20 replies to this topic

[YetiSRP]

Anyone use one of them to clean up old frames? And, if so, which of the mediums do you use?

 

Got a bunch of frames I need to clean up, some fix, and then sell off cheap.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Steve Deiters]

Don't know how bad the frames are that you are referencing, but a tip I picked up on Slotblog a couple years ago from someone I don't remember recommended using Brillo or SOS pads.  They work amazingly well and are extremely cheap compared to buying a tumbler of any manufacturer.  Just a thought....

[The Sawdust Man]

I own a harbor freight tumbler, the vibratory type (item#67617) and have their media (item#60547). Does not work well on chassis, and it's loud! My rotary tumbler is excellent. 

[Half Fast]

 

Don't know how bad the frames are that you are referencing, but a tip I picked up on Slotblog a couple years ago from someone I don't remember recommended using Brillo or SOS pads.  They work amazingly well and are extremely cheap compared to buying a tumbler of any manufacturer.  Just a thought....

 

The recommendation (from Mike Katz) was to use SOS Not Brillo as the steel wool in SOS is much finer and will not scratch. I tried it it works.

 

Cheers

[Don Weaver]

Be careful of the internal size you get.  Some H.F. tumblers are too small to fit a chassis in with the front axle still on.

[Tim Neja]

Don't use Harbor Freight.  Get a Thumbler's Tumbler---the large red one--you won't regret having a quality item for this job.

[Lone Wolf]

Tim, I'm with you on the Thumblers.  

 

I've had mine for years and they are very well made.

 

The only bad side effect is after the first time you use it you will be looking all around for things to tumble.

 

It is addicting. 

[Steve Deiters]

I stand corrected. SOS pads it is.  Let me say it again.  It really works.

[Richard G With]

How about the HF soda blaster? Seems to me that would work well under the pin tubes?

[Samiam]

You need extremely dry compressed air to run soda blasters. Not as simple as sticking a water separator on the compressor.  

[MSwiss]

Like Tim and Joe said, save your $$$, and go with one of these.

If you think it is a one shot deal, maybe you can get someone to tumble your chassis.

[Markomatic]

What media gives the best results?

[Dan Miller]

A toothbrush and Ajax cleanser, along with some #0000 steel wool is the elbow grease way to twinkle up your chassis. The official name of this procedure is "The Bruce Adamson Wonder Bath".

 

But really ............. Get a Thumler's  Barrel tumbler. They are the ticket.

 

I killed off a Harbor Freight vibratory bowl machine in 20 hours. It came to me with 1 hours use on it and was deemed inadequate by the guy who dumped it on me. He was right and it died quite early in action. My dual barrel Thumler's has been a work horse for years now. Worth every dime.

 

. 

[MattD]

One of the guys here got the HF tumbler that has two canisters.  He replaced them with a piece of pvc and a it works great.  I think he has about $40-$50 in it.

[SlowBeas]

I also use a Thumbler...but it came with the smaller barrel. It can hold a 4" chassis, but it's really tight.

 

So I went to the grocery store and invested $4 in a plastic bottle of coconut oil. The jar has a really wide mouth and a tight-fitting screw-on lid. Emptied the oil from the jar and gave it a try on the tumbler. The result was incredible -- and it allowed my chassis to properly "tumble" as intended. Much less expensive than purchasing that larger barrel in the after-market.

[Bazzie]

Any special material the barrel gets filled with?


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[Tim Neja]

Swiss has the right tumbler, and then go with Buffalo Arms  small ceramic media.  You can just use some water and a TINY bit of Dawn dish soap--and you'll get great results!! 

[gas]

Buffalo Arms has two thumler's model B, high speed and low speed, Which one?

[Ben Morrow]

 I have the Thumlers machice but no drum. Picked up at a yard sale for 3 bucks, runs great.. From the looks of the machine it would use a 6" - 8" drum, I see PVC pipe has been used and In one case an oil jar, any other ideas that have worked well for making a drum?

 

Also, There are all kinds of media to choose from, Steel, Corn cob, Walnut shell plus others. Which type works best on chassie and other brass and steel parts for you ?

 

Thanks,

Ben

[MattD]

My buddy got a piece of pvc and used it with a screw on cap to replace the two small cannisters on the HF tumbler.   It works great, he has about $50 in it.   I think he used some kind of stainless media and the liquid soap  that has  been discussed before.   It turns out  great looking brass frames in an hour or so.

[Tim Neja]

Post #11 is the one you want.  It works GREAT!!