Harbor Freight Tumbler PVC Drum 9mm Load Test report

[mmorris]

I can now report that the 4" PVC homemade replacement drum I made can hold a load of 475 9mm cases, and still clean well too. I set the max load by weight, and 4 lbs is the magic number. I don't know what the number or weight of 45 ACP or 38 Special cases I can fit in will be, because I have to load some and shoot them to get a tumbler load of each to test

I have had satisfactory results with only one pound of S.S. pins, and that's good because the max load capacity is 6.5 lbs.* That only leaves room for 24 fl. oz. water to meet the tumbler's rated capacity.

*For those who noticed, the PVC drum is 0.6 lb. lighter than the two stock drums, so I increased the load from 6 lbs. to 6.5 lbs.

4 lbs. - Brass
1 lb. - S.S. Pins
1.5 lbs. - Water (24 fl. oz.)
1/4 teaspoon (1.3 cc LEE dipper) - ArmorAll Ultra Shine Wash & Wax
1/4 teaspoon (1.3 cc LEE dipper) - Bulk Citric Acid

I feel that the amount of active soapsuds at the end of 1.5 hrs. indicates the 1/4 teaspoon of soap is not too little. Add to that the appearance after cleaning, and I think I'm right at what I need for the job I want.

I ran the wet tumbler 1.5 hrs., and then put them into the 20/40 corncob for another 30 minutes.
The dry corncob tumble is very effective at drying the cases, so it doesn't really seem like an additional step.

Here is a 17 second slow motion video of the drum in operation.


I am very satisfied with the outcome of this project.

$51.24 Harbor Freight Rock Tumbler - Dual Drum (w/25% coupon)
$20.99 S.S. Pins - 2.5 lbs.
$9.00 4" red test plug

9 3/8" long 4" Sch 40 PVC scrap
Clear plastic scrap (you can substitute a glue-in test plug if you don't want the clear window)

Total cost is less than $85. My outlay was only $72 because I used the little red test plug I've had for several years

 

[mmorris]

This is a better picture of the tumbling results.

 

[hdwhit]

Beautiful.

You should really be proud of both your process and the modifications you made to the tumbler.

 

[Village]

I didn't know wet tumbling could be so cheap, or effective! Thanks for the report.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[HankC]

9 3/8" long 4" Sch 40 PVC scrap
Clear plastic scrap (you can substitute a glue-in test plug if you don't want the clear window)

Can you share a picture of the PVC drum construction. I can't visualize how you cap the pipe and won't leak. You don't use the regular PVC end caps sounds like.

 

[mmorris]

The PVC drum I made has one end open to receive the Oatey 33403 4" Gripper (or like substitute), and the other end is closed with a permanent cover. I used 5 minute epoxy to attach a piece of clear plastic (unknown type) to the other end. The rubber bands are traction enhancers.

The 4" Sch 40 PVC drum body is 9-3/8" long, and the agitators are 5" long pieces of 1" PVC that I split on the table saw and glued into the drum, offset from each other, and about 1/2" from each interior end with the caps installed (not the pipe end).

I must point out that the drum can be made with a glue-in test cap instead of the see-through end I used. I put the clear end cap on as a "research & development" tool so that I could look at the brass & s.s. pins while turning the drum. I was concerned with the agitation efficiency and it seemed to be the easiest way to make sure the brass was tumbling well. I think that it will cloud up from abrasion scratches and become less transparent with time. A drawback of the glue-in plug is the reduction in internal volume and resulting capacity loss.

If I made another drum, I would probably use a flat cover again instead of the recessed plug, simply for the small capacity increase. I will say that the glue-in plug is much faster/easier

 

[jetech]

I would also like to see the details of your drum construction. I may switch to SS pin tumbling soon.

That was fast! Thanks.

 

[mmorris]

Here is the drum in place.

The quality of these units varies, and I had a replacement unit sent due to irregularities in the drive shaft friction covering that caused some vibration.

Turns out I was being too picky... I kept the first unit and returned the replacement

 

[Analogkid]

My neighbor had one of these he forgot about, then went out of town and left it running for months with two drums of brass in it. It still works great and has the original drive belt on It.

I'm interested in what clear plastic you used on the one end.

 

[mmorris]

If I had to guess, I'd say acrylic.

That's a guess.

 

[BlackBox35]

I have the same wet tumbling set up. Only my PVC drum i put an agitator into it. I have only run one batch on brass in it so far. Is your brass that that clean from the combo of tumbling and then the corn cob tumble? What do you use to separate your ss pins from your brass?

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

I have to say i like what you've done with the HF dual drum. Pretty cool.


I've had one of the single drum HF tumblers for 5 or six years now. Still have the same belt on it.

I need a bigger one though. Getting tired of cleaning a few batches for a single range day.

Maybe get a dual drum and should be good. That way i can do three different calibers at once if need be.

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

 

[mmorris]

What do you use to separate your ss pins from your brass?

I use the RCBS Rotary Case and Media Separator for both ss pins and corn cobb.

Is your brass that that clean from the combo of tumbling and then the corn cob tumble?

The clean is the wet ss pins; the shiny is the corn cobb

Only my PVC drum i put an agitator into it.

Do you have a picture of your agitator? I have two "bumps" glued into my PVC drum, but I can't imagine a separate agitator.

Mike

 

[mmorris]

I've had one of the single drum HF tumblers for 5 or six years now. Still have the same belt on it.

... went out of town and left it running for months with two drums of brass in it. It still works great and has the original drive belt on It.

I have seen several statements like this, but the comments on the replacement belts on the HF website say that the belts crack and break anywhere from hours to days of use.

The belts I got with my unit seem to be OK. I guess the quality of the belts shipped with the tumblers has improved.

 

[Analogkid]

I still have my original belt on mine. I just give the drum a little roll to help it get going when I start it. It's a few years old.

 

[bluetopper]

Here's my Harbor Freight brass tumbler.