2 large "O" rings one on each end make silent tyres with good traction. Mount the motor and power supply under the table. Have another driven gear on the other shaft, a longer belt will now drive them both at the same RPM. OK< you need a slot to run the belt through, but that's not a big deal. Something I had been meaning to do myself, I wonder if I have left it too late? From Okato
Good suggestions! I had never thought of mounting the motor underneath but that is a really good idea! I think I need to try and mount the whole thing on a smaller profile board, it’s a bit to big at the moment and takes up a lot of room, I think the power supply being mounted underneath is a great idea too 👍 time to remodel it a bit I think!
Cool design. A couple of observations; make sure you earth the chassis of that power supply. I'd also encase it and especially the power lead so bare wires and terminals can't be touched accidentally (but leave enough ventilation). For the tumblers, you are going to end up with 2 different diameter ends - you may need to build the blank cap up to the same size as the screw cap for it to run nicely. Try using some big rubber bands or O Ring seals to create the grip and reduce the noise. It's much better than my attempt many years ago using a concrete mixer motor, old tyres, big stainless shaft, pulleys and some saw horses.
Oh wow that sounds like an interesting tumbler! A cement mixer motor probably works pretty well? You are 100% right on the diameter issue, I’m pretty sure that’s why it didn’t work for me and turned out a disaster which you will see in the next video haha
Make sure you waterproof that power supply. Rock tumbling uses water and inevitably you’ll have a leak. If water touches the power supply it’ll fry it and/or anyone near it lol. Something as simple as a plastic ammo box with some wire glands and a vent for air flow.
That’s a great idea, I actually had it leak and cause a huge mess so I redesigned it a bit with the power supply hidden and out of the way. Much better now 😅
Put one end of the motor on a hinge, so that the weight of the the motor naturally keeps tension on the belt 👍 and you can always add a wee bit of weight if needed.
That is cool. Am looking forward to your updates. Just remember (doing my be-safe thing), live wires, even behind flip down flippy thing’s, in reach of inquisitive young minds with hands, may not be the safest thing. Well done though, can’t wait to see the end results of your fascinating project.
Thanks Stuart. I think you are right, I might enclose that lower supply at some stage I think. I just wanted to see if it would ever get hot etc. maybe an enclosed box with some vent holes would be good or I’ll enclose the plug side of it… stay tuned for next weeks project because it all goes a bit pear shaped haha
Sorry I missed this comment some how! 😩 I should get one of those little plugs that tell you the power draw… I’ve not actually noticed an increase in our power bill haha
@@AdventuresWithRosy Hi I was about to comment about the earthing wire also. very dangerous. The reason some appliances have 2 wires and some have 3 wires is the different class of electrical connection and earthing arrangement. It should be marked on the power supply if its class 1 or class 2. class 1 will need an earth, were as class 2 dont need an earth and can operate safely with only 2 wires. class 2 is usually marked with a square within a square.
I run mine at like 32% but I have no idea how that converts to RPM… there are loads of different opinions online about what RPM you should run your tumbler at but it seems like quite a tricky thing to work out when you use different gear ratios etc
@@AdventuresWithRosy yeah Nz based. I found some on trade me but they couldn’t supply the size you have used. I will try eBay and see. Thanks so much for making this video it’s been so helpful already! I was literally about to spend $1500 on one when I stumbled across your build.
@@doseupwithdws oh nice one! Yeh they are a little expensive here in NZ, I like the look of the Lortone tumblers but they are a bit out of my price range!
@@AdventuresWithRosy 3V DC power supply. Hmmm how about 3 long plastic bars glued down the length of the tubes like a concrete mixer , I suspect the rocks will just slide inside the tubes instead of tunbling
Make sure you watch Part 2 where it all goes wrong and makes a huge mess! th-cam.com/video/_26ztlO7tLA/w-d-xo.html 😅
Cool. You are a legend. You can do anything. Good job.
You are too kind ☺️
2 large "O" rings one on each end make silent tyres with good traction.
Mount the motor and power supply under the table. Have another driven gear on the other shaft, a longer belt will now drive them both at the same RPM. OK< you need a slot to run the belt through, but that's not a big deal.
Something I had been meaning to do myself, I wonder if I have left it too late?
From Okato
Good suggestions! I had never thought of mounting the motor underneath but that is a really good idea! I think I need to try and mount the whole thing on a smaller profile board, it’s a bit to big at the moment and takes up a lot of room, I think the power supply being mounted underneath is a great idea too 👍 time to remodel it a bit I think!
Cool design. A couple of observations; make sure you earth the chassis of that power supply. I'd also encase it and especially the power lead so bare wires and terminals can't be touched accidentally (but leave enough ventilation).
For the tumblers, you are going to end up with 2 different diameter ends - you may need to build the blank cap up to the same size as the screw cap for it to run nicely.
Try using some big rubber bands or O Ring seals to create the grip and reduce the noise.
It's much better than my attempt many years ago using a concrete mixer motor, old tyres, big stainless shaft, pulleys and some saw horses.
Oh wow that sounds like an interesting tumbler! A cement mixer motor probably works pretty well? You are 100% right on the diameter issue, I’m pretty sure that’s why it didn’t work for me and turned out a disaster which you will see in the next video haha
Make sure you waterproof that power supply. Rock tumbling uses water and inevitably you’ll have a leak. If water touches the power supply it’ll fry it and/or anyone near it lol. Something as simple as a plastic ammo box with some wire glands and a vent for air flow.
That’s a great idea, I actually had it leak and cause a huge mess so I redesigned it a bit with the power supply hidden and out of the way. Much better now 😅
Put the motor on a hinged platform and use it's weight for tension
That’s a really good idea! And would be so easy to change the belt if needed! I like it 👍
Put one end of the motor on a hinge, so that the weight of the the motor naturally keeps tension on the belt 👍 and you can always add a wee bit of weight if needed.
What a great idea! That would work awesome 🙌
I actually sub to loads of maker channels, but until today AWR wasn't one of them! Really enjoyed it :)
Thanks Pete! You are too kind. Im actually really enjoying having a little hobby in the shed 😁
Cool project!
Haha it feels like an “old man” hobby but I’m enjoying it 😅
That is cool. Am looking forward to your updates. Just remember (doing my be-safe thing), live wires, even behind flip down flippy thing’s, in reach of inquisitive young minds with hands, may not be the safest thing. Well done though, can’t wait to see the end results of your fascinating project.
Thanks Stuart. I think you are right, I might enclose that lower supply at some stage I think. I just wanted to see if it would ever get hot etc. maybe an enclosed box with some vent holes would be good or I’ll enclose the plug side of it… stay tuned for next weeks project because it all goes a bit pear shaped haha
Would love to know the typical "out of the wall" power watt load for the assembled system. Both fully loaded with rock and just idol running empty.
Sorry I missed this comment some how! 😩 I should get one of those little plugs that tell you the power draw… I’ve not actually noticed an increase in our power bill haha
Haha, I was just looking at my rocks today that we collected from Gemstone Bay in Southland. Your rocks look pretty similar.
Oh yeh we got quite a few rocks from there! I’ve got them in the tumbler at the moment, will be interesting to see how they turn out 😁
@@AdventuresWithRosy I'm really interested in how they turn out!
@@Scottygirlnz cool! I’ll show you in a few weeks when they are finished 😁
I did notice you did not connect a main earth wire to the metal chassis power supply
Yeh that is a good point, a lot of our plugs here in NZ only have two wires not 3, do you think I should have used a 3 pin/wire plug?
@@AdventuresWithRosy Yes three plug with earth to NZ legislation to AS/NZ3000
@paulm1671 perfect thanks I’ll swap it out. I wonder why some stuff in the house only has 2 wires? Like my laptop and printer cable?
@@AdventuresWithRosy Hi
I was about to comment about the earthing wire also. very dangerous.
The reason some appliances have 2 wires and some have 3 wires is the different class of electrical connection and earthing arrangement.
It should be marked on the power supply if its class 1 or class 2.
class 1 will need an earth, were as class 2 dont need an earth and can operate safely with only 2 wires.
class 2 is usually marked with a square within a square.
@@AdventuresWithRosy because there double insulated
Also, what percentage on the speed controller seems best for rock tumbling
I run mine at like 32% but I have no idea how that converts to RPM… there are loads of different opinions online about what RPM you should run your tumbler at but it seems like quite a tricky thing to work out when you use different gear ratios etc
Have just ordered my bits off eBay . Struggling to find the steel rod though , any help would be appreciated
You could try search Alloy Round Rod on eBay or stainless steel rod? Are you based in New Zealand? I brought mine of TradeMe
@@AdventuresWithRosy yeah Nz based. I found some on trade me but they couldn’t supply the size you have used. I will try eBay and see. Thanks so much for making this video it’s been so helpful already!
I was literally about to spend $1500 on one when I stumbled across your build.
@@doseupwithdws oh nice one! Yeh they are a little expensive here in NZ, I like the look of the Lortone tumblers but they are a bit out of my price range!
Criticise? Who us? Never! This is the interwebs!
Different opinions? On the interwebs? Sounds like the NZMCA FB page... 😅
Hahahaha
You are right! The internet is filled with nothing but positivity 😅🫠
Could you maybe have used a bbq rotisserie motor
That is a great idea! They would be fairly low power consumption and are designed to be left on for hours. Good idea 👍
@@AdventuresWithRosy 3V DC power supply. Hmmm how about 3 long plastic bars glued down the length of the tubes like a concrete mixer , I suspect the rocks will just slide inside the tubes instead of tunbling
The ones I have seen are really noisy.
@@BobPackard I was thinking the same thing, that there won't be any tumbling.
@@AffordBindEquipment the rotisserie motors? Interesting!