Wet Tumbler RPM range?

[acebanana]

Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for the RPM range for a wet tumbler? Was thinking about using a blower motor I have laying around, 1/4 hp @ 1725RPM single phase, and mounting the PVC tube directly to the shaft and supporting it on the other end with some casters or something. Had no idea what kind of RPM the conventional tumblers run at though, and if I need to slow this motor down a significant amount or not.

Thanks

 

[ezee]

Re: Wet Tumbler RPM range?

I have a Thumblers B. Dont know exact rpms, but I'm estimating 60 - 120 rpms. So I'm guessing u need to slow it down.

 

[gcoulsey]

Re: Wet Tumbler RPM range?

My homemade effort was turning at 50rpm, and that was a bit too fast,
Centrifugal force was keeping the brass pinned to the outside of the drum too much and not 'tumbling' the contents enough.

Baffles inside the drum to 'agitate' the brass/steel pins made it worse by picking up and holding onto the contents rather than turning through the brass and media.

The results was a 'chunk...chunk...chunk' noise instead of a constant tumbling noise.

30rpm much better.

 

[gcoulsey]

Re: Wet Tumbler RPM range?

That wasn't a direct drive off the shaft by the way.. The drum was geared down,
I don't know what the actual motor shaft rpm was..

 

[Killshot44]

Re: Wet Tumbler RPM range?

Pretty sure the Thumlers Model B spins at 30RPM, once around every two seconds.

You'll probably need to run a drive-belt rather than going direct-drive, so then you can also reduce the speed by changing the pulley's size.

 

[acebanana]

Re: Wet Tumbler RPM range?

Well I had considered a dimmer switch with direct drive but figured that wouldn't provide enough torque at such low rpm. I guess pulley's it is!