View Full Version : 7 Dollar Brass Tumbler: A Case Study
Hone_Heke
11-05-2012, 02:36 AM
Cut this together this afternoon - my take on a cheap brass tumbler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHi1ST6rpCI
My volume control is at max and I can't hear it.
slim1836
11-05-2012, 08:07 AM
I had no trouble hearing it.
might be more effective if drill were connected to one of the wheels directly.
Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for the idea.
Slim
uscra112
11-05-2012, 10:18 AM
Like the idea of using skateboard axles. For the idler axle anyway.
Paint can is a PITA to open and close. Still like bigdawg's ideas using PVC pipe better. Still, all homebrew drum tumbler ideas are welcome - commercial ones are way overpriced for a poor old pensioner like me.
Meanwhile I'm still using corncobs and my old Lyman vibrator. This steel-pin media is just too darn messy. Not mention I can't get the pins out of .223 cases.
Cheers !
Phil
Hardcast416taylor
11-05-2012, 11:05 AM
Reminds me of my first tumbler. I used roller skate wheels, a large #10 can (I think) with lid and a rotisserie unit off of a grill. This unit lasted about a year till I could afford a real tumbler.Robert
WILCO
11-05-2012, 12:13 PM
If you've got nothing else, that works like a dream!
farmallcrew
11-06-2012, 12:49 PM
Good idea!!!
Shiloh
11-07-2012, 01:14 PM
I admire the cleverness of those who can improvise.
I'm sure this thing works but would be like having a jet taxiing in your shop.
Can't complain about the economy though
Shiloh
Bad Water Bill
11-16-2012, 02:26 AM
Your idea is good but your speed is way to fast. Try for 10 RPM or slower and your drum should stay on the rollers.
Three44s
11-16-2012, 09:37 AM
For the run time, I wonder if a drill is made for that much continuous operation due to heating?
Three 44s
When we tumbled brass in quantity we just used a small cement mixer powered by a 110 1/2 horse motor. But we were doing 5000 rounds of 38's at a time. Our next idea was an old dryer and bags of brass and media in GI sandbags. That worked best as we could do 5oo cases to a bag and each caliber in it's own bag.
skeettx
11-16-2012, 05:06 PM
For my first tumbler, I used a rotisserie spit motor :)
Mike
AviatorTroy
11-16-2012, 05:18 PM
How about using a 5 gallon bucket instead? More capacity and the larger circumference would gear down the speed to about 1/4 of what you have there which would be about right..
Hone_Heke
12-21-2012, 02:44 AM
Hmm! That isn't such a silly idea Troy. Will try that on a rainy day.
The idea's people come up with.
mold maker
12-23-2012, 01:05 PM
If you mount the bucket (on the grill motor) on a 10* angle it will throw the brass from end to end while turning normally. It doubles the tumbling action.
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