What abbrassive to use

[springwater]

I've sanded a lot of wooded hearts made from Huon Pine to 320 grit. I've noticed that if you rub the hearts together for a little while they "burnish" each other which made me think of tumbling them all together. Do you think I could use Talc or Tripoli powder as an abbrassive? I've noticed U-beaut's comments on their Talc being extra fine, are ther different grades?:hmm:

[RufflyRustic]

I think the grade for UBeaut's tripoli powder is just that - extra fine.

If you tumble the hearts together, will you get any knock marks on the pine?

cheers
Wendy

[tea lady]

You can polish Huon just with the shavings, so tumbling them with the shavings could work, and not leave ding marks. Put more shavings than hearts I reckon.:hmm: And have the container more than half full so that they tumble properly.:2tsup:

[springwater]

I think the grade for UBeaut's tripoli powder is just that - extra fine.

If you tumble the hearts together, will you get any knock marks on the pine?

cheers
Wendy

I'm thinking Pumice to Tripoli to Talc but just don't know really, does Tripoli (Rottenstone) smell like the name suggests? I've got some vague recollection it does:hmm: I plan to make a barrel from Radiata pine and fit it into a cement mixer, my gut feeling is that they will skim rather than knock each other thus polish each other as they go round.


You can polish Huon just with the shavings, so tumbling them with the shavings could work, and not leave ding marks. Put more shavings than hearts I reckon.:hmm: And have the container more than half full so that they tumble properly.:2tsup:

Yeah, same thoughts, I've collected a bag of Huon saw dust when I cut the hearts out and shopping bags full of shavings when I carved them, couldn't bear to throw any Huon away :C should be pretty right in case of insect invasion:D

[springwater]

Spose I could try EEE over WOP:), thanks :star2:Ruffly and :star2:Tea Lady for your suggestions, I see I'm gunna have to tinka with what to tumble with:throb::throb::throb:

[RufflyRustic]

keep us posted? I'm interested to see what effect tumbling will have.
Cheers
Wendy

[munruben]

, does Tripoli (Rottenstone) smell like the name suggests? I've got some vague recollection it does:hmm:No, Tripoli has no smell to speak of.

[springwater]

No, Tripoli has no smell to speak of.

Thanks for clearing that up Mr Munruben

[springwater]

keep us posted? I'm interested to see what effect tumbling will have.
Cheers
Wendy

92343

92344

Here' the tumbler in final glue up, clamped and lazing on the lawn on Boxing day.
Made from Radiata Pine sourced from a Skip. I still need to add more cleats(?) in between the ones already there which the ends will be glued and screwed to. I'm still trying to think of a good way of making a good sealed access to an end:hmm:

Once the tumbler is completed and fitted to the inside of a cement mixer it will be "conditioned" by rumbling some smooth pebbles around for awhile:charley:

[artme]

Ah yes! A man after my own heart! A bin raider!:2tsup::D

[springwater]

Ah yes! A man after my own heart! A bin raider!:2tsup::D

Opps, I meant sourced from a Skid not a Skip:doh:. A Skid is the smaller brother of a Pallet and are often made from almost clear Radiata pine just right for knock up jobs like the tumbling barrel.

Fear not though artme, I am of bin raider kin, recent discoveries include about 20m of copper pipe conveniently laying at the top of a chocka block waste bin:2tsup:

Here's a couple of updates, a bit rough around the edges but should do the job:rolleyes:
92363

92364

[RufflyRustic]

The tumbler is looking good Springwater :2tsup::)

Thanks
Wendy

[powderpost]

I built a tumbler from an Ergon (power supplier) cable drum. Don't forget you will need a door to get in and out of the tumbler. Mine is powered by a half horse power electric motor, and rotates at about 80 rpm. I tore old 120# and less sandpaper into narrow strips to put inside to polish wooden buttons. Usually took up to two days to do the job.
Jim

[springwater]

I built a tumbler from an Ergon (power supplier) cable drum. Don't forget you will need a door to get in and out of the tumbler. Mine is powered by a half horse power electric motor, and rotates at about 80 rpm. I tore old 120# and less sandpaper into narrow strips to put inside to polish wooden buttons. Usually took up to two days to do the job.
Jim

Yeah those cable drums have caught my attention too. I haven't come up with a good solution for the access door as yet. I'm an ignoramus with electrics and gearing hence using a cement mixer as it turns about the right rpm I'm after. If time allowed I'd tinka with windmill power.:rolleyes:

Are you happy at 80 rpm to polish your buttons? What diameter is your tumbler? How many do you do at a time and what size are they? Have you tried any other abrasives other than 120#? Got any before and after pics? Am I asking too many questions?:-

[powderpost]

First, no you are not asking too many questions, that's how you find out about things. The tumbler is about 500mm diameter and about 400mm wide. Yep the speed is about right. I do about an ice cream bucket (two litres) at a time, I could do a lot more, but they take a while to make. Actually there is a few different grits in there, but they are all old pieces before they go in.
Photos of what, are you after? The tumbler or the buttons?
The motor drives a lay shaft, which drives a large wooden pully about 500mm diameter.
I can take some photos tomorrow, of the tumbler and post them tomorrow night if you like.
Jim

[Cruzi]

Tripoli powder is a friable abrasive, that means as the particles break up they remain sharp. What this means is the more you work it the finer it gets and smoother the finish.

This is also why EEE from Ubeaut works so well.

[springwater]

First, no you are not asking too many questions, that's how you find out about things. The tumbler is about 500mm diameter and about 400mm wide. Yep the speed is about right. I do about an ice cream bucket (two litres) at a time, I could do a lot more, but they take a while to make. Actually there is a few different grits in there, but they are all old pieces before they go in.
Photos of what, are you after? The tumbler or the buttons?
The motor drives a lay shaft, which drives a large wooden pully about 500mm diameter.
I can take some photos tomorrow, of the tumbler and post them tomorrow night if you like.
Jim

My mark 1 tumbler is about 280 diameter and about 440 wide designed to fit into a cement mixer. This is all trial and error at the moment and if succesful I'll attempt to make one with an axle(?) running through it with a pulley attached and belt driven by an unkown type of electric motor.

I have already sanded the Huon Pine to 320# and planned to just use very fine sawdust or maybe Talc powder.

If you don't mind sending pictures of both your tumbler and buttons, no rush.

Thanks Jim

[springwater]

Tripoli powder is a friable abrasive, that means as the particles break up they remain sharp. What this means is the more you work it the finer it gets and smoother the finish.

This is also why EEE from Ubeaut works so well.

Thanks Cruzi, so you reckon Tripoli powder rather than Talc powder?

[Cruzi]

Thanks Cruzi, so you reckon Tripoli powder rather than Talc powder?

I'm am unsure of the abrasive abilities of Talc but Tripoli should give you a fine finish, the longer you work it the finer it should get.

[springwater]

<SMALL>Thanks Cruzi:2tsup:</SMALL>
<SMALL></SMALL>
<SMALL>Perhaps I should contact Ubeaut for advise on the Talc versus Tripoli dilemma. With what you say about Tripoli's properties it should do the job I'm asking but I'm still curious about Talc or even Pumice. </SMALL>
<SMALL></SMALL>
<SMALL>Here's what Ubeaut says about Talcum Powder:</SMALL>
<SMALL></SMALL>
<SMALL>Talc is used for many applications in woodworking. From making gesso to be used as a decorative finish or as a grain filler etc. to use as a lubricant and fine abrasive, this is a versatile product, with uses that are only limited by your imagination.</SMALL>

[springwater]

Ready to rock'n roll tumbler waiting for a dance with a keen cement mixer :-
92450
Back end attached
92451
Front end attached
92452
Hatch attached

[masoth]

Well done. When is the first tumble-run, and what are you going to put at risk?

soth

[springwater]

Well done. When is the first tumble-run, and what are you going to put at risk?

soth

gday soth

Firstly I have to hire the cement mixer for a weekend to tumble some other things I've been working on which don't need the wooden tumbler to protect them. Secondly I need to finalise the abrasive to use. Tripoli powder is leading followed by Huon Pine saw dust with Talcum powder and the dark horse Pumice powder following.

1000 Huon Pine hearts are on the line.:-

[RufflyRustic]

Thanks Cruzi, so you reckon Tripoli powder rather than Talc powder?


I used my Tripoli powder last week on another CL box (which I'll post shortly) The end result was absolutely incredible, I had the hardest time keeping my hands off the box to let the wax set!!!

So I'd definitely go the tripoli powder. It truly is amazing!

cheers
Wendy

[springwater]

I used my Tripoli powder last week on another CL box (which I'll post shortly) The end result was absolutely incredible, I had the hardest time keeping my hands off the box to let the wax set!!!

So I'd definitely go the tripoli powder. It truly is amazing!

cheers
Wendy

I'm hearing Tripoli, do you think it would discolour "raw" Huon Pine?
Please excuse my ignorance, what's a CL box? Closed Lid maybe?
Thanks Ruffly:)

[powderpost]

Sorry about the delay, had a few visitors over the past few days. Here is some photos of my tumbler.
1. A side view
2. An end view
3. An end view showing the motor driving a lay shaft. Motor pulley is 50mm the shaft pulley is 225mm. A 50mm pulley on the lay shaft drives a 500mm wooden pulley.
4. Top view showing the trap door latch.
5. Trap door open. The shaft runs straight through the drum and the sand paper can be seen in the bottom.
Can't find any unsanded buttons to compare with the finished product.

In your case I would be tempted to use lots of huon pine shavings instead of an abrasive, this will minimise self dings. Hope this helps you.
Jim

[Afro Boy]

Okay, excuse my ignorance here, but:

1. What is a Huon Pine heart?

2. Why would you "tumble" wood around like that? Wouldn't it dint?

Thanks,
Af.

[springwater]

Thanks for the insight Jim I reckon I could make something like that after seeing your setup, pictures explain a lot. It would certainly be cheaper than hiring a cement mixer. Yeah I've thought about the Huon shavings which I collected during the carving process but I think they might be too sharp. I also saved a lot of the saw dust when I cut the initial shape out with a scroll saw but probably won't be enough to soften the blows, I could mix it with the sifted Radiata Pine saw dust that has accumulated around my old table saw. I assume your buttons are of harder wood therefore you don't have to worry about the ding factor.

G'day AF

I don't want a pearl smooth finish, a few dings, dints and shallow depressions will be alright but don't want smashes, chips, scratches or splinters, hard to explain but I'll know when I see it.

These are Huon Pine hearts:
92554
They will be strung a bit like this (250 hearts) but won't have the vertical support. They will hang from a horizontal rail:
92557

[timberbits]

Hi Springwater

Have you thought about fixing the drum to a variable speed lathe? That is if you have a large size lathe. It would be easier than setting up a contraption like that. I am sure you can find a chuck strong enough to hold it.

Timberbits.

[springwater]

Hi Springwater

Have you thought about fixing the drum to a variable speed lathe? That is if you have a large size lathe. It would be easier than setting up a contraption like that. I am sure you can find a chuck strong enough to hold it.

Timberbits.

G'day Timberbits

Thanks for the idea but I haven't got a lathe.

[springwater]

Maybe I could buy a weekly ticket on a ferris wheel:rolleyes: