Stainless pin tumbling update.

by John K., Friday, June 28, 2013, 13:37 (4110 days ago)

As previously noted, these have a phenomenal ability to clean cases, inside and out. However, the generic Thumbler's Tumbler just isn't up to the job - no slight, it just wasn't designed for this amount of weight. It utilizes 5/16" shafts running in nylon bushings and the drive is a 1/15hp motor. I discovered that, with the pins and the requisite amount of water, I could not tumble even 30 45-90 cases. The belt would slip.

So.

Rummaged around in my junk and built a new base and drive, buying only a few pieces. I had the aluminum, 1/3hp DC motor, Allen-Bradley 1365 motor drive, shaft collars and thrust bearings. Had to purchase the 3/8" Thompson rod for the shafts, needle bearings, pulleys and belt. Re-used the original drum. I mention this because it would be relatively easy to cobble something like this together if a fella was handy. Anyway, the shafts were up-sized to 3/8" and now run in bearings, not bushings. The thrust bearings take any end load extant. Actually, I probably could've re-used the original tiny motor after removing a lot of friction from the system, but since I had a larger one not earning its keep..., besides, the motor was remotely mounted on the bench itself in case another gizmo presents itself in the future. I can easily swap out the tumbler base for another fixture.

Granted, it is somewhat crude and basic, but I didn't want to spend a ton of money on the project. And it WORKS! I filled (overfilled, actually) the tumbler with pins, 100 45-90 cases and filled it up to the top with water just to see. Didn't even slow down. This could drive a much larger drum with ease.


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Who'd a thought that you would overbuild:-)

by Rob Leahy ⌂ @, Prescott, Arizona, Friday, June 28, 2013, 13:49 (4110 days ago) @ John K.

thanks for the update!

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

Who'd a thought that you would overbuild:-)

by John K., Friday, June 28, 2013, 16:58 (4110 days ago) @ Rob Leahy

LOL, well, it doesn't need to lift off the ground!:-P

Stainless pin tumbling update.

by Cherokee @, Medina, Ohio, Friday, June 28, 2013, 14:10 (4110 days ago) @ John K.

Nice job !! I built one 30 years ago and it still works, using a 1 gl paint can, crude, very crude. You could have a product prototype there...

Thanks! You jogged my memory, when I was about

by John K., Friday, June 28, 2013, 16:55 (4110 days ago) @ Cherokee

fifteen I built a tumbler from a 5gal bucket, an old jackshaft, some plywood, and a washing machine motor. Cut out a couple of circles of plywood and sandwiched the bottom of the bucket. Centered a hole and mounted it to the jackshaft directly.

It worked, sorta, but I had to add paddles first. The brass and corncob just slid around on the bottom otherwise. So yeah, Fivegunner is gonna need some sort of paddle arrangement.

Stainless pin tumbling update.

by Fivegunner @, LOWELL Mi., Friday, June 28, 2013, 15:19 (4110 days ago) @ John K.
edited by Fivegunner, Friday, June 28, 2013, 15:23

John that`s a cool tumbler, I am building one also , I took my wifes treadmill and cut it down , this weekend I will put the drum together it`s a pice of 15 inch pvc pipe 15 inch long , I bought some plexiglass ends for it and making a door in one side, the slowest speed is 50 rpms , I have heard that 40 rpm was the way to go. I bought 15 # of pins from midway $125.00 do you think I`ll have to put paddels in the drum??? do you have any idea how manny .223 I can clean in 15inch x15inch drum ??? some day I am going to learn how to post pictures on this board!!:-D

An old treadmill would be an excellent starting point.

by John K., Friday, June 28, 2013, 16:41 (4110 days ago) @ Fivegunner

I do think you are going to need paddles or else the contents will sit still while the drum rotates around. Just speculation, tho - try it and see.

Quantity, I'm not sure... up until now, I ran out of hp before I ran out of room. I would guess at least three hundred 223 cases. In my setup now, I think I could use more pins - only have 5lbs now.

RPMs; I intend to experiment with this as the A-B drive allows a 10K ohm potentiometer to vary the speed from zero to way-to-fast.

Tumbled that 100 piece batch of BP 45-90 cases for

by John K., Friday, June 28, 2013, 17:52 (4110 days ago) @ John K.

three hours. They were still dirty at one hour, forgot to check them at two, and removed them at three - they were sparkling, inside and out. Looked brand new, even the primer pockets.

Checked my rpms - had set it at "that looks about right" for this test, but did not measure. Put the meter on it and it said "24". So we know it will clean 100 pieces of large rifle brass at a fairly low speed in something less than three hours.

Sped it up to your recommendation of 40rpms and will run another batch of 100 tomorrow and report back.

If you don't have a rpm meter, make a mark on the drum with a piece of tape, magic marker, etc. Download a stopwatch app for your smartphone. Start the stopwatch and count the number of times the mark passes an arbitrary point on the frame until the stopwatch says 60 seconds. Works very well for these slow speeds. Of course, old school folks will ask "why not use the second hands on your wristwatch?" LOL, unless you're a nurse, most folks don't wear watches these days...

Fivegunner - second batch, 100ea 45-90 black powder

by John K., Saturday, June 29, 2013, 17:04 (4109 days ago) @ John K.

Ran for one hour at 40rpm. Big difference; the first batch, at 24rpm, cleaning had barely started at one hour. This batch was clean when first checked at one hour. Even the primer pockets.

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Fivegunner - second batch, 100ea 45-90 black powder

by Fivegunner @, LOWELL Mi., Saturday, June 29, 2013, 19:10 (4109 days ago) @ John K.

WOW! That look`s great John. I am going to try mine at 50 rpm`s That`s the slowest it will go, I`am still working on the paddels, thinking about using 1 1/4 pvc cut in half and glued and screwed maybe 90 % apart. thanks for the update.:usa: :-D

I recommend three paddles equally spaced as a minimum nm

by erssk, Saturday, June 29, 2013, 21:14 (4109 days ago) @ Fivegunner

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