Homemade Tumbler

Tabacco Brook

Tabacco Brook

Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Nova Scotia
Hi guys,..just thought I would share my homemade tumbler design. It is cheap and easy to build and works great.

CLICK ON IMAGE..

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Palm sander...$7.00 on sale at Canadian Tire
Cake pan..$10.00
Dimmer switch..$5-6.00
Threaded rod..
Nuts and washers..

Very simple to construct...
.1. saw out a circular piece of plywood/chipboard the same diameter as cake pan bottom ,..drill/cut a 1" hole in the center.
.2. saw out a second piece of plywood, drill a hole in the center the same size as the threaded rod.
.3. screw the 2 pieces of plywood together, bolt on the threaded rod.
.4. screw plywood pieces to sander pad, (most palm sanders have 4 holes in the pad)
.5. set cake pan over threaded rod fasten with nut and flat washer.
.6. wire in dimmer switch how ever you prefer,..either directly in sander cord or in a separate cord.
The dimmer switch is a must to slow down the sander, because at full power the sander vibrates too fast and the brass does not tumble very well.

Cover is optional.... Also, if you have it, a thin piece of rubber,(I used car inner tube), between the plywood and pan bottom and piece between the flat washer and pan at the top helps secure pan from shifting and dampens some noise during tumbling.

I snug up the sander in the vise on my bench, but I'm sure there are other ways to hold the sander in place.

Yes it is just as easy to buy a tumbler, but this is alot cheaper for someone on a budget, and it is a fun do it your selfer.
 
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Nice to see innovation is alive and well. Seen 'em made out of coffee cans and electric motors.
Wouldn't think a cover is optional though. 12 to 14,000 OPM(orbits per minute) will shake most media out of that. Probably could have found a cake pan in a dollar store or at least for less than $10 too. Assuming there is such a thing as dollar stores in NS.
 
wjcbsr said:
Very cool! Can you show us how the sander contacts the cake pan?
Click to expand...

The pan is attached/bolted to the plywood via a threaded rod through the center,..the threaded rod is attached/bolted to the plywood,..and the plywood is attached/screwed to the plate/pad of the sander with 4 screws, one in each corner of the pad/plate.
 
sunray said:
Nice to see innovation is alive and well. Seen 'em made out of coffee cans and electric motors.
Wouldn't think a cover is optional though. 12 to 14,000 OPM(orbits per minute) will shake most media out of that. Probably could have found a cake pan in a dollar store or at least for less than $10 too. Assuming there is such a thing as dollar stores in NS.
Click to expand...

I do generally run it with the cover on,..it does shake some media out, not alot, without the cover. It probably is only running 6-7000 OPM with the power turned down via the dimmer switch,..if I run the sander at full power it vibrates to fast and doesn't tumble very well. Yup we do have Dollar Stores here, and I agree you can find pans cheaper than I paid at the local hardware store, lol.
 
looks great...

IIRC though... aren't dimmer switches a no-no for varying motor speed?? Something about burning out the motor? Electricians please chime in :)

I thought you needed a proper speed controller or a multi speed motor winding?

It may cause you premature motor failure... but it works great. Kudos to your innovation...
 
bobbynewmark said:
looks great...

IIRC though... aren't dimmer switches a no-no for varying motor speed?? Something about burning out the motor? Electricians please chime in :)

I thought you needed a proper speed controller or a multi speed motor winding?

It may cause you premature motor failure... but it works great. Kudos to your innovation...
Click to expand...

Ya you are probably right about the dimmer being hard on the motor,..but for another $7-10 bucks I'm back in business, lol. Plus I have been using it for 2 years or more this way and it still works like new.
 
As long as you do not exceed the power handling ability of the dimmer switch, you should be good. Though not really used as a motor speed control, a more suitable speed controller is suggested for a more critical application. BTW, are you using SS Pins? If this is the case, be wary of the wear on the cake pan. Treated walnut is also good.

Tabacco Brook said:
Ya you are probably right about the dimmer being hard on the motor,..but for another $7-10 bucks I'm back in business, lol. Plus I have been using it for 2 years or more this way and it still works like new.
Click to expand...
 
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