My wet tumbler..... on the cheap!

Joe-ker · September 17, 2016, 08:12 PM

i found this forum only a month ago and have really enjoyed all the wonderful information on it. After reading a lot about the art of cleaning your cases, I decided to build my own wet tumbler. I built it entirely of parts I had lying around so it cost me nothing. I ran my first batch today and had great results. I did 100 .223 cases, 20oz dist water(I got from my dehumidifier-again on the cheap LOL)1oz turbo sonic, SS media and ran for 30 mins. I'm sure I could do more at once but it was a nice number as I am a small time reloader. I enjoy seeing others methods and creations so I thought I'd share mine.

I'm not the best at posting pics so I hope this works.

Edit: Sorry I'm only getting one pic to load, I thought they'd be small enough. Maybe someone who knows more than me can educated me on pic posting 101.

Crankylove · September 17, 2016, 10:44 PM

Any pics of the wet tumbler you built?

Joe-ker · September 18, 2016, 01:54 AM

Hope this works.

It's a 1/3 hp with a gear reduction plus belted down some more. Its a bit faster than 60rpm. Just a 2 gal pail with lid and some paddles riveted in.Basically a cement mixer. Not exactly stuff the average guy has lying around but I'm not exactly average

I expected some suds when I open the lid-it puked foam like the stay puff man in ghostbusters when I popped the lid LOL. I'd like to post more pics if I wasn't so computer illiterate

Oh yeah and what does your sig mean? I'm slow sometimes

g.willikers · September 18, 2016, 09:33 AM

Welcome to the forum and good job there.
The results are proof of the success of your design.

g.willikers · September 18, 2016, 09:37 AM

1984, a book from post WW2 1948 that everyone should read:
https://www.amazon.com/1984-Signet-C...&keywords=1984

Crankylove · September 18, 2016, 10:39 AM

Thanks for the picture, gives me ideas.

I pick up a lot of brass from informal shooting sites out in the boonies, many of them packed full of mud, sand, or rocks. Been thinking of a wet tumbler to clean those cases up a little before they go in my vibrating cleaner/polisher.

g.willikers nailed it on the Sig.

Joe-ker · September 18, 2016, 12:14 PM

Your welcome, Crankylove. After seeing a post I think on this site, where a fellow cleaned up some nasty brass that I would've thought to be garbage, I will definitely give it a cleaning before I discard any.

DaleA · September 21, 2016, 05:30 PM

Cool tumbler!

And the proof of the work is your cleaned brass...to quote Kaylee Frye from Firefly, "Shiny!"

September 17, 2016, 10:44 PM	#2
Crankylove Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: 8B ID Posts: 1,753	Any pics of the wet tumbler you built? __________________ The answer to 1984 is 1776

September 18, 2016, 09:33 AM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Welcome to the forum and good job there. The results are proof of the success of your design. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

September 18, 2016, 09:37 AM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	1984, a book from post WW2 1948 that everyone should read: https://www.amazon.com/1984-Signet-C...&keywords=1984 __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

September 18, 2016, 10:39 AM	#6
Crankylove Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: 8B ID Posts: 1,753	Thanks for the picture, gives me ideas. I pick up a lot of brass from informal shooting sites out in the boonies, many of them packed full of mud, sand, or rocks. Been thinking of a wet tumbler to clean those cases up a little before they go in my vibrating cleaner/polisher. g.willikers nailed it on the Sig. __________________ The answer to 1984 is 1776

September 18, 2016, 12:14 PM	#7
Joe-ker Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2016 Location: North Iowa Posts: 247	Your welcome, Crankylove. After seeing a post I think on this site, where a fellow cleaned up some nasty brass that I would've thought to be garbage, I will definitely give it a cleaning before I discard any. __________________ From my cold dead hands.....

September 21, 2016, 05:30 PM	#8
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	Cool tumbler! And the proof of the work is your cleaned brass...to quote Kaylee Frye from Firefly, "Shiny!"