Anybody use one of these for cleaning rusty bolts?  Which media works the best?

 

Thanks

Cliff

 

I'm not dealing with rust, but more with grease.  I purchased a HFT untrasonic clearner and it works pretty well.

 

As for tumbler media, I suggest a visit to the Eastwood.com website and searching on green or brown plastic media.  Lots of good info along with customer reviews.

Thank You.  I'll read up on the ultrasonic cleaner too.  From the reviews on the tumbler, actually a shaker in my opinion, use the green plastic for removing rust then redo with glass beads for a new looking bolt.

How loud is one of those Bouncing Betty's? Can you work in the garage while it's on without going insane?

I have the next-smaller size of the Eastwood series .  It's loud.  I put in in a separate room and close the door.  These things aren't, '5 minutes and you're done'.  More like several hours (of noise). 

 

I use the pyramid-shaped green media for the de-rusting step.

 

I'm not sold on  this design as a 'one stop solution' for de-rusting fasteners.  I suspect that use of a powered brass wire wheel may still be a worthwhile pre-treatment (although I bought the Eastwood shaker to get away from that).

 

Someone else in another thread has provided a lot of suggestions about adding detergents to the media.  Check that out.

 

In the end, I suppose these 'tumblers' have a place in the workshop, esp. if your budget doesn't permit buying all-new fasteners like some do.  The idea of media-blasting fasteners seems a little silly, and chemical de-rust treatments leave a residue that isn't very attractive.

 

The real issue is what to do after you've de-rusted the fasteners.  Paint? Plating service?  I'm playing with a DIY plating rig.  Results are promising but the jury's still out.  Not sure if I'm up to doing this with all of my de-rusted fasteners.  Life is short.

How loud is one of those Bouncing Betty's? Can you work in the garage while it's on without going insane?

I've read they're noisy and move around.  I read a review from a smart fellow that says put it in a plastic milk crate wedged in a corner with some weight around it.  I've got an outbuilding with power for the noise.  When my next HF flier comes in and I can get the 20% coupon, I'm buying one.  It'll be about $42 plus the green plastic media.  They're $52.99 straight purchase price.

I used the Harbor Freight dual drum tumbler for 2-3 months.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html

 

I used the green triangle "rust cutting" chips for the initial stage, 24-48 hours. Clean thoroughly, then I believe I used some kind of sand/glass from HF to polish for another 24-48 hours. For some reason the photos in my build thread aren't working. Also, I was even able to fit the largest radiator hose clamps, basically anything up to 3 inches in diameter.

 

This dual drum unit actually has two 3 lb. drums, which equals a total of 6 pounds. It is fairly quiet--I stashed it under a cheap fold-up table and the noise never bothered me. I'd say it's no louder than a microwave--the only thing you hear are the two rubber-coated drums spinning. 

 

Someone mentioned paint/plating. I chose various colors of paint, which can be chipped off easily during assembly. 

 

It is a long, tedious process. Consider $55 for the tumbler, I spent $50 on chips/sand, $20-$100+ for paint/plating. Now your reaching the territory of some pre-assembled stainless steel kits. If you're going to use the tumbler for at least half of the car, I'd say it would be worth it. I used mine on my engine / engine bay two years ago, and now I see myself eye-balling some stainless kits.

Edited July 12, 20159 yr by 73str86

Well I'll be a SOB!  $99 for stainless from z car depot, that's for me, screw the tumbler.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-240Z-260Z-280Z-ZX-L24-L26-L28-Stainless-Steel-Engine-Bolt-Fastener-Kit-SS-/321791435210?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

 

Just bought that, thanks for jarring my head out of my arse. 

Even though you already changed your mind, I found a couple photos to share. When using the green pyramids, you add water along with rusty/greasy parts. It will turn to sludge in 24-48 hours, from here you can paint/plate. I chose to run most nuts/bolts through sand/glass to clean them up some more. 

 

 

 

 

These are great!