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?

[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. And have the container more than half full so that they tumble properly.

[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 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. And have the container more than half full so that they tumble properly.

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 should be pretty right in case of insect invasion

[springwater]

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

[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

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

Attachment 92343

Attachment 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

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

[artme]

Ah yes! A man after my own heart! A bin raider!

[springwater]

Ah yes! A man after my own heart! A bin raider!

Opps, I meant sourced from a Skid not a Skip. 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

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

Attachment 92364

[RufflyRustic]

The tumbler is looking good Springwater

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.

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