djnoorman
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2008
Posts: 1
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Post by djnoorman on Feb 25, 2008 23:02:17 GMT -5
I am totally new to this whole rock tumbling culture but for years have been collecting rocks just for their natural, unpolished beauty. Just recently I discovered the limitless possibilities that exist for polished stones and rocks and found out that my 11 year old son shares my interest. What I am wondering is if there is an economic (less then $100) homemade plan to build a rock tumbler to tumble a variety of sizes from softball size to small stones? Also, where is the place to buy all the different grits in larger then ounce packages- who has the best service and prices? Any knowledge will help as I am totally new to this and looking to get going on it before Spring Break as we are going on a family trip over spring break which could provide me and my son bonding time looking for the "perfect rocks".
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Post by Cher on Feb 25, 2008 23:26:03 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH!! One place that you can't beat the service from is Shawn at www.therockshed.com |
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Feb 26, 2008 7:38:54 GMT -5
Welcome, I use Rockshed and arrowhead lapidarysupply for my grit. Can't help with tumbler plans,
Terry
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Roan
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2008
Posts: 600
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Post by Roan on Feb 26, 2008 8:19:48 GMT -5
I'm pretty new, too, and I lucked out and bought all my stuff from therockshed.com before I even discovered this site and read how great they are  Eileen |
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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 Feb 26, 2008 12:53:27 GMT -5
Welcome DJ,
This forum shold be able to help you in many ways. You can build a tumbler for a pittance. check out the homemade equipment forum for lots of details. People have built small tumblers3-6 pounds in a barrel and large ones in Truck tires! The rock shed is reliable and there are bulk places when you need to buy 50 pounds at a time.
csroc
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Feb 26, 2008 20:11:44 GMT -5
Welcome aboard , I use the rockshed.com and kingsleynorth.com, they both are probably the best around and there are a couple folks here at the forum that are dealers
Wolf
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 27, 2008 0:05:26 GMT -5
BUt... tumbling softball size will need a barrel closer to 5gallon than 1gallon. YOu can use rollers, bearing blocks, 2 pulleys, and a motor to get the tumbler, but making barrels is not as easy as making tumblers. Buying a barrel that size can run $100 to $250 just for the barrel. Someone on ebay sells 35lb barrels made out of 8" PVC pipe, but the round shape requires very fast RPM. Usually larger barrels are hexagonal.
There are plans on the net to make a tumbler out of a truck tire, but cleaning and changing grit is a problem.
You might consider a trying to build a large vibrating tumbler, if you could rig something like the 40lb VibraSonic. Vibes can handle larger pieces easier, but you still need small rock to get the action going.
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 27, 2008 12:26:10 GMT -5
Here are a couple links I found useful. tomaszewski.net/Kreigh/Minerals/Homemade.shtmlwww.miim.com/thebside/tumbler/index.htmlFortunately I was able to trade for a homemade tumbler that can handle a combination of Lortone 12lb and 6lb tumblers.  Let me know if you want measurements. I know the steel rods that make the rollers are available at home depot. The rest of the parts come from a bearing specialty or likewise business. The frame can be constructed out of wood. Rick |
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Feb 27, 2008 17:34:14 GMT -5
It's dead easy to make your own tumbler, and you can do it for a quarter of the cost, or less, of a Lortone. You need a motor, pulleys, belt, two steel rods, four pillow blocks, a frame, a few barrels, some bolts, and something to slip over the steel rods so they get traction.
It's that simple. The only thing you need to watch is the barrel rotation speed, and you adjust that by varying the size of the pulley doing the driving. Put a mark on the barrel, count how many times it goes around in a minute... that's the hardest part of the job! I'm not mechanically minded and I managed to build a monster of a tumbler with almost no effort.
There are a few decent books on the topic, the Victors is pretty good and should be available online.
SirRoxalot
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 28, 2008 4:51:02 GMT -5
Hi & [glow=red,2,300]Welcome [/glow]to RTH I have 5 home made tumblers . I find that a 2nd hand Home fuel oil burners motor is great for this job. there was a good plan of last year using 1/2" plywood and 4"X 2" planed timber 20mm shafts bearings to match, electric motor RPM @ 1425 fitted with a 2" pulley Roler shaft pulley 7" the other end of the roller a 3" pulley and also the other roller 3" This gives a 6 1/4" barrel a speed of 56RPM (to reduce this speed use a 7/1/2" or 8" pully on roller) Another link for home made tumbler is www.agatehouse.co.uk I have used this one also Jack Yorkshire UK |
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dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by dshalldms on Feb 28, 2008 11:19:19 GMT -5
You could also use a sewing machine motor, use a light dimmer
for switching and you would not need pulleys.
A real cheat way to have a variable speed tumbler.
Derek
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 29, 2008 3:15:18 GMT -5
Hi Derek
Idid that and burned the dimmer out!? and Idea why ?
Thanks Jack
yorkshire UK
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