What tumbler are you using & what are you tumbling?

I'm using a harbor freight tumbler (mistake, should have gotten a better one).

I tumble any metal stuff that'll fit (screws, metal posts, small guides, pop bumper rings, etc) with corn cob media and flitz.

Never heard of people doing it for anything plastic. Pretty sure at least with dry media you'll just mess up the plastic

An ultrasonic cleaner tends to be better for plastic since it's non-destructive to the material (as long as it isn't painted or doesn't have stickers/decals).

I use my tumbler for any metal parts that will fit. I currently have post screws in there. For #6 and #8 screws, if they are looking shabby, I buy replacements from Tacoma Screw. But post screws are over $1 each, and I have about 40 of them. So it's worth it to at least give the tumbler a try. After 18 hours they still aren't looking great; but I have a feeling another couple of days will do the trick. To date, I have never had the need to leave anything in the tumbler for longer than 48 hours. 90% of the time 18 hours is enough - as long as they get a thorough cleaning first.

BTW, I use a small plastic container, filled with cleaning solution (soapy water or naptha) and metal or plastic parts, and set it on top of my tumbler. I don't know how it compares to an ultrasonic cleaner; but it seems to do well.

Attached are image of my Roller Disco parts.

IMG_3423 (resized).jpg

IMG_3424 (resized).jpg

IMG_3624 (resized).jpg

IMG_3627 (resized).jpg

100_6137 (resized).jpg
I have a tumbler from Eastwood. Just pulled these parts out this morning. I was not after a perfect shine, just mostly clean. The media I used came with the tumbler as Eastwood's polishing media. I would say it is between ground corncob reptile bedding and ground walnut shell for its hardness. To answer..... this is out of a 100 year old Century electric motor.

That's pretty clever. And the tape actually holds for a long period of time?

I use a rotary rock polishing tumbler, with walnut media. Have added various metal polishes several times. It is good for cleaning, and quiet (would be interested in comments on the noise level of vibrating tumblers) but never seems to get parts really buffing wheel shiny. So use the 8" wheel for that final polish, which also helps get the walnut residue out of screw heads.

I am looking to replace my old crappy tumbler that broke with a new one. Does anyone have experience with Eastwood tumblers? I'm looking for something about the size of their 18 pound tumbler, and wondered if people had experience with that one.

I'd be particularly interested in a tumbler that is large, and that has a different method of attaching the lid than the normal threaded rod / wingnut. I'm not sure this exists though, but thats been the point of failure on the two I've gone through so far.

sixpakmopar posted 3 posts above yours that he has an Eastwood tumbler ...

What goes wrong?

I missed this. Do you have the large / 18lb model? I'm curious if it's size/weight makes it run any quieter. Like many I am sure, I run mine for 12-24 hours at a time. Usually in a garage, but sometimes I like to work in the area and the noise of my old ones sucked.

The two I've gone through in the last 5-6 years, same failure - threaded rod digs into the plastic top, boring out the hole in plastic top further, which causes the thread range to become damaged over time...leading to not being able to really tighten the lid down...starts spinning...constantly trying to re-tighten while it's tumbling. Hope this makes sense!

Frankfort Quick-n-ez vibratory tumbler.
Ive used walnut shells charged with Flitz metal polish .
I polish anything metal. Put the parts in a cup, spurt a generous amount of polish on the parts then dump it all in the tumbler for a day or three.
Does a fine job.

FD22C2CD-63F8-445E-8985-13570AD4769B (resized).jpeg

Run a couple of nuts onto the threaded rod so they end up under the lid. Tighten them against each other. Install a larger washer on top. Once set in place, the top should come in contact with the washer and hold it tight in place when you tighten the top wing nut.

Yep. I let it run over night.

What about for bigger mechs or pieces? Anybody tried sandblasting bigger parts? Who would have a sandblasting unit that I could ask to clean some parts?