Commercial parts tumbler
 

Any of you out there who are using a tumbler to clean parts, please pass along suggestions for brand and size. I am not interested in the small Eastwood type units but rather the larger ones I can put things like cylinder heads, large suspension pieces, etc in. Appreciate the suggestions.

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

Rick, I'm thinking most any part will need to be "cleaned" first by either glass beading
or meatl shot blasting......
I'm then thinking that a vibratory tumbler (drum) will "restore" the finish of the
metal to what you are looking for.
There is misc sized/shaped aluminum AND ceramic media to achieve different results.

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

Rick,
Have you looked into possibly using a wheelabrader? I have one and I do everything from heads to aluminum intakes and parts.

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

look into laboratory equipment, i bought one from a lab and was from the 50s..still works like new..its a vibratory cleaner and was used to clean circuit boards, i made a container to bolt onto it and its a vat...i can get pullies in it..and it takes 2 people to move it..there 1 1/2 inch block of steel bolted to the bottom and that gets bolted to the floor..

ive never blasted or prepared anything..once you use an abrasive it changes the surface.,,if youre gonna blast it,,why even tumble it..

the media and the type of liquid will determine how it comes out..i use green pyramids and just plain old vinegar does wonders..put a little dawn in it and its cleans everything..some CLR and it de-rusts..and simple green is amazing too..ive been tumbling for 15 years,,,i would never sell my tumbler

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

i also have one made to clean heads and intakes..i will get a pic..and a name..i got it at an auction, its an amazing piece, and is more industrial than i will ever need..i just got wrapped up in the bidding

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

Rick, look into Sweco. I use one at work for deburring parts. Get a heavy duty industrial unit, most of what gets tumbled is finished in a hour or less. I run a triangular ceramic media, water and a rust inhibitor - lube.

BIG

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

the one i bought at the auction looks a whole bunch like the link Charley posted....

so, depending on the media determines what it is..its called a scrubber here, but the same model with plastic media is a deburing/vibratory cleaner..and new they are $3k..i posted label pic so you can google it..hers a couple links

http://www.candmtopline.com/finishing-tanks/

http://www.candmtopline.com/deburring-101-videos/

http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...pslptg0apx.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psxgbl5pgk.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psowt0msj9.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps3ueloaqz.jpg

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

Thanks guys, these suggestions are pretty much what I was hoping to get. We spend hours a day at the glass bead cabinet for things like spindles, steering arms, brackets, clips, etc and it is a complete waste of time when I could be having a machine do it automatically for me while we do something more constructive. The expense does not really bother me as that could be paid for in less than a week in saved production time alone.

Re: Commercial parts tumbler
 

Rick, my Cost Accountant meter is in the red zone reading your post! This investment is an absolute 'no-brainer' since the payback is likely in months vs years... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]