Harbor Freight 5lb tumbler

[siteunseen]

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

 

Thanks

Cliff

 

[DatsunZGuy]

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.

[siteunseen]

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.

[Captain Obvious]

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

[Namerow]

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.

[siteunseen]

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.

[73str86]

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, 2015 by 73str86

[siteunseen]

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. 

[73str86]

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. 

 

 

 

 

[siteunseen]

These are great!