12 inch rock crusher

[cheech]

I'm in the process of building a 12 inch diameter rock crusher I was wondering if I can get some information on what type and brand of chain is the best to use and how long does it typically last and what would be a good size motor to use any information would be greatly appreciated thank you

 

[Mad Machinist]

It all depends on your ore hardness and the size of rock you feed it. The smaller the rock, the longer your chains last.

 

[Assembler]

Hello
Around 1/4"-3/8" rock may be a good size for both impact and wear. Are you going to "Hard face" any of the impact mill?

 

[cheech]

The ore will most likely come from Arizona,ca I may hard face not sure I will crush it down to at least a half inch I am just trying to find out from experience of you guys on here of how long the chain typically last based on ore that you get the reason why am asking because this is my first build and I have a friend that says he can harden the chain even more so it may last twice as long and since I don't have easy access to ore or have a lot of it so I have no way to compare the two different types of chain so if someone can give me the type of chain name brand and how long it typically last for you I may be able to get him to treat some and ship it to you so you can compare if it last longer or not thank you for your replies greatly appreciate it

 

[arizau]

Just my logic.......It seems to me that hardening the chain will make it more brittle/subject to breaking/wear thus not really a good choice in an impact mill. No matter what you use you will be doing preventive maintenance anyway (changing chains on an "as needed" basis due to wear) so why not just use an inexpensive type of chain? You might just surprise yourself on how long they last.

Good luck.

 

[Assembler]

Hello
Around 1/4"-3/8" rock may be a good size for both impact and wear. Are you going to "Hard face" any of the impact mill?

This one is referring to "Hard face welding rod" of the 12 inch drum itself not the chain.
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[Assembler]

Any progress or updates on the impact mill?

 

[Goldwasher]

no real reason to hard face the drum. The "impact" on the drum is minimal. If you run enough ore to ear out a drum...you better me running the right kind of ore to just buy a new one.

the process of hard facing the inside of the drum and cover plate would take so much rod (expensive) and cause so much penetration (warping) that it would go beyond pointless to just plain silly!

It makes much more sense to just use the right plate to make the drum in the first place. Other than the chain or clevis hooks for the hammer the drum and door/cover are the easiest parts to source or make on the whole widget!

 

[Assembler]

no real reason to hard face the drum. The "impact" on the drum is minimal. If you run enough ore to ear out a drum...you better me running the right kind of ore to just buy a new one.

the process of hard facing the inside of the drum and cover plate would take so much rod (expensive) and cause so much penetration (warping) that it would go beyond pointless to just plain silly!

It makes much more sense to just use the right plate to make the drum in the first place. Other than the chain or clevis hooks for the hammer the drum and door/cover are the easiest parts to source or make on the whole widget!

Yes making the drum out of better or harder grade of steel is the best way to go. Just asking if 'Hard facing is of any use' for say stationary bars inside the drum or any like high wear areas?

 

[bc5391]

I made mine over a year ago. 10 inch pipe, 3/8 hardened chain. the chain will last for about 10 buckets of quartz. Grinds it to a fine powder.
The pipe also 3/8 " it will take years before the pipe wears

 

[Assembler]

Hello
Looks good thanks for the pictures bc5391.

 

[desert-rat]

I haven't ready every post in this thread but I did exactly what your doing and the best chain I can find will only run 500 lbs of 2-4" rock. I built a jaw crusher and run 1/2" in the flail mill and it works great. If you weld a bead on the end chain links it does add some life to em. Bearings are a pain for me. Mine runs 5000-6500 rpm and that guy will chew up bearings in short order. I used a 1" shaft and given the chance to start over I would go with at least 1.750"

 

[Assembler]

I haven't ready every post in this thread but I did exactly what your doing and the best chain I can find will only run 500 lbs of 2-4" rock. I built a jaw crusher and run 1/2" in the flail mill and it works great. If you weld a bead on the end chain links it does add some life to em. Bearings are a pain for me. Mine runs 5000-6500 rpm and that guy will chew up bearings in short order. I used a 1" shaft and given the chance to start over I would go with at least 1.750"

Thank you for the update desert-rat. Will give others some ideas when building. 500 lbs. of 2-4" rock per set of chain does not appear to be much material.

 

[desert-rat]

To be honest the chains suck. I spent more on chain than the gold I found was worth. I'd use some 1/2"x 4" strap instead. Then hard surface the strap.

 

[Assembler]

To be honest the chains suck. I spent more on chain than the gold I found was worth. I'd use some 1/2"x 4" strap instead. Then hard surface the strap.

Yea this one was wondering if there was something better then chains. Thanks
So what if the bar or strap is bowed just even it out by welding on the other side.

 

[desert-rat]

You could weld a brace on the back side off the strap to help or weld an ear to the shaft and bolt the strap on so it's easy to change

 

[Assembler]

You could weld a brace on the back side off the strap to help or weld an ear to the shaft and bolt the strap on so it's easy to change

Yes welding on a soft mild steal ear would make it easy to change. The life span should be way longer then chains.