Thumler's Tumbler rotary drum tumbler
ceramic media from Buffalo Arms
detergent from Buffalo Arms
Lake Michigan water (essentially as good as bottled water)
overnight / approx.15 hours
I can't imagine a better job can be had.




Posted 03 May 2019 - 11:54 AM
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Posted 03 May 2019 - 12:15 PM
You've got it Mike.
That's what Mike Steube told me and I shared in my thread.............more than a dozen years ago. Yikes! I'm old.
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...
Posted 03 May 2019 - 12:17 PM
Yes, of course.
Your stuff is the standard on clean building.
I pinned my post, as newbie's occasionally post, looking for advice.
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Posted 03 May 2019 - 12:26 PM
I think the only thing I'd stress is that all water is not created equal. Where I used to live the water caused pitting and corrosion when the weather was hot....90+ degrees. Maybe it was acidic or something. But, it was bad and the problem went away when I started using distilled water.
Pablo offered to send me his great Mississippi water but the shipping cost was to high.
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...
Posted 03 May 2019 - 12:29 PM
That's why I equated our Lake Michigan water to bottled water.
I haven't noticed any difference from it, to cheap, bottled drinking water, or distilled water.
I think the rule of thumb should probably be, if you aren't excited about drinking it, buy something that you would.
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Posted 03 May 2019 - 12:41 PM
Posted 03 May 2019 - 02:35 PM
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Posted 03 May 2019 - 09:47 PM
Which speed are people using? Thumblers Model B comes in low-speed (20RPM drum speed) and high speed (40RPM). This has stopped me from ordering one. SKU #TT140 and TT140HS at Buffalo Arms.
George Ewing
Retired USAF, retired Ford service tech.
Posted 03 May 2019 - 10:32 PM
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Posted 04 May 2019 - 07:44 AM
Paul Wolcott
Posted 04 May 2019 - 08:18 AM
Thanks for your answers. Thats one of each, so speed isn't a concern.
George Ewing
Retired USAF, retired Ford service tech.
Posted 04 May 2019 - 12:35 PM
Which speed are people using? Thumblers Model B comes in low-speed (20RPM drum speed) and high speed (40RPM). This has stopped me from ordering one. SKU #TT140 and TT140HS at Buffalo Arms.
As I suspected, mine is a 40 RPM.
Another good investment for tumbling with ceramic media, is the below basket, I bought as a strainer, for a few $'s, at (IIRC) Menards.
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Posted 04 May 2019 - 03:27 PM
Having used both, I would highly recommend the 40 RPM motor. It takes much less time to acheive good results than the 20. I have used distilled water for years but even with that, a long tumbling session can occasionally produce some pitting. As a remedy to that, I have been adding possibly 1/4-1/3 cup of common antifreeze to the mix along with some 'Dawn'. Never had a pitting issue when I remember to put it in......... It also seems to polish a bit better than water and soap.
In all cases, when I'm done, I'll squirt a bit of isopropyl alcohol into the hinge tubes and bearings followed by a blast of canned air, then oil.
Posted 04 May 2019 - 05:34 PM
I've been spraying my chassis down with WD40 after tumbling!! It seems to work well and I"ve had no pitting problems.
Posted 05 May 2019 - 11:53 AM
A few questions for the experts here:
1- How many pounds of ceramic medium?
2- How much fill of liquid?
3- Can more than 1 chassis at a time be tumbled?
Thanks in advance
Bill Botjer
Faster then, wiser now.
The most dangerous form of ignorance is not knowing that you don't know anything!
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity
Posted 05 May 2019 - 12:07 PM
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Posted 05 May 2019 - 03:04 PM
1. Concur, 6 lbs.
2. Concur, about an inch above the media. If you mean how much soap liquid, one capful exactly.
3. I wouldn't do it
Paul Wolcott
Posted 05 May 2019 - 03:45 PM
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Posted 05 May 2019 - 08:46 PM
I routinely put 2 and sometimes even 3 chassis' in my tumbler at one time, never had a problem or seen any damage from the chassis' hitting each other, YMMV.
Here's a tip... Put a piece of heat shrink tubing (and shrink it of course) over the threaded ends of a front axle. It keeps the fine threads from being worn away.
Jay Guard
IRRA Board of Directors Member, 2007-2010 (non-voting advisor)
Retro Racer & Flat Track Fanatic
Posted 05 May 2019 - 09:00 PM
Multiple chassis will not result in any damage.
The tumbling motion has very little force, if any.
A teaspoon of Simple Green added to the water, works a treat
Posted 06 May 2019 - 06:17 AM
"And if my thought-dreams could be seen they'd probably put my head in a guillotine. But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only." - Dylan
1965 "Evil Bucks Racer" Team
Revtech Team Trinity
Retro East co-founder
American King track single lap world record holder & 40 minute total lap record
First IM Nationals Champion
Arco Champion
Car Model Magazine Series Amateur Champion
2016 ORS Anglewinder Constructors Championship