FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Jul 21, 2014 15:27:46 GMT -5
Here's the tumbler I just put together using scrap wood i had laying around and a 3speed box fan motor. It works okay now but I already see what I need to improve, such as a simple pulley reduction and some brass fittings for the rollers which are just spinning freely in the wood.. friction is becoming an issue even with oil. I have a Lortone 45C but that's just not enough for me. 34"x8" using 1/2" aluminum tubing wrapped in heat shrink direct to the motor. The barrels are 12"x4" PVC. Thanks for checking it out.
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garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,168
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Post by garock on Jul 21, 2014 17:40:27 GMT -5
Your Avatar picture look exactly like a cat I had named "Blue Eyes" ! Miss him ! your tumbler is a great start ! I started with a tumbler many "moons ago"('bout 54 years) very similar to yours. Keep "ciphering" as Jethro Bodine would say and things work out pretty good for you. I done a lot of T & E Engineering, Trial and Error but it made me smarter ! I hope !
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Jul 21, 2014 17:48:56 GMT -5
That's my wife's cat nicknamed "Dumb Eyes", real name is "Rajsha". It wouldn't be any fun if all projects were done right the first time. I look at is a learning expeerience also. The revisioned tumbler will be alot nicer. i might go all out and make a table and make it look fancy. little side projects like that one are what will keep me busy while waiting for a batch to finish.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jul 21, 2014 20:04:04 GMT -5
3 speed fan motor is a great idea. Wood frame is perfect. PVC is great for barrels. well done.
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Jul 22, 2014 13:25:46 GMT -5
3 speed fan motor is a great idea. Wood frame is perfect. PVC is great for barrels. well done. Thanks, looks a little janky right now but, now that I have something to work with it'll be easier to make improvements.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jul 22, 2014 14:45:52 GMT -5
3 speed fan motor is a great idea. Wood frame is perfect. PVC is great for barrels. well done. Thanks, looks a little janky right now but, now that I have something to work with it'll be easier to make improvements. If it helps, this was the first one I built and it is sweet. 1000RPM 1/8 HP fan motor. Purrs like a kitten. It sits on a slight slant so the barrel will go to the one guide roller on the right. It will run 35 pound barrels.
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Jul 23, 2014 18:53:43 GMT -5
Thanks, looks a little janky right now but, now that I have something to work with it'll be easier to make improvements. If it helps, this was the first one I built and it is sweet. 1000RPM 1/8 HP fan motor. Purrs like a kitten. It sits on a slight slant so the barrel will go to the one guide roller on the right. It will run 35 pound barrels. That's pretty nice, 35lbs is something I would like to shoot for but multiple smaller barrels to keep me busy. Right now I can only tumble about 10lbs at a time until I get a bigger motor and stronger rollers.
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Jul 24, 2014 11:04:02 GMT -5
That's my wife's cat nicknamed "Dumb Eyes", real name is "Rajsha". It wouldn't be any fun if all projects were done right the first time. I look at is a learning expeerience also. The revisioned tumbler will be alot nicer. I might go all out and make a table and make it look fancy. little side projects like that one are what will keep me busy while waiting for a batch to finish.
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