indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285 
|
Post by indiana on Sept 30, 2015 19:51:37 GMT -5
Hi all. My Thumler's isn't turning out the batches quick enough for me so I decided to add more capacity. It is a work in progress, I have to permanently mount my "stop wheel", and I think my barrel speed is too high. My Thumler's runs at 34 RPM, my Chicago Electric runs at 58, but it has a smooth barrel. Currently, my homebrew is running at 54 RPM. The cheapest way to slow it down would be to replace my air hose roller covers with latex rubber tubing which has a smaller O.D. Does anyone have any experience with latex tubing? I wonder mainly about the durability of it. Rev 1 had a chain drive and it was too loud for me. The belt drive is much nicer now that I know where to get the parts!  Parts List: Base: Scrap wood Pillow blocks: 1/2" UCP201-8 (Ebay) Rollers: 1/2" welding rod (Lowe's) Roller covers: 1/2" I.D. Air hose (Lowe's) Motor: Mclean Thermal 1/40HP ball bearing. JB2N016N# (http://www.surpluscenter.com) 5" drive pulley: 1/2" bore 3060K19 (http://www.mcmaster.com/) 1" drive pulley: 5/16" bore 3060K11 (http://www.mcmaster.com/) 2L drive belt: 19" 2L190 (http://www.mcmaster.com/) Stop rollers: 1" O.D. 3/16" bore 3434T75 (http://www.mcmaster.com/) Motor Mount: 1/16" crap stainless sheet. Barrels: Thumler's 3lb |
|
|
|
Post by parfive on Sept 30, 2015 23:57:07 GMT -5
54 rpm is good for 60/90 coarse grind.
Slower, something around 30, wouldn’t hurt for subsequent stages.
|
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 1, 2015 0:31:13 GMT -5
Now that's how to do a first post! Nice build and welcome to the forum indiana. Someone that has BTDT will no doubt be along to answer your question on the tubing or other options. One suggestion, if I may, would be to consider a raised rim around your barrel area. A piece of wood across the front and back butting up against the two wood blocks your bearings are mounted on would do it. This would be to contain any possible spills should a lid blow off or come loose. Just might save you a headache down the road. My only other suggestion, I'm sure you have already thought of. Number your barrels so you can keep track of what's in each and where they are in the tumbling cycle. Again, nice build and welcome! |
|
quartz
Cave Dweller 
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
|
Post by quartz on Oct 1, 2015 0:55:02 GMT -5
Nice example of a simple, basic build = durable. Your use of a fairly small H.P. motor shows that the small motors work just fine on a tumbler, good example set there.
Thanks for showing and describing it.
|
|
rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169 
|
Post by rastageezer on Oct 1, 2015 1:18:08 GMT -5
I used clear latex on mine (Lowe's)) and it has been working fine for 2 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by orrum on Oct 1, 2015 7:09:08 GMT -5
X2 Jamesp!!! Welcome!!!
|
|
indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
|
Post by indiana on Oct 1, 2015 8:43:55 GMT -5
Thank you all for your help and suggestions. if I may, would be to consider a raised rim around your barrel area. A piece of wood across the front and back butting up against the two wood blocks your bearings are Thanks! I was thinking of building a polycarbonate catch tray, but your solution would save me time and money. Nice example of a simple, basic build = durable. Your use of a fairly small H.P. motor shows that the small motors work just fine on a tumbler, good example set there. Thanks for showing and describing it. The motor has plenty of power for sure. I chose that one because it was the closest to double the the size of the Thumler's 1/70 HP I could find, and it was only $10! With ball bearings even. I intend to measure how much current it is using to gauge how hard it is working. I'll update when I do. I used clear latex on mine (Lowe's)) and it has been working fine for 2 years. That's good to know.  Thanks again all, I'm glad to have found this source of experience and ideas. |
|
indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
|
Post by indiana on Oct 1, 2015 19:29:39 GMT -5
Update regarding motor current.
The motor is rated at 0.9 amps and running at 0.84 amps with 4 full barrels. I put my thumb on the big wheel to load it down to 0.9 amps and it took a good amount of pressure. The motor seems to have plenty of overhead in this setup. Starts up with no problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Oct 1, 2015 22:55:11 GMT -5
That is really well done. Thanks for the posting this along with the parts list. I also use Thumlers and was thinking of modifying it so I could setup more barrels. Your idea is perfect.
Regarding the catch tray, could you get an old cookie sheet or baking sheet and simply slide it in underneath the barrels? I've had the grit wear through a couple of covers over time and wished I had setup a catch tray/basin.
Again, thanks for the great idea.
Paul
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Oct 2, 2015 13:52:50 GMT -5
What? Have I been in comatose land or something these last couple of days??? I *totally* missed this!!!! Great job indiana!!! I'm curious about the offset of the pillow bearings...  Also, those are 3# barrels? Oops, I went back and read and you stated they were 3#. Great info!!!! Thanks!!!!!! |
|
indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
|
Post by indiana on Oct 2, 2015 13:59:00 GMT -5
Thank you Ed.
I had to offset them get the shaft center to center distance the same as my Thumler's. The blocks are too wide to put side by side.
|
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 2, 2015 14:12:09 GMT -5
Thank you Ed. I had to offset them get the shaft center to center distance the same as my Thumler's. The blocks are too wide to put side by side. The mount flanges on pillow block bearings are too long to put the bearings right next to each other. The spread would be too far apart on the shafts. To get the proper distance between shafts the flanges would overlap in the center.  Chuck |
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 2, 2015 14:24:08 GMT -5
I just pulled up another of my designs and this view will explain the offset better. These are 3/4 shafts and bearings so 1/2 is probably not as drastic of an overlap issue.  Chuck |
|
indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
|
Post by indiana on Oct 2, 2015 19:38:47 GMT -5
I just pulled up another of my designs and this view will explain the offset better. These are 3/4 shafts and bearings so 1/2 is probably not as drastic of an overlap issue.
Chuck Definitely not as much.  Rastageezer, I had some of that tubing in the garage and it is working well, I am turning about 38RPM now. |
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
|
Post by Fossilman on Oct 3, 2015 12:28:26 GMT -5
Nice set up and welcome to the forum Indiana............
|
|
indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
|
Post by indiana on Oct 24, 2015 9:11:12 GMT -5
Had one launch its lunch overnight. No idea why, it had been running for 6 days... Crummy picuture, but you get the idea.   |
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Nov 4, 2015 21:45:48 GMT -5
Gas buildup.
|
|
indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
|
Post by indiana on Nov 4, 2015 22:46:05 GMT -5
Should I be burping them? If so, is there a recommended frequency?
|
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Nov 30, 2015 11:58:05 GMT -5
Should I be burping them? If so, is there a recommended frequency? I suggest asking jamesp. |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,594
|
Post by jamesp on Nov 30, 2015 13:21:42 GMT -5
LOL(the pumpkin), but very sorry. Gas is unpredictable. Could be alkaline water hitting acid rocks or the other way around. Many combinations can cause gas, like obsidian and glass is bad about causing gas. Your machine and this thread is tumbler poetry. El perfecto design and comments. if I were a robber I would steal your tumbler and leave the diamonds. What are you running in that puked barrel ? Same rocks as the others ? My PVC tumblers have a rubber cap that bulges a lot before it blows, telling you there is a problem. Those Thumblers(and Lortones) are fine barrels but give you little warning that the bomb is building. If 6 days to build gas, best burp at least every 3 days. I have dumped the whole load, washed everything, and started over. Oddly, adding sugar reduces my gas, but have heard it can aggravate gas, never know what reaction you may get... |
|
