Build a giant parts tumbler?

[wdchyd]

You beat me to it

Sorry.....:ashamed:

 

[wdchyd]

I did see where a guy did a whole utility trailer frame using an old pool liner to cover the trailer in solution....

I've never done it myself

 

[jamtuc]

No I didnt see that, but it really works. Usually just a little wire brushing on even fairly pitted metal.

 

[jamtuc]

I have an old 48 volt DC charger. Water gets hot. I have read some of the newer battery chargers will not work because they need reference voltage or something. I bypassed the circuit board on the one I have. It wouldnt work otherwise.

 

[rjmack]

sounds like the original poster is more concerned with rust removal than polishing.

this guy uses the word 'actually' quite a bit, but provides some compelling evidence to use molasses.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZCFcxf5IBw]Remove Rust from Metal and Panels the Easy Way: Video 1 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-gBAjEga1s]Remove Rust from Metal and Panels the Easy Way: Video 2 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[SandburRanch]

If you decide to try the plastic barrel approach, you may need to add baffles similar to a concrete mixer so the parts will tumble rather than just sliding and staying near the bottom.

 

[wdchyd]

Would gravel or crushed stone be a good media ?

 

[charlz]

I have an old 48 volt DC charger. Water gets hot. I have read some of the newer battery chargers will not work because they need reference voltage or something. I bypassed the circuit board on the one I have. It wouldnt work otherwise.

Yes a 'smart' charger will not work because it is expecting to see some kind of charge coming from whatever it is hooked to.

 

[charlz]

I don't know how well a plastic drum would hold up long term. I was just at an auction where the company that went out of business had several large tumblers. The drums were hexagon and about 3' in diameter and 6' wide. I couldn't tell what the original metal thickness was but off to the side was a old drum that had been worn through and you could see it had been patched a few times with new steel. I guess it depends on how much you plan on using yours as to how long plastic would last.

As for design the drum had posts on each end that rode in bearings and one end had a sprocket. I didn't look to close at the gearing but they had it geared down pretty good. The doors were rectangular holes in the drum with an oversize piece on the outside. The handles were threaded so that when you turned them a tab on the inside of the drum went up against a stop and then you tightened the door down tight. Overall the design was pretty simple.

 

[sandman2234]

Boss at the machine shop I worked at started building a hex shaped tumbler, but came across a vibratory one before the project got finished. The vibratory one worked GREAT, but if you have parts with small holes, the ceramic rocks we used could be a pain to get out because they work their way into the holes and jam. Takes a little patience to get them out without messing up threads.
David from jax