levib123
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2021
Posts: 2
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Post by levib123 on Mar 9, 2021 16:46:29 GMT -5
Hello, I am a blacksmith and metalworker looking to try barrel tumbling as a possible finishing method for an upcoming project. The object is quite large (4 ft x 2 ft x 6"), it is a movie replica axe done completely in steel with hardened damascus steel overlays, weighs about 120lbs. Needless to say I don't really want to hand sand it. Any sort of power grinder does not give me the finish I want, neither does sandblasting, I have found tumbled metal finishes are the kind I like the best. I don't have anywhere local that does tumbling so I'd have to send it away and that would be very expensive, also if I make one I'd like to use it on future projects. I am experienced in fabrication but I don't have any idea what I should consider for making a tumbler. Is it remotely possible to make something hat would do the trick? I am wanting to know the following things:
-How big of a barrel should I make? -what shape should the barrel be? (I know some tumblers are octagonal and such) -Would a 3hp motor be enough? If not, how much would I need? ( I have several extra 3hp 1725rpm motors) -What rpm to run it on? -should my motor turn a roller shaft that the barrel sits on or should I run a chain and gear system onto a shaft attached to the center of the barrel? -This axe has some areas of pretty complex geometry, would tumbling be able to get into all the spaces?
Thank you.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 9, 2021 17:03:05 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,549
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Post by RWA3006 on Mar 9, 2021 18:56:46 GMT -5
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levib123
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2021
Posts: 2
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Post by levib123 on Mar 9, 2021 21:14:12 GMT -5
Yeah Ive checked with all the local places I know of and ran several internet searches, also talked to some people. No one knows of or has a large tumbler or vibratory finisher. All the ones here locally I've been able to find are just small units for small parts. I'm in winnipeg manitoba by the way. Used machines like that are never on the market here either, but theres tons all over the states and in ontario. I've looked in to getting it done, theres some places in the states that would do it for 500 american, but I'd have to get it shipped there and back, which for a 120+ lb axe would cost me my kidneys. I always have loads of steel on hand and I'm a welder as well, might only need to buy a bit of boxtube for the frame. I also have motors I believe should do the trick. As far as expenses, I'm pretty sure I would only need to buy chain and gearbox, bearings, nuts and bolts, and tumbling media. That last one is the kicker. It would also cost alot for me to fill up a very large tank with good tumbling media like they would be using if I had it sent out. I don't know exactly how much I'd need, but it would be alot. I guess I just figured it would be cheaper than paying to have it shipped and done.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,549
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Post by RWA3006 on Mar 9, 2021 21:31:57 GMT -5
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Post by rmf on Mar 9, 2021 22:43:38 GMT -5
I knew a guy that made his own tumblers. Steel pipe like you use to hold up a billboard. He had some 30 inches in diameter that held up to 3000#. the pipe walls were 3/8' to 1/2" thick. Ran a shaft through the center and welded a flat plate on the end. the shaft went to a model A differential. they were various lengths 5' to 6' guessing. He cut a port in the side and welded bolts on to bolt a plate over the hole. He tumbled with one grit for 30 days then went to polish. That would probably work for your project. RPM probably 25-30. motor unknown. Motor size dependent on rolling resistance
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 11, 2021 6:41:56 GMT -5
Yeah Ive checked with all the local places I know of and ran several internet searches, also talked to some people. No one knows of or has a large tumbler or vibratory finisher. All the ones here locally I've been able to find are just small units for small parts. I'm in winnipeg manitoba by the way. Used machines like that are never on the market here either, but theres tons all over the states and in ontario. I've looked in to getting it done, theres some places in the states that would do it for 500 american, but I'd have to get it shipped there and back, which for a 120+ lb axe would cost me my kidneys. I always have loads of steel on hand and I'm a welder as well, might only need to buy a bit of boxtube for the frame. I also have motors I believe should do the trick. As far as expenses, I'm pretty sure I would only need to buy chain and gearbox, bearings, nuts and bolts, and tumbling media. That last one is the kicker. It would also cost alot for me to fill up a very large tank with good tumbling media like they would be using if I had it sent out. I don't know exactly how much I'd need, but it would be alot. I guess I just figured it would be cheaper than paying to have it shipped and done. Large single barrel tumblers just don't make sense to me. Better to have 10 - 25 pound barrels than 1 - 250 pound barrel IMO. Large rotary tumblers use abrasives up very quickly. Meaning fast slurry production meaning clean outs on much shorter intervals. No thanks. It is difficult enough doing a clean out on a 25 pound barrel much less a 50 pound barrel and God forbid a 250 pound barrel. Truth be known I would prefer 25 - 10 pound 6 to 8 inch diameter barrels run at high speeds for a fast grind.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,549
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Post by RWA3006 on Mar 11, 2021 8:03:27 GMT -5
Yeah Ive checked with all the local places I know of and ran several internet searches, also talked to some people. No one knows of or has a large tumbler or vibratory finisher. All the ones here locally I've been able to find are just small units for small parts. I'm in winnipeg manitoba by the way. Used machines like that are never on the market here either, but theres tons all over the states and in ontario. I've looked in to getting it done, theres some places in the states that would do it for 500 american, but I'd have to get it shipped there and back, which for a 120+ lb axe would cost me my kidneys. I always have loads of steel on hand and I'm a welder as well, might only need to buy a bit of boxtube for the frame. I also have motors I believe should do the trick. As far as expenses, I'm pretty sure I would only need to buy chain and gearbox, bearings, nuts and bolts, and tumbling media. That last one is the kicker. It would also cost alot for me to fill up a very large tank with good tumbling media like they would be using if I had it sent out. I don't know exactly how much I'd need, but it would be alot. I guess I just figured it would be cheaper than paying to have it shipped and done. Large single barrel tumblers just don't make sense to me. Better to have 10 - 25 pound barrels than 1 - 250 pound barrel IMO. Large rotary tumblers use abrasives up very quickly. Meaning fast slurry production meaning clean outs on much shorter intervals. No thanks. It is difficult enough doing a clean out on a 25 pound barrel much less a 50 pound barrel and God forbid a 250 pound barrel. Truth be known I would prefer 25 - 10 pound 6 to 8 inch diameter barrels run at high speeds for a fast grind. Another factor to consider is how easy or difficult it would be to handle barrels full of material. It didn't take me long to learn that one of my barrels pictured in the first photo I posted in this thread is plenty heavy to deal with. It's convenient to be able to just dump the rocks out of a barrel that's a manageable size, plus it's easier to clean them out. I know from experience if you have a large unit like the Mr DeBurr I showed earlier that it's not a casual operation to clean out media and change grit sizes.
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stewdogg
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 388
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Post by stewdogg on Mar 11, 2021 9:53:09 GMT -5
Yeah Ive checked with all the local places I know of and ran several internet searches, also talked to some people. No one knows of or has a large tumbler or vibratory finisher. All the ones here locally I've been able to find are just small units for small parts. I'm in winnipeg manitoba by the way. Used machines like that are never on the market here either, but theres tons all over the states and in ontario. I've looked in to getting it done, theres some places in the states that would do it for 500 american, but I'd have to get it shipped there and back, which for a 120+ lb axe would cost me my kidneys. I always have loads of steel on hand and I'm a welder as well, might only need to buy a bit of boxtube for the frame. I also have motors I believe should do the trick. As far as expenses, I'm pretty sure I would only need to buy chain and gearbox, bearings, nuts and bolts, and tumbling media. That last one is the kicker. It would also cost alot for me to fill up a very large tank with good tumbling media like they would be using if I had it sent out. I don't know exactly how much I'd need, but it would be alot. I guess I just figured it would be cheaper than paying to have it shipped and done. Large single barrel tumblers just don't make sense to me. Better to have 10 - 25 pound barrels than 1 - 250 pound barrel IMO. Large rotary tumblers use abrasives up very quickly. Meaning fast slurry production meaning clean outs on much shorter intervals. No thanks. It is difficult enough doing a clean out on a 25 pound barrel much less a 50 pound barrel and God forbid a 250 pound barrel. Truth be known I would prefer 25 - 10 pound 6 to 8 inch diameter barrels run at high speeds for a fast grind. I completely agree with you about clean outs, but he is looking to tumble a 4 foot long axe, so would need a single tumbler to do so.
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 11, 2021 10:49:56 GMT -5
Large single barrel tumblers just don't make sense to me. Better to have 10 - 25 pound barrels than 1 - 250 pound barrel IMO. Large rotary tumblers use abrasives up very quickly. Meaning fast slurry production meaning clean outs on much shorter intervals. No thanks. It is difficult enough doing a clean out on a 25 pound barrel much less a 50 pound barrel and God forbid a 250 pound barrel. Truth be known I would prefer 25 - 10 pound 6 to 8 inch diameter barrels run at high speeds for a fast grind. Another factor to consider is how easy or difficult it would be to handle barrels full of material. It didn't take me long to learn that one of my barrels pictured in the first photo I posted in this thread is plenty heavy to deal with. It's convenient to be able to just dump the rocks out of a barrel that's a manageable size, plus it's easier to clean them out. I know from experience if you have a large unit like the Mr DeBurr I showed earlier that it's not a casual operation to clean out media and change grit sizes. Maybe a lever mechanism on hydraulic that can slowly dump the barrel, possibly into a container on wheels. I don't know how you would separate the slurry and media, tho.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 11, 2021 12:04:00 GMT -5
I have my ultimate steel tumbler for rusty steel up to 4 feet long. Simply tilt it forward and turn it on. The contents spill into a bucket. A screen can be used on/over the bucket to separate media. The steel can be removed by hand as it walks down the pipe. This pipe barrel is 9 inches in diameter and a shower cap seal from evaporation. Not a problem using an 18 or 24 inch pipe for heavier loads. I just use granite gravel for rust removal. But abrasives do fine in it to with a slurry thickener to stick the abrasive together. Slant is adjustable. Crude but concept easily perfected. www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/albums/72157631885894259
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