TonyW
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2004
Posts: 1
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Post by TonyW on Apr 14, 2004 12:01:55 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
I am a new member, and a new tumbler, through being given an old cement mixer style tumbler. My name is Tony Wells, and I live in Leeds. Before I start tumbling though, would someone please advise me on the suitablilty of the aluminium bowl on this tumbler - will I soon wear it out with carbide grits, or can I coat the inside with such as polyurethane varnish to give it a protective plastic coating. Apparently it has only been used for polishing small metallic brass castings.
Thank you,
Tony.
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 14, 2004 16:31:12 GMT -5
Hi Tony and welcome. I think I would be interested in seeing a picture of your tumbler. Sounds like a pretty solidly built unit. I don't think that I would run it with the carbide grit in a bare aluminum barrel though. I would think that a layer about 2mm thick of a relatively stiff polyurethane would work well. It would protect the barrel structure itself and also help hold down the noise. There's a lot of new stuff on the market now and I'm not sure exactly what's there that you could do yourself. Years ago when I worked with urethane, it had to be cured in an oven and the fumes were very toxic. If that's still true, you might want to consider taking the barrel to a shop and having it lined. If you can get the varnish to adhere to the aluminum, that would certainly help, I just don't know how long it would hold up, and it wouldn't have the same sound deadening effect. Keep me informed on what you decide to do and how it turns out. Ron ps. Is the inside surface a bare aluminum, or is it coated or plated with anything?
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Apr 15, 2004 0:00:26 GMT -5
If you can't get a plastic or rubber liner for it then I would suggest getting some of the truck bed liner stuff that will take awhile to wear off, I don't think varnish will wear very long
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 15, 2004 8:08:28 GMT -5
Hey Tony, I like the bed liner idea as well. I'm not sure, as I haven't seen one of those type tumblers work, but you might be best off with a textured surface versus a smooth one. I think that the bed liner material has stuff in it to add just a little texture.
Ron
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Post by creativeminded on Apr 15, 2004 9:55:16 GMT -5
If you can't get truck bed liner, what about the rubber stuff that you can dip you pliers in to coat the handles?
Tami
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