Posted: 3/2/2009 5:51:32 PM EDT
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I wanted to build a rotary tumbler for brass. No real reason other than I had time and I had a free motor and other parts from work/friends etc. It turned out really nice but I need a drum or container for the brass. I thought the container would be the easy part but it has been the hardest so far. I need a STRAIGHT wall container that is 9 - 11" in diameter and 8 - 16" in length (height). I could use a closed drum with with a lid or I could use a tube and close the ends off myself. The important thing is that the OD walls are straight.
The motor is on a speed controller and it spins two shafts that then spin the drum. I ahve looked all over and I can't find anything. A 10" OD PVC tube would be perfect but those are not easy to find. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, roptics |
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Thanks. I looked everywhere except Ebay. The paint buckets are too small. A 3 gallon container is about ideal. I just saw my post count and realized I have been on here for 7.5 years and I only have 547 posts. |
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The paint buckets are too small. A 3 gallon container is about ideal. When I was thinking "paint bucket," I was imagining these: 5-gallon bucket They have them in 3-gallon sizes too.... |
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The paint buckets are too small. A 3 gallon container is about ideal. When I was thinking "paint bucket," I was imagining these: 5-gallon bucket They have them in 3-gallon sizes too.... Good sight but nothing there works. All the buckets are either tapered or they have protrusions along the OD. The tumbler has two parallel shafts and the drum is cradled in between the two shafts so it has to be straight walled. See Example for a similar thing but mine is better. |
| Use a 5 gallon bucket. Cut two identical discs of plywood or MDF ~1" larger than the buckets largest diameter. Use 3 pieces of all-thread to secure the bucket between the two discs, put a few screws thru the bottom inside of the bucket into the bottom disc keep it centered. 3 holes thru the top side disc with wingnuts to make opening quicker & tool-less. The discs ride on the drive rollers. You could also use 4 J-bolts instead of the all-thread to secure the top disc to the bucket lip. |
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Use a 5 gallon bucket. Cut two identical discs of plywood or MDF ~1" larger than the buckets largest diameter. Use 3 pieces of all-thread to secure the bucket between the two discs, put a few screws thru the bottom inside of the bucket into the bottom disc keep it centered. 3 holes thru the top side disc with wingnuts to make opening quicker & tool-less. The discs ride on the drive rollers. You could also use 4 J-bolts instead of the all-thread to secure the top disc to the bucket lip. That looks like the easiest. |
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Thanks for the great ideas. I think I am going to leave the shafts parallel and use an oversize lid to keep everything aligned and centered. I made a nice jig for my table saw to cut circles so everything should be pretty easy. Actually if I put the lids on off-center I'll get mor agitation action.
Thanks again. |
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One other thought if you want to spend the money about $40 is the Odjob mortor mixer, Home Depot usually carrys them.
http://www.scepterconsumer.com/l_g/od_job/ 
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One other thought if you want to spend the money about $40 is the Odjob mortor mixer, Home Depot usually carrys them. http://www.scepterconsumer.com/l_g/od_job/ http://www.scepterconsumer.com/sites/scepter_consumer/images/160x/160_04239.jpg Nice idea. I'll look for one of these at Lowes next time I go shopping.  Hardware store stuff is OK to buy per the missus, as long as it is not gun related.
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Hello,
Here is an interim picture. The motor is mounted to a wood plate that is on a hinge. There is a threaded adapter that goes through the plate and I use that to increase/decrease tension on the drive belt, The foam rollers on the shafts have been replaced with 1.5" OD PVC. I used a hole saw to cut center inserts for the PVC rollers so that they are exactly centered on the shafts. It runs 0 - 60 RPM and is pretty quiet. I will update more photos when I get the drum done. Thanks for the suggestions. 
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5 gallon plastic carboy?
Maybe they make these in 3 gallon sizes, don't know. Alternatively: 1 gallon paint cans? Good luck. Merlin |