Magnetic tumbler

[Mike Hughes]

Another member posted a picture and a link to youtube for one of these tumblers. Here is the one I built, it works really well, gets the brass clean and shiny in 15 to 30 minutes. This one will do about 50 or 60 cases at a time. I have ordered some more magnets to build a bigger one that will handle more cases. I made this one for less than $50 (already had the plywood and plexiglass). I used a ceiling fan motor and ordered the magnets from ebay. Here is a picture of the contraption and a youtube link to see it in action. If anyone here wants to build one, I can post some more pics and details.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voworE2JOWQ

[Pilgrim Sojourner]

Mike,
Please do. I would really be interested in a specific materials list and a detailed "how to" build such a device (to include what you wish you had done different in your first build or improvements you expect to make in your new larger unit). Keep in mind that pics are worth thousands of words.

[abunaitoo]

That look impressive.
looks to be easier to make than a rotory tumbler.
We need more pictures.

[Mike Hughes]

OK, I will get some more pictures and how to details. In the meantime, you could go ahead and order your magnets. magnets4less on ebay had the best prices I could find. The magnets I used were 2" x 1/2" x 1/2" (came in a 4 pack for 19.99 shipped) My larger model will have 8 of these. Here is the link http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-pc-Neodymium-Block-Magnets-N42-2-x1-2-x1-2-Strong-Rare-Earth-Magnets-NdFeB-/360501303152?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ef8d5770

[44Vaquero]

Mike, +1 on sourcing a ceiling fan motor, variable speed control is a plus! I used a gas dryer motor for mine, I have also ordered upgraded magnets N52 1.5 x .5 round! I hope to post a picture this weekend.

[Mike Hughes]

The ceiling fan motor mounts upside down. I removed the light kit and switch housing and cut the wires long enough to pull them through the center shaft to the other side of the motor. After cutting the wires, I removed the 3 screws that hold the motor cases together. Then pry them apart, there will be a hole in the side of the shaft where you can fish the wires through to the other side of the motor. Then you just match up the wire colors and splice them back together. This is a lot easier than it sounds like (I have very little electrical experience and it only took me about a half an hour to figure it out)
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_25145508ae6b4f0cf5.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=7183)http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_25145508ae6b51785f.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=7184)http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_25145508ae8b0a171e.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=7187)
These little wire connectors work great for doing the splices (they give you a factory type connection and are very easy to crimp on)
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_25145508ae8b0b72bc.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=7188)
Here is how I mounted the magnets and I should have done it a different way. I used a 7" metal cutting blade and a piece of 7/16" smartboard siding. I cut out slots for the magnets to sit it and glued the magnets in with JB weld. I dont think I needed the siding (the JB weld holds the magnets to the disc really good. The center hole in the disc is just the right size to fit over the center shaft of fan motor. Also, the magnets should have been mounted outward to the outer edge of the disc. the magnets have a positive side and a negative side. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALTERNATE THE POLARITY ON THE MAGNETS. The magnets make the disc stick to the fan motor, so there is no need to bolt the disc to the motor.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_25145508ae6b52cc31.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=7185)http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_25145508ae6de317b5.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=7186)
Here is a link to the Home Depot fan (was about $28 with tax)
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=ceiling%20fan&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SEARCH+ALL&browsestoreoption=1
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_25145508aff8cd09fe.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=7190)

[abunaitoo]

Ordered my magnets.
Coming in from China.
50mm X 10mm X 2mm. 5 for $14.99.
Using an old ceiling fan motor. Old tub from a sllad spinner. Scrap wood.
Had to buy some spacers.
So far cost is under $20.00.

[Mike Hughes]

I put together my new, larger sized magnetic tumbler. I used 8 magnets and it's driven by a old swamp cooler motor. My first run, I threw in 132 45 acp cases and it handled them with no problem (clean and shiny in 30 minutes). Works really good, I have about $100 in this one. Here is some pictures
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[farmallcrew]

The ideas that fly around on this site, just amazing. Now yall have me thinking about makeing a magnetic tumbler. Another gadget for the reloading area. Keep up the good work!! Lol.

[novalty]

That is amazing how well that cleans the brass, wouldn't have imagined it by it just swirling around in the bowl.

[3006guns]

Uhhh.......can I ask a REALLY dumb question? How does it work? I see you've mounted some rare earth magnets to a disk, which is fastened to an old ceiling fan, but how in the world is a magnetic field working on brass? Please explain!

[Mike Hughes]

Uhhh.......can I ask a REALLY dumb question? How does it work? I see you've mounted some rare earth magnets to a disk, which is fastened to an old ceiling fan, but how in the world is a magnetic field working on brass? Please explain!

I guess it's not really a dumb question, since I failed to mention the stainless steel polishing pins. The magnets make them spin and that causes the brass to swirl around. Alternating the magnetic poles on each magnet helps the pins get up off the bottom, to help clean and polish the brass. Jewelers use a similar system to polish jewelry, I think they are called magnetic pin finishers (prices range from $2000 to $10,000) I think they are about the same thing, enclosed in a fancy case with a electronic control panel.
The one I put together yesterday works super good. I might try to upload a video of it, showing a little more detail on how it works. I have a feeling that some of the reloading companies will be selling these in the near future.

[gunoil]

yes, i put this up some time ago! Water , lemi-shine, and a squirt of dawn. 10 mins, the brass is amazing.

You guys ard really building!

prongpusher was original guy on youtube, but is gone!

Amazingmagnets.com I like 170 lb pull magnets, bout 80bucks. 2" block/1/2" thick.
Careful, they are fragile
7" grinding disc from local
I glued mine on with black silicone, not gasket maker.
i had to have arbor made like prongpusher
Motors are free for searching
piece of plexiglass
plastic bowl, must be flat on bottom
SS media bought at midwayusa
On my second one now, 4speed..

This will blow any brass cleaner to smitherines!
The also anneals brass and put molecules back to life with the ss media penning it so much so quick.

Short vid here!
http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k511/putt2012/091ED240-91B2-46B4-9EC7-EC503C893749-112-0000000651DBDFE0.mp4
http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k511/putt2012/CBD78218-0204-4793-BD91-D8157EED097F-2751-0000032954230556.jpg
My first one!

[bootsnthejeep]

Great. Now I have to keep an eye out for MORE stuff for another project. You guys are really selling me on this.

[abunaitoo]

Anymore info on these????
I'm almost finished with mine.
Will post some pictures when I get it done.

[abunaitoo]

How many shells can you clean at a time?????




yes, i put this up some time ago! Water , lemi-shine, and a squirt of dawn. 10 mins, the brass is amazing.

You guys ard really building!

prongpusher was original guy on youtube, but is gone!

Amazingmagnets.com I like 170 lb pull magnets, bout 80bucks. 2" block/1/2" thick.
Careful, they are fragile
7" grinding disc from local
I glued mine on with black silicone, not gasket maker.
i had to have arbor made like prongpusher
Motors are free for searching
piece of plexiglass
plastic bowl, must be flat on bottom
SS media bought at midwayusa
On my second one now, 4speed..

This will blow any brass cleaner to smitherines!
The also anneals brass and put molecules back to life with the ss media penning it so much so quick.

Short vid here!
http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k511/putt2012/091ED240-91B2-46B4-9EC7-EC503C893749-112-0000000651DBDFE0.mp4
http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k511/putt2012/CBD78218-0204-4793-BD91-D8157EED097F-2751-0000032954230556.jpg
My first one!

[Mike Hughes]

The one with the ceiling fan motor works good, but it would only handle about 50-45 acp cases or 25 30-06 cases. The second build works much better. it will easily handle 200- 45 acp or 100 30-06 cases. It cleans the cases, inside and out in about 30 minutes or less. I have been cleaning my cases after every use (fast and easy). This one was built with a $69 Harbor Freight drill press and a old swamp cooler motor.

[Mike Hughes]

The lemi-shine I was using was a liquid final rinse (wrong stuff). I was at wal mart and picked up some of the original lemi-shine in a powder form, works much better. I cleaned 206 - 300 blackout cases and could not believe how shiny they got. Looks like new brass, maybe better

49780

[abunaitoo]

Problems I had with my try.
I had an old ceiling fan motor, some magnets from old hard drives, wood and aluminum. For the bowl I used an old salad spinner.
The magnets were to weak, so I ordered some 1/2"X1/8" disc magnets. Worked ok if I stacked three of them.
Better with bar type magnets. They have to be strong, big and cost more.
Next I found that the fan motor didn't have enough power to spin fast when the stronger magnets were installed.
Probably need a 1/3hp or larger motor.
So far my set-up is a bust.

[Mike Hughes]

Problems I had with my try.
I had an old ceiling fan motor, some magnets from old hard drives, wood and aluminum. For the bowl I used an old salad spinner.
The magnets were to weak, so I ordered some 1/2"X1/8" disc magnets. Worked ok if I stacked three of them.
Better with bar type magnets. They have to be strong, big and cost more.
Next I found that the fan motor didn't have enough power to spin fast when the stronger magnets were installed.
Probably need a 1/3hp or larger motor.
So far my set-up is a bust.


Have you tried using less steel pins? Too many and the motor will overload. My first attempt was also a bust. My problem was the motor was spinning too fast and the pins would just stay on the bottom of the bowl (I was using a old whirlpool bathtub motor) The ideal rpms seem to be about 200-400. Most motors spin much faster, You can slow it down with a small drive pulley and a larger pulley on the magnets. Here is a link to some strong magnets, 4- 1/2" x 1/2" x 2" for $20 shipped. http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-pc-Neodymium-Block-Magnets-N42-2-x1-2-x1-2-Strong-Rare-Earth-Magnets-NdFeB-/360501303152?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ef8d5770
Once you get the right combination, the tumbler works great, cleans and shines much faster than other tumblers.
5419654197

[gunoil]

ya got it nailed mike. Dang thing sure washes brass quick. Iam Starting on another one. Thats a drill press part for your trans, kool.

[abunaitoo]

My motor was just to weak.
From a small celing fan. I was trying to keep it small.
I'm looking for a larger motor, and will run a pulley and belt to get the correct RPM.
Before I put out to buy the magnets, I'll finish a tumbler I had started before I saw this post.
This looks good, but the magnets are pricey.




Have you tried using less steel pins? Too many and the motor will overload. My first attempt was also a bust. My problem was the motor was spinning too fast and the pins would just stay on the bottom of the bowl (I was using a old whirlpool bathtub motor) The ideal rpms seem to be about 200-400. Most motors spin much faster, You can slow it down with a small drive pulley and a larger pulley on the magnets. Here is a link to some strong magnets, 4- 1/2" x 1/2" x 2" for $20 shipped. http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-pc-Neodymium-Block-Magnets-N42-2-x1-2-x1-2-Strong-Rare-Earth-Magnets-NdFeB-/360501303152?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ef8d5770
Once you get the right combination, the tumbler works great, cleans and shines much faster than other tumblers.
5419654197

[wtfooptimax200]

[QUOTE=gunoil;1905140
This will blow any brass cleaner to smitherines!
The also anneals brass and put molecules back to life with the ss media penning it so much so quick.
[/QUOTE]

This quote scares me. Annealling the wrong parts of the case is a recipe for disaster. Are you sure it anneals it? In theory it doesn't anneal because mechanical work cannot anneal brass (correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't this be work hardening)?

Gunoil, I'm not sure if you agree with this or not. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[gunoil]

it wakes up the molecules in the brass, Ive shot bout 4000, aint worred! Read magic mikes post hes put on here if ya wanta build one. He goes into fine detail. Dang, Build one if ya can! Bout 500 rpm motor, bout 2 lbs of pins, lemi-shine is a must. READ MAGICMIKES POST's ON THIS THREAD.