Need suggestions on a good benchtop rotary parts tubmbler and media to be used.

[LLCoolBeans]

Anyone know where I can get a smallish bench-top parts tumbler that is a good balance between quality and price?

Must be a rotary tumbler, no vibratory tumblers please.

EDIT: I am expanding this thread to include tumbler media. Now that I've looked around a bit, I am completely confused. The number of choices is dizzying.

All I need, at least at this time, is a general purpose media for deburing and putting a uniform finish on small metal parts.

I'm also having a bit of trouble finding media retailers, does someone have a link?

Thanks

 

[LLCoolBeans]

Re: Need suggestions on a good benchtop rotary parts tubmbler.

Anyone have experience with this one...?

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0003101212489a.shtml

 

[LLCoolBeans]

Ok, I am having a horrible time finding media. The only place I can find that has anything like what I need, that will allow you to just place an online order, is located and ships from Canada.

I figured this would be fairly easy, I was wrong. Does anyone know of a good media dealer?

 

[G1K]

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/vibratory_tumblers.htm

media at the bottom of the page

http://www.shorinternational.com/TumblingMedia.htm

located in Vermont.

These are the first two that come up on a google search for "media for tumbler"


Here's another:
http://www.tumblingmachines.com/tumbling_media.shtml

No affiliation with any of the sites...

Ryan

 

[precisionworks]

Lortone has been making tumblers for more years than IBM has made computers

Mine was purchased around 1975, when I was shooting (and reloading) 5000 rounds each month. All that empty brass went through the tumbler, which ran nearly nonstop. Then our daughter got into polishing rocks ... er, gems. That takes forever, as the semi precious stones abrade slowly - as in three weeks, running 24/7. Now I tumble parts for myself & customers. Impossible to kill.

http://www.lortone.com/tumblers.html

I am having a horrible time finding media

What metal or metals will you tumble?

How hard are they?

What level of finish is desired?

After you answer those questions, finding the correct media isn't difficult. If you want to tumble Ti-6-4, you may want to look at ceramics, only because Chris Reeves Knives uses that for the "stonewash" finish on their blades. Ceramics, as with all media, come in many sizes, grades, shapes, bonds, etc. Calling tech support will help narrow down the choices.

The Kramer website has tons of information (but minimum order is 50#): http://www.kramerindustriesonline.com/finishing-guides/barrel-finishing-guide.htm

 

[StrikerDown]

Beans,

Don't know what you are trying to do but Harbor Fr has a smallish rotary tumbler in the latest sale paper for $29.95. They also stock several kinds of media in their stores, possibly this may fill the bill, It's cheap any who!

Ray

 

[LLCoolBeans]

Lortone has been making tumblers for more years than IBM has made computers

I'll check those out, thanks for the tip.

What metal or metals will you tumble?

First job is a batch of 6/4 titanium pocket clips. But in the future, possibly brass, bronze, aluminum, and stainless.

Not that I need a media to do everything, but I'm looking for something general purpose, that will put on a nice even finish and dull if not remove file and belt sander marks.

What level of finish is desired?

After you answer those questions, finding the correct media isn't difficult. If you want to tumble Ti-6-4, you may want to look at ceramics, only because Chris Reeves Knives uses that for the "stonewash" finish on their blades. Ceramics, as with all media, come in many sizes, grades, shapes, bonds, etc. Calling tech support will help narrow down the choices.

Don't need any specific level of finish, just so long as it produces a nice even finish.

I'll look further into ceramics. Thanks.

 

[LLCoolBeans]

Beans,
They also stock several kinds of media in their stores, possibly this may fill the bill, It's cheap any who!

This is all I'm finding on the HF website...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97027

From the description it seems like it might be too coarse. Also, it says it's intended for vibratory tumblers. Does that make a difference?

 

[Patriot]

I used rotary tumblers for about 15 years but about 10 years ago I started using vibratory instead. They just seem to work better and more quickly. My application has been to clean and polish empty ammunition cases for the purpose of reloading. I've occasionally used it to polish gun parts and even rocks for fish tank decorations.

I've been using the Dillion and it's never let me down.
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/co.../Dillon__039_s_CV_2001_Vibratory_Case_Cleaner

For media I use ground corn or walnut hulls in conjunction with some liquid metal polish. Your purposes may require more aggressive media...not sure.

 

[LLCoolBeans]

I used rotary tumblers for about 15 years but about 10 years ago I started using vibratory instead. They just seem to work better and more quickly. My application has been to clean and polish empty ammunition cases for the purpose of reloading. I've occasionally used it to polish gun parts and even rocks for fish tank decorations.

I've been using the Dillion and it's never let me down.
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/co.../Dillon__039_s_CV_2001_Vibratory_Case_Cleaner

For media I use ground corn or walnut hulls in conjunction with some liquid metal polish. Your purposes may require more aggressive media...not sure.

I like the rotary kind. They run quieter and I'm running out of places in my shop to bolt things down.

 

[rmteo]

Try: www.mscdirect.com

 

[LLCoolBeans]

Try: www.mscdirect.com

I've looked on MSC, but they have very poor descriptions if any at all and there are no pictures in most cases. It would seem like you have to know exactly what you are looking for in order to order it from MSC.

 

[rmteo]

I agree, their on-line descriptions are not the best. The printed catalog is much better. They do have a wide variety of media though.

 

[rmteo]

Here is 2 manufacturers of media that are stocked by MSC:
http://www.raytech-ind.com/finish3.htm
http://www.belairfinishing.com/Mass_Finishing_Media_001.htm

I suggest using either cone or pyramid shaped media (0.38in. - 0.75in.) for flashlight size parts. The plastic media is probably your best choice for aluminum parts - you can also use the ceramic, but they may be too aggressive.

It will cost about $65-$85 for a 20lb. bag. Also, for best results, you want to order/use some kind of tumbling soap.

 

[precisionworks]

You need to be aware that tumbling is a low energy process, as opposed to polishing on a powered wheel, or shot blasting/bead blasting. Tumbling works well for refining a finish that's already very smooth, like the type of finish produced by 800 grit sanding. Starting with that, tumbling works well. If your part has rough edges, scratches you can feel, etc., those need to be removed before tumbling - especially on hard materials like Ti-6-4, or super hard materials like knife steel.

 

[LLCoolBeans]

You need to be aware that tumbling is a low energy process, as opposed to polishing on a powered wheel, or shot blasting/bead blasting. Tumbling works well for refining a finish that's already very smooth, like the type of finish produced by 800 grit sanding. Starting with that, tumbling works well. If your part has rough edges, scratches you can feel, etc., those need to be removed before tumbling - especially on hard materials like Ti-6-4, or super hard materials like knife steel.

Oh, well that won't work.

I was under the impression that If I used a coarse media, that it would basically be an inefficient but cost effective way to replace a blasting cabinet.

I would just buy a blasting cabinet, but those require a huge compressor, which is a fairly large investment.

I do have a line on a broken one that someone wants to get rid of, which may only need a simple fix to get going. So, if that works out, I might not need the tumbler at all and just buy a blasting cabinet.

I'll still have to run 220 out to my shop though, and I'm guessing, that would be no small expense either.

 

[rmteo]

Bean, the main reason why production shops use tumbling, is for part de-burring and removing tool marks.

Bead blasting is used to apply a matt finish to the part. Blasting will not remove burrs and tool marks.

 

[LLCoolBeans]

Bean, the main reason why production shops use tumbling, is for part de-burring and removing tool marks.

Bead blasting is used to apply a matt finish to the part. Blasting will not remove burrs and tool marks.

The tool marks don't need to be completely removed, deburring can easily be done with a hand held deburring tool, I just need an even finish. If a few tool marks remain on the edges of the clip, but they are smoothed over, that would be plenty good enough for this particular job.

Bead blaster would be incredibly useful for a wide range of other tasks as well.

 

[rmteo]

In your case then, bead blasting is the way to go. Just be careful with those tiny glass beads - they tend to find their way into just about everything. Especially, wear eye protection. :mecry::mecry::mecry:

 

[precisionworks]

production shops use tumbling, is for part de-burring and removing tool marks.

It depends on the material hardness, and the degree of defect. One shop I work with uses a SteelABrator, high impact airless shot tumbler. Only slightly louder than an F-16 on after burner, it does a nice job on aluminum castings.

Most people don't think tumbler when they see this monster