Wet tumbling on the cheap? Yes! It can be done!

[freepunk]

Earlier in the thread someone mentioned using a vacuum belt as a replacement.

Just picked one up last night. The screw was loose on the pulley but after that it seemed to work well. Only had 1lb of pins so put half a pound in each bin, 1/2lb of distilled water, 1/2 lb .223 brass and one 9mm shell filled with Hornandy One Shot. 3.5 hours and they came out great!

 

[WSM MAGNUM]

The real tricks in this wet tumbling are having the drums with agitators in them. There many ways and ideas to make these. You will cut down on the tumbling time if you do this. Depending on how clean you want the primer pockets, it could only take as little as 1 hour.

Another trick is to use HOT, HOT water. And rinse well after tumbling.

Also by using .047x.255 SS pins, two pins will not get stuck in the primer pockets. It could happen using smaller pins, but this may not be a big deal to some of you.

Another source to buy SS pins is from Bullseye Reloading http://www.bullseye-reloading.com/

 

[freepunk]

Reading around I found that people are having success using O-rings. Size 342 70 durometer nitrile. $.26 each/ $5 minimum order oringwarehouse.com

 

[bob4]

I've been using one of these tumblers( single drum) for a while now. Other than the small capacity I love this thing. Got mine off Craigs list for 20 bucks new in the box too!

 

[fallout mike]

Nice review. I bought one a month ago but haven't used it yet. Looking forward to trying it out.

 

[bluetopper]

I wonder how using BB's as a media would work?

 

[WSM MAGNUM]

I made mine from Biggdawg`s design. The only difference between mine and biggdawg`s is, I went with 1-1/2" square framing and 3/4" SS 303 TGP shafts. The only thing I have left to do is finish making the 8" drum and buy the SS pellets.
Over on the AR15.com site where biggdawg is, you will find all kinds of ideas to build your own. They have made some ranging from dirt cheap to expensive.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/344986_How_i_built_my_own_rotary_tumbler.html&page=1

 

[Steve2md]

I wonder how using BB's as a media would work?

The bbs will stick in small primer pockets and will rust relatively fast.

 

[RussellC]

This guy is onto something here! a rewired clothes dryer rigged to hold a plastic 5 gallon bucket/container.


http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/spo/4359290107.html

Russellc