herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
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Post by herchenx on Jul 18, 2013 23:56:57 GMT -5
Well I've been tumbling away with my mega tumbler for months now. I'm on my third batch in this thing. It runs ~70-80# of rock at a time and I've been pretty excited about a load of pet wood. Well I went out today to the garage for the weekly oiling and found that it was not rotating, and apparently sometime over the past couple days had developed a leak that formed a cement pile over both bars and the pillow bearings, seizing it up, breaking the belt, and leaving it lie motionless. I don't know how long it's been like that, maybe a day. The motor was still turning and the rock is still moving around inside the barrel, but I had to leave it because I had lots of other things that needed done. I'm hoping I can get into it in the morning and salvage the wood in it before it is solid. I don't know what to expect. I'm pretty bummed because this tumbler is a really nice commercial tumbler. I just didn't know it was wearing out and wasn't watching it every day. Just wanted some pity is all
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Jul 19, 2013 0:13:50 GMT -5
I have no doubts that you can salvage the wood. Even if it is solid you can bust it up - the solid grit will break up long before the wood. I'm sure you'll be replacing pillow bearings. How's the barrel?
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quartz
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breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 19, 2013 0:50:08 GMT -5
O.K., from me, a greater than expected amount of pity. Hope that makes you feel better. In truth, sorry to hear you lost it, hopefully barrel and all is salvageable. Big ones are so much harder to replace. Larry
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 19, 2013 7:29:09 GMT -5
That sucks.
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Post by NatureNut on Jul 19, 2013 8:37:47 GMT -5
Hoping for the best John. Jo
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jul 19, 2013 9:32:40 GMT -5
Large tumblers catch a lot more abuse John-a whole lot more. It is a whole new game. And so is fast turning tumblers.
I have cut my barrels down to 35 pound max. It just lasts longer and is easier to handle. I know Larry has been thru all this for
many years.
The rubber cap broke and allowed the slurry to leak out and it ran for a couple of days and entirely chipped the load. The heavy rolling avalanche can beat rocks to pieces in the form of frosting very quickly. I about threw away 35 pounds of hard work and great material it was so damaged.
Not much sympathy but beware in the future that everything is bulletproof and in as best of condition as possible
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jul 19, 2013 11:05:48 GMT -5
Wow that must be soooo disappointing and frustrating at the same time. I know you haven't done a lot of loads on that one yet, and had even put it off a while. Ton'o'sympathy x 10 Hoping that in a few days and some hard work things will look much different and a lot more hopeful!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 19, 2013 11:50:24 GMT -5
So sorry for your loss, John. Your large tumbler was a swell guy, I know he will be missed. Jean
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jul 19, 2013 12:49:38 GMT -5
You might consider a PVC barrel...
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Thunder69
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Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
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Post by Thunder69 on Jul 19, 2013 17:43:07 GMT -5
Mr.T says...I PITY THE MACHINE THAT BREAKS ON A LOAD OF ROCKS !!!!!....That sucks John...I had a lid blow a hole thru it Rock goo all aver the place...Also had a vibe barrel give out and it shook so bad the lid come off and the whole tumbling area was covered in rock /grit/ dust...There still is some dust even a year later...John
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Post by orrum on Jul 19, 2013 18:53:35 GMT -5
Off the subject a little but John went out to do the weekly oiling of the tumbler and suddenly I wonder how often I am supposed to oil mine and what grade oil? I have Lortone rotarys and a Loto. Thanks and John I am sure it will be fixable, if not get Jamesp to whip one up.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jul 21, 2013 15:43:55 GMT -5
Well what James said is what happened to the rock. The slurry was still wet so it cleaned it off the rocks ok, but every single rock was chipped and busted up.
The weld/fused seam in the bottom of the barrel separated which allowed the slurry to leak out.
The machine isn't too badly damaged other than the barrel, it turned out the grit had leaked onto the belt causing it to wear through, but the pillow bearings all seem to be ok.
It seems like I could weld that plastic seam up and be back in business with a new belt.
Orrum for my lortones I use 3 in 1 oil. For this big one I was using 5w oil as per the manufacturers instructions.
Sent from my phone.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jul 21, 2013 16:26:58 GMT -5
The better way to fail (for the rocks sake) is for the lid to come off and spill the rocks on the floor. Some of my best are fractured and probably ruined. I found them, hammer broke them, discarded the bad shapes and fractures, heat treated them, and poured grit all over them. The worst is for them to get ruined in final stages.......... The barrel is the key to avoidance. New barrel if you can not perform 99.9999999999% fix .
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jul 21, 2013 16:30:47 GMT -5
I might just throw a couple 12# lortone barrels on this to see if it works.
Sent from my phone.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jul 21, 2013 16:31:15 GMT -5
Ooh or maybe get a couple 15# thumlers
Sent from my phone.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2013 16:50:03 GMT -5
Well I've been tumbling away with my mega tumbler for months now. I'm on my third batch in this thing. It runs ~70-80# of rock at a time and I've been pretty excited about a load of pet wood. Well I went out today to the garage for the weekly oiling and found that it was not rotating, and apparently sometime over the past couple days had developed a leak that formed a cement pile over both bars and the pillow bearings, seizing it up, breaking the belt, and leaving it lie motionless. I don't know how long it's been like that, maybe a day. The motor was still turning and the rock is still moving around inside the barrel, but I had to leave it because I had lots of other things that needed done. I'm hoping I can get into it in the morning and salvage the wood in it before it is solid. I don't know what to expect. I'm pretty bummed because this tumbler is a really nice commercial tumbler. I just didn't know it was wearing out and wasn't watching it every day. Just wanted some pity is all I can assure you it wont become "solid" to the point you cannot extract the rocks. I turned off my tumbler when to cvacation and came back 10 days later. It was a solid lump. I took it to the lown and put a aprayer on a hose and washed everything apart. No issue.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jul 21, 2013 16:58:42 GMT -5
I run three 16 pounders on one set of shafts on my home made. 16 pounds is a crap load of rock.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 21, 2013 20:42:22 GMT -5
what a bummer John. I hope it is an easy fix for you. What was the original barrel diameter compared to a thumblers #15? just wondering if you would need a pulley change to get the speed right with a different barrel.
Chuck
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Post by orrum on Jul 21, 2013 20:57:47 GMT -5
Now thats a new thought Chuck. I have a Lortone 4# and the directions say you can run a 3# on it also. Wonder what the difference is in rpms? The 4# barrel is a bunch bigger around.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
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Post by herchenx on Jul 21, 2013 23:52:23 GMT -5
yeah I wondered about rotation speed.
I don't know, that seam always seemed sketchy to me. It seems like if I could figure out how to either weld plastic or could put some marine plywood inside and run bolts to the outside and seal it I could get it back to working.
Too much project for now though, I'll get the belt replaced and make sure the other mechanical stuff works and worry about the barrel when I have more time to sort it out.
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