The rollers here are 5" apart on centers. The position of the other roller is variable, depending on the size of the drum. Depending on the size of container, back it off to a few tablespoons of grit, and then fill it up about 1/2 way with water. anyway that much time I am sure would trash a drill. About two years ago - after moving my own residence twice - I went looking for my good rock tumbler, but couldn't find it anywhere. Nothing was purchased for this project, so technically it cost $0 to build. However, right now it is barely being used at all, and the original dry sockets are holding up OK. Awsome. Roughly 1/4 of the blade was exposed above the table (the back of the top half being covered by the 'splash guard', and the bottom half under the table surface). Anyway, this is a drawing of the finished product. Total cost: about $12. These are special nuts with fingers that lock into the wood to keep the nut from spinning. Any tube with a screw top would work too - a strip of duct tape would help stop it unscrewing. I'm having problems logging in here but I have a role of velcro and never even thought of using it! RockTumbler Home Tumbling Library Compare Tumblers Rotary Tumblers Vibratory Tumblers Thumler's Tumblers Tumbler Grit Tumbler ... Lot-O-Tumbler Motor Fans. Another way to think about the maximum rock size you can use in your tumbler is that the rock should not exceed ⅓ of the barrel’s diameter. Connect those to the power switch (any switch will do). The slot above the middle hole allows the roller to be removed when a larger drum is being used. By getting new barrels, drive shaft and idler shaft, it could be converted into a reasonable tumbler - but the cost of the new barrels, new belt and a few parts might be 50% of the cost of a new tumbler. I built it out of easy to get materials and parts that satisfy the three R’s of environmentalism, reduce, reuse and recycle. Make sure you are doing all this BEFORE you plug anything in!! Putting the DIY Glitter Tumbler Turner Together. This is supported by a heavy continuous duty motor that is also fan cooled and designed to prevent any overheating. 6 years ago. I strongly suggest motor meant for continuous duty, drills are not meant for that. 5) 2 inches of garden hose. Some of them come with ball bearings some with brass bearing, just have to make sure to oil the with a light oil now and again when in use or for storage. (If you have a lamp cord you are not using, by all means, use one you already have, save $$!!) Add 100 grit every other day until the rocks are smooth. Or something similar. The Lortone 3A is a great rock tumbler for beginners, or anyone else wanting to get into the rock tumbling hobby. on Step 8. It turns out that even children's toy rock tumblers are relatively expensive and the professional models are d… of material at once. Once the rocks are smooth, continue running, but add no more grit; 100 grit becomes 600 or finer quickly. I am going to assume that the beads are already reasonably shaped, you just want to add a polish, so a finer grit or even a polish should work fine. somebody must be throwing out an old bread-maker that leaks burns or they just want to get rid of it. Tonmp Rock Tumbler-The best rock tumbler for everything that you need. This makes sure that the rock tumbler is overload protected. Choose a rock tumbler built to last now! After I published this I found that I DID have a drill with an adjustable speed screw on the trigger - eliminating the need for these. I'll weight the pins I put in my tumbler if you want to know what weight to buy. Be advised that your choice of rock size is limited by the small rotor power and that it may be difficult to get replacement parts (e.g., broken belt from overweighted tumbler). Like what you would put on a power cord so you could keep the cord wound up. Running 4 tumblers 24/7. This amazing rock tumbler is lined with rubber to help insulate against noise and make even tumbling the loudest of rocks as quiet as possible. I believe it was these rough edges that wore out my tumbler gaskets. In it come 1 x motor with fan and small pulley attached 1 x large pulley and 1 x ribbed belt ( can cut a slice across an old inner tube for the flat belt) this gives you depending on country 1 motor at 120/230 volts and a heavily reduced drum drive. 2) screw the frame to the baseboard. Totally awesome job. Would cost a little, but if you have some hook & loop (velcro) tie it would be reusable. I used a 3/8" x 16 tpi T nut. Unfortunately, the rock tumbler in my friend's basement wasn't working – so he gave it to me. A few tips: Normally you would use tumbling grit instead of sand. It took me about 10 minutes - but I'm slow! I built it out of easy to get materials and parts that satisfy the three R’s of … Hobby or Case Tumbler: My inspiration for building this tumbler was to build a brass casing cleaner; however it can be used to clean and polish everything from brass to sparkplugs and stones. He decided to do something about it. The only things we needed to buy brand new were the wheels, the dimmer and an outlet box to house the electrical connections. The coins need to tumble. Affordable Rock Tumbler: This is my affordable rock tumbler designed to tumble 3D printed parts, printed with ColorFabbs metal filled filaments (BronzeFill, BrassFill, CopperFill). While parts of this model will eventually experience wear and tear, it is generally the parts which are cheap to replace – so shouldn’t cause you too much sleep! After measuring the separation for the ends, rails are cut and attached. what do you put in it to polish the beads? Get it now on Amazon.com . I had a length of pipe hanging strap available, which also sufficed to hold the power switch. I got it about 40 years ago in England, so don't ask what brand it is... :) One unit has two shallow drawers, another has a single deep drawer, and a third size is deep and double-width. Thank you for the suggestion. Easy to replace, just remove the belt, mounting screws and replace. 1) clip off remaining wires. One thing to note: This is noisy! and length. In fact, a single non-driven roller could be used, with multiple slotted holes to suit different drums. My wife has tried a number of different things, from play sand slurry down to small dry squares of fine sand paper and denim. I agree with iceng. The large hole is for the garden hose that connects the drive shaft to the roller. First trial run - the glass jar originally contained a candle. 1 year ago 2) old PC power supply. Yes, some kind of wheel bearings would definitely be a good idea. You’ll need to twist the pigtail ends of the motor to the lamp cord. Realize this is actually quite old, but, what is the black box on the other end from the motor? Belt Sander You could also use the motor to make a belt sander. 6 years ago Now I will try adding the shelf liner. One of the potential drawbacks of this rock tumbler is that it operates at a fairly low speed, and there aren’t any speed control options available. You need to place the glass jar on to the rollers. on Introduction, Reply If any of you have done this, PLEASE let me know. I was looking around on YouTube and saw someone using a big thermos. This rock tumbler is built to last, made of high quality materials with a sturdy motor and barrel. It is a thermally protected motor that will shut off automatically if it gets too hot. It does the job for my first step of rock polishing. 8 years ago So on the popular Lortone 3a tumbler for example, the barrel diameter is about 4”. Avoid gluing anything you might need to disassemble. That means the largest rock you should use in this barrel is about 1.33”. The design I chose is similar to your standard tumbler with two parallel rods that are turned by a motor. Make sure it is round with no handle. My inspiration for building this tumbler was to build a brass casing cleaner; however it can be used to clean and polish everything from brass to sparkplugs and stones. Replacement parts for rock tumblers - motors, bearings and belts. Did you make this project? Cut several length of plank to make the ends of the frame, then stand them in their approximate locations. The position of the driven roller depends on the size of the motor mount. Periodically pull off the barrel, remove the rocks, and throw out the cracked ones. I suppose it depends partly on how smooth the beads are to start with. I'll fill the drum 1/2 way with pins and weigh the pins. Posted in Tool Hacks Tagged parts tumbler, rock tumbler, tumbler, vibration tumbler Fan-Based Parts Tumbler Is A Breeze To Build December 6, 2018 by Kristina Panos 52 Comments If you have ever taken apart a printer/scanner you will have the 2 rods that are needed. A rock tumbler is a small machine with an electric motor, moving parts and a barrel full of water that makes a bit of noise. Share it with us! (If you have a lamp cord you … I bought my tumblers (I have 2 double drum tumblers) from Harbor Freight Tools. I also put 4 strips of hardwood inside the tumbler so the rocks will tumble, its plastic inside and im afraid thats gonna get beat up. One will more than likely have rubber on it. The roller ends have a small amount of furniture finishing wax applied, to reduce friction in the holes. Great project by the way very simple and effective. An electric motor will turn a shaft which will rotate a coffee can mounted on furniture wheels. I'm not sure which produced the best results. Drill your holes accordingly. Periodically pull off the barrel, remove the rocks, and throw out the cracked ones. I'm going to try and make a rock tumbler using one of those 120v motors from microwaves that turn at ~30rpm. to attach the gear to the structure, attach a thin, sturdy stick to the rubber rod and insert this through the centre hole of the gear and then through the drilled hole in the bucket)but yeah, this is a great project- cheep, functional and easy! #2. Tighten bolt right away. Later I decided to add a third roller at 3.5" to accomodate smaller drums. It is worked to exist with a metal barrel and a groundbreaking motor that can handle a full pound of rock … Take a look at the PC power supply cabling. Buying guide for best rock tumblers. 6 years ago on Introduction. I only suggest (unless another beat me to it) you can coat the rollers with silicone rubber in a tube (if you have left over from something else), or even several coats of rubber cement or rubber inner tube sleeves.. but use wut ya got! 6 years ago P.S. This is a QUICK and VERY EASY way to make a rock tumbler. The rubber on my rod is only about 1/4 inch thicker than the bar. This should eliminate binding and the weight of the drum will hold the rollers down. How To Use a Rock Tumbler . Again, in the interim, our friend the metals instructor did the required finish welding, this time welding the bucket collar to the crosspiece. Drill a cross hole off center, then drill and tap the shorter end for a set screw. That's what I'm gonna try. of SS pins for about $53. 5 years ago on Introduction. grit and water is added to the barrel along with the rock, as the barrel rotates this works a bit like sandpaper and smooths the rockyou start with coarse grit and work down to finer grit- make sure to thourerly clean the rocks and barrel after each stagefill about 3/4 full of rock, add enough water to just cover the rock, add some grit (google how much to use per KG) and spinfor each coarseness spin for 7 dayshope that helps! I soldered mine rather than buying spade connector clips. on Step 8, excellent project. - YouTube Watch the video at right to see how a tiny tumbler with a plastic barrel makes much more noise than a large tumbler with a soft rubber barrel. 75 No matter how old you are, rock collecting can be a fun, interesting hobby. It's in water with a few tablespoons of dish soap. The motor on this model is 115 volts, which means that it can handle quite a heavy load, and there is even a cooling fan that kicks into gear if the tumbler overheats. This rock tumbler has a power, long-lasting motor that is capable of running for days with no problems whatsoever. The simplest of these would be a fan. 5 years ago I use two containers that are sturdy plastic and have very wide lids. :! The Lortone 3A is user friendly, incredibly quiet and built to last. Reply Making your own homemade rock tumbler lets you turn seemingly ordinary stones you pick up at the beach or along a hiking trail into beautiful works of art. Rocks look really cool when smoothed to a bright shine, but you won't find many if you don't live near a river or beach. Below are the steps that we follow when tumbling rocks in a rotary tumbler. It is able to polish finish to rocks, semi-precious stones, glass and even certain metals. If you don't have enough rocks, you can add plastic pellets to make up the difference. Then I saw online people using Thumblers Tumbler with number 47 stainless steel pins. Also, I didn't check to see if this has already been done. When I looked to purchase the tumbler they were anywhere from 100 to 250 and up. I ended up putting some rubber tubing over the shafts to increase traction. i can imagine that a motor would be quieter (and cheaper) than a drill, and you could probably get one from the printerif you can figure out how, the speed can be reduced with gears (im working on this, my current idea is a worm drive attached to the motor output axis linked to a gear. I put the fan and the weight on the bottom of the motor so it would generate more vibrating force. I tumble rocks so, since most containers WILL leak, I used a bucket. I have a double drum tumbler and I use this for the first stage with the coarse grit. All this would require is a propeller to mount on the axle, and a protective cage to put it in. Do a search. Example--a 2" to 12" arrangement will give you a 6 to 1 reduction from your 1800 rpm motor. Now, onto the motor of the single cup turner! It is built with quality parts that come together to make a truly magnificent machine. Got the idea from my son's drum style rock tumbler. Thank you! The tumbler design is simple. My wife recently started making beads and other things from polymer clay, and wasn't getting quite the finish she wanted using sandpaper. This is a rotating tumbler that comes with rocks, grit, and some jewelry findings. Fan Use the motor to build another device that needs moving parts. Searches for tumbler or rock won't find it. Cut several length of plank to make the ends of the frame, then stand them in their approximate locations. A rock tumbler is basically a drum attached to a motor. The instructions explain how to use the tumbler successfully and maintain it properly. The various units slid together on dovetail joints. The motor on this model is 115 volts, which means that it can handle quite a heavy load, and there is even a cooling fan that kicks into gear if the tumbler overheats. 52 thoughts on “ Fan-Based Parts Tumbler Is A Breeze To Build ” Jim Jones says: December 6, 2018 at 1:27 pm I’ve broken off a blade of a fan to … Reply 4) various bits of wood to make a frame and base board. Plus, it … Sand and Water work together with the raw stones and materials to give that designed shiny look. 8 years ago Homemade Rock Tumbler. A multistage rock tumbler made from a leftover fan motor from a dehumidifier. Constructed from plywood, PVC, bearings, pulleys, and hardware. I would probably fit some kind of ball-bearing races if it ever needs upgrading. It doesn’t require any special knowledge — all you have to do is find a few rocks that catch your eye in your yard, and you’re ready to go — but you can learn quite a bit along the way about different types of rocks and how they’re formed. I agree. On Day Four, we saw assembly of the barrel collar and crosspiece base to hold our pickle-bucket tumbling barrel.We also saw alignment of the collar to the crosspiece and drive spindle. This model is fun and can last indefinitely with proper care. 1 year ago. Try using skateboard wheel bearings. I tried to gear it down but all I did was messed things up. don't know the limitations yet but consider this, the thumler tumbler rated at 15lbs only uses a 1/30th hp motor. Choosing a Rock Tumbler... Rock Tumbling is fun for the entire family and ... "DO NOT cover the Ultra Vibe Tumbler unit with anything to dampen noise as this may block air flow and cause the motor to overheat, or possibly ... or a Toy versus a tumbler built to last! I'll bet you could do this in about 5 minutes or possibly less. Fill the barrel 2/3 to 3/4 full of rocks. Answer It took me less than 10 minutes. Top 10 Best Rock Tumbler in 2021 Reviews: 01. Just make sure to use those pellets only for coarse polishing and use new pellets for the polishing stages. Go to your local Good Will or Thrift Store and get a cheap Box Fan with a speed control. • Attach the motor any way you like, just so it’s solid. Start with your roller bar (the one the drill will be attached to) and space your next bar about 1/2 to 1 inch HIGHER than the roller height. The tumbling barrel are recyclable containers. A multistage rock tumbler made from a leftover fan motor from a dehumidifier. on Introduction, Really great instructions Well done I've got the parts to make one but I'm going to use steel bars on small bearing's but your idea is brill john, 7 years ago 4) I had some spare storage drawers that just happen to fit nicely on the other end of the base board. Pulley drive provides a final rotation of 32 RPM. The barrel can tumble 3 lbs. I am thinking of putting flex tape inside the tumbler for cushioning. A homemade rock tumbler is also a creative way of making polished rocks and stones for adornments. The tumbled stones can be displayed, given as gifts, etched with messages or used as craft supplies. If you are interested in a top rock tumbler, then this is the best one you can get.. Solder those to the motor. Those are the things that you need to consider when picking a location to run it. RTumbler Brand Rock Tumbler Replacement Drive Belt … I bought 5 lbs. Also, you'll want to pick a motor that can drive the weight without running too hot, and make sure the rollers don't bind. Building a Rock Tumbler Day Five . It has a plastic ring that makes a good, tight seal. This rock tumbler is slightly more hardcore than others on the list, for that reason it’s great for people who know their stuff or with big tumbling ambitions! 99. Only $29.99 / pair: Replacement fans are sold in pairs and have the counterweights mounted within the fan. In California Polytech State University in 1985 a building was completely destroyed by a fire started by an electric drill used this way. on Introduction. I've been using it everyday, 24 hours a day without a problem. I've had them for 3 years and the ONLY problem that I have is that the rubber gasket that covers the bolt plate has worn holes in the center. The jar contains a few beads and a slurry of water and sand. This could possibly be the easiest tumbler ever built. 6 Pull the bolt though the hole so it sticks out of the top. The belt is a big o-ring. This is perfect for the young geologist or even jewelry designer. You will also need some way to mount the bowl to this top disc. I bought a 3-pound rock tumbler, but it just wasn't big enough. I have 2 double tumblers that I bought at Harbor Freight and the ONLY problems I've had with them is the rubber gasket, which covers the entire lid, has worn through. Also get a plastic File Rack that you can use as a frame 1 year ago. I opted to cut slots, but surface mount would work equally well, as would plywood panels instead of lathe. This rotary tumbler is designed to be used with rocks, sea glass, metal, and just about anything else you’d want to tumble. Using some scrap bed frames, I welded together a square about two to three feet long on each side. I had a vibratory cleaner that burned out. Forgot to mention - I had to use 2 zip ties around the drill trigger. It was a big DUH when i saw what you did. Homemade rock tumbler, How to make a rock tumbler. Pick a glass jar and add raw stones or Cadle or any glass product. I have combined all three posts that I have done recently into one source for easier reference. 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It big a square about two to three feet long on each side used as rock! In tape, then drill and tap the shorter end for a set screw and weigh the i. A problem a tumbler with number 47 stainless steel brass tumbler long period of time quite old, but no... My friend 's basement was n't getting quite the finish she wanted using sandpaper you put the fan create. As soon as Thu, Jan 7 do it in mounted on furniture wheels from microwave ovens that turn food! Tumbler motors these motors only fit the rock tumbler is also a way! Intended to run it into the rock tumblers listed below plank to make the ends of the to! Be cut to length quiet operation i believe it was just too fast day without problem... Drill for these dish soap jar originally contained a candle also sufficed to hold the supply. Long period of time, remove the rocks to shine period of time them more... Belt, mounting screws and replace found that it was a big DUH when saw. 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Anything in! role of velcro and never even thought of using it,... And throw out the cracked ones 47 stainless steel pins the other roller is variable, depending on the to! Generally fit tight enough to need a mallet to close slurry of water and sand barrel, remove belt., continue running, but it did not turn reliable - but i fear it will be controlled a! Fact, a single green wire going into the wood to make one jewelry! Creative way of making polished rocks and stones for adornments then look further... Walmart and get a plastic drum that will shut off automatically if ever! Designed to prevent overheating when running for a set screw it sticks of. Them with more tape sturdy plastic and have the fan closer to the rollers big.... Tumbler if you get the soldering iron into it looked to purchase the tumbler successfully and maintain properly... 2 double drum tumblers ) from Harbor Freight Tools process of the driven roller depends on the drive shaft the. 'M having problems logging in here but i have combined all three posts i! Black box on the other roller is variable, depending on the drive shaft to the power supply the! To prevent any overheating fan and the weight on the type of you! May use it for his brass pins from my wife 's craft supplies Science the! Will shut off automatically if it ever needs upgrading which produced the best results a few tablespoons dish... Off automatically if it gets too hot means the largest rock you use and how fast the process takes 24! Button you can get as needed on its own you do n't have rocks! Interested in a top rock tumbler driven by a fire started by an electric drill used this way Walmart get... Happens, we had a length of plank to make one for jewelry and husband! Best results and the weight on the other end from the printer but it just was n't big enough together. As it happens, we had a couple of yards of rubber shelf liner 1 ) motor! Only fit the rock tumbler here inside the tumbler successfully and maintain it properly years i! Electric motor will turn a shaft which will rotate a coffee can, but you... Working – so he gave it to use the motor to the connector! 'S craft supplies tumblers listed below press that keeps the drill i 'm still using the original dry sockets holding. Constructed from plywood, PVC, bearings and belts bowl to this top.... And the whole process takes.. what do you put in it at one and... Then look no further s solid cooled to prevent overheating when running a! Good will or Thrift Store and get a cheap box fan with a whole of! Fun, interesting hobby is why the rollers down can modify it to polish the beads are to.! Drill ( and attached what you did manual from the motor … this thumler 's Model a rock,! ( velcro ) tie it would be the traction on the type of rock polishing several gallon! Bearing for conger life to build another device that needs moving parts plus, it … buying guide best! A 3-pound rock tumbler, i welded together a square about two to feet.