docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 693
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Post by docharber on Aug 29, 2011 16:04:33 GMT -5
I have seen threads about PVC barrels and wanted to share some of my experiences getting the perfect tumble at minimal cost. I have a couple of twin barrel 6 lb tumblers, a Lortone 33-B and a rehabbed/rebuilt Chicago Electric. When my original CE barrels became unrepairable (the Lortone barrels are still in good shape) I decided to try a simple PVC barrel to replace the failed ones. iIbought an 8' l;ength of 4" PVC sewer pipe at the Depot and cut it to length for the Lortone (the CE bed is shorter). i screwed on a couple of plastic bodied test plugs and it was ready to go. I did have to swap out the original wing nuts on the test plugs as they were huge and jammed on the chassis frame. Simple 1/4: lock nuts did the job nicely. When the first barrel finally wore too thin for comfort (I used it continuously for over three months in 120-220 grit tumblees) I simply cut another length of pipe and replaced the old barrel. One of the test plugs is starting to wear now (the plastic) and I'll need to replace it soon for about $4.50. This represents a very low operating cost for replacement barrels and I am very pleased with their performance. I DON'T find them particularly noisy. I don't need to use any sort of stirrer or agitator in these small barrels. I DID have problems with the barrel sliding and not rotating on the rollers I solved with two circles of rubber tape around the barrels to provide friction (and further reduce noise) Large rubber bands would also serve the purpose. Finally, I was surp[prised that the metal bolt in the center of the test plug seems unaffected by the abrasion. I have priced out larger barrels and found that the end caps and plugs for these get prohibitively expensive compared to commercial barrels, even if they cost over $60+ for a gallon size barrel. but for the little barrels, this approach works great.
Mark H.
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Aug 29, 2011 21:04:34 GMT -5
Hi Mark: I agree with you. PVC barrels work just fine. I use 4" sch 35 and 4" sch 40 with rubber test caps. I buy mine at Lowes. If you are a vetern Lowes gives a 10% discount. Cheaper than the test plugs you are using. Locke Supply carries rubber test caps up to 8". 6" test caps are under $4.00 each. Cheap barrel if I do say so. James
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
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Post by docharber on Aug 29, 2011 21:51:07 GMT -5
i think I got mine at the Depot but maybe it was Lowes. i haven't seen anything larger than 4" either place. I recall they list for about $4.50, and I am a vet, but usually forget to ask fgor the discount. Anyway, i'vw aseen only two linds, those with galvanized plates sandwiching the rubber ring, annd the red plastic ones with the plastic plates compressing the ring with a carriage bolt and wing nut through them. i'd love to build some 6" or larger barrels but have never seen the test caps that size. I'll look again, and thanks for the tip.
Mark H.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
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Member since February 2010
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Post by quartz on Aug 31, 2011 11:07:49 GMT -5
Mark, Reading here has shown Plasti-dip to be a good abrasion resistant mtl. Give thought to coating the inside of the plugs with it. One can of dip at Lowe's would cover several caps, thus making your effort even more economical. Lowe's here is out of the stuff, supposed to be in this week, so I'm sitting idle, waiting. Other places in area are much more costly for same stuff.
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 693
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Post by docharber on Aug 31, 2011 12:56:38 GMT -5
I get it at the Depot usually. I have seen it in a spray can. It is mostly solvent and doesn't go far. It would take several days and probably 6 cans of the stuff to seal my big barrel, so I opted for truck bed liner instead. Now that stuff, at least the sheap stuff from the auito supply store in a quart can, takes a long time to dry and off-gasses something awful. Even afrter several days drying, I can smell solvent strongly after even several tumbles when I have used it on small barrels. I am really impressed with PlastiDip's durabilitty, and have repaired lid seals and small barrel bottom holes with iit successfully. I did use it on the bolt head on one of my test plugs, but it didn't seem to matter. The stuff idoesn't go far, and the can is hard to reseal if you use only a little at a time. I figured tyhe plastic would hold up as long as the plug's other components and didn't bother. For my big barrel, I'd like to find a body shop that does Rhino-liner and let them use their leftover coating after a job to do my barrel. that stuff is TOUGH and THICK and DRIES faster that the canned stuff I've tried.
Mark H.
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Aug 31, 2011 14:11:25 GMT -5
Mark. The test caps I am talking about goes over the PVC pipe. No wing nuts to get in the way. Do you have a Locke Supply plumbing store in your town?
James
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
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Post by docharber on Sept 2, 2011 0:37:28 GMT -5
No, not to my knowledge. i thought test plugs were all friction fit to the inside. Anyway, I was in Lowes last night and their 4" test plugs like what I have been using are $6.78- I bought the last at the Depot for under $5.00. they did have a plastic glue in cap in thin plastic, like a tupperware lid, tofit snugly into the thick walled pipe *what I use is about 1/8" thick, this was 1/4" at least). We do have a Southern Pipe plumbers supply and I've already checked with them- no help. Maybe online.... I want to know how those test plugs you're using canbe removable and stay on without leaks.
Mark H.
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Sept 2, 2011 23:31:31 GMT -5
Hi Mark Test plugs do go inside the pipe. Test caps goes over the pipe. They are rubber. Go up and read darstcreek77 post on tumbler barrel. Someone posted a link to quik caps. This is the same as test caps. My Lowes has two sizes in 4 inch one for sch 035 ( 1/8 inch ) and one for sch 40 ( 1/4 inch ). You might have to ask someone where the rubber test caps are. AT my Lowes they are not with the PVC stuff. James
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
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Post by docharber on Sept 3, 2011 1:07:14 GMT -5
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I get it. WIll check it out. WHat holds them on??
mark H.
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ctit101
starting to shine!
Member since May 2011
Posts: 38
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Post by ctit101 on Sept 3, 2011 12:19:22 GMT -5
They stay on with the hose clamp that is on them when you buy it.
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Sept 3, 2011 12:39:19 GMT -5
They fit snug on the pipe. If a loose fit, wrong size cap. To be on the safe side, take a small
section of pipe with you. O35 cap has flat edges on top, O40 has rounded edges on top. On some I wrap black electoral tape, real tight where the clamp was. I also round the outside edges of the PVC pipe. Easier to get cap on. I haven't had one to leak yet. I hope this helps. James
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meta7
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
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Post by meta7 on Nov 2, 2011 16:36:54 GMT -5
I have been looking for PVC pipe larger than 4" but have been unable to find it.
Does anyone know of a store that sells it? 6" or 7.5" diameter maybe?
:-) Dave
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 2, 2011 17:26:27 GMT -5
You would probably need to try a commercial plumbing supply. Some of the drain pipes may be that large but may be two flexible. ABS would probably work but the home centers likely wouldn't have it over 4" either. You might see if they could order but you may be stuck buying 20' lengths.
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NDK
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Member since January 2009
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Post by NDK on Nov 2, 2011 21:00:39 GMT -5
If you drive by any utility work being done, see if there's any pieces of the blue water pipe laying around. I think the short pieces just get trashed. I believe it'll be 8 or 10", and has quite a thick wall. Should work good. I keep looking, but haven't scored a piece yet.
Nate
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 2, 2011 21:12:50 GMT -5
For PVC pipe larger than 4", find a place that installs septic tanks and drain fields. They use 6" and probably larger sizes. I have about 7' of the 6" out in my shed that was left over from a job. They gave it to me.
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mia
starting to spend too much on rocks
As you travel on thru life, whatever be your goal. Keep your eye upon the donut, not upon the hole.
Member since January 2011
Posts: 150
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Post by mia on Nov 17, 2011 15:34:29 GMT -5
WELL it ain't as easy as you might think. I have some 8" PVC sewer pipe, really good stuff from a city job (meets codes). Seems there are different 'schedules' of pvc and they take different size fittings. Anyway this is the really thick lt blue pipe. Tried Locke and a couple other supply places, they either don't have the 8" fittins or they cost so much, I could by the barrels already made of ebay. Like $39 for the reducer!!!!! I was hoping to make 3-8" barrels each about a foot long for my table top tumbler I was making. Locke doesn't even have any 8" fittings here in Fayetteville.
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NDK
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Member since January 2009
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Post by NDK on Nov 17, 2011 17:49:01 GMT -5
That 8" pipe is at least 1/2" wall, right? You could cut circles (slightly smaller than the pipe diamerer so they don't have to be perfect) from a cheap wally-mart cutting board and screw them into the side of the pipe. You could use dowel screws on one end to make a removable lid. Someone else on here did that, but I don't remember who. I can't take credit for the idea. Nate
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mia
starting to spend too much on rocks
As you travel on thru life, whatever be your goal. Keep your eye upon the donut, not upon the hole.
Member since January 2011
Posts: 150
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Post by mia on Nov 17, 2011 20:09:33 GMT -5
OK I found the original supplier, Ferguson Waterworks, they have a store in Ft Smith and Springdale, AR. Called them up, the nicest man answered the phone and he helped me out. Even cut a short piece of 6" for the test cap. Yes, it was expensive. But then he cut me a break on the price! I will post pictures tomorrow..... of my "super barrell" LOL
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
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Post by NDK on Nov 17, 2011 21:36:38 GMT -5
Nice score. Can't wait to see pix.
Nate
Oh BTW, be sure to have some help gluing those fittings on. I did a project with 6" PVC once, and I had to really lean on it to fit together before it hardened. 8" will probably be next to impossible without a few people doing it.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 18, 2011 14:29:59 GMT -5
Agree with what was said about small barrels. For my 12" 50lb. PVC barrel I made caps out of plywood, held on with threaded rod. For this to work you have to be careful cutting the pipe to make sure the ends are square (I used a circular saw and rotated the pipe). You'll also want to water proof the plywood with epoxy. I still used a 4" test plug in one end.
Chuck
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