Thread: DIY tumbler

Here is my budget tumbler build. It's 100mm pvc pipe with and blank cap on one end and screw cap on the other end. It's powered by a windscreen wiper motor via an m8 thread coupler. The caster wheel are el-shitto budget things but do the job. Frame is made from J-frame. It's currently powered from a 12v battery charger. I was running it off a computer psu that @gadgetman kindly gave me but I fiddled with it too much and rooted it. @P38 is also a legend and gave me the rubber for the agitators. They're glued in with superglue. The tumbler itself cost me under $20 to build although is close to $100 if you include the ss media. I've learned that the whole tumbler system works better with a short wide drum. I originally had it about a third longer but the brass and media would separate and only half the brass would get clean. I also only use dish washing liquid on its own. I tried with citric acid as well but unless you perfectly rinsed the brass it would tarnish after a few days. I also found the wider the case mouth the better. My 308 brass had a better internal clean than my 7mm Saum. The motor gets quite hot with use but doesn't seem to mind the load too much. If it burns out I'll go rip another one out of a wreck.

How do you connect and disconnect the drive to the drum?

Originally Posted by GWH

How do you connect and disconnect the drive to the drum?

Run it backwards for 10 seconds?

If the casters don't work get some skateboard/rollerblade bearings that slide onto an 8mm bolt.

Originally Posted by GWH

How do you connect and disconnect the drive to the drum?

@GWH

Reverse polarity on the motor, hold the drum with your hand and it will unwind easily.

I made mine with two buckets, one inside the other which is connected to the motor

When it's finished tumbling simply pull the inside bucket out and empty.

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by GWH

How do you connect and disconnect the drive to the drum?

Turn off tumbler and unwind by hand.

er, upend it?
cool idea Tb, ta

Pretty much exactly what i did. if you don't mind @Tuckerbox, i can post some pics up of mine. (dont really want to start another thread on a tumbler)

@Willus go for it mate

Cheers @Tuckerbox

Heres mine, very very similar in design.
Tumbler cost a little under $100. Also has a 100mm PVC pipe. Typically load 50 cases in with about 1.1kg of media and 2L 70/30 mix of water and simple green, run for about 3hrs and comes out like gunners gold!
Bought some 10mm couplers, Pros: they flex and fit. Cons: they only last about 10 washes (breaking due to stress from weight) and have 2 grub screws.
I've wired my box to a 3 position switch High - Off - Low, uses a 12v AC/DC power adapter.

Move your caster wheels back to the drums point of balance and raise the whole lot up s little. The motor should only be providing torque not supporting anything. Your working looks good and I like the base. Very solid.

good tip, ill give it ago this weekend.

Here's a question, should i be worried the motor get Fn hot? been alright so far but i assume they a solid motor.

@Willus

These motors are designed to run hot, and it will get hot enough that you can't hold your hand on it.

The load on the motor will be less than the load put on it by the wipers, and they sometimes run for hours at a time.

Cheers
Pete

Cheers @P38