The Story of Lori, Chapter 2

[Dances With Trees]

Happy New Year, Lori!

[Lori Dee ✅]

I have been pretty much out of it today. I didn't get any sleep last night. Normally, I can just wear my headphones, and the fireworks do not trigger my PTSD. But last night was horrible.

I live in a nice, quiet 55+ mobile home community. But across the street, people were setting off bombs. These were not fireworks that went 'pop,' with nice, colorful sparkles in the air. These were loud, mortars that shook my home, and I could feel them through my chair.

For the 4th of July, I leave town and camp in the forest for a few days to a week to avoid the fireworks. But in January, that is not a practical solution. So I embrace the suck and endure it until I collapse from physical and mental exhaustion.

New Year's Day for me was spent with lots of naps, light snacks, and recuperation. I am better now and already planning how I will handle next year.

I hope everyone had a happy and safe celebration, or at least a good night's sleep. Happy New Year, everyone!

[Pema]

Ugh. I'm sorry, Lori. I hope they don't continue into the new year with them (like my neighbors do). And I hope you get decent sleep tonight.

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

Lori, it was quiet at our place. You are welcome to stay the night with us next New Years Eve. Get some rest.

Love always -- Jess

[Lori Dee ✅]

Thanks, Pema and Jess.

I'll survive once I recharge.

It just takes time for the adrenaline to calm down, then some rest, and I am as good as new.

[Lori Dee ✅]

It irks me when products are sold that do not live up to their design.

My Harbor Freight rock tumbler died this morning. Since buying it a couple of years ago, I have rebuilt it several times. I should not need to fix design flaws. I replaced the plastic bushings with a kit that uses roller bearings, replaced the electric motor, and the motor mounts. Today, I found that the replacement roller bearings had worn out. It turns out that the replacement kit used roller bearings designed for 3D printers. They are sealed (keeping dust out) and quiet. However, they are not designed to support 6 pounds of rocks rolling on them. UGH!

Fortunately, my third tubler machine has proved reliable over the past year and a half with only one minor design correction. It has a plastic drive pulley that wobbles. There were many complaints about this posted online, so I posted my modification.

The problem is that the set screw that holds the pulley in place is in the wrong position. The drive axle has a flat spot, and the pulley is "keyed" with a D-shaped center. The set screw hits the round side of the drive axle instead of resting on the flat. So I drilled a hole in the pulley and relocated the set screw to hit the flat of the axle. This helped, but tightening the set screw too tightly torques the plastic pulley, causing it to wobble again. The screw needs to be tight enough to keep the pulley from sliding off. So I drilled a small divot into the flat of the axle. That allows the set screw to lock in without much torque.

Then, while shopping for replacement filters for my humidifier and water purifier, I received a notice that the rock tumbler model was available again, so I ordered one. I didn't realize I would need a replacement so soon. But I'm glad I did.

I can't leave the rocks in the barrels waiting for the new tumbler to arrive. The combination of water, rocks, abrasives, and rock dust turns to concrete very quickly. So I am washing rocks again and setting them aside for later. Meanwhile, the Harbor Freight machine is going to be cannibalized for spare parts. Harbor Freight has a great return policy, and I know of people returning their machines to the store a year later, no receipt, and receiving a full refund. But my machine is obviously modified and looks like something Dr. Frankenstein tried to remodel. It won't qualify for a refund.

That's okay. I learned a lot from the experience, and that makes it a worthwhile investment.

[ChrissyRyan]

Lori,

Why would you buy another tumbler with identified design flaws?  Is not there another source of a better tumbler?


Chrissy

[Lori Dee ✅]

Lori,

Why would you buy another tumbler with identified design flaws?  Is not there another source of a better tumbler?


Chrissy

The short answer is China.

I looked at the various models by different manufacturers, and many of them are built almost identically to the Chicago Electric/Harbor Freight machine. The components are all located in the same positions, and I assume they are built the same way using the same parts.

The machine I ordered is built in a different configuration. And if the only flaw is the plastic pulley, well, that is an easy fix that has held up for almost two years. Other machines that I looked at were very overpriced, or designed for large commercial operations: large capacity barrels and loud AC motors. That is ok for running in your garage, but not good for running near a living space. The large capacity barrels are too large for what I use. They typically run 6 lbs of rock in a single barrel, where I prefer to run 3 lbs. in each stage.

I had considered one day expanding the operation to run 6-lb barrels x 5 stages, but I have no use for 30 lbs of polished rock. And that would double the amount of grit and polish I use now. So that would be quite an expansion with no practical purpose. I could sell the stones as jewelry supplies and keep the best stones for my own jewelry-making, but I have not convinced myself that I want to do that yet.

[davina61]

That is a good engineering solution with the pully, can you get an alloy pully to replace it? I take its running a V belt?

[Emma1017]

I agree Lori, don't expand production to the point that the extra stones have no place to go.  Create a surplus if you want to sell some but retain the enjoyment too!

[Lori Dee ✅]

That is a good engineering solution with the pully, can you get an alloy pully to replace it? I take its running a V belt?

Yes, it can run a V-belt. The belts I have are round, but they sit down in the pulley fine. I think the reason for plastic vs alloy is weight. With the work the system is doing, tumbling 6 lbs of rocks, the pulley is the only place where they could save weight to reduce the load on the bearings.

If the new one arrives with the same setup, I'll post some pics of the fix.

[Dances With Trees]

Dear Lori, please add 'mechanical engineer' to your resume! I am impressed by your skill and perseverance. Hope the new machine does the job without you needing to do much Rube Goldberging to it. Look forward to the pics.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Dear Lori, please add 'mechanical engineer' to your resume! I am impressed by your skill and perseverance. Hope the new machine does the job without you needing to do much Rube Goldberging to it. Look forward to the pics.

Thanks. I've been "fixing" things for a long time. As a technician, I became skilled at troubleshooting electronics, so I simply asked the same questions: Why is this not working as it should, and how can I fix that?

The new machine is scheduled for delivery on the 12th. So we will see what happens.

[ChrissyRyan]

Thanks. I've been "fixing" things for a long time. As a technician, I became skilled at troubleshooting electronics, so I simply asked the same questions: Why is this not working as it should, and how can I fix that?

The new machine is scheduled for delivery on the 12th. So we will see what happens.

What does such a rock tumbling machine cost?

[Lori Dee ✅]

You can get cheap ones that are basically toys -- designed to get kids interested in the hobby. They run from $40 and up, and have a small capacity of 1 - 3 lbs, and most have plastic construction, so not designed for durability.

All of my machines ran between $250 - $300, but they are double-barreled (except one); each barrel has a 3-lb capacity, and they are metal construction. The commercial-grade machines start around $500 and go way up from there.

[davina61]

On Ozzie Opal Hunters on TV they use converted cement mixer barrels to wash tons of material just to find a hand full of Opal.

[Lori Dee ✅]

I woke up to a text message this morning that my new rock tumbler is out for delivery.

That is very good. I'll have the rocks a' rolling again by the end of the day.

Rock n Roll, baby!

[Lori Dee ✅]

Sorry, ladies. No pics today.

In preparation for the new rock tumbler's arrival, I got all the rocks washed and sorted. Then, put them in the appropriate barrels, added abrasives and polish, and then waited for the machine to arrive.

It arrived right on time. I opened up the package, and they sent the machine, packs of abrasive grit, spare belts, and two pounds of crushed rock. In the rock, there are some nice moss agates (which I love), amethyst, jasper, agate, two pieces of tiger eye, one piece each of sunstone, moonstone, jade, sodalite, Miriam Stone, and Sabalgarh Marble.

I checked the machine, and they have upgraded them. The bearings for the rollers are brass. The pulley is still plastic, but it is a solid piece with no set screw. I powered it up, and the pulley does not wobble. Score!

I filled all the barrels with water, sealed them up, and put them into their respective machines and powered them all on.

Machine #1 said "No."

I said, "Excuse me?"

Nope.

Machine #1 is my workhorse. It is the oldest of them, a National Geographic single-barrel. It, too, was a problem child until I rebuilt it... a couple of times. They have a very handy timer circuit, and I use it to know how long all of the machines have been running. The circuit also has a speed control, which is junk. The speed is too slow, and that causes the rocks to crash into each other, causing fractures and bruises. Picture clothes tumbling in a dryer.

About two months after I bought it, the motor went out. It was still under warranty, so I shipped it back. On the replacement, the roller bearing mounts were not put in correctly and were putting torque on the roller axles. So I fixed that, then that motor started going bad. I located a replacement motor, so I ordered two. I replaced the motor (keeping one for a spare), then bypassed the speed control circuit so the motor runs at the proper speed. No more issues for close to four years.

Now, it refused to turn. So I opened it up and checked the bearings. All good. But the drive motor was shot. The carbon brushes had turned to a pile of black dust, and the armature was binding up. Easy fix, since I have a spare motor on hand. Unscrew four mounting bracket screws, snip two wires, replace the motor, solder the wires, and insulate them with heat shrink tubing. Bench test: PASS.

Installed the drive belt and tested. NO-GO. The belt is too tight. Readjust the mounting bracket. Check the belt. All good. Reassembled the machine. Check again. Everything is running fine. Then set the barrel with 3 lbs of rocks in place and turn it on. Boom, all good.

The assembly line is back in operation.

And I got nothing else done all day.

I guess I'll do laundry while fixing dinner.

Tomorrow is a therapist visit. I always think it is a waste of my time seeing a social worker who has no authority to do anything for me except listen. The VA prohibits her from doing anything. But she is a sympathetic and supportive ear. She is the mother of a transgender boy, and she works for the VA. So she does understand the struggle. Maybe after we have our own regime change, she will be in a better position to assist, instead of just listening.

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

Sounds like the manufacturer actually worked to improve the design of the new machine. That'll save you some hassle. Probably got fed up with returns!

I'm surprised these use brushed motors rather than induction motors. But that would sacrifice speed control, however doesn't sound like it's a useful feature anyway.

[ChrissyRyan]

See, tumbling can be fun.  Reminds me of gym class.