First attempt at a tumbler.

[1more4me]

I made this rock tumbler from parts of a scraped $30,000 bagel making machine and a couple croissant cutters.
Anyway the motor is a 1/12 horse with a 208-1 reducing gear. Has insane torque- 300 lbs/inch- but very slow. I had to try a few different sprocket combinations to finally get a rotation every 3 seconds. I know most don't like the idea of a PVC barrel- but it's what I had for $0 in it... Again- this was my first attempt- so does anyone see anything I've overlooked or can improve upon? I'm 20 days into the first 10lb batch of agate and assorted stones and it looks like it will make it... About 3-days into the pre-polish and feels like it will be months still before the next 10-11 days pass...
After polish is finished, I will burnish with Ivory soap- but for how long? I’ve seen suggestions from 2 hours to 7 days... Suggestions?
Thanks- Chuck

[Arid-Zone-A-seeker]

I was wondering if you put any type of baffel or flats inside to help the stone to tumble? Most tumblers use them. Pvc is east to cut and glue. use a sixty degree cut on a flat piece and just glue it up.
Speed looks good,and it should last forever!

[1more4me]

Arid zona-
Yeah, I glued in a couple of 1" x 3" sections of pvc into it. Seem they are tumbling well- at least enough to keep the slurry fluid. I get to look at them today!- going to start final polish today- 1 more week- Can't Wait!!!

[1more4me]

Couldn't take it! Had to snap a picture or two of them before they finished...
From today -they still have 5-6 days of Polish (1000grit Aluminum Oxide) then a little burnishing.

Does look like with the thinner volume the tumble is pretty rough on them- too many chips and broken corners. So I added about 3/4 of a pound of plastic pellets. Sure made it a lot quiter!
Anyway- they are not finished- but enjoy...

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PEACE

[Eu_citzen]

Instead of pellets why not try fine sand? Could also work, I think. Never tried it though.

[Arid-Zone-A-seeker]

Chips,can occur when the material is not all the same hardness, I see some wood in there, and maybe some L. Sup. agates, you might try adding more material,rather than pellets. Undercuts, or low spots are just part of it. Some times you can pregrind a nice piece on a wheel before throwing into the mix.
Always keep the barrel at least 3/4 full. When I tumble i keep a bunch of not so pretty stuff, just for keeping the barrel fuller. This is for all grits/stages. You want the stones to grind, not fall off the top of the mix on to the bottom stones.
You got some pretty rocks there.

E-U,,,tried silica sand once,,it just packed up cause it was just as soft as the stones. And made it harder to wash the mix.