spicer m
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 337
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Post by spicer m on Oct 28, 2008 0:13:18 GMT -5
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Post by Woodyrock on Oct 28, 2008 0:35:21 GMT -5
Very nice work! It is great seeing well built equipment today. It seemed to be the norm a few years back, and now there is a bit of revival in building your own. Not to critisize, but I see the pond liner as a temporary thing until you build a nice pan under your arbor........even with a nice pan, one can get plenty wet.
Since, you made two, you will now likely be getting requests for more from the forum.
Woody
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spicer m
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 337
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Post by spicer m on Oct 28, 2008 0:50:37 GMT -5
Woody
thanks for the complement.
To build a pan for the bottom I would have to build a bigger sheet metal brake. I built a small 24" brake to bend the belt guard and splash guard. Used scrape metal I had laying around.
Mike
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Post by sitnwrap on Oct 28, 2008 1:13:23 GMT -5
You did a great job on that. How is the water fed to the wheels? Sorry if that seems a dumb question but the one and only cab machine I cabbed on, the water was fed from the bottom via a small water pump that bubbled the water up.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Oct 28, 2008 10:16:26 GMT -5
Can I be your friend too ;D. You did some seriously nice work on that. Have you built a trim & slab saw yet?  It's good to see more DIY stuff! Keep up the good work! Dr Joe |
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Oct 28, 2008 11:05:28 GMT -5
Beautiful work, looks very professional! I like how many wheels were you able to put on that shaft. Let us see the cabs now!  Adrian |
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1rockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 286
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Post by 1rockhound on Oct 28, 2008 11:59:00 GMT -5
Do you think you maybe able to give a little more detailed info on your build for other that may want to build one.
Jason
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Post by akansan on Oct 28, 2008 14:43:04 GMT -5
So, how'd you decide who got the red one and who got the blue one? That's a great build. Interesting wheel choice - why did you choose that combination? (220 - 50k) |
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Post by BuiltonRock on Oct 28, 2008 15:41:03 GMT -5
Superior work!
I would like a green one!
john
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spicer m
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 337
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Post by spicer m on Oct 29, 2008 1:14:30 GMT -5
Stinwrap There are no dumb ?. only the ones that are not asked! Same principle as a bubbler but; The water is feed by house water pressure, trough 1/8" tygon tubing to a 2" square by 3/4" high alum block with a .040 dia hole drilled for the water spray. I then took a screwdriver and hit next to the hole to make the spray fan out. I will take a Pic of it and post it tomorrow. Dr Joe Yes maybe a big saw next spring. Adrian I will post some soon, Just learned to post pics last night Jason I will try a little later Akansan He likes Red and I like Blue 220 & 600 Diamond wheels because a friend liked them for roughing out cabs. Nova wheels 600 to 50k because I did' know and thought that was what I Need. Seems to be working great for me. By the time I get to 50K most cabs are finished. Unless they are soft, then I hit them on the buffer. I do wish I would have bought a textured 220 wheel instead of a smooth one. John Didn't build a green one  thanks everyone for the comments Mike |
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Post by johnjsgems on Oct 29, 2008 9:09:10 GMT -5
Nice job Mike. If you are working opals the 220/600 are perfect. If you plan on grinding agate/jasper you are going to wish you had 80/220 instead.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Oct 29, 2008 13:47:53 GMT -5
I really, really like that - I like purple! That looks kick-@$$ I'd like a picture of the water set up - I had the under wheel "fish pond" pump and ended up hitting the tubing once and the metal end piece dinged a big chunk out of my SC wheel and gouged the bottom of the pan - I'm using overhead drip now
You could call that creation a "Genius Plus" (you know better than a Genie!
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Simon
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 352
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Post by Simon on Oct 29, 2008 18:46:22 GMT -5
That's so cool, excellent work.
Simon
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 29, 2008 19:47:34 GMT -5
Nice job, now lets see some cabs.
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Post by cpdad on Oct 29, 2008 20:38:17 GMT -5
dude thats sweet....kev.
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spicer m
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 337
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Post by spicer m on Oct 29, 2008 21:51:54 GMT -5
Thanks again everyone for the kind words.
Mike
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Jun 22, 2010 22:46:13 GMT -5
I just now saw this thread. This is a very cool machine!
It's very close to what I'm trying to build - 8 wheels. Mine will probably have 3 separate pan/hood sets. I don't have the ability to weld, so the bearings will sit on blocks mounted to a base. Mine may have expandos on the out side, or at least enough room to add them later.
Is there a follow up to this discussion? I'd really like to see how it turned out almost 2 years after this was posted. I'd also like to see larger images.
What keeps the middle 4 wheels tight? are there locking collars or something similar? Is the shaft threaded on the ends to lock down the outer wheels?
Lynn
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spicer m
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 337
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Post by spicer m on Jun 23, 2010 23:42:57 GMT -5
Lynn
Well I think it works fine. I ended up putting 7 NOVA wheels on it. starting at 280 grit to 50,000. 99% of the cabs are finished by the time I get to 50k. a few on may hit with ZAM on a buffer.
I rough most of my cabs out on a flat lap then take to the novas.
The shaft is 1"x32" long. On the left side there is a left hand 1" nut and a snap ring grove in the shaft that hold the two wheels on the left.
On the right side of the pulley gaurd is another snap ring on the shaft, with a right hand nut on the right end of shaft. This holds the other six wheels and the right bearing iner race tight.
All the wheel and bearing spacers are made from alum.
all this was possable for me because I have a welder, lathe and Mill.
If I were to make another one I think I would make the shaft 36" or more, ( more space between the wheels). Also I think I would put 6 wheels in the center making it a 10 wheel machine.
I think YOU could make a shaft by hand doing the following;
Buy 1" shaft as needed
Buy a 1/2 " tap and drill. Drill and tap both ends of your shaft.
Or go to a machine shop for shaft and the drill and tap.
Buy white PVC pipe for spacers between all the wheel's, bearings and the V-belt pulley. Cut on a chop saw.
Buy 1/2" fender washers 1 1/4" or 1 3/8" OD and 1/2" bolts and lock washers.
Let the spacer or wheel stick out past the end of the shaft on the right side about 1/8".
The left side washer's and bolt should be tightened tight against the shaft so it will not unscrew when the machine is started
Hope this helps, if You have any ? ask.
Mike
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Jun 26, 2010 9:32:48 GMT -5
Very nice build, my compliments. It appears from the pics, the zerk fittings on the bearings are not covered, would put covers on them [any auto parts store]. I've taken some used equipment apart that had stiff bearings and found what is likely rock residue as the cause of failure. The tiniest amount of crud collecting around the sealing ball in the zerk will get into the bearing at re-lube, and start eating away at the bearing.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Jun 29, 2010 14:17:23 GMT -5
Mike,
Thanks for responding.
So the center wheels, the right side bearing & the right side wheels are all held tight up against a snap ring on the right side of the pulley, right? Are there slotted holes on the right side where the bearing mounts to the frame, just in case the bearing doesn't line up perfectly with round holes? Or are there slotted holes in the bearing sheet metal itself? What type of shims or spacers do you use to maintain spaces between wheels?
Could you dig up or re-take higher resolution photos & edit the initial posting to re link to them? I'd love to see details that are lost in the small photos.
Lynn
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