Post by Chris on Jun 8, 2004 20:41:12 GMT -5
A great big HOOOWDY all.
Well after a week of reading to get through 38 pages of posts, you guys sure do write alot, but hey what else to do while waiting for rocks. I finally registered.
My grandfather gave me his OLD. "1980" Plastic tumbler for
my 3 1/2 yr. old daughter and I to get started with, about 2 weeks ago. ;D
It was never really used, cause it was too loud for grandma, but good for us cause it only ever ran one or two batches of stones. ;D
Well after finding this forum while looking for replacement grit,
Now I see why this tumbler (with one teeny barrel)
is completely inadequate. So grandpa and I are going to build a monster Tumbler with barrels for each stage, So I can begin to polish the 5gallon buckets full of agate he's collected over the years. Along with every rock my kids seen since she was big enough to start picking em up LOL.
Ok so here goes. with a couple of noob questions, since we're still in the design stages.
1 Planning on using 4" or larger abs for my barrels,We are also planning on using clear lexan for one end cap so we can see inside. Anyone using a homemade tumbler, what length is standard for barrels? Can we make them like a foot long if they're watertight? Or would that mess up the equations for rocks + grit + h2o + filler? If that would be counterproductive, then we'll just go to a larger dia 6" maybe.
2 Motor concerns. Since the little tumbler I have has been going nonstop for 2 weeks minus my daily checks.
What kinds of motors do most of you use for homebrews?
We were thinking about swamp cooler motors. Because we have a few extra laying around, and also since swamp coolers aren't unknown to have to run almost 24/7 for months at a time.
We just don't want to get her built, and have the motors burning out every few months or so due to no down time.
Well I have a million other questions, but there's plenty of time for those.
If you kind people will answer these for me then that will at least get us past the design stage so I can continue gathering supplies. Sure am looking forward to being a part of your wondrous community.
Well after a week of reading to get through 38 pages of posts, you guys sure do write alot, but hey what else to do while waiting for rocks. I finally registered.
My grandfather gave me his OLD. "1980" Plastic tumbler for
my 3 1/2 yr. old daughter and I to get started with, about 2 weeks ago. ;D
It was never really used, cause it was too loud for grandma, but good for us cause it only ever ran one or two batches of stones. ;D
Well after finding this forum while looking for replacement grit,
Now I see why this tumbler (with one teeny barrel)
is completely inadequate. So grandpa and I are going to build a monster Tumbler with barrels for each stage, So I can begin to polish the 5gallon buckets full of agate he's collected over the years. Along with every rock my kids seen since she was big enough to start picking em up LOL.
Ok so here goes. with a couple of noob questions, since we're still in the design stages.
1 Planning on using 4" or larger abs for my barrels,We are also planning on using clear lexan for one end cap so we can see inside. Anyone using a homemade tumbler, what length is standard for barrels? Can we make them like a foot long if they're watertight? Or would that mess up the equations for rocks + grit + h2o + filler? If that would be counterproductive, then we'll just go to a larger dia 6" maybe.
2 Motor concerns. Since the little tumbler I have has been going nonstop for 2 weeks minus my daily checks.
What kinds of motors do most of you use for homebrews?
We were thinking about swamp cooler motors. Because we have a few extra laying around, and also since swamp coolers aren't unknown to have to run almost 24/7 for months at a time.
We just don't want to get her built, and have the motors burning out every few months or so due to no down time.
Well I have a million other questions, but there's plenty of time for those.
If you kind people will answer these for me then that will at least get us past the design stage so I can continue gathering supplies. Sure am looking forward to being a part of your wondrous community.