Vibratory tumbler
#2930324
06/05/21 05:28 PM
06/05/21 05:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,791 Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Magnum
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,791
Hamilton, Ontario Canada
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Anyone know of a good brand? So many bad reviews.
Have you used one to clean hardware and small brackets?
69 Super Bee, 93 Mustang LX, 04 Allure Super
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: 340SIX]
#2930789
06/07/21 09:28 AM
06/07/21 09:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,652 Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,652
Stuttgart, Arkansas
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Vibratory finishing is what I do. But most of the stuff I do is on the industrial level. Normally for a job like that I use steel pins. They are good at "picking out" the dirt and grease. But most home level machines can't handle the weight of steel media. And pins are very expensive. You are probably stuck with using a Harbor Freight type machine and small ceramic media. You will need a soap too for the parts to come out clean.
2011 Drag Pak Challenger
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: Magnum]
#2930859
06/07/21 12:25 PM
06/07/21 12:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157 Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
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Anyone know of a good brand? So many bad reviews.
Have you used one to clean hardware and small brackets? Hammond roto-finish, industrial machines, they do have some small "bench top" units, depends on what your looking to do and how much you want to spend....
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: Rhinodart]
#2930949
06/07/21 04:02 PM
06/07/21 04:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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I sold my Harbor Freight POS as it didn't do what it was supposed to. I would like a good unit, so I am following this thread. I have 6-5 gallon buckets full of factory hardware that was in my garage fire, I would like to clean it and keep it, Chinesium bolts are garbage nowadays... And what was that? Seems to me, if it works, and its only for small non industrial jobs, how unsatisfactory could it be? It just shakes, right? That is a sincere question.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: jcc]
#2930963
06/07/21 04:22 PM
06/07/21 04:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,652 Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,652
Stuttgart, Arkansas
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The HF units are barely useable. I've had customers run parts for 24 hours that I thought was a 15-30 minute job. But all my knowledge is in the high grade stuff. These machines have much more power. And some can handle the weight of steel media for burnishing. Sometimes you can pickup a name brand machine on ebay for $1,000. I'll be retiring in 2 months and I'm trying to decide what to take home for my shop after a lifetime of vibratory finisher sales.
2011 Drag Pak Challenger
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: Magnum]
#2930985
06/07/21 05:06 PM
06/07/21 05:06 PM
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 350 Mequon, WI
gzig5
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 350
Mequon, WI
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A rotary tumbler like the Thumbler's is going to be the easiest to use with the SS pin media which does a great job cleaning. The common vibratory can't handle the weight, as has been mentioned, until you get into very expensive units. You can make a rotary tumbler with basic tools. tons of examples on the web. I have a few fender bolts and washers in mine right now. I've used a variety of scrap bolts, nuts, and screws for media before I got another batch of SS pins and it worked good but didn't get in the tightest spots like the pins do. I do have a couple Midway brand tumblers and they are OK for a few small parts but the corn media is slooooooow to clean with.
Last edited by gzig5; 06/07/21 05:08 PM.
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: rickseeman]
#2930986
06/07/21 05:06 PM
06/07/21 05:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,419 Kalispell Mt.
HotRodDave
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,419
Kalispell Mt.
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I bought a Hornady bullet brass cleaner, put some diesel fuel and BBs in it and used it for years to clean nuts, bolts and other small parts, worked just fine surprisingly.
I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: 5thAve]
#2931109
06/07/21 10:34 PM
06/07/21 10:34 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,655 Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,655
Cut and Shoot, TX
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I've had pretty good luck getting small stuff clean with liquid rust remover or even vinegar and usually wire wheel anything that can easily be done that way. I had a bench top sand blasting cabinet ordered hoping to do a bit with that and the order got cancelled so now I'm back to my old ways again. I've done a few thousand small parts and fasteners with just vinegar and hand wire brushing. The hand wire brushing is very effective if you make a few ultra simple work holding jigs from scrap wood and wear a leather glove. The jigs were mostly just a groove or similar in a board, and most of the holding was my gloved left hand. Yes, it is tedious, so I did a dozen or two at a time in about a half hour most days for a few months.
If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: kentj340]
#2931111
06/07/21 10:39 PM
06/07/21 10:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,655 Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,655
Cut and Shoot, TX
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If the fasteners aren't going to be painted, this is what waxing will do for you on phosphated fasteners and small parts.
If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: chrisf]
#2931115
06/07/21 10:50 PM
06/07/21 10:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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i bought a fairly large one and drove 8hrs return to get it. bought media and tried it. ran it for 24hrs. relisted it and sent if back to the same area it came from. In 5 minutes i can do more with my blaster than this one did in 24hrs. i think if you wanted to make a 5-10g investment in a pro one and had nothing but time on your hands and love to watch things vibrate it would be the fun toy for you. i can do more with my blaster in 95% less time than a tumbler can. kudos for trying. Is however a big factor in the end finished product, the media used?
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: kentj340]
#2931184
06/08/21 09:34 AM
06/08/21 09:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,704 MICHIGAN
DynoDave
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,704
MICHIGAN
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Interesting topic. I have an HF one, but have not used it yet. Not feeling particularly optimistic after reading all this. If the fasteners aren't going to be painted, this is what waxing will do for you on phosphated fasteners and small parts. Nice work. What did you use for the phosphate coating? Not familiar with the waxing process.
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Re: Vibratory tumbler
[Re: NITROUSN]
#2931185
06/08/21 09:36 AM
06/08/21 09:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,652 Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,652
Stuttgart, Arkansas
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I don't get what the weight does or has on these tumblers. The one I have the basket is oscillated on rubber cushions. All the motor does is spinning an offset weight to make the basket oscillate. The motor is on its own and knows nothing about the weight in the basket. Yes, the "basket" sits on springs/rubber cushions. But even on a medium size machine (20 cubic foot) the steel media weighs 6,000 lbs. So the media in the machine weighs as much as 2 cars. It takes a lot of power to shake that back and forth 1,200 times per minute. Yes, the motor is on it's own and attached to nothing else. But it does know about the weight in the basket. Also the machine must be built a lot stronger to handle the horsepower necessary.
2011 Drag Pak Challenger
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