braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Sept 14, 2017 11:27:25 GMT -5
This morning I went to do my weekly clean out (stage one) on my Thumler AR12 and the barrel sprung a leak sometime this past week. I got the tumbler second hand a few months ago and I thought the lid looked kinda thin but didn't have a new one to compare it with so I don't really know. You can see the hole in the middle of the barrel lid. Has anyone done a temporary repair on one these? If i silicone a plug in there will that hold till I either make or buy new ones? Any tips or recommendations on making a replacement? Or is that a waste of time and should I just get new ones? I have my tumbling table at the bottom of the basement stairs with reflective tape on the barrels so I can see if they're rotating normal without having to go downstairs...looking back It was sounding different ( I think?) in the past few days so lesson learned... closer inspections required! Anyways, any and all responses welcome... tks
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Sept 14, 2017 12:18:09 GMT -5
If you can get lid clean enough, you might try a silcone plug as a temporary fix. Also check area around hole for thinning, I've had a couple lids wear out in the center and that area was thin enough I could push my finger through the lid.
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Sept 14, 2017 13:50:26 GMT -5
If you can get lid clean enough, you might try a silcone plug as a temporary fix. Also check area around hole for thinning, I've had a couple lids wear out in the center and that area was thin enough I could push my finger through the lid. Les you are right on...I've already given up on the repair idea... around the hole was paper thin and easily enlarged with my fingers to the size in the photo and gradually gets thicker to the edge which is already too thin in my opinion (planned obsolescense?). Under the lid is a piece of plexiglass I had laying around and I'll see if I can cut a new lid with the edge good enough to not leak. And I guess I'll order a couple new ones as well...
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Sept 14, 2017 14:26:22 GMT -5
This is the biggest irritation and weakness (no pun intended) in Thumlers line of tumblers. I have used rubber inner tube patches but generally anything you glue on must be 100% attached or it will erode around the edges over time. A plexiglas lid is interesting. difficult to cut but likely to be a permanent repair. I have a better thumlers lid on mine at present.It seems to have even and appropriate thickness over its entirety. Perhaps the new replacement lids from Thumlers are better? someone here will know about that
Charlie
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Sept 15, 2017 0:33:57 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on Sept 16, 2017 12:54:05 GMT -5
New lids are 4 bucks at the Rock Shed. Get spares to have on hand. Why the screw in the plexi lid?? Rocks are gonna be hitting that whichever side you have facing inward. Not so sure a thicker lid is a good thing. The proper original lid fits in a groove and the top is crimped down against the lid with the big hose clamp. Does that thicker plexi lid fit in the groove?
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Sept 16, 2017 15:42:05 GMT -5
New lids are 4 bucks at the Rock Shed. Get spares to have on hand. Why the screw in the plexi lid?? Rocks are gonna be hitting that whichever side you have facing inward. Not so sure a thicker lid is a good thing. The proper original lid fits in a groove and the top is crimped down against the lid with the big hose clamp. Does that thicker plexi lid fit in the groove? Spare lids are on order...I wanted to see if the Plexiglas idea would work for future plus I like making stuff My Thumler double 3LB barrel tumbler has the grooves you talk about but this Thumler AR12 does not as you can see in the photo (if I'm understanding you correctly)...you could put a lid double the thickness of the Plexiglas in there and it would work. The bolt is the result of the way I made the lid...drilled a hole in the center of a slightly oversized circle (cut on my bandsaw) ...installed the bolt and spun it to the correct size in my drill press with a file and sandpaper. And the bolt is a bonus handle for the lid plus the washers add more protection at the center where it wears through first it seems. It's been running leak free for a day now so it's passed the first test. It's definitely noisier than the stock lid though... maybe because the rocks are hitting the bolt head and washer? Never considered that till you mentioned it and maybe not a good thing? I use it only for the rough stage so I'm unsure if it matters...I'll run it for a week and see how my next cleanout looks. If need be I can fill the 1/4" hole with something more tumbler friendly...
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Post by spiceman on Sept 16, 2017 23:11:44 GMT -5
Lowes has grey sheets of rubber about .075 thick. In the area around the PVC fitting. $3/foot and 24 inches wide. But it sounds like the website is the way to go. Less hassel and cheep.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Sept 16, 2017 23:40:49 GMT -5
Shoulda got a Lorone.
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Enigman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 163
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Post by Enigman on Sept 17, 2017 16:39:01 GMT -5
Speaking from a mechanical engineering standpoint, a couple of things you can do to improve the acrylic lid are:
1) Chamfer (45 degree cut) the outside edge of the the lid so that when you tighten down the clamp the acrylic bites deeper into the rubber of the barrel. It's a basic tenant of mechanics and pressure. ie: The same pressure on a smaller surface exerts more pounds per square foot. A deeper bite in the rubber will make it harder for the lid to work it's way out during tumbling. You could even chamfer the edge on both sides to a near chisel edge (not fully sharp) all the way around for an absolute bite in the rubber.
2) Replace the central round head bolt and washer with a counter sunk phillips or hex head bolt sunk into the acrylic on the inside, leaving a smooth surface. That will prevent rocks from hitting the bolt head and should reduce any related noise.
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