How to build your wet media tumbler

[titanse05]

This thread will be a work in progress but for now I will show pictures of the final product and the results of the first batch that I tumbled. I will keep updating the original post so all info is in one place.

A big Thank you to Mark (Earl o Sammich) for hooking me up with the free motor to complete the project.

How i built my own rotary tumbler was the thread that served as my inspiration in completing this project and I just adapted my setup to fit my needs.

Parts List
1/2" Shaft Motor 1725 RPM
(4) 1/2" Pillow Block Bearings www.usabearingsandbelts.com
3' piece of 1/2" diameter Steel Rod @ Lowes
3' piece of 1/2" Heater Hose @ Advance Auto Parts
1-1/2" diameter pulley @ Tractor Supply
4" diameter pulley @ Tractor Supply
14" belt @ Tractor Supply
5 lbs of Stainless Steel Tumbling Media www.buffaloarms.com
6" PVC pipe @ Lowes
1-1/2" PVC pipe @ Lowes
6" PVC end cap @ Lowes
6" to 4" PVC reducer cap @ Lowes
4" rubber pipe cap w/pipe clamp @ Lowes
PVC primer & cement @ Lowes
Duct tape
Various mounting hardware @ Lowes
Built on an existing shelf in addition to using some scrap OSB that I had laying around. If you have a welder you could build a metal frame. However, I just find wood easier to work with.


Drum assembly
1. Cut a 9" long piece of the 6" PVC pipe
2. Using a tablesaw, cut the 1-1/2" PVC into thirds along the length of the pipe. These pieces will be used as the paddles on the inside of the drum.
3. Install the paddles using hardware. I used #10 flathead screws and nuts. I recessed the screws and placed them where the PVC caps would cover them once installed in order to maintain water-tightness.
4. Cut off and grind down the extra screw length using a dremel or files. Seal with silicon caulk.
5. Installed the end cap and reducer cap using the PVC primer and cement.
6. Place duct tape on the caps so the rubber shafts have something to grip.




Here is my tumbler. It is installed on an existing pull out shelf on my reloading bench.





Here is a video of the tumbler in action.

http://static.photobucket.com/player...-20-54_778.mp4

Here is the final product. 200 pieces of deprimed 223 Lake City brass wet tumbled for two hours.

Before:


After: