SS Pin tumbling

[Gliden07]

Recently I started to Wet tumble my cases with SS Pins. Its working ok with the Thumlers Model B and a little larger than a Gallon food grade plastic barrel. I built a new Tumbler container and it is larger than the original barrel I have. The problem is when the drum is loaded up its too heavy for the Thumlers! I've decided to build a larger Tumbler with an even larger Container. The Question I have is how many RPM should I run the drum? I know the High speed Thumlers is around 40 RPM (Model B I have is about 30 RPM). Looked on BigDawg Tumblers and there is none of that information. The drum is gonna be 6" dia and about 15" or so long, it should handle 5-600 9MM cases, 2 gallons of water and 10-12 pounds of pins. Motor is a 1750 1/4HP I stole it from an old power hack saw. Any help you guys have would be GREAT!!

Thanks,
Gliden07

[VHoward]

OK. My motor is rated at 1725 rpm. I have a 1 3/4" pulley on the motor and a 6" pulley on one of the 1/2" rods. My drum is 8" in diameter. My math says my drum is rotating at around 31 rpms. On my base, your 6" drum would rotate at around 42 rpms. Mine works fine.

[Gliden07]

PERFECT!! Thank you VHoward!!


OK. My motor is rated at 1725 rpm. I have a 1 3/4" pulley on the motor and a 6" pulley on one of the 1/2" rods. My drum is 8" in diameter. My math says my drum is rotating at around 31 rpms. On my base, your 6" drum would rotate at around 42 rpms. Mine works fine.

[Benjlan]

Can you use these stainless steel pins in a vibratory tumbler as well ?

[cuzinbruce]

No,don't try them in a vibe. They need liquid and are too heavy.

[John Boy]

Rotary tumblers should run no more than 720 RPM's. Also 1" of media - fill tumbler only 2/3'rds full with brass and then cover the brass to the top with burnishing solution. My favorite is Strat-O-Sheen and have pictures of brass to prove it

[hunter64]

I went into great detail and I wish the moderators would sticky the thread as it comes up about once every two weeks as a question.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?144547-Home-Made-Tumbler-Plans-with-Pulley-Size-and-Drum-explained

Basically you don't want the drum to go over 48 RPM (same as your clothes dryer) or quicker because the brass and pins will start to stick to the sides of the drum by centripetal force.

[garandsrus]

Done :)

Great description, by the way.