SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jun 18, 2006 22:58:10 GMT -5
The worst part of tumbling for me is seperating the pellets from the rocks. For Fathers Day I got what I wanted...a strainer. I knew what I wanted to make with it, and did so today. My pellet seperating days will hopefully be over. The only thing needed is 2 five gallon buckets, 3 screws, washers and nuts, and a 5/16th drill bit. I traced my strainer diameter on the bottom of both buckets. I then drilled the 5/16th holes within that area on one of the buckets. I attached the strainer using three screws. I then took the other bucket and cut out the pre-traced diameter, leaving about 3/4 inch remaining. Take the bucket and turn it upside down, and drill 3 holes which the strainer bolts will fit in. This locks the buckets in place. It probably sounds confusing, but I'm posting pics. I haven't tried it out yet, but I'm hoping this works. All the water and pellets should go through the holes, the strainer should catch the pellets. I think I'll just leave the pellets in the strainer and let the sun and air dry them off. All you have to do is detach the bolts and there you have the strainer with your pellets. It's simple and hopefully effective. No more little hand-held strainer for me....I'm moving up!!! Steve    |
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lithrick
no posts
Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on Jun 19, 2006 16:38:40 GMT -5
There's nothing better than solving a problem with a crazy, yet clever, jerry-rigged device! Well done, Steve! Let us know if it works. After all that work and thought put into it, it better!
By the way, do you have a patent on that thing yet? I mean, you wouldn't mind if I patented your invention, would you? YES, just kidding!
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jun 19, 2006 23:02:37 GMT -5
;D..It's a Success! I finished my last batch today and tried the new tool out, and it works just like I had hoped. I have been thinking about improving it already, just for the ease of getting the strainer off the bucket. I've come up with an easy solution. I'm going to make some hemmed brackets out of sheet metal which I'll rivet on the bottom of the bucket. This will allow the strainer to be slid out instead of the hassle of unbolting it. I am also going to drill a few 7/16th holes in the bottom of the bucket. I am still going to keep the bolts in place, because I like the buckets being locked together. But all in all, I'm very happy with it. I've added a few more pics... The bucket with my rocks and pellets in it  The strainer with all the pellets  The true test...no pellets on the ground. Just Polishing Compound  Rick, go ahead and invent it. Just give me portion of your earnings. Steve |
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Post by akansan on Jun 19, 2006 23:29:07 GMT -5
Hmmm...so if that was polishing compound, where are the finished rocks?! Surely we'll get better pictures than just those in the bucket...  I've been thinking about something very similar recently. But hey - why reinvent the wheel? Time to put those empty mud buckets to use! |
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lithrick
no posts
Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on Jun 20, 2006 14:08:22 GMT -5
Congratulations! I won't invent it just yet... I've got to wait until you make those improvements! By the way, I agree, let's see the polished rocks! |
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jun 20, 2006 20:50:40 GMT -5
Patience my dears....I just put them in burnish for a few hours. I'll let you know how the improvements work, but it will be a few weeks. Going out-of-town for a while.
Steve
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Duckbean
fully equipped rock polisher
Looking for rocks in all the wrong places
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,072
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Post by Duckbean on Jun 22, 2006 21:01:53 GMT -5
Glad to hear that there's some one else who hates those little buggers!
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Shelbeeray
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 688
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Post by Shelbeeray on Jun 24, 2006 20:55:13 GMT -5
<printing off thread and screaming down the stairs to my hubby> "Honeeeeeeeeeeeeee, lookit this - wow, that'd be sooooooo cool if WE could do that.... <patient pause as I wait for HIS WONDERFUL SELF to volunteer>
Um, then I see the plans for the Dremel drill - hole drilling setup on his workbench.....
Steve, my wonderful husband says THANKS. :-)
Now, I'm trying to get him to let me use his saw......for cutting out the bottoms of the bucket.....
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jun 25, 2006 0:06:22 GMT -5
Shelby,
I hope that it works well for you. I think those pesky pellets are a pain in the ass to seperate, and this set-up works very good. Glad your hubby's gonna build you one. I cut my bucket bottoms out with a pair of tin snips...and they worked just fine. Thanks for the comments.
Steve
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Post by LCARS on Jul 1, 2006 18:05:43 GMT -5
If they're plastic pellets you COULD just float them off into a strainer, but if it's ceramic pellets or glass bits, then i'd say you may have something there  Of course, you're probably in for some amount of hand sorting at any rate but whatever makes the job go a little easier gives you more quality time to spend with your rocks. ;D |
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jrtrio
has rocks in the head
With10 tumblers tumbling the sound is so delicious!Send me more of those little red fellas, please?
Member since February 2006
Posts: 535
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Post by jrtrio on Jul 4, 2006 8:14:38 GMT -5
LCARS, you had the same thought I had. All I do is pour off my slurry through a strainer into a small container, in case I need to keep tumbling the load I can reuse it, then I fill a large pitcher with clean clear water and pour the contents of the strainer, rocks and pellets, into the pitcher. Amazingly all the pellets float to the top. At least if they are plastic! Ceramic, nope you'll need the dual bucket gizmo. But, since I don't use ceramic yet I'll stick with the floating pellets trick. But, I really love the ingeniousness of the RTH family! Got a problem? They can come up with amazingly fantastic ways to solve them! And, I'm sure that if I were tumbling large loads of rock, say 15 pounds at a time then I would probably build this gizmo to handle the pellets. Or maybe not. We'll just have to wait and see! I don't think I've spent enough money on this hobby yet!!
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