Cheapo rock tumbler for baffles?

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Don't buy that crappy one from target, you'll be disappointed with it and it likely won't last with SS pins. I also have the harbor freight dual drum tumbler, just grab a coupon for 20% off. I went online and bought a large drum that replaces the two smaller one's for larger loads too. Best purchase you can make in a tumbler.
 
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Bear in mind that tumbling with stainless media works best when wet. If you're buying one of these general purpose tumblers I'd try to make sure it's watertight.
 
Fear not, the harbor freight tumbler is definitely water tight. I fill it about 1/4 with ss pins, then put some dish soap in and fill it with water to just above the baffles once they are put in. Optionally, you can add a little bit of lemishine to give them a nice polish too.
 
I don't understand the need/desire to make the internal parts "shiny" You don't clean your car muffler do you?

I realize you need to clean a suppressor used with .22lr or cast bullets as they will fill up with lead eventually, but with my Sparrow I take it apart about every 500-800 rounds, scrape off the lead, spray it with cheap Walmart carb cleaner and get back to shooting with it. I fail to see a reason for any more cleaning than this. The one time I did wait to after 1000 rounds it was very hard to take apart so there are definite limits as to how long you can go without cleaning a take-apart can.
 
The harbor freight ones are a lot of bang for your buck (I own the 10lb rotary). They also sell vibrating.

Mike
 
wally said:
I don't understand the need/desire to make the internal parts "shiny" You don't clean your car muffler do you?

I realize you need to clean a suppressor used with .22lr or cast bullets as they will fill up with lead eventually, but with my Sparrow I take it apart about every 500-800 rounds, scrape off the lead, spray it with cheap Walmart carb cleaner and get back to shooting with it. I fail to see a reason for any more cleaning than this. The one time I did wait to after 1000 rounds it was very hard to take apart so there are definite limits as to how long you can go without cleaning a take-apart can.
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Or "The Dip", he has SS baffles. I specifically bought a can with SS baffles just so I could dip 'em. The downside is (obviously) having a jar of Lead Acetate laying around.

The tumbler method does have me curious though. I have a Lyman tumbler for my brass. I use crushed walnut shell media. Would this work for baffles?
 
Hyrulejedi86 said:
Don't buy that crappy one from target, you'll be disappointed with it and it likely won't last with SS pins. I also have the harbor freight dual drum tumbler, just grab a coupon for 20% off. I went online and bought a large drum that replaces the two smaller one's for larger loads too. Best purchase you can make in a tumbler.
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Where did you get the larger drum?

I'm using the HF dual rock tumbler too and the smaller drums are a pain!
 
Or "The Dip", he has SS baffles. I specifically bought a can with SS baffles just so I could dip 'em. The downside is (obviously) having a jar of Lead Acetate laying around.
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Unless you have a safe and environmentally safe way to dispose of it, IMHO it totally irresponsible to use and recommend the dip. The enviro-nazi's are already going after elemental lead, despite the fact that the amount on earth increases every year due to radioactive decay, but spreading lead acetate pollution would make their case for them!
 
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