dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by dshalldms on Jul 1, 2014 11:48:53 GMT -5
Hi,
Please can anyone help.
I have all the of parts that I need to build a tumbler.
The plans that I am working to are very old and the barrel
sizes quoted are 4.5" in diameter. However, the barrel I
intend to use is 7" on 1/2" shafts.
I need to know what the optimum distance between the shafts
should be?
Many thanks,
Derek
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 1, 2014 12:31:03 GMT -5
a 7" diameter barrel is equivalent to the lortone 6 and 12 pound barrels. I used 3/4" solid steel shafts and rubber hoses to bring the O.D. to 1". Keep in mind that adding rubber hoses will change your barrel RPM. I built mine at 4.5" centers so I can run any barrel lortone makes on the same set of shafts. I think if I were just using the 7" diameter barrels I might have gone to 5" spacing. Here's a picture of what your 7" barrels look like on 1/2" shafts spaced 5" apart. I tend to over build everything so the 1/2" shafts look small to me. Here's a quick shot of my homemade. Feel free to ask any questions Chuck
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Post by parfive on Jul 1, 2014 12:37:44 GMT -5
Seventy-five percent of barrel diameter looks comfy.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 1, 2014 13:37:36 GMT -5
The notion of using 1/2 shafts is good, as long as your barrel{s} don't make the length too long. I've built several up using 6" PVC for barrels with a one gallon capacity, which makes them 11" long overall with the caps, and used 1/2" shafts. Instead of running the barrels end to end, I stacked them one on top of the other, that keeps the shafts short and the machine takes up a lot less space. The machines work and last very well. I too, like the 5" shaft spacing. Found out something just now, using square brackets seems to trip the situation where one gets a line thru everything from that point on, using the "squiggely" brackets it doesn't happen.
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dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by dshalldms on Jul 1, 2014 13:39:59 GMT -5
Many thanks Chuck,
That's just the info I needed.
Derek
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dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by dshalldms on Jul 1, 2014 13:50:47 GMT -5
Hi,
The barrel is 5" wide and the shafts are 12" long.
There is 1" to spare either side of the barrel making it a compact unit.
Many thanks for all your advice,
Derek
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jul 1, 2014 17:12:12 GMT -5
Drummond- Very impressive build and tumbling station. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 1, 2014 17:37:10 GMT -5
Hi, The barrel is 5" wide and the shafts are 12" long. There is 1" to spare either side of the barrel making it a compact unit. Many thanks for all your advice, Derek That explains the 1/2" diameter shafts. Those will be perfect at that length. post pictures as you go if you get a chance. Chuck
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dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by dshalldms on Jul 2, 2014 13:38:10 GMT -5
Hi Chuck,
I will post pictures when it's up and running, about two weeks.
Derek
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sak
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2013
Posts: 88
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Post by sak on Jul 3, 2014 2:35:05 GMT -5
Hi Derek - I just built my 2nd tumbler after after much experimentation. See my post here: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/66237/vintage-sewing-machine-tumbler-addedThe outside diameter of my barrels is 6.75" & the spacing on my shafts is 5". It works great. In designing my own tumbler, I researched shaft positioning extensively. I've seen some designs where one of the axles is positioned higher (ie One shaft @ 3 o'clock position and the other at 7 o'clock). Ultimately, I think you would be safe at the 5" mark. The other thing to be thinking about is your barrel rotation speed. I'm assuming your going to use a belt. After it's built, you could easily adjust the speeds by changing the pulley sizes on the motor shaft. Another thing you might want to consider is making the motor positioning adjustable (in my case it adjusts in 4 directions - forward, backwards, left & right diagonally). This allows you to tighten the belt as it ages & stretches and it also ensures that your alignment between your motor & shaft pulley will be exact. I hope my comments help you & I hope you post some pics of your completed tumbler:) Good luck. Sak...
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