost to build vs buy was Interesting. As you say we do because we like doing. The project isn't a go yet but it isn't on the chopping block either. I'll pick up the thread once I've decided how to proceed. Thanks for the input! I may have over simplified the total cost of my build. It was expensive because of the 4 sintered 8 inch wheels, and the rather obscene shipping costs to this tiny speck of an island in the south Pacific. There is almost no industry here, so pretty much every part and bit of metal or plastic appeared in a box from thousands of miles away. Proximity to any reasonable industrial supply, or even free shipping via amazon would have saved me quite a bit.
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Post by Peruano on Aug 19, 2021 8:52:36 GMT -5
I was under the impression that parcel post charges for Guam were heavily subsidized or reduced relative to what they might otherwise be based on distances. Did that change?
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on Aug 19, 2021 18:04:30 GMT -5
I was under the impression that parcel post charges for Guam were heavily subsidized or reduced relative to what they might otherwise be based on distances. Did that change? To some extent it is subsidized, but still expensive. Flat rate boxes are about the best you can do, and even that will take the better part of two weeks to get here. We are about 4000 miles west of Hawaii, and not exactly a shipping hub.
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