Making a tumbler

greywolf67nt

greywolf67nt

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I am making my own tumbler. I have a vibrator and my brass is clean but not all bright and shiney.
Does the drum need something on the interior so the brass and media don't just slide along as it rotates?
I will be using stainless pins and some kind of cleaner so drum needs to be watertight as well. I have an old protein powder jug and am thinking I should fasten something inside to make ridges.
 
Ya you will need paddles on the inside or you wont do.anything but waste electricity and make noise, cut a peice of pvc pipe length ways and attach to the inside.
 
I like to take a protein jug, mix up some vinegar, water and dishsoap and water and agitate the cases in that a while. It takes most heavy tarnish off without vibrating in my experience. Dry them in the sun or oven on 250 Fahrenheit. 2 cups vinegar, 4 cups water and a teaspoon or two of soap will do 1000 9mm. It's on YouTube if you want to check it out.
 
I just did my first experiment at wet tumbling by using a new small electric cement mixer! https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/ccm50-concrete-mixer
Results were very promising for a first try and there was no damage to any of the cases-a mixture of .308, 577-450 (black powder), 8 x 57 and 8 x 60R.
The cement mixer was cheaper than a Thumler model B and can hold a fair few cases. Next experiment is going to be putting a variable speed control on the mixer for a bit of fine tuning.
 
My case tumbler came from the factory with a smooth surface on the inside and works so I don't think you need the paddles on the inside. But you have to have the speed slow enough that the cases and medium slump as it goes around and doesn't hold to the side with the centrifugal force instead.
 
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My tumbler also does not have any paddles on the inside. Here is what i add to my tumbler and the results;

1 lb stainless pins
brass casings
1 small drop of dawn dish soap
1/8 tsp lemi shine (citric acid)
Hot water to just above the brass

The bellow pics are from only 2 hrs of tumbling, I believe the Lemi shine is the key ingredient.



 
Brass doesn't need to be all bright and shiney. Just clean. However, any machine that shakes or rolls a container will work. No soap, paddles or polish is needed.
Your old protein powder jug got a big opening? It square or round? Square would be better. Automatic agitation.
 
sunray said:
Brass doesn't need to be all bright and shiney. Just clean. However, any machine that shakes or rolls a container will work. No soap, paddles or polish is needed.
Your old protein powder jug got a big opening? It square or round? Square would be better. Automatic agitation.
Click to expand...

It doesn't have to be all bright and shiny but some of the stuff I have is pretty tarnished. I'd prefer to spend a little extra time on it so I can do a thorough inspection before staring to reload it.
I actually found an old windshield wiper motor with all the bits still attached so figure I can make it so it rocks the container instead of actually tumbling.
The mouth on my jar is big enough I could polish grenades :d
 
sunray said:
Brass doesn't need to be all bright and shiney. Just clean. However, any machine that shakes or rolls a container will work. No soap, paddles or polish is needed.
Your old protein powder jug got a big opening? It square or round? Square would be better. Automatic agitation.
Click to expand...

Please inform us uninformed mortals, just how do you roll a square container? I think you just kicked it up a notch with your advice.
 
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