To anyone wanting to build there own trommel I made a 3" model
with step by step photo's how to do it. You would know they show
up in the reverse order but thats not a big problem, I'm ass back-
wards most of the time also. #1 wrap paper around what ever size
tube you are going to use. over lap edgesan inch or two and tape
it tight. #2 lay a straight edge along the overlap section and cut it
end to end. this will give you a good straight edge on each side so
they will butt together. Tape the butt edges on each end so they
are tight . #3 starting at the right end of the tube start marking
a 1/2" mark across the butt seam every 3/8" all the way end to end. #4 untape the paper from the tube and set tube aside.
#5 lay the paper out flat with the marks faceing up and tape it
down so it will stay put . #6 lay a straight edge on the first bottom
right mark and the second mark at the top right. This makes a
slanted line and you keep doing this with all the rest of the marks
#7 untape the paper and rewrap your tube with it. make sure it's
flush with the right end and tape it in place like it was when you
put the marks on it. It helps to run a strip of tape down the lenght
of the butt edge so it stays flat so the saw don't snag it . You need
some thing to support the tube while you saw it. This can be a V-
block or something with rollers like I did. You really need some kind so don't try it with out. #8 useing a jigsaw start cutting from
the right end. don't worry about what the first part of the cut looks like just start cutting and turning the tube as you go . Now
you can see why you needsomething for it to set in and keep it
from moving around . #9 as you get farther from the end of the
tube you need to support those coils that are all ready cut so
they don't break off. Just a stick clamped to one upright will do
fine. Move the tube and it's support towards it as you cut more
coils to keep the weight of them supported. #10 cut the needed
number of coils plus a few extra ( more on that at the end of this.
#11 when you have the number of coils cut that you need,cut
through at an angle and remove the tape and paper strip. You
should now have a plastic slinkey #12 that will reach end to end
of your tube when you strech it. #13 to insert it into your tube
push the coils together and tighten them with a slight twist while
inserting them into the tube, won't take much on large tubes but
is hard to do with a small one so be careful not to break them.
you can pull the coils apart while twisting and it helps .
#14 Not shown in the photo's, you need to stop your coils short
of the ends of the tube an inch or two. when I made mine I ran
a straight edge end to end on the outside of the tube and marked
it every two inches then rolled the tube 180deg.s and did the
same thing except offset the spacing so that when I drilled the
pilotholes for the small screws that went into the coils to keep
them spaced at two inches. After I had them secured with the
screws I stood the tube up on end and applyed TAP Plastics
Weld on 2007 Adhesive for Rigid PVC. This stuff is as thin as
water and runs into any cracks under the coils and welds them
in place. Use this outside as the fumes are very strong. Thats
how I made mine, it sounds far worse than it really is to build
so if you are snow bound or other wise stuck at home and can't
find something else you need to do maybe you will make one.
If anyone has questions about this project let me hear from you
and I'll try to help you. Go to my page and click on the photo's.
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