br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 23, 2015 12:19:26 GMT -5
Hi all. I have searched the internet high and low for a solution to this problem to no avail. I know many threads have been created on this in the past. I have read them and tried the recommended solutions with no success. I have also tried the potential fixes from folks who have been in contact with the manufacturers customer service, again with no success.
My new A-R2 is drifiting to the sides of the axles and rubbing against the white "keeper" wheel. it's shaving off rubber, creating a lot of noise, and will eventually catch and send the tumbler off the tracks.
Here's a list of things I have done and tried as recommended by others:
- make sure the weight load is proper and within the recommended limit but not too light. - oil the motor and bushings with 3 in 1 motor oil - make sure the bushings are pressed down and securely in the holders - make sure it is perfectly level - try using a shim to get the barrels to drift to an equilibrium. IMO it is not a leveling issue. after several tests i can rule that out. I have had it sit at both sides with and without a shim under one side. I even got to the point where i was using post-it notes taking one note out at a time. it would never sit at center, the barrells always wanted to drift to one end or the other - make sure the motor wheels are aligned. - make sure the barrell openings are facing each other (i have also tried ever other positioning combination as well)
I think that's everything. There's no way it should be this difficult. Please, anyone who has had this machine and figured out a solution that is not listed above, help a brother out. Thank you!!
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 23, 2015 12:33:20 GMT -5
Now by some miracle they have both drifted AWAY from one another and are now both rubbing against each keeper wheel. what is going on?!
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 23, 2015 12:54:08 GMT -5
Now by some miracle they have both drifted AWAY from one another and are now both rubbing against each keeper wheel. what is going on?! So how do I get them to drift TOWARD each other in the center? That's what I need to know. I'm done screwing around witth the shims, I want this thing to tumble in the center on level ground as it should.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 23, 2015 14:27:14 GMT -5
No answers, but have you tried the tumbler in different locations?
Hopefully someone with this model tumbler will see this and have some suggestions for you.
And, welcome to the forum!
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 23, 2015 15:55:32 GMT -5
No answers, but have you tried the tumbler in different locations? Hopefully someone with this model tumbler will see this and have some suggestions for you. And, welcome to the forum! tried different locations. floors are perfectly flat. Hope others have an answer as well. thank you. right now ive got a screw driver wedged under as a shim, thought i had it for about 30 minutes then it was back to the left side. seems like it just wants to drift and stay to one side, i dont see how it will stay in the center. design flaw, IMO. Amazon reviews are littered with this issue. should have listed to them.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 23, 2015 16:30:29 GMT -5
The bright side is you can buy one of Thumler's 12 pound barrels (awesome barrel) and it will work on the same frame / motor.
Hope you come up with a fix!
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 23, 2015 21:05:21 GMT -5
The bright side is you can buy one of Thumler's 12 pound barrels (awesome barrel) and it will work on the same frame / motor. Hope you come up with a fix! Oh yeah im sure ill pick one up eventually that would be sweet. not ready to spend the extra money of the grit and stuff quite yet. Thanks!
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 24, 2015 12:57:26 GMT -5
So I am thrilled to say I fixed the issue! After probably hours of fiddling around with a screw driver as a shim I found the perfect positioning. I still think it's a shame that it has to be this way, the product should be able to work fine without this. I feel badly for those who never figure it out. It's been running for about 10 hours now with no issue, right in the center of the tracks. I marked the tumbler and flat head screw driver with a sharpie so I never lose the position. I really didn't think it was something a shim could resolve after all of the tests I did. I'd like to leave this thread on the forum for others to come across one day if they have the same problem. Here are some images of what things look like now:
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 24, 2015 13:09:28 GMT -5
Well there ya go!! Good job.
I have all my Thumler's on 2x4 frames, and had to use felt stickies - like you put on furniture legs - to even things out. Each and every tumbler needed tweaking, so it's not just you.
This thread won't go anywhere and hopefully someone else will get benefit from it.
So, now that you are here.... whatcha tumbling? We love pictures of rocks!
|
|
|
Post by parfive on Oct 24, 2015 13:26:15 GMT -5
Tumbler on a finished floor??
I’d put a piece of rug under it just for noise reduction.
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 24, 2015 13:29:13 GMT -5
Well there ya go!! Good job. I have all my Thumler's on 2x4 frames, and had to use felt stickies - like you put on furniture legs - to even things out. Each and every tumbler needed tweaking, so it's not just you. This thread won't go anywhere and hopefully someone else will get benefit from it. So, now that you are here.... whatcha tumbling? We love pictures of rocks! Thanks! I've read wayyy too many reviews on amazon and other forums with folks who had the same issue and either returned the product or gave up. It's really too bad. I put a review up on Amazon as well with the solution and images. I hope others see it because that was incredibly frustrating. Thanks for the warm welcome and your responses to this thread. I am tumbling a variety of gems and rocks all collected from Southern Nevada (Clark County). I started picking up rocks thinking they looked nice and it would just be a great display for the house and memory from some trips I had taken. Then as it happens with so many of us, one thing lead to another and I am a full on rock hound! I've got common opal (pink and orange), crystal quartz, chert and chalcedony, agates, and jasper. I collect it all myself and enjoy it that way as opposed to store bought. The feeling is just much more rewarding in my opinion. My girlfriend and I are hoping to start making some jewelry out of it and possibly start to sell it. that is down the road though, we haven't even fully tumbled our first batch! I was happy to see the wire wrapping section of the forum here, that will prove extremely helpful I am sure.
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 24, 2015 13:30:13 GMT -5
Tumbler on a finished floor?? I’d put a piece of rug under it just for noise reduction. haha...don't worry it's in a large closet. I put a towel under it and it got louder! Not sure how that happened.
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 24, 2015 13:35:24 GMT -5
Before tumbling. Yes I put everything in at the same time. I know this is practically a sin in the tumbling world to mix hardness. I'd just like to see first hand what rock types work together and what don't. I know I'll lose some in the process but there are always more rocks to collect, I'm not too worried.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 24, 2015 16:09:49 GMT -5
Should be a fun batch of rocks with all that variety.
With rocks having different hardness, you need to keep a closer eye on the progress and probably pull out rocks that are ready to move on before the others are ready. Add more rocks to make up for what you pull out and set the ready rocks aside until you have enough to go to the next grit step.
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 24, 2015 16:15:46 GMT -5
Should be a fun batch of rocks with all that variety. With rocks having different hardness, you need to keep a closer eye on the progress and probably pull out rocks that are ready to move on before the others are ready. Add more rocks to make up for what you pull out and set the ready rocks aside until you have enough to go to the next grit step. Interesting, thank you for the tip! I've heard you should keep them from drying out between stages, would you recommend keeping the ones that are ready to move on in a container of water while the others finish? I'm planning on doing them all for a week before I check on them, then run some for a few more days if need be. I'm tumbling them with 60/90 silicon carbide and big variety of size stones. 1/4 inch to 2 1/2 inch diameter. ~1/3 of the total weight in each size.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 24, 2015 16:23:58 GMT -5
Sounds like you have a good mix of stones.
Between rough grit stages I wouldn't bother with storing in water. Just clean the rocks you pull out well and set aside. Store in water if that makes you more comfortable. When you get to finer grits, 500, 1000 or polish then maybe, but you should probably only have rocks set aside after your coarse grit. Once you get to the next grit, they should all be able to ride to the end together.
You can check on them in a week, and maybe add some more grit, but the coarse cycle will probably take you a couple months. Any instructions saying - a week in 60/90 and move on to the next grit - are VASTLY understating the time needed.
Tumbling takes huge amounts of patience and LOTS of time!
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 24, 2015 16:29:50 GMT -5
I too would probably suggest setting the tumbler on something other than straight on the floor. Be aware, the lids on this model CAN pop off or leak. Doesn't happen often, but being prepared for such is a good idea. I set my tumblers up on frames in big tupperware/rubbermaid type bins. like so... These big models SELDOM leak, but if so, it will be easy to deal with.
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 24, 2015 19:27:45 GMT -5
Sounds like you have a good mix of stones. Between rough grit stages I wouldn't bother with storing in water. Just clean the rocks you pull out well and set aside. Store in water if that makes you more comfortable. When you get to finer grits, 500, 1000 or polish then maybe, but you should probably only have rocks set aside after your coarse grit. Once you get to the next grit, they should all be able to ride to the end together. You can check on them in a week, and maybe add some more grit, but the coarse cycle will probably take you a couple months. Any instructions saying - a week in 60/90 and move on to the next grit - are VASTLY understating the time needed. Tumbling takes huge amounts of patience and LOTS of time! woah, a couple months is the longest i have ever heard. the longest recommendation prior was 2 weeks. in all of the tutorials and threads i've read most seems to say 7-10 days. certainly news to me!
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 24, 2015 19:33:09 GMT -5
I too would probably suggest setting the tumbler on something other than straight on the floor. Be aware, the lids on this model CAN pop off or leak. Doesn't happen often, but being prepared for such is a good idea. I set my tumblers up on frames in big tupperware/rubbermaid type bins. like so... These big models SELDOM leak, but if so, it will be easy to deal with. good idea with the tubs! i feel like that would aplify the sound though no? and wow that is an incredible tumbler collection! must be fun. do you sell your stones or is this just a well invested hobby?
|
|
br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
|
Post by br347213 on Oct 24, 2015 22:32:45 GMT -5
do you suggest using a lower grit? ive seen some people here say they us 30 or 45. are there any pitfalls to that? also do you know a good bulk dealer for that kind of grit or any other for that matter? i bought my first batch from rocktumbler.com and they have a nice deal on 5lbs for each grit stage + 2.5 lb polish. but that's only with 60/90.
|
|