Tumbled Finish? Cement Mixer?

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

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I'm thinking about possibly offering some knives with a tumbled finish. I seem to remember reading somewhere that some people are using an inexpensive cement mixer for this process. I'm thinking that it would likely work, and would allow me to do knives that won't fit into a regular sized vibratory tumbler.

Has anyone tried this? Thanks!
 
Depending on the size of the Mixing baffles you may need quite a bit of abrasive media. But in theory it should work just fine.
 
JCaswell said:
It will work.
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Thanks! I may have to give this a try.

Maybe I can make some sort of seal for the opening. If not, I suppose I could always just use a 5 gallon bucket with a lid inside the mixer.
 
Carl_First_Timer said:
Depending on the size of the Mixing baffles you may need quite a bit of abrasive media. But in theory it should work just fine.
Click to expand...

I *think* the baffles on this particular model are removable. I'm probably going to use 50 - 100 lbs of media, so I should be OK either way.
 
Bah, just put your blade in a small bucket half-full of media and throw it in the dryer for a few cycles next time you do laundry.

:D
 
Mitchell Knives said:
I *think* the baffles on this particular model are removable. I'm probably going to use 50 - 100 lbs of media, so I should be OK either way.
Click to expand...

Any object inside that creates turbulence will speed up the process. Just not big cement mixing baffles. Notice the sides of the barrel are flats so the media gets more movement.

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Good luck! Post pics if you can.
 
For the record, I was just being a smart-alec :o I don't know diddly about tumbled finishes, but I made myself laugh...
 
Yes, there are people who do exactly what you are considering. Remove the baffles and make them about 1" tall, then re-install them. Use enough media to fill the drum up at least half way. Use about 2-3oz. of tumbling/burnishing soap and add water as needed to make the media tumble smoothly.

The biggest issue is going to be how long it will take for the drum to wear out. The media will be abrading it,too.
 
Rubbermaid cement mixer, anyone?? I don't know if they exist, but that would help solve that problem:D

bladsmth said:
Yes, there are people who do exactly what you are considering. Remove the baffles and make them about 1" tall, then re-install them. Use enough media to fill the drum up at least half way. Use about 2-3oz. of tumbling/burnishing soap and add water as needed to make the media tumble smoothly.

The biggest issue is going to be how long it will take for the drum to wear out. The media will be abrading it,too.
Click to expand...
 
Ok, I've got the cement mixer setup. $120 at HF with a coupon BTW.

I can already tell that the baffles are going to be too large. Cutting them down may be an option.

However, it looks like I have a better solution.

It appears that a standard 5 gallon bucket will fit almost perfectly into the opening of the mixer. I'm thinking about just having several buckets with different media in them. If I want a particular tumbled finish, just grab the appropriate bucket and toss the blades in. This would also eliminate cross contamination of media and the possibility of excessively abrading the metal wall of the mixer. I'm sure I can make a simple baffle if necessary.

I'll have to do some experimenting tomorrow and see what I can come up with. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

I don't have any real media at the moment, so I may have to do a test run using sand or gravel.
 
have the insides lined with a truck bed liner and that will save the tip of a blade and give the barrel a longer life

ok least thats what i would do
 
Man, I'm excited to see this. Another benefit of the 5 gallon inserts is that you now have a cement mixer. I can't count how many times I've wanted one around here.
 
I've got the same mixer from H.F. Never did install the baffles, I use it every spring to clean my fox and coyote traps. Good idea for the blades, I'll have to give it a try, Moon.
 
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