slabcabber
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 590
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Post by slabcabber on Jan 8, 2011 20:56:32 GMT -5
Hello Everyone, Rockdogger placed a post on "home made tumbler barrels" and Drjo suggested that other people start a tread and show some of their homemade barrels so here is how mine are made. I made two of these today for a customer. They are made from 6 inch pvc pipe and they will be painted but did not get too that part today. will post painted pictures later. Picture of all the parts Picture of barrel completed ( all but paint )
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Post by gr on Jan 8, 2011 21:29:34 GMT -5
Are you going to have a barrel for each grit stage? certainly seems economically feasible. I really like your design. sure seems like a leak free design.
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slabcabber
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 590
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Post by slabcabber on Jan 8, 2011 21:49:51 GMT -5
Thank you Kasag....These are for a customer and he only ordered two so I guess he is useing one for the grits and the other for polish only. I have been useing this design for about a year and a half and so far no leaks...
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Post by gr on Jan 8, 2011 22:04:13 GMT -5
How is it as far as getting the stones in and out. And what do you think of trying your design with a piece of 10" pipe. And I have been wanting to ask this for some time now. Do the rocks tumble? It seems like they would just slide on the side. Do you put anything inside to make them tumble over themselves and move around? Gary
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slabcabber
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 590
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Post by slabcabber on Jan 8, 2011 23:14:45 GMT -5
Hey Gary, These bell reducers are a little different than the ones I use to use. The other ones that I use have a bevel from the 6 inch to the 4 inch this one is not beveled. The one with the bevel works great aesy to get the stones out of. But I really dont think this one is going to be hard to get them out either. I have some 10" pipe that I got to make a bigger tumbler with and I think that it will work just as good. You may not find a reducer that will go from 10" down to 4" but it dont have to be 4" . I have a piece of 15" that I want to make a tumbler out of but the fittings cost so much for a piece that big. They told me just the cap would be around $50 to $60 so that will have to wait lol. Now as for as do they tumble??? They tumble great noting inside to make them tumble either.
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Post by gr on Jan 8, 2011 23:33:34 GMT -5
Mark, I really like this idea and your design. I'm going to make one and give it a try and I'm glad to hear that they tumble and not just slide. I'll use it for my rough barrel and save the rubber in my 12 lb'ers. Thanks Mark
Gary
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slabcabber
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 590
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Post by slabcabber on Jan 8, 2011 23:43:09 GMT -5
Glad I could be of some help to ya Gary. And good luck.
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 10, 2011 22:52:04 GMT -5
I think the speed is critical. this design has been used on a line sold on ebay for a few years now. they seem to use both 6" and 8" pipe. I saw one of these running, and it had a high RPM. shop.ebay.com/hobfir/m.htmlsomeone here, maybe Mel (?), had one too. said it was loud I have some 8" pipe and have been pondering the best way to cut it. suggestions?
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slabcabber
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 590
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Post by slabcabber on Jan 10, 2011 23:28:32 GMT -5
This is the same barrels That Matt uses on the ones you are talking about on ebay, I have one of the tumblers that he makes Mine is not loud.. But I run mine out in the rock building. Now if you was running it in the house it may be a little loud.
As for cutting the pipe, I have a 12 inch chop saw that I use to cut mine with. you have to make a jig so that you can roll the pipe as you cut it. But you can use a Jig saw, or Handsaw you just have to mark it and cut it straight.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 11, 2011 13:44:52 GMT -5
Yes, fittings on even 6" PVC get pricey and only go up from there. That's why I made plywood caps for my 12" PVC barrel.
In my experience, PVC barrels are loud. Be careful with high speeds because it's easy to chip or fracture the stones. I put cut pieces of PVC in my 4" barrels and 1" PVC pipe in my 10" barrel to act as "lifters".
I used a circular saw to cut the 10" PVC. It helps to have it resting between a couple of boards and then roll it through the saw, as Mark said.
Make your barrels shorter than you think for larger diameter PVC: the weight of rocks and water adds up in a hurry! My 12" diameter x 20" long barrel is nearly too heavy to work with.
Chuck
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 12, 2011 14:58:34 GMT -5
While I think I can make 1.5 gallon PVC barrels cheaper than the $75 they sell for on ebay, it is only because I got the 8" pipe for less than $1/foot. The endcap and reduction fittings alone are about $25. I am not sure I can make the 1.5 quart cheaper than they are selling them.
I was considering using the test plug instead of the reduction fitting and rubber cap - just to save money, but ultimately I think I like the jar-like aspect of the reduction fitting.
Sometime soon I wil vist a friend with a table saw and see if we can't rig a jig to get my pipe cut.
The point about lenght/weight is a good one. I have some rollers that I got cheep. I need to measure their length and estimate what kind of weight I am talking about. Two medium might be better than one giant.
I too have been thinking about putting some kind of lifters in the barrel.
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slabcabber
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 590
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Post by slabcabber on Jan 12, 2011 18:36:27 GMT -5
I thought about putting lifts in my barrels also... Till I talked to an old time rock tumbler.... He said and I quote The lifts slow down the peocess.... The rocks stop moving when they come to a lift till it gets high enough to drop them...." Makes Scence" With the smooth barrel the rocks never stop tumbling once you start the tumbler........So I did not put the lifts in my barrels either and I have no problem tumbling rocks.....
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 12, 2011 22:53:45 GMT -5
the old timer was short on physics. 99% of the abrasive action is when the rock leaves the side and slides down the slope of the other rocks. the time spent below the surface does almost nothing.
as long as the lifter does not lift so high that the rock initially falls down before sliding, it is all good
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slabcabber
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 590
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Post by slabcabber on Jan 12, 2011 23:22:18 GMT -5
Maybe that was the case with his lifters, They may have been to large, I dont know . All I know is my barrels dont have lifters and they work great for me. Maybe I need to try some small lifters and see if it works better for me. If it helps I will be a happy dude..But I am happy with what I have now. But I will have to give it a try.
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 26, 2011 15:07:17 GMT -5
well they say if it aint broke ...
I was thinking about making the interier more hexoginal instead of lifters. I thought I might pour a little epoxy to cover about 2 inches, then when dry, turn the barrel and repeat. still some small speed bumps seem like less work.
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jerryb
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 408
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Post by jerryb on Feb 13, 2011 12:01:25 GMT -5
I have made pvc barrels as well and I buy sheets of rubber gasket material to line the insides. when you do this the barrel is as quite as a lortone rubber barrel. I glue them using 3M super 74 spray adhesive. it works really nice.
Jerry
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