DIY Tumbler

ToolAA · Nov 21, 2016

Just wanted to share this home made wet tumbler.

Parts list:
3/4 Plywood Scraps
5/16 Threaded Rod, washers and nuts $9
5/16 Pillow Bearing Blocks $8
XML Belts and Pulleys $33
5gal Bucket w/twist off lid $15
12v DC 15a power supply $13

For the motor we had a ninja style blender and the pitcher broke. The drive wheels were taken from a set of unused roller blades.

Total $78

I just need to attach a few baffles inside and I can test this thing out.

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toolness1 · Nov 22, 2016

Getting a bit concerned about the dust from my dry tumbler and might have to make something or buy one (a wet tumbler). I saw a guy that got pretty good results out of an ice cream maker machine, maybe I'll go full ghetto and do that

I have an ultrasonic but it doesn't get the primer pockets as clean as I see people get from SS wet tumbling. Mine also has an annoying 8 minute max timer.

This looks awesome!

StickShaker · Nov 22, 2016

Nice job! Good idea with the DC supply to slow the motor down.

THier · Nov 22, 2016

I just break down a tire on my truck, fill with brass and corn cob, and drive around. Works great!

ToolAA · Nov 22, 2016

THier said:
I just break down a tire on my truck, fill with brass and corn cob, and drive around. Works great!

That explains that sound I hear whenever we meet up at the range.

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ToolAA · Nov 22, 2016

Tumbled about 350 cases for 1hr. I dont know how good they are supposed to look but they look good to me.

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stu929 · Nov 22, 2016

Do you have any pins for media? Did you put lemon shine in the water?

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ToolAA · Nov 23, 2016

stu929 said:
Do you have any pins for media? Did you put lemon shine in the water?

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I did have steel pins and I used citric acid instead of lemonshine.

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StickShaker · Nov 23, 2016

Mine always shine up like new or even better and I still shake my head in disbelief after every batch. But if you are happy with the results that's what matters the most. The bling certainly isn't needed.

ToolAA · Nov 23, 2016

StickShaker said:
Mine always shine up like new or even better and I still shake my head in disbelief after every batch. But if you are happy with the results that's what matters the most. The bling certainly isn't needed.

Maybe i need to add more citric acid and detergent along with some more time. I'm be doing another batch soon. I've got about 2000 cases saved up.

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Rockzilla · Nov 23, 2016

pretty neat... some use a cement mixer, with spray on bed liner.. for those
who have a lot of brass..

made one out of 8" & 6" drain pipe, got the nfo & plans from another place..
lemon shine and dawn soap..

some ideas..
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/3...f_pics__New_info_second_post_10_02_2015_.html

this one gives some more details on building and measurements
built this version, works great..

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/344986_How_i_built_my_own_rotary_tumbler.html&page=1

-Rock.

StickShaker · Nov 23, 2016

ToolAA said:
Maybe i need to add more citric acid and detergent along with some more time. I'm be doing another batch soon. I've got about 2000 cases saved up.

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I use a tiny bit of straight citric acid also but I have used Dawn only a few times and don't see much of a difference. I have a feeling your brass and pins are mostly sliding on the bottom as your bucket turns. Every tumbler I have ever seen has a hex/oct shape which causes great agitation.

ToolAA · Nov 23, 2016

I've got some baffles in there but maybe I need more pins since the bucket is so large

.

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Melnic · Nov 23, 2016

I first wet tumbled. Then I wet tumbled with pins.
I found the pins were only needed on stubborn brass that was outdoor range pick up.
lemon shine, soap and water does a really good job by itself and less work to separate the pins from the brass.

I'm curious if anyone really feels the pins are that necessary or worth the extra hassle.

I mostly vibe with walnut though.

StickShaker · Nov 23, 2016

ToolAA said:
I've got some baffles in there but maybe I need more pins since the bucket is so large

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I wonder if they are falling too far and getting beat up? How much water do you use in the bucket? Frankford wants the tumbler full but it's a much smaller diameter. Like Melnic mentioned, my not so dirty brass gets pretty shiny without pins.

StickShaker · Nov 23, 2016

Melnic said:
I first wet tumbled. Then I wet tumbled with pins.
I found the pins were only needed on stubborn brass that was outdoor range pick up.
lemon shine, soap and water does a really good job by itself and less work to separate the pins from the brass.

I'm curious if anyone really feels the pins are that necessary or worth the extra hassle.

I mostly vibe with walnut though.

The jury is still out on that. I have so much tumbled brass that I haven't had to re-tumble any yet.

ToolAA · Nov 23, 2016

StickShaker said:
I wonder if they are falling too far and getting beat up? How much water do you use in the bucket? Frankford wants the tumbler full but it's a much smaller diameter. Like Melnic mentioned, my not so dirty brass gets pretty shiny without pins.

I'll try another batch with some soap and more water. I only had about 1-1/2 gal so it was not even close to full.

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shocka04 · Nov 23, 2016

Could try more pins. I use a lb in a much smaller tumbler and mine come out like new

Biff_N · Nov 26, 2016

toolness1 said:
...I saw a guy that got pretty good results out of an ice cream maker machine, maybe I'll go full ghetto and do that ...

If so, be sure and pick up a food dehydrater to dry your brass.

toolness1 · Dec 4, 2016

Biff_N said:
If so, be sure and pick up a food dehydrater to dry your brass.

I ended up getting the Frankford on sale with my Cabelas points and it was about 70 shipped.

Then I bought a Wally World dehydrator.

Works great. Kind of a pain though....

DIY Tumbler

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