sschus87
starting to shine!
Member since November 2015
Posts: 49 
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Post by sschus87 on Nov 30, 2015 17:03:39 GMT -5
That is a sharp looking machine. I want to build one too and appreciate
you posting this. I will work on mine after the holidays when I will have
some me money to spend...
Awesome job!!
Thanks---Steve
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jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,594
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Post by jamesp on Nov 30, 2015 18:40:03 GMT -5
When I was tumbling glass & obsidian in a 12 lb Lortone barrel, I had to burp once a day. With the rubber barrel it was easy to see when the bottom starts to bulge. Also, you may notice if it starts weeping slurry from the lid. Guessing there is highly compressed air or gas in the bubbles in glass and obsidian. That expand when breached in coarse grind. The less aggressive finishing steps seem to generate much less gas w/glass and obsidian. |
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285 
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Post by indiana on Nov 30, 2015 20:14:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the complements guys!
The machine has been running non-stop without a hitch since I made the first post.
I don't remember what was in the puking barrels, I had 2 incedents relatively close together, but non since. :shrug"
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sschus87
starting to shine!
Member since November 2015
Posts: 49
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Post by sschus87 on Dec 2, 2015 20:54:01 GMT -5
Thank you Ed. I had to offset them get the shaft center to center distance the same as my Thumler's. The blocks are too wide to put side by side. What would be the possibility of raising one set a half an inch or so? Do they need to be on the same plane or can one be a little higher than the other? It seems that way you wouldn't lose the space you do when you offset them. I am going to start buying parts for my build and will post pictures when it's done (Hopefully some time in January...) Again, nice build. Your design is a great help!! Thanks---Steve |
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on Dec 2, 2015 22:23:44 GMT -5
I actually thought about making the mounting blocks an inverted V shape, so there didn't need to be an off set, but I only have hand powered saws.... Here is an incredibly crummy drawing. The green things are the pillow blocks (bearing holders). This way you could put the shafts as close together as you wanted with no offset. This would be the end view.  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2016 16:58:03 GMT -5
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 14, 2016 18:01:10 GMT -5
I used automotive heater hose. Coated the shaft with dawn dish soap. Lubricates when wet and dries tacky. |
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on May 14, 2016 18:17:57 GMT -5
I used dish soap too.  |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,594
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Post by jamesp on May 14, 2016 18:51:20 GMT -5
I used soap, and short sections. Heavy barrels messed rubber up.
Next time will try an inter tube condemn on the barrel.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 14, 2016 19:13:49 GMT -5
Soap works, straight water works too. If it's really tight using an air blow gun from a compressor to inflate a little and pushing it on using the air cushion makes it easy.
In my rubber molding days we used air to get large bellows off the mandrels.
Lortone is using a flexible thermoplastic for the red shaft covers on some of their tumbler bases, might be similar to pex. I know who extrudes it, I can probably find out.
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on May 14, 2016 19:23:20 GMT -5
I soaked the hoses in hot water and they slid on pretty easily. My rollers are the length required for two Lortone 12lb. barrels.
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Post by MrP on May 14, 2016 20:22:12 GMT -5
I didn't use anything on my shafts. Plastic barrels on metal shafts, no problem. Metal to metal a problem so on my 15 lb Thumler's Tumbler Model B barrels I put a couple wraps of Gorilla Tape on the contact surfaces. Haven't had any problem with slippage on any of the barrels...................................MrP
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,594
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Post by jamesp on May 14, 2016 21:11:25 GMT -5
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on May 15, 2016 3:10:08 GMT -5
Same problem for fitting rubber handle-bar grips to bikes: meths.
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on May 15, 2016 8:33:35 GMT -5
Same problem for fitting rubber handle-bar grips to bikes: meths. I use hair spray for that. Motorcycle grips too. |
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Post by nowyo on May 16, 2016 22:03:25 GMT -5
Just now saw this thread. Nice job.
Russ
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Rockshund
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2019
Posts: 8
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Post by Rockshund on Sept 11, 2019 16:07:06 GMT -5
This young lady is impressive! She speaks Geek, understands gear ratios (pulleys), worries about amperage and horsepower, has some spare tubing lying around the garage, and she is as lovely as she is intelligent. If I were 40 years younger, I would pitch my tent on her front lawn and refuse to move until she agreed to go out with me! My guess is you are a Mechanical Engineer. This is extremely well done Indiana. Dean
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custommike
starting to shine!
Member since November 2012
Posts: 42
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Post by custommike on Sept 12, 2019 13:11:00 GMT -5
How are you powering the motor? Are you just plugging it directly into the wall?
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Post by rmf on Sept 12, 2019 14:27:30 GMT -5
When tumbling in a Lortone barrel I take a rock about the size of a barrel nut and set it on a table and place the drum on it. Then when I put the lid on I push down so the drum bottom is pushed in 1/2" or so, then tighten the lid. Then if the bottom puffs to flat I know to release gas. Glass (man made or natural) makes more gas than agate/jasper. I have been told to use gasX in the tumbler but I have not tried it. I was tumbling a lot once upon a time and checking for gas daily, it took an hour each day just to take the lids on and off of 10 12# barrels.
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van
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2020
Posts: 9
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Post by van on Jan 10, 2021 20:36:42 GMT -5
Hi all. My Thumler's isn't turning out the batches quick enough for me so I decided to add more capacity. It is a work in progress, I have to permanently mount my "stop wheel", and I think my barrel speed is too high. My Thumler's runs at 34 RPM, my Chicago Electric runs at 58, but it has a smooth barrel. Currently, my homebrew is running at 54 RPM. The cheapest way to slow it down would be to replace my air hose roller covers with latex rubber tubing which has a smaller O.D. Does anyone have any experience with latex tubing? I wonder mainly about the durability of it. Rev 1 had a chain drive and it was too loud for me. The belt drive is much nicer now that I know where to get the parts!  Parts List: Base: Scrap wood Pillow blocks: 1/2" UCP201-8 (Ebay) Rollers: 1/2" welding rod (Lowe's) Roller covers: 1/2" I.D. Air hose (Lowe's) Motor: Mclean Thermal 1/40HP ball bearing. JB2N016N# (http://www.surpluscenter.com) 5" drive pulley: 1/2" bore 3060K19 (http://www.mcmaster.com/) 1" drive pulley: 5/16" bore 3060K11 (http://www.mcmaster.com/) 2L drive belt: 19" 2L190 (http://www.mcmaster.com/) Stop rollers: 1" O.D. 3/16" bore 3434T75 (http://www.mcmaster.com/) Motor Mount: 1/16" crap stainless sheet. Barrels: Thumler's 3lb |
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