May Need A Vibratory Tumbler...Maybe

jhiggins

jhiggins

Joined
Jul 11, 2003
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I'm working on a project, but might want to get some parts tumbled. Anyone set up to do that? Holler at me. I may have some work for ya. :thumbup:
 
Jeff I have one of the vibrators the type to polish brass casings and such
it has saw dust in it right now but walnut shell is the common stuff I guess

whatcha got?
 
I've got a casing tumbler, with walnut hull in it, don't know how well it will finish steel. It will put a bright shine on brass. If your wanting a subdued finish you might be better with a bead blast.
 
Perfect timing as I have a tumbler question......

I'm not looking for it to polish but to remove scale from a piece and just clean it up. Will walnut hulls do that or do I need something stronger?

Thanks!
 
I haven't tried it but many machine shops use shot blasting media in a tumbler to deburr and break sharp edges. The media runs about $28 for a 50lb bag.

Jim A.
 
don't think the walnut hull will work, it takes a couple hours to clean black powder residue off my hulls. Scale is a good bit harder I think. Maybe with steel shot, cermanic media or even aluminum oxide it'd work.
 
Tumblers do a relatively poor job at deburring anything. They will round over the edges just a bit though. Most of the media that was used in the previous machine shops I have worked at was a ceramic media.

Flatgrinder, I do believe that Chris does use a tumbler for the finish on the Sebenza.
 
I use 100 grit glass beads in a vibratory tumbler and it makes a nice satin finish but it won't touch heat scale. I would bet money that even ceramic bead media in a vib tumbler would not either. You also have to be careful with what types of media you dump in a plastic tumbler. It may not do much to items in the tumbler but it can chew up the inside of the tumbler wall after a while. Don't ask me how I know that.

An overnight soak in 20% vinegar has worked great for me in getting the heat scale either disolved or loosened enough that a fine wire brush will knock off the rest.
 
I'm not looking for it to polish but to remove scale from a piece and just clean it up. Will walnut hulls do that or do I need something stronger?
Click to expand...

soak it in vinegar overnite.
 
Sweany said:
soak it in vinegar overnite.
Click to expand...

To speed the vinegar up use it warmed up. See if you can find an electric skillet at a second hand store and just set it at warm.

As for tumblers the last time I was at Harbor Freight I noticed that they carried them. Didn't look any further than that but was surprized to see one there.
 
I saw the HF model as well. It's a new product for them--and it's relatively cheap. At $50, I'm going to go pick one up and see how useful it is.
 
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