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Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media #1668660 09/07/14 08:06 PM 09/07/14 08:06 PM
Joined: May 2014 Posts: 77 South Squirrel_Cat OP member
Squirrel_Cat OP member Joined: May 2014 Posts: 77 South	I am interested in picking up a tumbler to clean up painted hardware, rusty bolts, small pieces, etc. Harbor Freight seems like a reasonable option for something like this, they have a $57 5lb unit or a $165 18lb unit. There is a big price difference and a big volume difference there, I am looking for input from people that have used these before on which size to go with? Will the 5lb handle what I need it for? I'd rather not spend the +$110 if the 5lb will do 95% of what I'd like to do with it, but I've never used one before to say which would be better suited. http://www.harborfreight.com/18-lb-vibratory-bowl-with-liquid-drain-hose-96923.html http://www.harborfreight.com/5-lb-metal-vibrator-tumbler-67617.html I was also seeking input on what type of media to use for cleaning up car parts? Thanks! 1973 340 'Cuda 2013 Mustang GT

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668661 09/07/14 08:57 PM 09/07/14 08:57 PM
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,371 Iowa burdar Owen's Dad
burdar Owen's Dad Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,371 Iowa	I've got the smaller one. It was a gift. It doesn't do a great job at removing rust. It does clean up dirty fasteners if you put some degreaser in with the green pyramids. I clean all my fasteners with muriatic acid before they go in the tumbler. It gets rid of the rust and removes all the old plating. Once they come out of the tumbler, they are ready to go to the platers.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: burdar] #1668662 09/07/14 10:01 PM 09/07/14 10:01 PM
Joined: May 2014 Posts: 77 South Squirrel_Cat OP member
Squirrel_Cat OP member Joined: May 2014 Posts: 77 South	Quote: I've got the smaller one. It was a gift. It doesn't do a great job at removing rust. It does clean up dirty fasteners if you put some degreaser in with the green pyramids. I clean all my fasteners with muriatic acid before they go in the tumbler. It gets rid of the rust and removes all the old plating. Once they come out of the tumbler, they are ready to go to the platers. Thanks for the input. What sort of resource do you have for plating fasteners? Local outfit? 1973 340 'Cuda 2013 Mustang GT

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668663 09/07/14 10:15 PM 09/07/14 10:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,371 Iowa burdar Owen's Dad
burdar Owen's Dad Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,371 Iowa	There are a couple places in Iowa that do zinc plating. Just look in the yellow pages and see if there is anyone local. Make sure you talk with them and make sure they can replicate the finish you want.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: burdar] #1668664 09/07/14 10:33 PM 09/07/14 10:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN A ahy master
ahy master A Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN	A comment on cleaning and plating... acid used in cleaning or plating can introduce hydrogen into the steel and reduce fatigue strength. Baking the parts after cleaning/plating gets the hydrogen out. A good plating outfit should know this and bake the parts when finished but it doesn't hurt to ask. Use care with critical fasteners.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668665 09/08/14 02:06 AM 09/08/14 02:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 299 East Brunswick, NJ F finadk enthusiast
finadk enthusiast F Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 299 East Brunswick, NJ	I tried the HF unit. The unit worked the way it was supposed to but took FOREVER to clean a small amount of nuts and bolts. Its not worth the time, money or effort for cleaning parts. I invested in a small ultrasonic cleaner, bought a general purpose solution, and an electrical parts solution, and never looked back. Good luck. Scott Scott 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer (408 Stroker, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Rack & Pinion, 6 speed) 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 1976 Corvette

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668666 09/08/14 08:55 AM 09/08/14 08:55 AM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 8,430 St Charles MO 70Coronet500Vert master
70Coronet500Vert master Joined: May 2003 Posts: 8,430 St Charles MO	A tumbler will vary greatly depending on the media you use in the tumbler. I have walnut shells for some brass parts I regularly reuse and some small ceramic spheres. Neither cleaned rusty nuts and bolts very well. Maybe corn cob. No matter how responsible he may seem, never give your gun to a monkey! 1970 Coronet Vert 1972 Charger 1974 Satellite Sebring Plus Sundance 2001 Ram 4x4 2002 Intrepid 2006 300C

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668667 09/08/14 09:12 AM 09/08/14 09:12 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	I use water in my green pyramids and it will knock off rust over night in my vibrator. I would never use acid for anything to do with a car and I would only use water in my green pyramids. It takes over night to get my hardware to bare metal and it don't remove the plating and I reused the bolts without plating them. Here we are 9 years later and my hardware is fine, no rusting or anything strange from using acid and hoping the plater get's it right. Try water folks.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: finadk] #1668668 09/08/14 09:36 AM 09/08/14 09:36 AM
Joined: May 2014 Posts: 77 South Squirrel_Cat OP member
Squirrel_Cat OP member Joined: May 2014 Posts: 77 South	Quote: I tried the HF unit. The unit worked the way it was supposed to but took FOREVER to clean a small amount of nuts and bolts. Its not worth the time, money or effort for cleaning parts. How long is forever? I don't plan on being in a hurry when using this and am considerings 5-6 hours...maybe more to be sufficient to clean a batch of hardware throughly. Thanks all. 1973 340 'Cuda 2013 Mustang GT

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668669 09/08/14 01:43 PM 09/08/14 01:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,371 Iowa burdar Owen's Dad
burdar Owen's Dad Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,371 Iowa	Heavily rusted fasteners like you would find on an Iowa car will not come clean with the HF tumbler. I've had them in for 10-12 hours and the heavy rust is still on them. I use degreaser in the tumbler with the green pyramids but you could put evaporust in there with them. Platers wash all their parts in acid before the plating process. Even if you don't use acid to clean them, the plater will use it.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668670 09/08/14 02:00 PM 09/08/14 02:00 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	I sand blasted and repainted a rusty boat trailer a few years ago. It is the type with rollers and there were many of these rusty washers. I tossed them into my vibrator with green pyramids and water. This picture is of the pryamids dry with white dirt all over them before I add the water. Overnight they are bare metal ready for paint, way better and faster than blasting them by hand or worse yet wire brushing each one. The green pyramids don't hurt in some cases or completely remove the original plating unlike acid that does. So it's easier to refinish hardware at home than having to pay some one to re plate your hardware and hope it's done right and hope the acid or plating does not change the dimension of your hardware. This was after just a hour or so, the next day they are ready for paint.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Challenger 1] #1668671 09/08/14 02:05 PM 09/08/14 02:05 PM
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,371 Iowa burdar Owen's Dad
burdar Owen's Dad Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,371 Iowa	You get what you pay for. The HF 5lbs tumbler will not do that. At least not over night. Maybe after 24 hours of continuous use.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: burdar] #1668672 09/08/14 02:08 PM 09/08/14 02:08 PM
Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,574 Lakeland FL F floridian pro stock
floridian pro stock F Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,574 Lakeland FL	Quote: You get what you pay for. The HF 5lbs tumbler will not do that. At least not over night. Maybe after 24 hours of continuous use. I would try the vibrator they sell next time.. Let my tumbler work overnite, was not impressed...

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: burdar] #1668673 09/08/14 02:10 PM 09/08/14 02:10 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Mine came from Eastwood like 15 years ago, don't know if there is difference from the HF units? Rusty hardware. Cleaner hardware. I reused all this hardware just like you see it for the most part. No rust or anything or other problems 6 years later. I did my gold car the same way back in 2004, 10 years ago. I leave it vibrate for 24 hours most of the time when I'm not around because it is kind of loud.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668674 09/08/14 02:43 PM 09/08/14 02:43 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Quote: Quote: I tried the HF unit. The unit worked the way it was supposed to but took FOREVER to clean a small amount of nuts and bolts. Its not worth the time, money or effort for cleaning parts. How long is forever? I don't plan on being in a hurry when using this and am considerings 5-6 hours...maybe more to be sufficient to clean a batch of hardware throughly. Thanks all. From my experience, it takes a lot longer than 4-5 hours for either method. I thought tumblers were for rocks and you leave them run for weeks and keep adding water? I have never owned one but that was my impression of them. Edit, I see they are more vibrators and not so much tumblers from HF. Last edited by Challenger 1; 09/08/14 03:13 PM.

Re: Cleaning hardware and small parts - Tumbler/Media [Re: Squirrel_Cat] #1668675 09/08/14 04:46 PM 09/08/14 04:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 299 East Brunswick, NJ F finadk enthusiast
finadk enthusiast F Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 299 East Brunswick, NJ	How long is forever? I don't plan on being in a hurry when using this and am considerings 5-6 hours...maybe more to be sufficient to clean a batch of hardware throughly. Thanks all. I let it go 24 hours, then 3 days and finally gave up after a week. After 5 days there was little additional improvement. Scott 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer (408 Stroker, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Rack & Pinion, 6 speed) 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 1976 Corvette

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