payton
starting to shine!
Member since July 2006
Posts: 26
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Post by payton on Jan 15, 2009 0:32:49 GMT -5
how cold can a tumbler be before it stops working? it is 23 below zero and my tumbler is in our unheated garage. will the grit/slurry do any good when it is this cold? i just started it this afternoon so i will look at it tomorrow and see if it is small pices of ice or what.
Payton
Ps. it will not be easy for me to build a box for this because it is a home built tumbler and the box would have to be big(2.5*3*1ish)
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
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Post by 1Mark on Jan 15, 2009 0:51:43 GMT -5
A simple cardboard box placed upside-down over the tumbler will trap enough motor heat to keep things from freezing. No need to get fancy.
Mark
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by rallyrocks on Jan 15, 2009 1:00:11 GMT -5
I don't know, 23 below is pretty friggin cold, a cardboard box might not be enough...
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Post by rocklicker on Jan 15, 2009 1:44:45 GMT -5
I recall someone has mentioned using an upsidedown foam water cooler over the tumbler to keep it warm. Maybe cut a vent near the bottom. BTW I have no experience in the matter being from California ;D
Steve
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Saskrock
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 15, 2009 10:30:04 GMT -5
I have used mine down that cold by covering it with a box like Mark1 said, but I also put a couple of old blankets on top of the box for insulation.
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payton
starting to shine!
Member since July 2006
Posts: 26
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Post by payton on Jan 15, 2009 11:01:05 GMT -5
i don't have a normal compact tumbler i built mine myself and i don't have a box that will fit over it.  Payton |
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
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Post by ejs on Jan 15, 2009 11:31:45 GMT -5
I suppose it would be a bit extreme to put a heating pad under there! I use a heated base for the water in my chicken house. But these are, after all, only rocks...
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 15, 2009 20:36:06 GMT -5
Maybe a couple saw horses and some blankets?
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
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Post by NDK on Jan 15, 2009 21:56:11 GMT -5
I have mine in a cabinet in my unheated garage. It's -6 right now, and was -11 this morning. Right now I have a food dehydrator running next to it and it keeps it near 50 in there. When I don't have that running, I put a small clamp on utility lamp with a 60 watt bulb in it next to it. That keeps it above freezing.
Someone else on here suggested building a box out of styrofoam insulation board. That would seemingly serve you well payton.
Nice tumbler too. Simple and effective.
Nate
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
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Post by 1Mark on Jan 15, 2009 21:58:24 GMT -5
Try a packing store. A packing box that size shouldn't be more than about 3 bucks. If you talk real nicely to a stock clerk at a grocery store or Wal-Mart you can probably get one for free. Mark i don't have a normal compact tumbler i built mine myself and i don't have a box that will fit over it. Payton |
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payton
starting to shine!
Member since July 2006
Posts: 26
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Post by payton on Jan 15, 2009 22:10:34 GMT -5
well amazingly the Panasonic tv box seen in the background was still sitting around because my dad or brother used it to spray paint on. i cut it up so it kinda fits around the outside and stapled/taped it to the tumbler, i covered the top with some 1/8" foam insulation and the slurry froze with in 2 hours. tomorrow it is going to get to 15* so hopefully it will thaw out...im just going to let it turn until then.
most of the slurry froze to the rocks or the barrel walls so i guess there is a chance it is still working
Payton
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NDK
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Post by NDK on Jan 15, 2009 22:24:49 GMT -5
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Saskrock
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 16, 2009 0:59:25 GMT -5
You just need more insulation I think. When I did the box thing it was cold as your getting but the 2 heavy blankets I had covering it would hold in way more heat than 1/8" foam.
You probably have it this way but the motor is in the box too right?
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payton
starting to shine!
Member since July 2006
Posts: 26
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Post by payton on Jan 16, 2009 9:48:43 GMT -5
the motor is in the box but the motor in the picture burnt up so i replaced it with an old 1/2HP motor im kinda worried about putting lots of flammable stuff on top of the old motor.
Payton
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 16, 2009 10:56:40 GMT -5
I had the same thought when I did it. You might want to try sound proofing just the barrel area and move it indoors. I did that with a 1" foam box around just the barrel. Its quite a bit quieter this way. I know how loud pvc is.  |
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 16, 2009 11:57:59 GMT -5
Light bulb in a box should do it. Hate to say it but here at Cloud's we can spot the Minnesota/Michigan/Canadians. They are wearing shorts/tee shirts on the really cold (60 degree days). It is in the low 70's now. I'd store the tumbler until the great thaw and head for Arizona or somewhere.
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
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Post by 1Mark on Jan 16, 2009 12:05:36 GMT -5
well amazingly the Panasonic tv box seen in the background was still sitting around because my dad or brother used it to spray paint on. i cut it up so it kinda fits around the outside and stapled/taped it to the tumbler, i covered the top with some 1/8" foam insulation and the slurry froze with in 2 hours. tomorrow it is going to get to 15* so hopefully it will thaw out...im just going to let it turn until then. most of the slurry froze to the rocks or the barrel walls so i guess there is a chance it is still working Payton I've got a model B and a 3# CE running with some 1" thick Styrofoam panels loosely tacked together surrounding 3 sides and covering the top. The open end has a towel draped over it and I had a 40 watt lightbulb mounted so that it sits about 2" away from the barrel of the Model B. The CE sits right next to the Model B's motor. We dropped to -14 oF last night and the B was going "clunk clunk clunk" this morning when I went out to check on things, but the CE was OK. I replaced the 40 watt bulb with a 75 and ran my radiant propane heater until the B sounded like it was thawed out, then draped a couple more towels over my makeshift box. I'll check it again before I leave for work this afternoon, and if the B is frozen again I'll just shut it off and bring the barrel inside until the weather warms a bit (we're still -9 oF. at noon). It's about 15 o in my attached garage, and the thermometer inside the box read 25 o. If we get another hard cold snap this winter I'll make a totally enclosed box from the Styrofoam panels, glued together at the sides and bottom to stop air leaks. My vibe is out there happily humming along at 70 o F. underneath its upside-down Styrofoam cooler. Mark |
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1Mark
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2004
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Post by 1Mark on Jan 17, 2009 10:52:28 GMT -5
The bigger bulb and the extra towels did the trick.
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Roan
has rocks in the head
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Post by Roan on Jan 17, 2009 10:53:07 GMT -5
Ugh. For the record it was 0* overnight here in VIRGINIA, of all places, and all the water in my vib froze solid on the rocks  Dunno if they are damaged or nae. I've got the barrel sitting in the kitchen full of tap water. I'll find out later. Both of my 6# tumblers were also full of ice particles, but they're running rough, so it's not so bad. Unheated garage, no insulation. That'll teach me. I honestly did not think of the tumblers when it got so cold last night. It just doesn't GET this cold here. Off to get some boxes. Sigh. Eileen |
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