garrett
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 62
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Post by garrett on Aug 30, 2008 18:31:39 GMT -5
A friend knew I was thinking about building a new and bigger tumbler so he gave me six 1 3/16 inch pillow block bearings he didn’t have a use for any more. Beware of free stuff, that meant I had to buy 1 3/16 inch steel for the rods ($140.00 for a 20 foot stick). The 18 3/8 in pulley was $174.00 and the hub to fit the 1 3/16 in shaft was $20.00. The new one-half HP motor was $165.00 and the four groove step pulley on it was $15.00. The switch I bought a few years back for a router table for less than $20.00. The drive belt was $18.00 and the lumber and paint were cheap. So, for less than $600.00 (at Alaska prices) this is what I ended up with. I’m running four 15 pound Thumler model B drums now but it will take up to eight. I can also spread the pillow blocks wide enough to accept 20, 40, or 65 pound commercial drums. Maybe $600.00 is a lot of money but I sure like my new tumbler. Garrett  |
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Post by Woodyrock on Aug 30, 2008 18:54:12 GMT -5
Very nicely built! This rig will not be wearing out in the near future no matter how many hours it runs, and it certainly is sturdy enough to run larger drums. Hope you have a good supply of rock to keep it occupied. It is always good to see self built equipment, especially when so well executed..
Woody
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Post by cpdad on Aug 30, 2008 19:03:51 GMT -5
excellent build....i wouldnt change a thing if i built it myself ;D...i have almost the exact same machine drawing floating around here some where.....except it had 1 1/2" bearings and shafting....but with lock collars to separate the barrels.
all around excellent machine you have there.....kev.
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Post by rockrookie on Aug 30, 2008 19:05:23 GMT -5
wow!! what a machine . you shoud add a drool warning ..LOL you'll cause alot of ''tumbler envy'' on the board !! nice work !! & self satisfaction of a well done job . KUDOS -----------paul
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Post by sitnwrap on Aug 31, 2008 23:14:09 GMT -5
This is very impressive. Great workmanship. I also can't help notice how nice and clean everything is.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Aug 31, 2008 23:30:36 GMT -5
"ATTA BOY" very nice build, keep it simple it will last forever. you will probably wear out many barrels before this machine gives up the ghost
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Sept 1, 2008 2:29:06 GMT -5
Brilliant built machine,
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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lynskyn1970
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 93
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Post by lynskyn1970 on Sept 4, 2008 9:47:03 GMT -5
that thing is a monster!!!!! LOL. very cool i think. i want one!!!!
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chadman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 106
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Post by chadman on Sept 4, 2008 13:08:05 GMT -5
So, for less than $600.00 (at Alaska prices) this is what I ended up with. I’m running four 15 pound Thumler model B drums now but it will take up to eight. I can also spread the pillow blocks wide enough to accept 20, 40, or 65 pound commercial drums. Maybe $600.00 is a lot of money but I sure like my new tumbler. Garrett Cool design. It takes a bit too much bench space for my liking. I would have put it on the shelf below. That way you would have the bench top above free to work on. But I still like it. Can I ask how much you paid for the barrels? |
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garrett
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 62
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Post by garrett on Sept 5, 2008 0:22:17 GMT -5
The barrels were $65 at The Rock Shed. I searched other sites and most were a buck or two one way or the other but I have delt with the Rock Shed quite a bit and they always get my order out quickly and do their best to save me money on freight. Freight just kills us in Alaska.
Garrett
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 7, 2008 15:20:26 GMT -5
Is the shaft that the big pulley is on the only one driven or you got then hooked up at the other end?
I think a MUCH smaller one is doable on my budget. I've already got an old motor and I can get the used pillow block bearings from work for free, and possibly a shaft too. The tolerances on the machines at work have to be really close, so the bearings still have a LOT of use left in them when they change them!
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garrett
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 62
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Post by garrett on Sept 8, 2008 0:14:14 GMT -5
hodgehound,
Yes, only one shaft is driven, but changing that is probably the next thing I’ll do to it. Since the picture above, I’ve made some minor (no cost or almost no cost) improvements and it works great but there is some slippage between the steel shafts and the steel drums. I put duct tape on the drums for now and it works fine but that’s not how I want it. I’m thinking I’ll pick up couplers and a drive chain so both shafts are driven but I’m also thinking about some kind of rubber coating for the shafts or the contact portion of the drums.
I’m always up for any suggestions anyone might have.
A much smaller rig is actually what I had planned, but I got impatient. I got tired of yard sales and such and finely just bought everything but the pillow blocks at the industrial supply places I deal with normally.
A person should be able to put a rig together that will turn four 15 pound drums for much less than half what I spent, maybe even under $100. I just don’t have a lot of options where I live.
Garrett
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 8, 2008 15:11:31 GMT -5
Cool, maybe I'll have to start collecting stuff little by little and build me a small one.
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on Sept 8, 2008 19:32:52 GMT -5
Don't know if I missed something, but it looks like it will take 8 barrels with room to spare. Nice build.
Lee
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garrett
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 62
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Post by garrett on Sept 10, 2008 7:06:01 GMT -5
I don't have eight barrels yet. I was thinking about a couple of larger barrels instead of four more of these.
Garrett
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