Help clean my rusty balls.

[monkeyboy]

I'm looking for a rock/case tumbler to try and clean up a number of rusty balls I have. Any recommendations on which to buy? I was hoping I could pick one up for around $50 but am I dreaming? What size do I need? The bigger the better? A 600 case one sounds it could be just about right for pachinko balls.

Anyone got one of these? http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Frankfor...#ht_1471wt_907

[mxfaiman]

Everyone has their own opinion on how to clean balls.

I personally would like to have a vibratory one. But at the time the standard drum tumbler was cheaper. I bought mine at Harbor Freight tools for $50. Then again I think these drum tumblers love me as a few weeks ago I found a dual one just laying around in someones trash can. (Score! ) I think I'm covered on my tumblers. Personally I have seen decent results from my tumbler. I have yet to get my hands on a vibratory though. So I don't have much to compare it to.

But like I said everyone has their own way of cleaning them.

[Moparformances]

seems like a fair price..

i would take a punt at that one if i didn't have one allready

[SteveFury]

I made a DIY tumbler out of junk parts around the house for next to 0.0$. You can search youtube for diy tumbler and there's dozens of designs people have for them. Here's a short video of the one I made:



I had about 1,200 old balls from the machines I've bought and they looked pretty crummy. If I rolled them around on a cloth they'd leave a faint rust trail but not too bad. There were some really bad ones that I removed for slingshot ammo.

I ran those old balls through my tumbler for a few hours and it got them really very clean and shiny steel-gray. But not the beautiful mirror image of my other balls which were bought new... about 2,000 new balls which truly gleam like a mirror.

I thought it wouldn't really make a difference if I put the old duller balls in with the new balls. But after having them mixed for a few weeks I separated them out again because they just don't look good compared to new.

Maybe after I get all my current projects finished (yea right) I'll try to make a pachinko ball polisher and see if I can get an old dull one to gleam like new.

[emmadog]

Got a large vibratory one used off of eBay works great. I'd hold out and wait for a vibratory one and look for a used one but I polish all sorts of things in mine.

[FREKKEN TEKKEN]

I've noticed that more often than not when I buy a vintage machine on Ebay the balls that are thrown into the deal are pretty grundgy. I spotted a kids rock tumbler at the local Goodwill (under $10.00) and it works great. It will hold and polish about 100 at a time overnite. I couldn't rationalize spending too much money to just put a shine on the spheres. I don't see myself having to use it that often and it does an adequate job. If you get a chance pick one up they do the job!

[mxfaiman]

Maybe after I get all my current projects finished (yea right) I'll try to make a pachinko ball polisher and see if I can get an old dull one to gleam like new.

I doubt that is possible as they are dull because the chrome plate has won off. If you are able to do it though I may buy a machine from you.

[Moparformances]

Got a large vibratory one used off of eBay works great. I'd hold out and wait for a vibratory one and look for a used one but I polish all sorts of things in mine.

is this not a vibratory unit???

[emmadog]

Yeah it is I didn't even look at the link. As I was typing I had in mind max's post.

[luckydog]

I've just used clr in hot water, rinse and dry rollng around in a towel,

for light cleanup about a hundred in a sock and just roll back and forth

[JACKSJE4]

For what it's worth at this point, here is a link to my preference:

http://www.pachitalk.com/forums/thes...facturing.html

[monkeyboy]

Thanks for the advice. I like the clear lid on the Berry so you see what goes on on there while tumbling. It say the warranty is void if you tumble any thing but cartrages. I wonder how they can tell if pachinko balls were used in it?

[mxfaiman]

I wonder how they can tell if pachinko balls were used in it?

I don't think they can.

[JACKSJE4]

Thanks for the advice. I like the clear lid on the Berry so you see what goes on on there while tumbling. It say the warranty is void if you tumble any thing but cartrages. I wonder how they can tell if pachinko balls were used in it?

I sent mine back to them when the motor died. I told them what I was cleaning in it and they still fixed it under warranty. No issues.