Old washing machine motor should be easy to find. They will outlast modern electronic devices used in the washers. Love the “slop” sink you have! Wish I had a work facility like yours.
My kids got a vibratory rock tumbler as a gift from grandpa that they don't use anymore. This gives me an idea to use that for cleaning brass using this recipe. Love the tumbler. The simplicity is brilliant and genius.
Thats an awesome simple make! Good idea! Love the plastic apple sause jug barrel idea! I'm making a large two teer tumbler, 36 inches long for my rock hobbie. I have a double 3lb harbor freight tumbler I currently use to tumble my rifle & pistol shells in. Don't care for Harbor freight machines, but have to say it works great just for tumbling my shells. I think I'm going to make me a small tumbler like yours. Love your invention! Keep up the good work! 👍
Great idea , like your ideas on repurposed parts . I’ve been doing that for years , don’t throw anything away . Bet that would make a great black powder mill too. Thanks for info .
Great ideas! Very well done video. I especially like how you repurposed many things to make this. I eat the same apple sauce. I can see something like this in my future :) I bought the Thumbler's Tumbler Model B which works great, but I'm wanting a way to do smaller batches at the same time of various calibers. I'm thinking of longer drive and idler shafts that would hold 3 or 4 apple sauce containers at once. Just for reference, here is the data off of the Thumbler's Model B motor: Motor 1/30 HP 115V 1.12 AMP 3000 RPM Type U21 Sealed ball bearings Shaft = .312 (5/16) Drive pulley = .80 dia This turns the drum (applesauce container) at 44 rpm. Thank you for the video.
So simple! Love it, especially the apple sauce jars. :-) Would you please make a list of parts (like the motor, the rubber plugs, pulleys, spindles, bearings material, etc.), with links to online sources (HomeDepot, Lowes, Amazon, etc.), and add that to the video description? It would save interested viewers and builders a *lot* of time not having to scrounge around for them. Thanks!
super video...an awesome set up for the budget minded...now if we can get primers,,powder,,,projectiles cheap as they seem to have shot up in price as well
Hi....What a nice built tumbler..I built my own Tumbler, its a little different then yours..Thanks for sharing the containers that you use..I had been experimenting with many other containers, and the ones you are using, from apple sauce seem to be the best and are working great and no leaks...thanks...Canada
I'm currently making a small one - more or less the size of yours - from an old windshield wiper motor (12V, 1.4A). I'm quite surprised not to find any vids on small tumblers made using those motors or car powered window ones. They are perfect for this application. They already have the holes for bolting them on the frame; the shaft is threaded, so a coupling nut is enough to screw an extension shaft (could be a plain threaded rod - M6 in my case) and use in direct drive, since the reduction mechanism is already included (mine runs at 36, smack dab in the "ideal" speed bracket you mention). They have a lot of torque, plus they are lighter and less cumbersome than main powered ones... not to mention way safer in case the container fails (shit happens) and spills water everywhere.
The tip on the rod height difference was very useful. Would not have thought of that. I might have thought about the difference in height due to the different grippy material, but maybe not.
Vinegar is ascorbic acid and will tarnish after a while. Lemishine is citric acid. Both clean well and should do that in 5 minutes if the right amount is in the mix. Vinegar leaches the pink zinc out of the brass quicker than citric acid. 1 teaspoon citric acid per quart of water is recommended, I have found I get the same results using 1/2 teaspoon per quart or 2 teaspoons per gallon. The advantage of citric acid is that it will not penetrate or damage the brass like ammonia-based brass cleaners will, and it works even faster. Also, citric acid passivates the brass, which means that after washing in the hot solution, the brass is actually made more corrosion-resistant. If you store brass for long periods, that's great news. I add a pinch of salt per quart because salt reacts with the citric acid to form a mild hydrochloric acid which helps the process along that's why I can reduce the needed citric acid to 1/2 teaspoon per quart. After I have clean brass I pin tumble separately using water, dawn and pins to polish them. They are bright and more consistent in color and most of the insides are bright, too. To reduce water spots I use as hot water as I can possibly get to wash my brass, cold water rinse is just fine. Dish soap is made to work in warm to hot water. EXCELLENT JOB, great video.
Excellent comments. Since I have made this video I have changed a few things to my process. Using stainless steels pins is a major nuisance, so I stopped using them. The only difference is the primer pockets and inside of the casing do not get as clean which is strictly an appearance issue that you cannot even see once the shells are loaded. There is enough abrasive action from shell against shell to get them nice and shiny. I found that turtle wax car zip wax car wash and wax did a nice job at washing them and I also found that after the tumble all I had to do was drain and dry, no rinse, it left a nice was coating on the shells. I could not even remember why I am using Lemi Shine. I looked up the product on Amazon and it said its main purpose was to stop water from leaving spots on dishes while drying. So the next time I wash my shells I am not going to use lemi shine . I am guessing I probably do not need it because when I was my car with Zip wax I do not have water spots left behind.
@@mshaw290808miThe trick is Boiling Hot water to break down the junk adhered to the brass. I have to try a boiling water presoak then tumble with water and citric acid to soften up the junk. Thanks for the reply. Still a great video.
Steven Fredrickson You are welcome! I have since put out an update to this video th-cam.com/video/zbaltKvDM_0/w-d-xo.html There are a few more tips in it that might be useful to you.
Great idea. I had an angle drive 1/5 hp floating around and I was able to direct drive the drive roller. I just watched your update and found that I have incorporated some of it. The end pieces are oak and they work fine, plus I've had my eyes on the spaghetti sauce containers in the pantry. I am thinking of using a food dehydrator to remove moisture. Any thoughts?
That's the way. Those covered shafts can be found in old printers and mail processing machines like older one from pittny bows. Yea I know spelling but I spell it like it sounds.
been looking at home build tumblers for an hour and this seems like one of the best ones in terms of ease of build and simplicity. Why use a tension screw for motor to wheel contact instead of a belt though?
I didn't have any belts laying around my shop and would have to waited days for them to come in the mail.I was able to make this in a few hours with parts I already had. Belts and pulleys would have been nice but on the other hand this system has worked perfectly for me for years.
Very good machine to make its perfect, I want to make it myself but I wonder what brand motor and type it is ? Its the most important part so please inform me about it , if you will...Thx
I just used the cheapest motor I could find on EBay that had about 1750 RPM and about 1/10 HP. This turned out to be used scroll saw motors. Also there is a update to this video you might find useful. th-cam.com/video/zbaltKvDM_0/w-d-xo.html
It wouldn't matter which way you put the jug on, it experiences the same rotational forces at the lid. It is unlikely it would unscrew itself from rolling on the machine unless improperly attached.
Unless you're going to make jewelry out of your polished brass, one to two hours in a vibrating tumbler is perfectly sufficient for cleaning brass. Quicker, neater, cheaper, easier. Tips from a 30 yr reloader: Throw in 3 or so 2" square torn pieces of USED dryer sheets to collect dust. Add a few squirts of 50/50 mix of Nu Finish Car Polish/mineral spirits to get shiny brass.
My lungs are very sensitive to dust. I started out using a vibrating tumbler and I did not think it caused much dust. The first time I used the wet system I could not believe the huge difference on my breathing. After that first experience I never touched the vibrating tumbler again. The wet system I found is also much quieter than the vibrating. Since posting this video I have found that I am satisfied with the finish on the brass without using the stainless steel pins and tumbling for one hour. The finish turns out equal to vibrating.
Brilliant! I foresee a DIY wet tumbler in my future. Simple and clever engineering. Are you using a magnet to recover the steel pins after separating or do you filter through wire mesh?
After separating the steel pins are in the bottom of the five gallon bucket. I tip the bucket and carefully drain the water off without losing any pins, I then pour what is left on an old large bath towel to dry. When dry I pick up the towel by the corners and carefully pour them into the container. If any fall on the floor I pick those up with a magnet.
I got my plugs from a friend who is a plumber, they are used to keep dirt out of pipe before installation. These could work alsowww.amazon.com/United-Scientific-Supplies-RST15-H2-Stopper/dp/B079ZM47SR/ref=sr_1_9?crid=M9WCWVBRX5ZB&keywords=rubber+stoppers+with+hole&qid=1576775276&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sprefix=rubber+stoppers%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-9 They are slightly tapered but still might work.
Sorry no parts list, this is just made from parts scrounged from old saved parts laying around the garage. The motor is one I found on EBay that came off a scroll saw, at the time is was the cheapest motor I could find that would work.
I couldn’t catch the measurements fast enough you did a fantastic job but I’m not fast enough to catch your measurements of the way you could possibly send me a copy of that I will try to make one
When the video comes to the section with the paper and measurements hit pause on the TH-cam tool bar. Hit "print screen" on your keyboard (my keyboard KEY says "PRTSC" ), open up a program like "MS Paint" hit paste and then just print it off! I have an update to this video th-cam.com/video/zbaltKvDM_0/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=NotAnExpert Hope this helps!
Seven years on, and still a valid and useful video... Many thanks.
Old washing machine motor should be easy to find. They will outlast modern electronic devices used in the washers. Love the “slop” sink you have! Wish I had a work facility like yours.
My kids got a vibratory rock tumbler as a gift from grandpa that they don't use anymore. This gives me an idea to use that for cleaning brass using this recipe. Love the tumbler. The simplicity is brilliant and genius.
Thats an awesome simple make! Good idea! Love the plastic apple sause jug barrel idea! I'm making a large two teer tumbler, 36 inches long for my rock hobbie. I have a double 3lb harbor freight tumbler I currently use to tumble my rifle & pistol shells in. Don't care for Harbor freight machines, but have to say it works great just for tumbling my shells. I think I'm going to make me a small tumbler like yours. Love your invention! Keep up the good work! 👍
Great idea , like your ideas on repurposed parts . I’ve been doing that for years , don’t throw anything away . Bet that would make a great black powder mill too. Thanks for info .
That is brilliantly simple! Awesome job!
Great ideas! Very well done video.
I especially like how you repurposed many things to make this.
I eat the same apple sauce.
I can see something like this in my future :)
I bought the Thumbler's Tumbler Model B which works great,
but I'm wanting a way to do smaller batches at the same time of various calibers.
I'm thinking of longer drive and idler shafts that would hold 3 or 4 apple sauce containers at once.
Just for reference, here is the data off of the Thumbler's Model B motor:
Motor 1/30 HP 115V 1.12 AMP 3000 RPM
Type U21 Sealed ball bearings
Shaft = .312 (5/16)
Drive pulley = .80 dia
This turns the drum (applesauce container) at 44 rpm.
Thank you for the video.
Great job explaining everything. Very helpful video. Thank you for sharing
great job. thanks for sharing
Very clever device awesome job on recycling and reusing materials
Great presentation and excellent use of materials
So simple! Love it, especially the apple sauce jars. :-)
Would you please make a list of parts (like the motor, the rubber plugs, pulleys, spindles, bearings material, etc.), with links to online sources (HomeDepot, Lowes, Amazon, etc.), and add that to the video description? It would save interested viewers and builders a *lot* of time not having to scrounge around for them. Thanks!
Ingenious! Very well presented video! I'm probably going to make your design...thank you very much!
super video...an awesome set up for the budget minded...now if we can get primers,,powder,,,projectiles cheap as they seem to have shot up in price as well
OUTSTANDING SIR!!!
Need one of these. Been overthinking it. Thanks! Good video!
Really nicely executed. Thanks!
Great video! Thanks a lot for sharing your brass tumbler video. I appreciate it. I'm pretty sure a lot of do it yourself-er would appreciate it too.
Nice video. Great explanation. Thank you!
Hi....What a nice built tumbler..I built my own Tumbler, its a little different then yours..Thanks for sharing the containers that you use..I had been experimenting with many other containers, and the ones you are using, from apple sauce seem to be the best and are working great and no leaks...thanks...Canada
Very nice! Thanks for sharing 👍
nice job..
I'm currently making a small one - more or less the size of yours - from an old windshield wiper motor (12V, 1.4A).
I'm quite surprised not to find any vids on small tumblers made using those motors or car powered window ones. They are perfect for this application. They already have the holes for bolting them on the frame; the shaft is threaded, so a coupling nut is enough to screw an extension shaft (could be a plain threaded rod - M6 in my case) and use in direct drive, since the reduction mechanism is already included (mine runs at
36, smack dab in the "ideal" speed bracket you mention). They have a lot of torque, plus they are lighter and less cumbersome than main powered ones... not to mention way safer in case the container fails (shit happens) and spills water everywhere.
The tip on the rod height difference was very useful. Would not have thought of that. I might have thought about the difference in height due to the different grippy material, but maybe not.
Vinegar is ascorbic acid and will tarnish after a while. Lemishine is citric acid. Both clean well and should do that in 5 minutes if the right amount is in the mix. Vinegar leaches the pink zinc out of the brass quicker than citric acid. 1 teaspoon citric acid per quart of water is recommended, I have found I get the same results using 1/2 teaspoon per quart or 2 teaspoons per gallon. The advantage of citric acid is that it will not penetrate or damage the brass like ammonia-based brass cleaners will, and it works even faster. Also, citric acid passivates the brass, which means that after washing in the hot solution, the brass is actually made more corrosion-resistant. If you store brass for long periods, that's great news. I add a pinch of salt per quart because salt reacts with the citric acid to form a mild hydrochloric acid which helps the process along that's why I can reduce the needed citric acid to 1/2 teaspoon per quart. After I have clean brass I pin tumble separately using water, dawn and pins to polish them. They are bright and more consistent in color and most of the insides are bright, too. To reduce water spots I use as hot water as I can possibly get to wash my brass, cold water rinse is just fine. Dish soap is made to work in warm to hot water. EXCELLENT JOB, great video.
Excellent comments. Since I have made this video I have changed a few things to my process. Using stainless steels pins is a major nuisance, so I stopped using them. The only difference is the primer pockets and inside of the casing do not get as clean which is strictly an appearance issue that you cannot even see once the shells are loaded. There is enough abrasive action from shell against shell to get them nice and shiny. I found that turtle wax car zip wax car wash and wax did a nice job at washing them and I also found that after the tumble all I had to do was drain and dry, no rinse, it left a nice was coating on the shells. I could not even remember why I am using Lemi Shine. I looked up the product on Amazon and it said its main purpose was to stop water from leaving spots on dishes while drying. So the next time I wash my shells I am not going to use lemi shine . I am guessing I probably do not need it because when I was my car with Zip wax I do not have water spots left behind.
@@mshaw290808miThe trick is Boiling Hot water to break down the junk adhered to the brass. I have to try a boiling water presoak then tumble with water and citric acid to soften up the junk. Thanks for the reply. Still a great video.
Nope. Vinegar is not Ascorbic acid - it's Acetic acid.
Ascorbic acid is found in fruits - basically Vitamin C
Fine job!
Awesome! Very helpful. Thanks
Steven Fredrickson You are welcome! I have since put out an update to this video th-cam.com/video/zbaltKvDM_0/w-d-xo.html
There are a few more tips in it that might be useful to you.
Great job. Thanks for sharing.
You are amazing sir! Thank you!!!
Would be great to do a video where you show everyone where to get the parts. You have a lot laying around that I don’t have.
Maybe you're NotAnExpert, but this is genius!
Very interesting!
Thank you, that is awesome. Maybe I'll have to try building one. I have an old fan laying around that might work.
Great idea. I had an angle drive 1/5 hp floating around and I was able to direct drive the drive roller. I just watched your update and found that I have incorporated some of it. The end pieces are oak and they work fine, plus I've had my eyes on the spaghetti sauce containers in the pantry. I am thinking of using a food dehydrator to remove moisture. Any thoughts?
+stubby I put my shells in a wire basket with a fan blowing on them at low speed. I leave them overnight and the next morning they are perfectly dry.
Well done, thanks
That's the way. Those covered shafts can be found in old printers and mail processing machines like older one from pittny bows. Yea I know spelling but I spell it like it sounds.
If you get a grocery store hand basket it works well as a sorter and drying tray. The brass won't fall through the holes, but the media will.
Great video
Great job!
I have a shoe raxk for my drier, i bought a mesh clothes bag, put in the.shells toss in the dryer and dry in 20 mins
been looking at home build tumblers for an hour and this seems like one of the best ones in terms of ease of build and simplicity. Why use a tension screw for motor to wheel contact instead of a belt though?
I didn't have any belts laying around my shop and would have to waited days for them to come in the mail.I was able to make this in a few hours with parts I already had. Belts and pulleys would have been nice but on the other hand this system has worked perfectly for me for years.
Very good machine to make its perfect,
I want to make it myself but I wonder what brand motor and type it is ? Its the most important part so please inform me about it , if you will...Thx
I just used the cheapest motor I could find on EBay that had about 1750 RPM and about 1/10 HP. This turned out to be used scroll saw motors. Also there is a update to this video you might find useful. th-cam.com/video/zbaltKvDM_0/w-d-xo.html
3:55 *_IMPORTANT NOTE:_*
If you put the jug on facing the wrong direction, the lid could unscrew itself!
It wouldn't matter which way you put the jug on, it experiences the same rotational forces at the lid. It is unlikely it would unscrew itself from rolling on the machine unless improperly attached.
Unless you're going to make jewelry out of your polished brass, one to two hours in a vibrating tumbler is perfectly sufficient for cleaning brass.
Quicker, neater, cheaper, easier.
Tips from a 30 yr reloader:
Throw in 3 or so 2" square torn pieces of USED dryer sheets to collect dust.
Add a few squirts of 50/50 mix of Nu Finish Car Polish/mineral spirits to get shiny brass.
My lungs are very sensitive to dust. I started out using a vibrating tumbler and I did not think it caused much dust. The first time I used the wet system I could not believe the huge difference on my breathing. After that first experience I never touched the vibrating tumbler again. The wet system I found is also much quieter than the vibrating. Since posting this video I have found that I am satisfied with the finish on the brass without using the stainless steel pins and tumbling for one hour. The finish turns out equal to vibrating.
Bonjour,
Même sans connaître l'anglais j'ai compris, bravo !
Smart solution. Seems to be easy and simple but is not. Well done
Brilliant! I foresee a DIY wet tumbler in my future. Simple and clever engineering.
Are you using a magnet to recover the steel pins after separating or do you filter through wire mesh?
After separating the steel pins are in the bottom of the five gallon bucket. I tip the bucket and carefully drain the water off without losing any pins, I then pour what is left on an old large bath towel to dry. When dry I pick up the towel by the corners and carefully pour them into the container. If any fall on the floor I pick those up with a magnet.
EBAY has delrin pieces. Look under "Delrin blocks"
Can't find the rubber plugs! where do you get them?
I got my plugs from a friend who is a plumber, they are used to keep dirt out of pipe before installation. These could work alsowww.amazon.com/United-Scientific-Supplies-RST15-H2-Stopper/dp/B079ZM47SR/ref=sr_1_9?crid=M9WCWVBRX5ZB&keywords=rubber+stoppers+with+hole&qid=1576775276&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sprefix=rubber+stoppers%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-9 They are slightly tapered but still might work.
parts list ? and where did you get the motor ?
Sorry no parts list, this is just made from parts scrounged from old saved parts laying around the garage. The motor is one I found on EBay that came off a scroll saw, at the time is was the cheapest motor I could find that would work.
Good evening, where I can find or buy a motor like the one?
I couldn’t catch the measurements fast enough you did a fantastic job but I’m not fast enough to catch your measurements of the way you could possibly send me a copy of that I will try to make one
When the video comes to the section with the paper and measurements hit pause on the TH-cam tool bar. Hit "print screen" on your keyboard (my keyboard KEY says "PRTSC" ), open up a program like "MS Paint" hit paste and then just print it off! I have an update to this video th-cam.com/video/zbaltKvDM_0/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=NotAnExpert Hope this helps!
Ok I can buy the Frankfort tumbler for $150. So I save myself a lot of money because I don't have all the stuff and shop to build this thing.
I have not used the Frankfort tumbler but from all the reviews that I have read on it is a very good tumbler and you should be happy with it!
NotAnExpert your tumbler is awesome anyway.
Put the pins in one of your plastic bottles
OTTIMO LAVORO, BRAVO. COMPLIMENTI DALL ' ITALIA.-
amature at everything except _______________________who knows.