Tank Tumbler

[swimjim]

Okay, this isn't vintage per say, however if I can build a tank tumbler, I can better maintain my growing fleet of good ole steel 72's. I have a copy of Vance Harlows Oxy Hacker Companion and in it he has plans for a tank tumbler. It calls for a geared motor that will turn at about 60 rpm. he does give a reference to a motor, but the site it is on has it discontinued. Everything else is available either from the junk pile or the local Fleet & Farm. Does anybody have a source for a motor that would meet the spec new or used??? Thanks!

Jim

[captain]

I built one using a 45 to1 gear reducer coupled to an 3600 rpm motor which is 80 rpm and it works fine. Try ebay industrial.

Here is a 50 to 1

http://cgi.ebay.com/HUB-CITY-261-50-1-G ... 7C294%3A50

[1969ivan1]

http://www.magnificentrelief.com/diy.htm

[kgehring]

If anyone wants to build one, I am getting ready to tear apart a treadmill and I think the motor would be great for a tank tumbler.
PM if interested in parts.

[Gilldiver]

If anyone wants to build one, I am getting ready to tear apart a treadmill and I think the motor would be great for a tank tumbler.
PM if interested in parts.

Why tear it apart. Just make a box that fits over the belt and keeps the tank centered. 2 or three rollers for the tank to rest against helps also.

[Creed]

I made one. The first thing I tried was an old ice cream churn motor. Worked ok, but it was slow. Next, I yanked that motor out and put on one of those 3600 rpm motors that are everywhere. I used different sized pulleys to drop the tank revolution speed to a little under 60rpm. This appears to create a wave effect in the media, so that some of the cleaning action is the scouring caused by dragging along the side, and some is from the impact action of the top of the wave curl. For media, I just went down to the local river and picked up clam shells and spent .22 shells(it's a very popular target practice spot). I have used it to clean several tanks(including one that I was sure would fail from rust damage), and it's worked on every single one I tried.
The only think I could change on mine is the thickness of the support bars. There is enough of a flex with a 72 + media that it tends to cause the tank to "wander" around on the bars. Also, if I rebuild it, I'm going to try that foam pipe insulation rather than the rubber grip tape I used on the original(which leaves a black smear mark after several hours of tumbling).

[usddude]

If anyone wants to build one, I am getting ready to tear apart a treadmill and I think the motor would be great for a tank tumbler.
PM if interested in parts.

Why tear it apart. Just make a box that fits over the belt and keeps the tank centered. 2 or three rollers for the tank to rest against helps also.

Holly cow!!! You are on to something Gilldiver. Why waste a useless teadmill and labor and time tearing it apart......Hmmm

These treadmills are for free.....people put them in their driveways with a "take it for free" sign on them!!!

usd

[Gilldiver]

Its not a new idea, but one that has been floating around the internet for a while.

Check out these ways of doing it from The Deco Stop.

The first is a nice Engineering way to go, clean and looks nice.

The second takes the make something out of nothing prize, ugly but gets the job done.

The third gets the Rube Goldberg Golden Star, now if there was only a mouse that turns the drill on.

http://thedecostop.com/forums/showthrea ... ht=tumbler

http://thedecostop.com/forums/showthrea ... ht=tumbler

http://www.thedecostop.com/forums/showp ... stcount=15

[swimjim]

It's been awhile since I've been able to put some time in the shop. The last couple days I've been working on the tank tumbler project. Thanks to Karl for supplying some treadmill parts and Rob for doing cross country delivery. A stop at Fleet & Farm, a little of this and that and presto, a two tank tumbler. here's some pic's

http://s247.photobucket.com/albums/gg15 ... =slideshow" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have to build some stops to help keep the tanks from wandering and I'm going to countersink the drive wheels and install bicycle inner tube on them. otherwise shes good to go!

Jim

[kgehring]

I love the variable speed controller! I bet no one else has one that fancy! AWSOME!!!

[JES]

Sweet!