On tumbling the spheres

[garfield]

As you can see in the pic

tumbler.jpg

I got myself a nice setup. A lortone Tumbler, Tufnut and Corn and a lot of balls.

Now, I tumbled about 500 balls for 2 with the tufnutdays and the result was not what I expected. I had hoped for at least rust-free balls, but when looking closely, I still noticed rusted balls.

The idea was to tumble with the walnut shell first and them polish them off with the corn.

My question is : How long do you need to tumble ? and can you tumble the balls too long ?

[luckydog]

Arby states 1/3rd walnut shells, 1/3 balls and 1/3rd air.

2 days tumbling should have been more than enough

[BigBearSteve]

Did you use any polishing compound?

[arbycoffee]

If the rust is through the chrome plate on the ball, It is junk than

[arbycoffee]

You need tumble space in the drum, that is why 1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3

[garfield]

Is the 1/3 1/3 1/3 rule very important ? I tried that, but then the weight of the drum got too much for the motor to pull. I got an even amount of tuffnut and balls that fill up the tumbler for about the half the content.


Then there is talk of polishing compound. Isn't the walnut / corn sufficient ?


Then the time to tumble. People in threads talk about a few days. Now I wonder if they use the drum / rotating type or the vibrating type. As I understand, the process in a vibrating time is quicker by far compared to the tumbling with a drum. So I tumbled for two days ... enough or not ?

[arbycoffee]

You can have more air space not a problem

[BigBearSteve]

If the balls are pitted, toss them.
I've been able to clean up some pretty nasty looking one's before.
I use a tumbler with Medium walnut shells, medium rouge (powdered) and tumble min 48 hrs.
This is the same method I use for brass casings.
When finished, just roll them between two clean, dry towels.

[fronzdan]

Steve's last step is important. I give mine a good soapy rinse and then quickly dry them with the towel rubbing method and a hair dryer. This gets all the crud off of them after the tumbling.

[garfield]

I use a tumbler with Medium walnut shells, .

Steve, Do you have a vibrating tumbler or a rotating one ?

[BigBearSteve]

Steve, Do you have a vibrating tumbler or a rotating one ?

I have a rotating drum type.
Don't worry about running them too long, It'll only make them shinier.

[tommyfilth]

I tumbled mine sans any media in a Harbor Freight vibratory for a couple of hours and they cleaned up pretty good.

TL