Rock Tumbler | bluehaze-woodworking

DIY Rock Tumbler

First mock-up model, motor mounted behind shafts to accommodate a belt I already had on hand. 1/3 HP Cont duty 1725 rpm motor.	Final version, Or nearly so. Motor mounted underneath so weight of motor tensions belt. Also changed to 8 inch pulley for slightly lower tumbling speed.	.75 polished steel shaft covered with .75 rubber hose for drive friction. Drums made of 4 inch PVC with cap and plug. Shafts are spaced so 6 inch PVC can also be used.
Ball bearing from an old band saw to keep drums from hitting pillow blocks on end. One on each end. Temporary rollers in center to keep drums from hitting but may not need them.	8 inch weld in hub pulley from and old gadget. Had to replace 1 inch hub with .75 inch hub.	Rocks after first 7 days tumbling in 60/90 grit. Already can tell a big difference. All rough edges gone and colors starting to come through. These are just rocks, not gemstone quality by any means. I collect rocks from different places when I travel around for my grandson to play with and count.

This has long been one of my bucket-list projects and my grandson's interest in rocks has spurred me on to get it done. I had saved that .75 inch shaft for years for just this project. Now to get it painted and finalized. It will hold three of these drums made from 4 inch PVC about 5 inches log. The drums would hold 1.5 to 2 pounds of rock easily. Similar drum OD to commercially available drums if I ever need one. These are so much cheaper. Scrap PVC and a plug and cap, total about 5 dollars. 1/2 inch PVC pipe was split lengthwise and welded inside for agitators, to keep rocks tumbling instead of sliding.

Dennis Loudermilk | Project Pages

DIY Rock Tumbler

First mock-up model, motor mounted behind shafts to accommodate a belt I already had on hand. 1/3 HP Cont duty 1725 rpm motor.

Final version, Or nearly so. Motor mounted underneath so weight of motor tensions belt. Also changed to 8 inch pulley for slightly lower tumbling speed.

.75 polished steel shaft covered with .75 rubber hose for drive friction. Drums made of 4 inch PVC with cap and plug. Shafts are spaced so 6 inch PVC can also be used.

Ball bearing from an old band saw to keep drums from hitting pillow blocks on end. One on each end. Temporary rollers in center to keep drums from hitting but may not need them.

8 inch weld in hub pulley from and old gadget. Had to replace 1 inch hub with .75 inch hub.

Rocks after first 7 days tumbling in 60/90 grit. Already can tell a big difference. All rough edges gone and colors starting to come through. These are just rocks, not gemstone quality by any means. I collect rocks from different places when I travel around for my grandson to play with and count.