Stainless Steel Media ?

[jmg8550]

I use walnut media with the berry's additive, keeps the corrosion down, and polishes in half the time.

[2ndChildhood]

Where's the pics?
I want to do this.

So, I built a tumbler this weekend for using this stainless steel media. I haven't purchased the media yet, but did a trial run with my home built tumbler. (testing it)

Pint or two of water, little dish soap, 40 brass and some steel BB's for an air gun. Just for fun. After about an hour, the brass hadn't changed much, it was previously polished in my vibratory polisher. But the water was YUK! All the crap that came out of the inside of the brass. Just nasty.

I'll post a pic of the tumbler tomorrow. I'll see about ordering some of the stainless media in the near future and we'll see how it does.

[gnihcraes]

FYI- I tried the LemiShine, and just the brass tumbling in some soapy water, worked pretty well. FYI #2, I let some of brass just sit and didn't dry them, the water turned all yellow after a day or so, I'm concerned this LemiShine stuff is eating the brass away.

Not sure I'll be doing this, I have pretty good luck with normal methods. I do have a tumbler now though:

It still needs some cleanup work, this is still in the engineering phase, so don't laugh. I need to replace the tumbler, the PVC Pipe threaded cap doesn't work unless you really over tighten it, then you can't get it off. I need to build the tumbler part out of water pvc so I can use the proper reducer and rubber cap. (can't get those parts in DWV (drain waste vent) pipe).

[2ndChildhood]

thx searching.
I'd like to see what parts you end up with for your barrel.

What about using the kind of cap that they put on with a hose clamp for when they test the pipes?

[gnihcraes]

thx searching.
I'd like to see what parts you end up with for your barrel.

What about using the kind of cap that they put on with a hose clamp for when they test the pipes?

Yep, that's the type of barrel.

This photo will probably disappear soon, but its made of PVC pipe and the rubber cap. I just have to hit the stores and pick some up. It isn't cheap!

[gnihcraes]

My new improved tumbler barrel/tube. Much better, no leaks, easy to open.



Since it appears the LemiShine product is doing most of the work, I'm trying:

Dawn
LemiShine
Distilled Water
Glass Bead- since I had a bunch of it sitting around. The glass bead dulls the brass in a vibratory tumbler, but I wonder how it will work in a wet tumbler. We'll see what happens.

Also, here is a better shot of the drive shafts and bearing setup, quick and easy, didn't have to mess with much, just hold the bearings in place with the angle aluminum.



I can also move the roller shaft easily for a larger drum if needed.

[gnihcraes]

Distilled Water
LemiShine
Dawn
Glass Bead

Worked pretty well to clean up a couple handfuls of 9mm brass. Inside and Outside the cases are fairly clean, the primer pockets were so so clean.

I wonder if corn cobb will soak up water or just float? I'll have to try.

Stainless media is probably the best so far.

[2ndChildhood]

That all looks real good!
Where is a cheap source for the shafts, bearings, pulleys...?

[gnihcraes]

That all looks real good!
Where is a cheap source for the shafts, bearings, pulleys...?

My fathers garage. (seriously). The only things I've paid for on that tumbler were the electrical box and switch because I didn't have any spares in my junk, and a couple of the barrel parts for the same reason.

My family isn't white trash, but we do know when to save a good motor, bearing, shaft or scrap for future projects. Thrifty. Mechanical Engineer, Welder, Auto Mechanic, Computer Nerd, we can build just about anything.

I think you can find some of the items at the local surplus stores. (not army surplus) One surplus store just west of I-25 on Alameda and places like K&K metal in Commerce City have a few items and scrap metals.

If it has a motor or misc other parts, tear it apart before you scrap it and keep the good stuff. (appliances, laser printers, copiers) Make something out of it later.

If you look on ebay for those home built tumblers, you can see one guy has built them out of parts from home depot. Saddle bearings for swamp cooler blowers, shafts from stock steel at home depot, swamp cooler pulleys and belts.

If you want to be cheap, just buy a small electric concrete mixer from Harbor Freight and put a 5 gallon pail in the middle of it and start tumbling things. $150 and you're done. http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4-q...xer-91907.html
can't even buy a good motor for $150 to make your own.

[offgrid]

I've been using the stainless media and the Thumbler Tumbler for about 6 months. Works great, cases look new inside and out. Tumble 100 cases of 6.5 Creedmoor in each batch.