Homemade rotary tumbler??

the machinist · January 24, 2009, 01:34 PM

I want to make a tumbler to polish my brass, I have a couple of idle lathes that I can turn on and let run for a while, I'm wondering what a I could use for a drum..maybe a metal coffee can? pop rivet a couple of small baffles in it? have any of you ever made one? also does walmart carry and suitable material to use for media? thanks!

rthomas7777 · January 24, 2009, 01:39 PM

I have always used walnut shells to tuble my brass, works great.

Wuchak · January 24, 2009, 02:19 PM

For media I use corn cob they sell for pet bedding at the pet store. It's the same as the stuff they sell for tumbling but a fraction of the price.

I'd go to the $1 store and get a tupperware type bowl. Chuck it in the lathe and let it go at a low/med speed. The plastic will be quieter and easier on the brass. You could even use a heavy cardboard shipping box. One of the new plastic coffee cans with the screw on lids would also work great.

Inspector3711 · January 24, 2009, 02:27 PM

Walmart will carry both walnut shell and corn cob in the pet section usually. Buy some Nu Finish liquid car wax (orange bottle) and put a capfull in. I use both mediums depending on what caliber.

A coffee can will work for awhile but it'll be loud and wear through in time. If you go that route you might line it with rubber that's glued in place. My tumbler canisters are made of rubber not metal.

maggys drawers · January 24, 2009, 02:42 PM

I used an old rock polisher prior to getting a vibratory polisher. It worked good, but was a little slower than the vibratory method. I think a coffee can would work well, but be sure to figure out how to keep the lid on, or you will have a mess of biblical proportions. Inspector is right about a metal can being loud. Glue in some cork or neoprene gasket material to deaden the noise down. The tumblers on my polisher were rubber lined and did not have any baffles.

Use the walnut or corn cob bedding that WallyWorld sells. It does the same thing at about half the price. Walnut will clean faster, but cob will give you more of a shine.

bluetopper · January 24, 2009, 03:13 PM

A small cement mixer?????

SKULLANDCROSSBONES65 · January 24, 2009, 05:19 PM

G'day.
A large cement mixer

Ronbo1 · January 24, 2009, 05:35 PM

I made this one in the mid 70's from a plan in the American Riflemen magazine. Plywood octagon drum, two pulleys from a old style junked clothes dryer, junked furnace blower motor, cost was $5 for one of the belts I had to buy. I think I got my money's worth, tumbles shiny brass in one hour with fine ground corn cob media and holds hundreds.

Rembrandt · January 24, 2009, 05:57 PM

Rotary tumblers are worthless....bought a RCBS Sidewinder years ago (go for $300-$400 today's prices), never did do as nice a job as the vibratory case cleaners no matter what type of media you used. Get a Dillon CV2001.

...but if you're really set on a tumbler, convert an old clothes dryer....should be able to process 10,000 rounds each load.

GoldenRoyBoy · January 24, 2009, 06:56 PM

Several months ago, I too was in need of a larger tumbling machine. I opted for the Dillon CV-2001; and am so glad I did. It's a monster; a little heavy to pick up. But, worth the cons; and the $180, or so it cost. If you go with it, be sure to pick up one of their CM-500 Case/Media separators also. It's about $44. Both products should last for years. Don't forget plenty of media! The 2001 holds quite a bit of it.

GRB

the machinist · January 24, 2009, 10:47 PM

THANKS GUYS! How much media do you at a time? 75% full and the rest with cases?

luis7 · January 26, 2009, 05:54 AM

Those are two of nime.
A tupperware and fan electric engine.
Bye.

January 24, 2009, 01:34 PM	#1
the machinist Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Posts: 66	Homemade rotary tumbler?? I want to make a tumbler to polish my brass, I have a couple of idle lathes that I can turn on and let run for a while, I'm wondering what a I could use for a drum..maybe a metal coffee can? pop rivet a couple of small baffles in it? have any of you ever made one? also does walmart carry and suitable material to use for media? thanks!

January 24, 2009, 01:39 PM	#2
rthomas7777 Junior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Posts: 1	Tumbler materials I have always used walnut shells to tuble my brass, works great.

January 24, 2009, 02:27 PM	#4
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Walmart will carry both walnut shell and corn cob in the pet section usually. Buy some Nu Finish liquid car wax (orange bottle) and put a capfull in. I use both mediums depending on what caliber. A coffee can will work for awhile but it'll be loud and wear through in time. If you go that route you might line it with rubber that's glued in place. My tumbler canisters are made of rubber not metal. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

January 24, 2009, 05:19 PM	#7
SKULLANDCROSSBONES65 Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2008 Location: Far Nth Wst QLD Australia Posts: 992	G'day. A large cement mixer __________________ If you're not confused, you're not trying hard enough! When you're confused, I'll try to use smaller words!!!

January 24, 2009, 05:35 PM	#8
Ronbo1 Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2004 Location: MN Posts: 136	tumbler I made this one in the mid 70's from a plan in the American Riflemen magazine. Plywood octagon drum, two pulleys from a old style junked clothes dryer, junked furnace blower motor, cost was $5 for one of the belts I had to buy. I think I got my money's worth, tumbles shiny brass in one hour with fine ground corn cob media and holds hundreds. __________________ When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves Abraham Lincoln

January 24, 2009, 02:19 PM	#3
Wuchak Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 1,093	For media I use corn cob they sell for pet bedding at the pet store. It's the same as the stuff they sell for tumbling but a fraction of the price. I'd go to the $1 store and get a tupperware type bowl. Chuck it in the lathe and let it go at a low/med speed. The plastic will be quieter and easier on the brass. You could even use a heavy cardboard shipping box. One of the new plastic coffee cans with the screw on lids would also work great.

January 24, 2009, 02:42 PM	#5
maggys drawers Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2006 Posts: 178	I used an old rock polisher prior to getting a vibratory polisher. It worked good, but was a little slower than the vibratory method. I think a coffee can would work well, but be sure to figure out how to keep the lid on, or you will have a mess of biblical proportions. Inspector is right about a metal can being loud. Glue in some cork or neoprene gasket material to deaden the noise down. The tumblers on my polisher were rubber lined and did not have any baffles. Use the walnut or corn cob bedding that WallyWorld sells. It does the same thing at about half the price. Walnut will clean faster, but cob will give you more of a shine.

January 24, 2009, 03:13 PM	#6
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	A small cement mixer?????

January 24, 2009, 05:57 PM	#9
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Rotary tumblers are worthless....bought a RCBS Sidewinder years ago (go for $300-$400 today's prices), never did do as nice a job as the vibratory case cleaners no matter what type of media you used. Get a Dillon CV2001. ...but if you're really set on a tumbler, convert an old clothes dryer....should be able to process 10,000 rounds each load.

January 24, 2009, 06:56 PM	#10
GoldenRoyBoy Junior member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: Trinidad, Colorado Posts: 107	Yes - Dillon --- Several months ago, I too was in need of a larger tumbling machine. I opted for the Dillon CV-2001; and am so glad I did. It's a monster; a little heavy to pick up. But, worth the cons; and the $180, or so it cost. If you go with it, be sure to pick up one of their CM-500 Case/Media separators also. It's about $44. Both products should last for years. Don't forget plenty of media! The 2001 holds quite a bit of it. GRB

January 24, 2009, 10:47 PM	#11
the machinist Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Posts: 66	THANKS GUYS! How much media do you at a time? 75% full and the rest with cases?