How to build your wet media tumbler

[titanse05]

This thread will be a work in progress but for now I will show pictures of the final product and the results of the first batch that I tumbled. I will keep updating the original post so all info is in one place.

A big Thank you to Mark (Earl o Sammich) for hooking me up with the free motor to complete the project.

How i built my own rotary tumbler (http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/344986_How_i_built_my_own_rotary_tumbler.html) was the thread that served as my inspiration in completing this project and I just adapted my setup to fit my needs.

Parts List
1/2" Shaft Motor 1725 RPM
(4) 1/2" Pillow Block Bearings www.usabearingsandbelts.com (http://www.usabearingsandbelts.com/18m7/pillow-block-bearing-units/ucp-series-steel-units.html)
3' piece of 1/2" diameter Steel Rod @ Lowes
3' piece of 1/2" Heater Hose @ Advance Auto Parts
1-1/2" diameter pulley @ Tractor Supply
4" diameter pulley @ Tractor Supply
14" belt @ Tractor Supply
5 lbs of Stainless Steel Tumbling Media www.buffaloarms.com (http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=164066)
6" PVC pipe @ Lowes
1-1/2" PVC pipe @ Lowes
6" PVC end cap @ Lowes
6" to 4" PVC reducer cap @ Lowes
4" rubber pipe cap w/pipe clamp @ Lowes
PVC primer & cement @ Lowes
Duct tape
Various mounting hardware @ Lowes
Built on an existing shelf in addition to using some scrap OSB that I had laying around. If you have a welder you could build a metal frame. However, I just find wood easier to work with.


Drum assembly
1. Cut a 9" long piece of the 6" PVC pipe
2. Using a tablesaw, cut the 1-1/2" PVC into thirds along the length of the pipe. These pieces will be used as the paddles on the inside of the drum.
3. Install the paddles using hardware. I used #10 flathead screws and nuts. I recessed the screws and placed them where the PVC caps would cover them once installed in order to maintain water-tightness.
4. Cut off and grind down the extra screw length using a dremel or files. Seal with silicon caulk.
5. Installed the end cap and reducer cap using the PVC primer and cement.
6. Place duct tape on the caps so the rubber shafts have something to grip.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2012-12-02_17-02-43_631.jpg


Here is my tumbler. It is installed on an existing pull out shelf on my reloading bench.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-21-40_293.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-21-52_552.jpg

Here is a video of the tumbler in action.

http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-20-54_778.mp4

Here is the final product. 200 pieces of deprimed 223 Lake City brass wet tumbled for two hours.

Before:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2012-08-26_22-38-56_640.jpg

After:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-38-37_35.jpg

[DaFadda]

Like I said in your last post, this is a GREAT project, and something that I can do at home.... at least if someone would post the parts list and supplier.... (hint hint) Thanks for an excellent post.
DaFadda

[titanse05]

Like I said in your last post, this is a GREAT project, and something that I can do at home.... at least if someone would post the parts list and supplier.... (hint hint) Thanks for an excellent post.
DaFaddaI'm working on it.....my day job is always getting in the way of fun.

[sdmc530]

Yep, I would like this list too. Have always wanted one but never had the smarts to build one....

[navman]

Got an easier way...

Open laundry drier. Pour in tumbling media and simple green. Add brass. Hit start. Run for safety when the wife comes downstairs to investigate the noise. nanner

[titanse05]

I've tumbled over 2k pieces of 223/5.56 brass and I can say with certainty that I will never go back to vibratory tumbling. I find that I can tumble 300+ pieces at one time and typically run it for three hours. Every batch comes out looking like new.

[Boats]

Can't wait to get started on this one.

As I said when you first started talking about building this, it looks like something lots of us will want to do and one of the more valuable gun posts I've seen recently!

Thanks!

Tom

[skosh69]

Looking good man!

One question/concern. I noticed that you didn't deprime prior to wet cleaning. I did the same thing when I first got into reloading when I tumbled my brass in a 1 gallon open mouth botttle with a lid.

I noticed that when I did go to deprime, there was rust/corrosion in the primer pockets as the no matter how long I left the brass in the sun, there was still moisture trapped the primer pocket.

Have you experienced this yet?

Just asking.

[titanse05]

No I deprimed first.......part of the point of wet tumbling is that the pins are small enough to clean the primer pockets so I don't have to do it manually.

[US.45]

I've tumbled over 2k pieces of 223/5.56 brass and I can say with certainty that I will never go back to vibratory tumbling. I find that I can tumble 300+ pieces at one time and typically run it for three hours. Every batch comes out looking like new.

Question: If I'm only going to tumble 100-150 pieces at a time should I get a smaller PVC pipe? In other words, is the 6" diameter PVC container too big to effectively tumble that quantity? thank you

[titanse05]

Question: If I'm only going to tumble 100-150 pieces at a time should I get a smaller PVC pipe? In other words, is the 6" diameter PVC container too big to effectively tumble that quantity? thank youThe setup that I have is the smallest I would go. If you use the 9" length of 6" pipe and 5lbs of media you are good to go for tumbling smaller quantities. I have tumbled 150-300 pieces of 223 brass and have had the same results each time. Only difference is that the smaller quantites don't need as much time to tumble.

[titanse05]

Here is some 45ACP I tumbled this weekend.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/20140111_213700_zpsqqrkiigt.jpg

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4

[sdmc530]

Here is some 45ACP I tumbled this weekend.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/20140111_213700_zpsqqrkiigt.jpg

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4

PURDY!!! I have not built mine yet...getting there!

[titanse05]

Best part was that this was a previously corn cob media tumbled batch that I decided wasn't clean enough. The water that was dumped out after tumbling was almost as dark as a just fired batch.

The stainless steel tumbling just does a tremendous job of cleaning the inside of the case as well as cleaning the primer pockets. My dry tumbler needs to find a new home.

[titanse05]

For those that don't have the time or ability to build your own tumbler this is a great option. They can be found cheaper elsewhere but Midway always has a nice description and pictures.

Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Tumbler

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/713881/frankford-arsenal-platinum-series-rotary-case-tumbler

[skosh69]

Glad to see you're still with us Titan!!!

[titanse05]

Glad to see you're still with us Titan!!!Yeah I poke my head in the door occasionally.