Thread: modified rock tumbler

Decided to try this to see how it would work. Here is the first attempt.
I took a High Class razor Co. 6/8 that was suffering from scale rot.
I took the scales off and put it in the modified rock tumbler. The original belt kept breaking , so I ordered a splinned belt and pulleys about the same size. It runs just a little faster now. I made the drum from 3 inch PVC pipe with two end caps, I only glued one end.
I put the razor in without doing anything to it.
I used a combination of plastic pellets and 220 grit polishing compond. Six hours later I took it out and went to the buffer. I used a red buffing compound and a yellow buff. It took about 15 mins. to get it shinny. It still has some minor pitting but not bad. The edge does not have any damage other then the original rust pitting.
For a low budget polisher it does not do to bad. I picked the tumbler up at a garage sale for $5.00. Belt and pulleys were another $15.00 including shipping. Plastic pellets and 4 lbs. polishing meadia at a local rock shop cost $9.00. I am going to try other polishing media to see if it works better.









Thanks for looking
Tim
Comments or sugestions welcomed

It never siezes to amaze me the creativity that you guys have, and how you make things work to get good results. Great job Tim.

It seems to do a good job. I would think from all that tumbling around that it could do damage to the edge of the blade. maybe not though.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It seems to do a good job. I would think from all that tumbling around that it could do damage to the edge of the blade. maybe not though.

Well looking at it, it does not seem to have the ability to really fall on the edge(I don't think those pellets would support much of an angle) and as it will need to be honed from nothing anyway, I can see it not really hurting it.

Your tumbler looks like one from harbor freight. Their two barrel tumbler. I have the single barrel for polishing jewelry. I may have to see if its long enough for a blade.
If you have a Harbor Freight near you they have some polishing media.

Bob

Very very inventive and very impressive. I now know what a tumbler is. It's little rock crusher.

Originally Posted by CactusBob

If you have a Harbor Freight near you they have some polishing media.

Bob

You could also hit up a pet store near you and go to the bird bedding area. You'll often find crushed walnut media there. Then you can load it with a polish that you've got lying around (seriously I think we all have polish right?)

I 'm impressed ,the difficult to get to places were cleaned. especially the serrated ridges.
One question, What is the mechanism that turns the drum. I don't see the drum connected to the motor.
Thanks Al

There is a rod (actually 2) that the drum sits on. The big pulley in the photo drives that rod which has soft pv tubing on it , thus driving the drum, friction drive.

Originally Posted by AaronX

You could also hit up a pet store near you and go to the bird bedding area. You'll often find crushed walnut media there. Then you can load it with a polish that you've got lying around (seriously I think we all have polish right?)

+1 on this. I've been using corncob pet bedding and Turtle Wax Premium rubbing compound in a vibrating tumbler with good results.

The corncob is tough enough to scrub the blade, and soft enough to not damage the edge. It isn't very fine, so I have to let it tumble for a while to get all the nooks and crannies.