petrifried
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 100
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Post by petrifried on Mar 19, 2016 12:52:25 GMT -5
Is a 1/2 shaft strong enough to support 3 12lb lortone barrels? It seems questionable but I already have a few 1/2 inch solid steel rods laying around the shop and a bunch of pulleys with a 1/2 bore... Thanks
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2016 16:26:55 GMT -5
What is the span?
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petrifried
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 100
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Post by petrifried on Mar 19, 2016 17:04:38 GMT -5
The span would be right around 30 inches
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on Mar 19, 2016 21:53:39 GMT -5
Grab a piece of 1/2 ~30" long and see how what it takes to bend it. Personally, I'd go 5/8".
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 19, 2016 22:08:37 GMT -5
Keep in mind that every different shaft diameter changes the barrel rpm. Even adding rubber hose changes it again. I went with 3/4 just because I tend to over build everything and pillow block bearings in 3/4 were readily available.
Chuck
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petrifried
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 100
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Post by petrifried on Mar 20, 2016 1:45:26 GMT -5
I am going to model it after the homebrew tumbler on page 2 and similar to your design chuck! I could use more capacity and would like to have a separate unit running at a slower rpm. I not quite ready to get a vibe yet cuz I am enjoying the time it takes to polish in a rotary right now. I think im going to try to just use what I have and hope for the best. The 1/2 inch rod I have feels somewhat flexible as it is right now in its 8' length, but once I cut it down to 36 inches or so i think it should be more ridgid. I'm going to order the pillow blocks by tomorrow.
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petrifried
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 100
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Post by petrifried on Mar 20, 2016 1:54:31 GMT -5
I just learned that I need to be using cold rolled steel and I'm pretty sure that is not what I have, so I will probably step up to 5/8 in that case. Would garden hose be good to use to cover the roller shafts?
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 20, 2016 11:17:42 GMT -5
Tumbler shafts don't turn very fast, what you have may work fine. Main thing would be to make sure they're straight. 1/2" spanning 30 inches may be too flexible, but a support bearing somewhere towards the center may be all you need to strengthen it up.
Good luck with the build. Be sure to post lots of pix. We love seeing builds come together!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 20, 2016 17:28:49 GMT -5
Show results when put together... Thumbs up
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 24, 2016 17:12:19 GMT -5
You need cold roll to fit whatever bearings you order. Garden hose with braiding or "Tygon tubing" available at most hardware stores works fine. The venerable old HP tumblers used bronze bushings. If you live where they have swamp coolers they are readily available and cheap in 3/4" or 1". Better to build stronger than you need rather than having to add support bearings later. So called 12lb drums can be very heavy loaded.
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jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Mar 28, 2016 11:39:52 GMT -5
i have 3/4" cold roll for a tumbler that holds three of the 12 lb barrels. I just refurbished a single 12 lb barrel tumbler that had 5/8" cold roll.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Mar 28, 2016 12:07:26 GMT -5
Go 3/4". I got mine here... Metal Depot . They shipped fast, shipping and pricing was reasonable.
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