Home made tumbler

mrdaputer · August 11, 2016, 10:12 AM

I have the HF Dual Drum Rotary Rock Tumbler which is fine just too small and need to do a lot of loads. I am thinking of picking up a tread mill for free and using like 5 gallon buckets as a tumbler. That way I could do 10 lbs of casings at a time. Has anyone else used a treadmill or what did you come up with. Also is there a good 5 gallon container with a locking lead so it won't leak?

Chainsaw. · August 11, 2016, 10:55 AM

A friend of mine built a stout tumber by using an old motor and a a big (~10") peice of steel pipe. He used flat plate with a hole in the middle as caps, long peice of all thread to hold them on. Works great!

jmorris · August 11, 2016, 11:14 AM

I built this one using two 12.7 gallon chlorine (100lb) buckets. One mounted permanent and the other, with the agitators nest inside it.

Not only are they much larger they are also much stronger than your average 5 gallon bucket and have screw on lids as well.

I built 3 of these for a local business, 15 gallons of brass per barrel but your going to want an overhead crane to go with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlZOYjmAnO0

mikld · August 11, 2016, 11:14 AM

Goodle "home made rock tumblers", "home made brass tumblers", and "home made ball mills". You'll get a lot of ideas...

mrdaputer · August 11, 2016, 01:00 PM

Code:

15 gallons of brass per barrel but your going to want an overhead crane

That sure looks heavy duty but will be tumbling in my lab cave so I can't use a crane.

Code:

 Goodle "home made rock tumblers", "home made brass tumblers", and "home made ball mills". You'll get a lot of ideas

I did Google it but I like this forum. I can come up with a idea post pictures and get advise and feed back on how to perfect it to fit my needs. Right now searching for leak proof buckets.

T. O'Heir · August 11, 2016, 02:22 PM

"...used a treadmill..." A what? snicker.
Brass doesn't come by the gallon. snicker. Mind you, 15 pounds of brass will need a strong connector to any motor. 15 pounds of empty .308 cases is about 555 cases. Plus the weight of whatever media you're using(don't think it'd be advisable to use SS pins). Usually 3ish pounds of crushed corn cobs in a regular tumbler. Like a Frankford Arsenal tumbler that holds 350 .223 cases.
A 5 gallon container with a locking lid comes from a restaurant. Usually for the asking. Doesn't matter if the thing is food grade plastic if it's free.

jmorris · August 11, 2016, 08:09 PM

Quote:

"...used a treadmill..." A what? snicker.

They are devices people use a few times to walk indoors then hang clothes on them.

nhyrum · August 12, 2016, 09:57 PM

Jerry mculek uses one of those like 5 gallon cement mixers... I'd look at that too... but hey, the treadmill is a good idea.

https://youtu.be/O5y_dsP3dsM

You plan on selling the Hf tumbler... I've been looking at one, I only do about 100-150 6.5 creed Max

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

g.willikers · August 13, 2016, 12:05 PM

Or you could be satisfied with cleaning your brass and forget the tumbling altogether.
It's just going to get dirty again and lost in the weeds, anyway.
Sometimes being cheap and lazy greatly simplifies life.
Just a thought.

August 11, 2016, 10:12 AM	#1
mrdaputer Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2013 Posts: 493	Home made tumbler I have the HF Dual Drum Rotary Rock Tumbler which is fine just too small and need to do a lot of loads. I am thinking of picking up a tread mill for free and using like 5 gallon buckets as a tumbler. That way I could do 10 lbs of casings at a time. Has anyone else used a treadmill or what did you come up with. Also is there a good 5 gallon container with a locking lead so it won't leak?

August 11, 2016, 11:14 AM	#4
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	Goodle "home made rock tumblers", "home made brass tumblers", and "home made ball mills". You'll get a lot of ideas... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

August 11, 2016, 01:00 PM	#5
mrdaputer Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2013 Posts: 493	Code: 15 gallons of brass per barrel but your going to want an overhead crane That sure looks heavy duty but will be tumbling in my lab cave so I can't use a crane. Code: Goodle "home made rock tumblers", "home made brass tumblers", and "home made ball mills". You'll get a lot of ideas I did Google it but I like this forum. I can come up with a idea post pictures and get advise and feed back on how to perfect it to fit my needs. Right now searching for leak proof buckets. Last edited by mrdaputer; August 11, 2016 at 01:45 PM.

August 11, 2016, 02:22 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...used a treadmill..." A what? snicker. Brass doesn't come by the gallon. snicker. Mind you, 15 pounds of brass will need a strong connector to any motor. 15 pounds of empty .308 cases is about 555 cases. Plus the weight of whatever media you're using(don't think it'd be advisable to use SS pins). Usually 3ish pounds of crushed corn cobs in a regular tumbler. Like a Frankford Arsenal tumbler that holds 350 .223 cases. A 5 gallon container with a locking lid comes from a restaurant. Usually for the asking. Doesn't matter if the thing is food grade plastic if it's free. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

August 12, 2016, 09:57 PM	#8
nhyrum Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2016 Posts: 588	Jerry mculek uses one of those like 5 gallon cement mixers... I'd look at that too... but hey, the treadmill is a good idea. https://youtu.be/O5y_dsP3dsM You plan on selling the Hf tumbler... I've been looking at one, I only do about 100-150 6.5 creed Max Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Last edited by nhyrum; August 12, 2016 at 10:20 PM.

August 11, 2016, 10:55 AM	#2
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	A friend of mine built a stout tumber by using an old motor and a a big (~10") peice of steel pipe. He used flat plate with a hole in the middle as caps, long peice of all thread to hold them on. Works great!

August 11, 2016, 11:14 AM	#3
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	I built this one using two 12.7 gallon chlorine (100lb) buckets. One mounted permanent and the other, with the agitators nest inside it. Not only are they much larger they are also much stronger than your average 5 gallon bucket and have screw on lids as well. I built 3 of these for a local business, 15 gallons of brass per barrel but your going to want an overhead crane to go with it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlZOYjmAnO0

August 13, 2016, 12:05 PM	#9
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Or you could be satisfied with cleaning your brass and forget the tumbling altogether. It's just going to get dirty again and lost in the weeds, anyway. Sometimes being cheap and lazy greatly simplifies life. Just a thought. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”