View Full Version : the cement mixer experiment
Tried it for the first time today. Little mixer from Horror Freight, 25lbs. of SS media, and about 20lbs. of .30-06 brass. Click on pic to run video. Slops foam out, but I think I put in too much Dawn. And it's some new stuff that's "2X sudsy".
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/th_DSC_0165.jpg (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0165.mp4)
Turned out very nice for the first try! Ran about 2.5 hours, stopped because of rain and cold wind. Primer pockets didn't all get cleaned, but many are spotless. Next try I'll run 'em longer.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0172.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0171.jpg
This is the 2.5 gal. bucket I mentioned...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0176.jpg
This is a Large Flat Rate Box for comparison...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0174.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0175.jpg
Inconel710
03-21-2013, 20:10
Nicely done! I can do maybe 100 at a time my Thumlers.
Wow looks really nice and shiney
thanks for posting i am thinking about jumping in on this as well
Inconel710
03-21-2013, 22:18
Ha. I'd be tickled just to have that much brass!
While I'd be tickled to get the work, I have to say I'd discourage mailing the stuff to me and back, because the Large Flat Rate two directions would add $34 to your cost, and that's nuts. It'd be better to do FTF, but gas and time are factors too. So, remains to be seen how this will play out.
hghclsswhitetrsh
03-22-2013, 07:42
Awesome. Have you thought of a way to seal the opening of the mixer? Like Saran Wrap or a piece of tarp with bungee cords?
Awesome. Have you thought of a way to seal the opening of the mixer? Like Saran Wrap or a piece of tarp with bungee cords?
I'll think of something, I'm redneck enough to fix that little issue. I'm actually thinking of gettin an innertube about that size and cutting a piece to cement in the opening, to keep the suds from slopping out. Don't worry, me fix.
Maybe I can fab up a lid of some kind to cap the opening, and strap it on with bungees.
Is there any paint left on the inside of the mixer?
That looks awesome. How much did the SS pins run you?
Maybe a new business for u.
Is there any paint left on the inside of the mixer?
Yes, actually most of it's still there! There's a little bit gone, but I figured the paint would be toast on the first run. May actually be powdercoated, don't know, but it held up better than I was expecting.
That looks awesome. How much did the SS pins run you?
Maybe a new business for u.
The pins cost more than the mixer. The mixer was $117, on sale and with a 20% coupon, but the pins were $184 for 25lbs. Those things are 'spensive!
Nifty! If I ever accrue that much brass that needs cleaning it's something I'll keep in mind.
As for a lid, it looks like it's got a lip there. Why not punch a couple holes for some 1/4 (or whatever size you'd prefer) bolts, get a trash can or steel bucket lid if you can find one that fits, silicon a gasket to the inside, and bolt it on with some wing nuts?
If you haven't seen it, here is a video of Jerry Miculek doing pretty much the same thing with his brass. Maybe some tips in there for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5y_dsP3dsM
Nifty! If I ever accrue that much brass that needs cleaning it's something I'll keep in mind.
As for a lid, it looks like it's got a lip there. Why not punch a couple holes for some 1/4 (or whatever size you'd prefer) bolts, get a trash can or steel bucket lid if you can find one that fits, silicon a gasket to the inside, and bolt it on with some wing nuts?
I'm thinking along those lines, but using bungee cords instead. The drum is 2-piece, and there's a big flange where they're bolted together, you can see it in the video. Put a lid over the hole, run a couple bungees to the flange, bingo. I can even make a lid from two discs of plywood. One small disc that just fits inside the mouth of the drum, and screw that to a slightly larger disc, strap on with a couple of bungees, boom....perfect lid.
If you haven't seen it, here is a video of Jerry Miculek doing pretty much the same thing with his brass. Maybe some tips in there for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5y_dsP3dsM
He kinda lost me....he kept referring to "the tumbler" and "corncob", does he use that big mixer for everything? Or just the inital cleaning part with soap and water?
He kinda lost me....he kept referring to "the tumbler" and "corncob", does he use that big mixer for everything? Or just the inital cleaning part with soap and water?
I think he uses the big mixer for cleaning and then polishing...
I just wish I had that much brass!
I just wish I had that much brass!
I tell ya what, when you have to deprime it all, then cut the crimps out of the primer pockets for milsurps, then clean and polish it all, then resize it all, then trim it all to length, then bevel the outside of the all the case mouths, then chamfer the inside of the case mouths.....it gets pretty damn tedious. Having lots of brass is one thing, but processing and prepping lots of brass is another story.
After I get a shitload of ammo all done and boxed up, I don't even want to shoot it. I just want to hoard it and holler "MINE!" 'Cause if I shoot a bunch of it, then I've gotta do all that processing BS again! It's like cleaning and polishing your car 'til it gleams, and then driving it on snowy, slushy roads for a week.
I tell ya what, when you have to deprime it all, then cut the crimps out of the primer pockets for milsurps, then clean and polish it all, then resize it all, then trim it all to length, then bevel the outside of the all the case mouths, then chamfer the inside of the case mouths.....it gets pretty damn tedious. Having lots of brass is one thing, but processing and prepping lots of brass is another story.
After I get a shitload of ammo all done and boxed up, I don't even want to shoot it. I just want to hoard it and holler "MINE!" 'Cause if I shoot a bunch of it, then I've gotta do all that processing BS again! It's like cleaning and polishing your car 'til it gleams, and then driving it on snowy, slushy roads for a week.
Damn, you make a great argument to have kids. They would be great at doing that!
I would bet that Jerry has as much of the process automated. Since all he does is shoot, he doesn't have a 9-5 to do also.
gnihcraes
03-22-2013, 21:59
Suggestion:
Put all the materials inside the 5 gallon bucket or sealed container that fits inside the mixer. Use 4 inch foam to make an insert that fits inside the mixer and is keyed to the paddles.
That foam insert has a center hole to hold the 5 gallon bucket or other sealed container you want to use.
This creates a large size rock tumbler configuration.
Years ago I used the clothes dryer this way. Foam insert, 1 gallon ice cream bucket. Select Air Dry, press start.
Remove bucket and insert, the wife can do laundry.
Suggestion:
Put all the materials inside the 5 gallon bucket or sealed container that fits inside the mixer. Use 4 inch foam to make an insert that fits inside the mixer and is keyed to the paddles.
That foam insert has a center hole to hold the 5 gallon bucket or other sealed container you want to use.
This creates a large size rock tumbler configuration.
Years ago I used the clothes dryer this way. Foam insert, 1 gallon ice cream bucket. Select Air Dry, press start.
Remove bucket and insert, the wife can do laundry.
What? Why would I want to do that??? That would cut the amount I can do DRASTICALLY, and the bucket has nothing in it to provide agitation. This thing works fine, I just need to stop it from puking foam and water out.
I tell ya what, when you have to deprime it all, then cut the crimps out of the primer pockets for milsurps, then clean and polish it all, then resize it all, then trim it all to length, then bevel the outside of the all the case mouths, then chamfer the inside of the case mouths.....it gets pretty damn tedious. Having lots of brass is one thing, but processing and prepping lots of brass is another story.
After I get a shitload of ammo all done and boxed up, I don't even want to shoot it. I just want to hoard it and holler "MINE!" 'Cause if I shoot a bunch of it, then I've gotta do all that processing BS again! It's like cleaning and polishing your car 'til it gleams, and then driving it on snowy, slushy roads for a week.
I hear you; the more brass I get, the more I have laying around in buckets and boxes waiting to be processed. I am building a CNC machine right now then after perfecting it by making a case annealer, I am going to design and build a machine that processes brass for me. I hate brass processing days.
When you do let me know I want one
I hear you; the more brass I get, the more I have laying around in buckets and boxes waiting to be processed. I am building a CNC machine right now then after perfecting it by making a case annealer, I am going to design and build a machine that processes brass for me. I hate brass processing days.
gnihcraes
03-24-2013, 09:23
What? Why would I want to do that??? That would cut the amount I can do DRASTICALLY, and the bucket has nothing in it to provide agitation. This thing works fine, I just need to stop it from puking foam and water out.
I see it's working fine. Was just a suggestion. I'm not there to check out the whole thing/process.
Some of my reasoning to the suggestion...
Currently could be noisy?
It could run at a more LEVEL angle, so the amount of brass tumbled wouldn't be reduced.
Agitation currently could be too much, paddles are big, could be beating up the brass a bit?
Amount wouldn't be reduced that much if the internal bucket size was the same as the mouth opening.
Could change out buckets and brass quicker, keeping the machine running on the next batch while you work on rinsing the last batch.
And was just an idea for others out there to consider for large amounts of brass. For $20 piece of foam, clothes drier, stainless media, tumble brass.
I've considered getting a professional/commercial vibratory polisher to do very large amounts of brass in a small amount of time. $$ Expensive.
If you get a threaded rod welded to the back center of that drum, you can then make a lid fit the existing drum opening to seal it up.
hollohas
03-24-2013, 09:49
What? Why would I want to do that??? That would cut the amount I can do DRASTICALLY, and the bucket has nothing in it to provide agitation. This thing works fine, I just need to stop it from puking foam and water out.
Jerry suggested using dishwasher soap in the video. Dishwasher soap doesn't produce bubbles like Dawn does so maybe that would help with the foam problem??? I use dawn in my little tumbler but might give dishwasher soap a try to see if it cleans as well.
mraganpbr
04-09-2013, 13:35
I tell ya what, when you have to deprime it all, then cut the crimps out of the primer pockets for milsurps, then clean and polish it all, then resize it all, then trim it all to length, then bevel the outside of the all the case mouths, then chamfer the inside of the case mouths.....it gets pretty damn tedious. Having lots of brass is one thing, but processing and prepping lots of brass is another story.
After I get a shitload of ammo all done and boxed up, I don't even want to shoot it. I just want to hoard it and holler "MINE!" 'Cause if I shoot a bunch of it, then I've gotta do all that processing BS again! It's like cleaning and polishing your car 'til it gleams, and then driving it on snowy, slushy roads for a week.
that is what the 1050 is for with one tool head for processing and one for loading with a Ponsnes Auto drive on it. all you have to do is keep the hopper full
Marine24
04-10-2013, 13:38
That is slick and the results looks as good as my Thumler tumbler. I am glad I don't have that much brass. I just got through depriming 3200 cases getting ready for the tumbler and really don't want more to do.
And at two pounds a run, it will take me about 18 runs to clean all the brass. Each run will take two to four hours.
That mixer is really looking good.
That is slick and the results looks as good as my Thumler tumbler. I am glad I don't have that much brass. I just got through depriming 3200 cases getting ready for the tumbler and really don't want more to do.
And at two pounds a run, it will take me about 18 runs to clean all the brass. Each run will take two to four hours.
That mixer is really looking good.
I did a big batch of mixed .45acp/.45 Colt/.44 Magnum recently, with a few .44-40/.41 Mag/.45-70 tossed in too. Same kind of results.
Yeah, it's noisy, but I do it in the back yard on the patio, so I don't care. And I've figured out to put a doubled-up trash bag over the mouth and tie it on with some twine, that keeps all the suds and water inside where they belong. Works very well.
buckshotbarlow
04-10-2013, 21:07
OK rondog, how many 45's? Then 9's do u think...I got over 5k or each that need to be processed (not by you)...how much do u think you can fit into the HF mixer for pistol brass? I just got done doing all my 223, and damn that is a fking pita, WITH A 1050, WITH A TRIM MOTOR... you still have to check flashholes, and chamfer/ream...bahhumbug
I did a big batch of mixed .45acp/.45 Colt/.44 Magnum recently, with a few .44-40/.41 Mag/.45-70 tossed in too. Same kind of results.
Yeah, it's noisy, but I do it in the back yard on the patio, so I don't care. And I've figured out to put a doubled-up trash bag over the mouth and tie it on with some twine, that keeps all the suds and water inside where they belong. Works very well.
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