High Capacity Bench Top parts Tumbler Assembly Instructions
Use this page for reference if you are building a tumbler from our CNC files. If you have not yet purchased the file, you can do so here: dxf files for sale
Material required: 11 ga. steel 12 x 48 inches. Scale: the large gear is 10.5 inches diameter
DRILL: Black and Decker 1/2 inch High Torque Heavy Duty 7 amp Electric Drill (Home Depot or Amazon). Use a drill rated at 7 amps or more.
Bucket (i.e. Lowes Hardware Heavy Duty Food Grade Bucket). Be sure to pick a bucket with a wide lip; this is where the wheels ride.
Screw Top Bucket Lid (Lowes, Amazon)
Drive chain: Common 1/2 x 1/8 single speed bicycle chain (Walmart). You will need to shorten the chain to 80 links.
Wooden ‘paddles’ (bucket interior). 1 x 1 inch wood blocks and screws. Arranged in a spiral pattern.
Pre-drill the blocks and use a drop of wood glue to seal the screws.
10 inch gear axle assembly. Weld a 1/2 inch diameter x 2-1/4 inch long axle to center (1/2 inch bolt shank, buy a long 1/2 inch bolt and cut off the head and threads)
1 inch x 1/4 inch I.D. Nylon spacers. 4 required (Home Depot).
2in. x 1/4-20 carriage bolts, nuts and washers mount the large gear to the bucket. 4 required.
Center the gear carefully, use the gear holes to mark the bucket bottom for drilling the mounting holes.
(2) 1/2 inch “miniature side flange bearing”. see: http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/PROD/Kit8995).
Bucket bearing mount (base section, rear). Use (2) #8 x 3/8 bolts, nuts and washers to mount these bearings.
(2) roller guide wheels. Shepherd Hardware 9490 (or similar) 1-1/2-Inch Rubber Rigid Plate Caster, 40-lb Load Capacity (Amazon.com, eBay, Home Depot)
Wheel mount (base section, front). #6 mounting hardware.
3 inch gear axle shaft assembly. Weld a 3 inch long x 1/2 inch diameter axle 1.125 inches from the end. Use a 1/2 inch bolt shank (cut off the head and threads).
Drive gear bearing mount. Use (2) 1/4-20 x 1 inch carriage bolts to mount this bracket.
Drill mounting bracket. Use (1) 1/4-20 x 1 in. carriage bolt for the trigger lock. (2) 1/4-20 x 1 inch carriage bolts to mount the drill bracket.
Base. (2) 8 x 3/8 bolts, nuts or equivalent to connect the base halves together.
Base halves bending guide.
Power drill handle clamp. Requires (2) 2 inch x 1/4-20 carriage bolts, washers, nuts.
I drilled a hole in the ‘direction’ switch and inserted a key ring so I could pull on this switch.
Power drill trigger lock. Requires (1) 2 inch x 1/4-20 bolts (no shank), and nut.
Use the trigger lock to adjust the speed of the drill. When you find the correct speed you’ll hear a constant “whooshing” sound. About 60 RPM.
(2) 1/2 inch I.D. shaft collars with set screws (www.Grainger.com)
Place one collar on each side of the main gear bearing.
Optional (improved) screw-off lid. Available at Home Depot
WARNING: Never leave machinery operating unattended. Keep clothing, long hair, fingers, and jewelry away from moving parts. Keep pets and children away from equipment when operating. Unplug from the power source when not in use.
Recommended hardware. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a shopping list.
