jone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2023
Posts: 112
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Post by jone on Apr 5, 2024 17:14:43 GMT -5
I have been running a Thumler's AR-2 and experienced several "blow-outs" over the last several weeks. Prior to this over 14 months I have never had this problem. Now I can't seem to tumble more than a few days without this happening. Tired of cleaning up these messes, I switched to my first tumbler Thumler's MP-1 and had success for 1 week. Then it happened again. This time after 2 days and, as you can see, the plastic has deformed and now it is trash. I am going to abandon Thumler's going forward because of the lid design. Unfortunately, Lortone is now out of business but I do have a QT-12 which works great.   |
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Post by vegasjames on Apr 5, 2024 17:39:50 GMT -5
I bought a couple of the Rebel 17 barrels and they are working great. Only issue is with all the weight, it really grinds the rubber on the rollers down fast to the metal. Gluing wide strips of thin rubber matting around the metal rims has helped a lot, but grinding through the rubber.
Trying something a little different by putting some silicone caulk in the rubber hose before putting it on the rollers since silicone caulk is pretty tough when it hardens up. Just applied some a few minutes ago so have to let it set up a day or two, then I will see how well it works.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818 
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Post by Mark K on Apr 5, 2024 18:50:19 GMT -5
I don't see the deformed plastic. I think your rock load is gassing. Easy to fix. Just take the barrel off and burp it every day or two. Another thing is to never point the opening of the barrel towards the moving parts. Putting the machine in a spill tray like you did is very smart.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Apr 5, 2024 18:54:51 GMT -5
I've been there. I feel your pain!
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jone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2023
Posts: 112
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Post by jone on Apr 5, 2024 20:22:22 GMT -5
I don't see the deformed plastic. I think your rock load is gassing. Easy to fix. Just take the barrel off and burp it every day or two. Another thing is to never point the opening of the barrel towards the moving parts. Putting the machine in a spill tray like you did is very smart. Look at the motor nuts - the holes in the plastic housing are whacked now. My first tumbler - plastic not the most robust material admittedly. Excellent advice about pointing the barrel opening away from the moving parts - I feel dumb not thinking of that. Maybe I will try the burping if I get the AR-2 back up and running although I would prefer to "set it and forget it." |
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jone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2023
Posts: 112
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Post by jone on Apr 5, 2024 20:30:38 GMT -5
I bought a couple of the Rebel 17 barrels and they are working great. Only issue is with all the weight, it really grinds the rubber on the rollers down fast to the metal. Gluing wide strips of thin rubber matting around the metal rims has helped a lot, but grinding through the rubber. Trying something a little different by putting some silicone caulk in the rubber hose before putting it on the rollers since silicone caulk is pretty tough when it hardens up. Just applied some a few minutes ago so have to let it set up a day or two, then I will see how well it works. I find it disappointing that manufacturers don't engineer these things for the intended use. They should expect the grinding of the rubber on the rollers and use materials that can handle the stress. Maybe they have to compromise on materials to offer a competitive price but these things aren't cheap! I hope your creative efforts pay off... |
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818
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Post by Mark K on Apr 5, 2024 20:39:45 GMT -5
It never even occurred to me that they would use plastic as a structural part of the machine. I guess thumler really has jumped the shark.
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Post by parfive on Apr 5, 2024 21:09:47 GMT -5
You don’t mention holes worn through any lids so I’m guessing you have a gas problem.
AND WHAT’S THAT BAG OF BAKING SODA DOING THERE??? : )
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jone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2023
Posts: 112
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Post by jone on Apr 6, 2024 8:14:35 GMT -5
You don’t mention holes worn through any lids so I’m guessing you have a gas problem. AND WHAT’S THAT BAG OF BAKING SODA DOING THERE??? : ) No holes in lids - the picture is exactly how I found it - motor still running! I tried the baking soda for the gas but it did not help. |
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Post by chris1956 on Apr 6, 2024 8:24:40 GMT -5
Is this one of the models where you streach the band around the barrel to seal the lid? I had one like that that blew out a couple times and I stopped using it.
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jone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2023
Posts: 112
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Post by jone on Apr 6, 2024 9:41:54 GMT -5
Is this one of the models where you streach the band around the barrel to seal the lid? I had one like that that blew out a couple times and I stopped using it. Yes - this is that type - I suspect a combination of gassing and maybe the band around the barrel losing its elasticity causes this. If I had the time to be more attentive then I might be able to catch it and "burp" them. I will likely stop using them as well. |
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818
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Post by Mark K on Apr 6, 2024 10:23:55 GMT -5
I love those barrels and rarely have had blow outs. It is most likely the material you are tumbling. I have never had a band go weak enough to stop working. I have had them break from getting old and cracking.
What material are you tumbling?
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jone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2023
Posts: 112
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Post by jone on Apr 6, 2024 13:07:30 GMT -5
I love those barrels and rarely have had blow outs. It is most likely the material you are tumbling. I have never had a band go weak enough to stop working. I have had them break from getting old and cracking. What material are you tumbling? I am tumbling "China Hollow rock from Oregon" for the worldwide rock tumbling contest. I ran it for a couple of weeks with no problems then this started happening. I never had it happen before this so maybe you are correct about the material. It is such a pain to clean (now 4 times...) that I would like to use a barrel that doesn't even have the potential to do this. It could happen again without warning with some other material too. |
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Post by parfive on Apr 6, 2024 14:04:06 GMT -5
You don’t mention holes worn through any lids so I’m guessing you have a gas problem. AND WHAT’S THAT BAG OF BAKING SODA DOING THERE??? : ) No holes in lids - the picture is exactly how I found it - motor still running! I tried the baking soda for the gas but it did not help. Baking soda produces gas, it’s why I asked. It’s also the world’s greatest heartburn remedy. Stir a spoonful in half a glass of water . . . chug . . . BURP . . . relief. |
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jone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2023
Posts: 112
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Post by jone on Apr 6, 2024 15:02:54 GMT -5
There was another post here that suggested trying to add baking soda. It does release CO2 when combined with acids (like the classic science fair vinegar volcano). It neutralizes acids which is probably why it helps with heartburn. I added a teaspoon with no change in the results. I am no expert in rock tumbling chemistry but I thought it was worth a shot.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Apr 6, 2024 17:39:16 GMT -5
When I had an AR12, these lids you can get on EBAY were much better.
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wyorock
starting to shine!
Member since October 2023
Posts: 35
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Post by wyorock on Apr 7, 2024 8:07:21 GMT -5
I suspect an organic material (lichen, etal) is present on the rock. If I see organics I soak the rock in bleach to kill and aid removal before tumbling. I also noticed if I tumble in a Thumlers Model B (or equivalent more positive sealing set-up) for initial few weeks of coarse grit, then switch into AR-2 it seems to help. I agree that burping is "painful" and time consuming, and possibly creates as many sealing problems as it cures. But it's preferable to cleaning up the BIG Blowout mess.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
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Post by dshanpnw on Apr 7, 2024 15:57:49 GMT -5
I have an AR-2, but stopped using it because I couldn't get a good seal on the barrels and they would leak. I never had a blow out though. Good luck on the contest.
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