my home made brass tumbler

Ahh, that's almost exactly what I'm hoping to build in the next little while..... might use a smaller motor that I already have, that has a slower rpm range right off the bat, so I may only need one set of reducing pulleys. This gives me some ideas....


Trav
 
Ahh, that's almost exactly what I'm hoping to build in the next little while..... might use a smaller motor that I already have, that has a slower rpm range right off the bat, so I may only need one set of reducing pulleys. This gives me some ideas....


Trav

Wonder if a ceiling fan motor with speed controller would have enough jam to get those rolling>

I'd use a something with quality bearings and wheels on the sheaves. Maybe rollerblade wheels for the rollers.

You guys have me thinking cause I need one too... Wouldn't mind making my own wet tumbler.
 
It looks to be turning faster than required. It is turning so fast the label on the bucket can not be read.
Is it a 20 litre size?
How much brass and media are you using?
Are you seeing any damage to the mouth of your brass?
 
horseman, Inside was 400 pcs of 30-06, I used a little bit off mongo beans and crushed walnut, it turned out super clean inside and out, no damage to the mouth, next time I will buy stainless still media, if I know where to buy it.
 
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Ahh, that's almost exactly what I'm hoping to build in the next little while..... might use a smaller motor that I already have, that has a slower rpm range right off the bat, so I may only need one set of reducing pulleys. This gives me some ideas....


Trav
that is roller blade wheels and bearing in between the pulley and threaded bar.
 
Good job. I started out also with just bearings I had around and some wood and an old motor. I acquired a treadmill motor, well actually I liberated it from the junk yard and welded up my own frame and it works great. It can be found here http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-Size-Stainless-Steel-Pins-and-Drum-explained . I also explained the size ratio of the pulleys to the speed of the drum so you can ball park what size belt and pulleys you need without a lot of trial and error.

One by product of really clean brass that I never thought of was the gunk that comes out of the primer pockets when you deprime the cases gets into the inner workings of the progressive loader and jams it up after a while. I deprime my brass first and then into the stainless steel pins to be cleaned for a few hours, http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...45-Do-stainless-steel-pins-work-(Here-you-go) .

I loaded 1000 .223 on my Dillon 550 yesterday and didn't have to stop once to clean the primer arm/slider. Usually about every 300 or so and I would have to stop and clean it out before continuing on.
 
Similar to what i made....I used the electrican motor for the furnace fan from the old furnace i replaced and dissassembled. Skateboard lower wheel assy bolted upside down, the pulley system from the furnace welded to a rod that drives the bucket directly.
 
nice job guys.
i have a homemade tumbler too, all i do is fill a icecream pail with brass and media and put it in the engine room of the tugboat i work on. when we go through the harbour at half speed it does a pretty good job. i gues you can call it a lazy tumbler:p
 
Love it when people use their brains instead of their wallets. Congrats on your efforts ! And if the end result is cleaned brass, you have accomplished your goal with finess !
 
Man this thread sure brought back memories of 20 yrs ago. I stole a large tupperware bowl from the wifes cupboard and using a surplus $3 motor and some springs from Princess Auto, I made a vibrating brass cleaner. I used it for years.
 
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