uh............. no thanks.
It's a rainy slow day today, so I won't ask for that half hour of my life back as the videos were
interesting/entertaining.
But... (the list is long!)
That chain drive unit seemed really noisy to me. Anyone else think so?
In all the years I have been using Thumbler's Model B units, I have never had a belt pulley crack or "waller out" and spin on the shaft.
The after market belts he showed were hollow. I don't understand using rubber tubing to make a belt. (?)
I found a replacement belt online for much less cost that the original replacement belts that I buy in bulk from the Rock Shed, But they failed to meet up to my expectations. So I just bite the bullet and buy a dozen of the proper belts at a time.
So, towards the end of the 2nd video he shows a cost sheet breakdown with like 50 bucks for the chain drive modification.
Figuring that all the time it took to locate and round up all the new pieces and to actually modify the unit, I am adding another 50 bucks for time and efforts. That's far less than my time is actually worth to me even if I'm doing nothing at all!
So... $100 to switch from the original belt to the chain drive.
I get around 6 months from an original (or Rock Shed) belt (@ $4.50 each)
For 100 bucks I can get 22 belts. Call it 20 w/ the tax added.
At 6 months per belt, I can run that tumbler (belt replacement wise) for 10 years for less than the chain replacement hoopla.
And my machines are quieter.
Interesting video and I appreciate the MacGyvering and effort, but I will pass.