building a tumbler

[epackage]

Stopples look good Kev...

 

[lblackvelvet]

Thanks Jim, Now I hope they work properly! Have to leak test them before I use them.

 

[chosi]

Your stopples look great. Hopefully they will last a long time. I find that the ones Jar Dr sells usually last me around 50 to 100 tumbles. The black rubber ring that expands when you tighten it usually doesn't last as long, but it's easy to replace. $92 for 8 feet of clear PVC sounds kind of expensive, but it might be worth it. It's really nice to be able to see inside to make sure the bottle is secure, and that you have the right amount of copper and water. It'll become pretty mirky after a few tumbles, but you'll still be able to see into it. The PVC canisters usually last for hundreds of tumbles.

 

[lblackvelvet]

Hello all, Well I received my rollers today and started on attaching them, I messed up a few times getting distance correct between rollers so that the PVC didn't make contact with other canister. I did not allow for the outside diameter, made a few changes and now have it figured out! I only installed 4 rollers today as a trial run, seems to run great. Have the RPM's at 60 and added a bottle to canister using homemade stopples, " no leaks" Bottle and canister were both filled with rubbing compound and water to test, will let it run all night before I put the correct ingredients or shall I say ingredients of choice! I will be able to tumble 7 bottles at once soon as I test everything and add additional rollers. My total cost with 3 homemade 4'' canisters is around $275.00. I want to thank everyone in here for all there help they offered during this venture. Thanks, Kevin..

 

[FitSandTic]

Great job Kevin, you are getting ready to have a lot of fun! There is nothing like cleaning your own finds.

 

[peejrey]

Would you please explain what these parts are, and how they are constructed together?_Preston

 

[chosi]

Are they called "pillow block bearings"? http://www.thebigbearingstore.com/pillowblockbearing.html

 

[lblackvelvet]

Hello all, First of all Thanks to Atticfinds, He is a local bottle collector and has helped me out along with Leon and Chosi !! I also picked up on a lot from Buzzkutt's thread he started here. I added my additional rollers today and modified the ends of each roller with a large fender washer that spins if the canister works it way to the end of the roller. I think I will try to add a better roller system soon as I figure out how. That has been the most difficult part of building this tumbler. Again, thanks to everyone here for all there advise and I hope to receive my ''secret ingredients'' lmao!! this week so I can put the tumbler to the test! Thanks, Kevin...

 

[hemihampton]

So far it all looks good. Let us know how it works out. LEON.

 

[bamabottles]

hey, lblackvelvetAre you having success pushing 7 canisters with one drive bar? I would have thought that would be too much weight and either the bar or the belt would slip?