dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Feb 6, 2024 22:24:09 GMT -5
I'm grateful for this thread. I'm going to attempt to repair/extend the life of some Thumler's 3lb barrels.
Specifically, I used this thread to identify the appropriate adhesive - E6000.
I'm ordering some plastic and aluminum discs that I will use to reinforce aging bottoms, and lids that have wear holes.
Are there any reasons why a patch with plastic is superior to using aluminum?
Also, is patching the outside of the barrel better than patching the inside - won't loose barrel volume/capacity?
Cheers
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Post by southernlakehuronguy on Feb 7, 2024 8:48:45 GMT -5
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Post by Bob on Feb 7, 2024 14:20:12 GMT -5
...but I believe it MAY leave metallic scratches on your stones, just as rinsing the stones in a metal colander, I learned that lesson... Good point. Think I experienced that long ago and so is probably why I no longer use a metal colander for stones coming out of any grit size smaller than 220, but only use plastic ones. I don't remember for sure it is was a scratch, but it might have been a mark on the stones that annoyed me. I speculate that grit could be embedded in colander surfaces, regardless of whether metal or plastic. So I the plastic ones color coded like my lids for each grit level just in case that is true. Your comment on this thread cause it to ping to my attention even though a few years old. Basically I think all my lids are patched now and working fine--between 10 and 20 of them. |
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Post by southernlakehuronguy on Feb 7, 2024 15:03:09 GMT -5
...but I believe it MAY leave metallic scratches on your stones, just as rinsing the stones in a metal colander, I learned that lesson... Good point. Think I experienced that long ago and so is probably why I no longer use a metal colander for stones coming out of any grit size smaller than 220, but only use plastic ones. I don't remember for sure it is was a scratch, but it might have been a mark on the stones that annoyed me. I speculate that grit could be embedded in colander surfaces, regardless of whether metal or plastic. So I the plastic ones color coded like my lids for each grit level just in case that is true. Your comment on this thread cause it to ping to my attention even though a few years old. Basically I think all my lids are patched now and working fine--between 10 and 20 of them. I use a nylon meshed colander after 400 grit. I also rinse the end tumbles in each grit and dump them in a bucket of clean water afterwards in hopes the grit settles. So far, so good. No glory rocks as yourself, Ashley and Quartz have had, and many others. Truthfully, Ashsleys' tumbles are what I initially saw on this forum and was blown away. I only use rotary tumblers and I am happy with my results. Quartzs' technique I followed in using leather in the polish stage dramatically changed my results. Thank you Sir. I've learned a lot on this forum and am so appreciative of all the wisdom and experiences you all have shared. |
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Post by Bob on Feb 7, 2024 15:43:22 GMT -5
southernlakehuronguy, this forum is so useful and we can appreciate it very much. We all no doubt have our own little habits to make a few idle minutes go by while waiting in an airport or wherever. After getting caught up with the news, my fav thing is to dive into this forum, see the new posts, and smile and think "boy can I relate--went through that for 3 years myself". Shared misery and all that. And shared joy too.
This hobby takes so dang much patience. When I bought that big Lortone C40 a few years into this hobby, I thought I had arrived. Put all my petrified wood in the first batch, several years of tedious collecting, a full load of just that. Ruined it all! After visiting with Lortone, found out it had shipped with wrong size v-belt sheaves and RPMs were too high! Was over 30 when should have been 15-18! Sad pile of shattered rocks. None colorful, just browns and blacks and tans from Oklahoma mostly.
Now I know to never change anything but one small step at a time to see what happens first before putting anything precious into the new procedure. Took me 2-3 years to find that petrified wood all over again.
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Feb 7, 2024 18:21:30 GMT -5
Aluminum has a hardness < 3, why would it cause scratches?
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Post by southernlakehuronguy on Feb 7, 2024 19:29:41 GMT -5
Aluminum has a hardness < 3, why would it cause scratches? I don't know that it would. I said it MAY, not that I know anything. I was only trying to caution that idea. It would be a bummer to have to go through everything in ordering the disc, gluing them in place and all. He would more than likely be ordering round disc, my Thumlers barrels are octagon, so there would be a glue ring around it's perimeter that would be subjected to the grit and possibly be worn away by the grit. A simple tire patch is cheap, and as I stated in my case, the patches are fairing well in 8 months of use. A Thumler AR 2 barrel is $ 35, a patch in comparison is pennies. There are too many other frustrations (I keep saying it's a hobby and isn't suppose to be frustrating), that spring upon us in this hobby. Just sharing my experiences trying to let others know what I have learned. |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Feb 7, 2024 19:50:05 GMT -5
Bob and southernlakehuronguyThanks guys! I'll give the rubber a try, and cool idea on the screen roller knife - I never would have thought of that one.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Feb 7, 2024 19:52:24 GMT -5
iamchris yeah I thought the same thing. I even looked up the hardness prior to considering it. That said I have seen Aluminum canoes leave streaks on stuff, so it might on rocks in a tumbler too.
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ts
starting to shine!
Member since March 2023
Posts: 36
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Post by ts on Mar 10, 2024 16:18:42 GMT -5
Yes, I buy that in 1'x4' sheets, in 1/4" and 1/8" thicknesses. The 1/4" I use for my 20lb and 40lb barrel gaskets and gasket repairs and new barrel bottoms. The 1/8" I use for same on my 12lb and 6lb barrels. It's easy to cut up with heavy duty scissors and sheet metal shears. I put in a new barrel bottom when the existing gets about 1mm thin in the middle. I don't replace it per se, but glue in a new bottom over the old one, completely from side-to-side perfect fit. I added that info even though I know you were posting about patching the lid liner. Bob, how did you go about tracing out the decagon shape of the barrel? |
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ts
starting to shine!
Member since March 2023
Posts: 36
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Post by ts on Mar 10, 2024 17:40:15 GMT -5
Bob are you using the rubber patch for the bottom or just for lud repairs? I need to reinforce the bottom of my Qt12 is rubber patches the preferred way to go?
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Post by Bob on Mar 12, 2024 9:27:39 GMT -5
Bob are you using the rubber patch for the bottom or just for lud repairs? I need to reinforce the bottom of my Qt12 is rubber patches the preferred way to go? Both. Doing the lids is easy because it doesn't matter too much if the circular patch is a perfect circle or not and the size of it varies depending upon how big the thin area is in the middle of the lid liner. But doing the bottom is more work because of that decagon. I had to made a cardboard pattern that I just keep of course. And I make sure to cut the patch--a new false bottom--very carefully so that it fits just about perfectly. This takes some care. And I glue it in, make sure thoroughly and no air bubbles, and press it down and let a little ooze up about the edge inside and swish that around carefully with my finger. I have some Lorton 12lb barrels that probably are in their 5th year with a new bottom inside like that. I've also done it on one of my Lortone 20lb barrels. |
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ts
starting to shine!
Member since March 2023
Posts: 36
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Post by ts on Mar 12, 2024 18:10:43 GMT -5
Bob are you using the rubber patch for the bottom or just for lud repairs? I need to reinforce the bottom of my Qt12 is rubber patches the preferred way to go? Both. Doing the lids is easy because it doesn't matter too much if the circular patch is a perfect circle or not and the size of it varies depending upon how big the thin area is in the middle of the lid liner. But doing the bottom is more work because of that decagon. I had to made a cardboard pattern that I just keep of course. And I make sure to cut the patch--a new false bottom--very carefully so that it fits just about perfectly. This takes some care. And I glue it in, make sure thoroughly and no air bubbles, and press it down and let a little ooze up about the edge inside and swish that around carefully with my finger. I have some Lorton 12lb barrels that probably are in their 5th year with a new bottom inside like that. I've also done it on one of my Lortone 20lb barrels. Is it the 6x6 rubber that fits the QT12? |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Mar 13, 2024 14:14:13 GMT -5
So I patched up 2 of my 3lb Thumler's barrels, the third I'm going to keep for 500AO and finer grits - it shouldn't wear through so quickly.
On the tops I used a 4" diameter 1/8" thick piece of black PVC. For the barrels: one I used the same black PVC, the other I used a 4" diameter 1/16" thick piece of aluminum. They went for a week and worked good. This week is their second week since the repairs. If the aluminum doesn't leave marks on the rocks that would definitely be my preferred material. We will see how long they last . . .
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 23, 2024 19:59:38 GMT -5
Bob I asked about repairing Harbor Freight barrels and lids and was sent here to this wonderous thread of yours and got answers many of my questions. I've made a list of what I will need to get to make the repairs and am thinking positive about the outcome ! Thanks for your help!
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Post by Bob on Sept 25, 2024 17:38:07 GMT -5
You're welcome. This methods have worked so well that I've rarely had to throw away a lid liner and this is my 11th year of tumbling.
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mirkee
starting to spend too much on rocks
Started tumbling a couple of months ago but now have four tumblers. Very interested in the hobby.
Member since March 2024
Posts: 125
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Post by mirkee on Oct 19, 2024 22:58:50 GMT -5
I ordered a patch kit for my HF 3lb. barrels and the fix is not durable that way. I now plan to get the best tire patch I can and reinforce all my barrels before they get hose in them. I'll do my 4 HF barrels and my 6 Lortones as well. It's better for me to do when I don't need to than to be rushing to do it when they fail.
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