TUMBLER CELL

firewalker · Jun 12, 2009

I am proud to show the first run of my "TUMBLER CELL" that I made. It took 350 grams of pins and processed them in 45 minutes. All I had to do was load it and start it. The links below are for photobucket.com and will show the pictures and a couple of videos of the unit running. I wanted to thank the member that provided the link that started me on this project, but I lost his name.

http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt36/firewalker31/?albumview=slideshow
http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt36/firewalker31/?action=view&current=b.flv
http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt36/firewalker31/?action=view&current=b009.flv

Tell me what you think......Jack

firewalker · Jun 12, 2009

The 3rd run of the cell, pictures below. Had to redo the dongle, changed to aircraft cable. processed 250 grams of pins in 30 minutes.

http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt36/firewalker31/3rd%20run/

http://s595.photobucket.com/albums/tt36/firewalker31/?action=view&current=e.flv

leavemealone · Jun 12, 2009

Thats just awesome Jack!Looks like you'll be busy for a while now.....hopefully.
LOL

goldsilverpro · Jun 12, 2009

Excellent, Jack! Simple and ingenious. You could probably take orders for a bunch of those. Isn't that a rotisserie motor? Well-done photos and video.

firewalker · Jun 12, 2009

Thanks, yes it is a rotisserie motor, turns it at just the right speed.

goldsilverpro · Jun 12, 2009

What is the voltage and amperage when you run 1/2 pound? Have you experimented with higher amperage to decrease the time. You have quite a bit of solution and I don't think you would have problems with the solution overheating. Of course, you don't want to overheat the cables.

Where is the cathode? Is that it in photo #36? If so, it's pretty small. I would imagine the voltage is fairly high because of the small cathode. Have you considered making the tank out of steel and using it as the cathode or, at least, lining the bottom with a steel plate? I'm not criticizing, just thinking out loud.

When plating in a plating tumbler, it takes about 3 times longer than normal plating, since only an average of 1/3 of the parts make total contact at any given time. I assume it would be the same when stripping.

firewalker · Jun 12, 2009

goldsilverpro said:
What is the voltage and amperage when you run 1/2 pound? Have you experimented with higher amperage to decrease the time. You have quite a bit of solution and I don't think you would have problems with the solution overheating. Of course, you don't want to overheat the cables.

I used a 12v battery charger at 2 amp setting. I did not try the 10 amp, The solution stayed at a nice warm tempature. I am running #6 cables.

goldsilverpro said:
Where is the cathode? Is that it in photo #36? If so, it's pretty small. I would imagine the voltage is fairly high because of the small cathode. Have you considered making the tank out of steel and using it as the cathode or, at least, lining the bottom with a steel plate? I'm not criticizing, just thinking out loud.

The big chunk of lead laying on the ground is the cathode. I did have a small one from a previous cell, but figgured it was not big enough, The cathode lays across the bottom of the tank on the pcv pipe in front of the posts, You can see it bubbling in the last 2 pictures. I have not thought about steel, but it sounds like a good idea.

goldsilverpro said:
When plating in a plating tumbler, it takes about 3 times longer than normal plating, since only an average of 1/3 of the parts make total contact at any given time. I assume it would be the same when stripping

In this one it seems that 1/2 if the parts are in contact all the time. The base of the basket is line with an 1/8" stainless steel plate, so when the dongle touchs the top, the whole bottom of the basket is hot. It only took 30 min to strip 250 grams.

thanks for the interest.....Jack

lazersteve · Jun 12, 2009

Very impressive Jack!!

Keep up the great work!

Steve

goldsilverpro · Jun 12, 2009

I hope you don't mind my continuing to put in my two cents. What you have done is impressive and I'm very interested in it

In this one it seems that 1/2 if the parts are in contact all the time. The base of the basket is line with an 1/8" stainless steel plate, so when the dongle touchs the top, the whole bottom of the basket is hot. It only took 30 min to strip 250 grams.

I don't think it's as simple as that. Say you had a big pile of parts, just sitting there and not moving. They are in the solution in a strip tank and you apply current to them. Although all are in contact electrically, about 90%, or so, of the current would only be applied to those parts on the outside surface of the pile. The interior parts are shielded from the current by those on the surface of the pile and most parts on the interior of the pile would only partially strip or wouldn't strip at all. If all had equal current applied to them, there would be no reason to tumble them - they all would strip equally. The tumbling action eventually puts each and every part on the outside of the pile so it temporarily gets maximum current. This happens multiple times during the cycle. You are constant changing the order of the pile.This is a over simplified explanation but it's basically the way it works.

Platdigger · Jun 13, 2009

Great job Jack! Let me know when you start taking orders....... 8)
Randy

firewalker · Jun 13, 2009

Thanks Randy.

GSP, I understand what you are saying. That is the main reason that I made the tumbler, so I would not have to stir the parts and move the anode around.

I have 850 grams of pins ran already, so I am kinda hoping to have from 4-8 grams of gold in the acid. I have about 3000 grams to run yet so we will see what happens.

Later......Jack

leavemealone · Jun 13, 2009

That is so awesome bobo.I am really proud of you.Looks like I've got a lot of catching up to do huh?Well I may be catching up faster than you think,I have a twist on your tumbler and monster.We'll see what happens.....lol.I'll give you a call around 3 or 4.
Johnny

AurumShine · Jun 13, 2009

Fire walker if you use steel bucket or copper bucket make hole it can get you good result than plastic bucket and also you can remove your anode brush.

goldsilverpro · Jun 13, 2009

aurumshin said:
Fire walker if you use steel bucket or copper bucket make hole it can get you good result than plastic bucket and also you can remove your anode brush.

I don't agree. The basket is closest to the cathode and the current will be applied mainly to the basket. It won't dissolve the metal basket but the current will be used to split water at it's surface and very little current will be applied to the parts. The system will then be very inefficient. The basket must be non-conductive.

Palladium · Jun 13, 2009

Nice job Firewalker. !!!!!

Did you follow these plans ? http://www.nulltime.com/zincplating/shop_setup/plating_barrel/how_its_made/index.html

AurumShine · Jun 13, 2009

ooops sorry thanks goldsilverpro.

goldsilverpro · Jun 13, 2009

Palladium said:
Nice job Firewalker. !!!!!

Did you follow these plans ? http://www.nulltime.com/zincplating/sho ... index.html

Well, I'll be damned! Nothing ever gets past you, Ralph. Good job.

Palladium · Jun 13, 2009

Yeah i found it several months back. I think i posted a link for it somewhere. So much moving i can't keep up with it all.

Hey guy's. 8)

firewalker · Jun 13, 2009

Palladium said:
Nice job Firewalker. !!!!!

Did you follow these plans ? http://www.nulltime.com/zincplating/sho ... index.html

Your the person that I wanted to thank in my first post. Yes I used part of the plans, converting it where it would work better for a cell. Again, thanks alot.....Jack

Anonymous · Jun 13, 2009

firewalker said:
Palladium said:

Nice job Firewalker. !!!!!

Did you follow these plans ? http://www.nulltime.com/zincplating/sho ... index.html

Click to expand...

Your the person that I wanted to thank in my first post. Yes I used part of the plans, converting it where it would work better for a cell. Again, thanks alot.....Jack

Thanks Palladium for sharing the link with all of us on the forum, nice tumbler barrel setup. The website hosting the plans gives a very good description with a list of parts used.
http://tinyurl.com/mh3gdb

TUMBLER CELL

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