These days I typically deburr and take the edges off machined parts by hand, and I rarely go beyond that to spruce up their surface finish. If I really need to produce finer surface or edge quality, I whip out some wet/dry sandpaper and add some elbow grease.
It’s okay to finish a few parts by hand, but there is a better way to deburr and polish a greater number of components, and that’s to use a vibratory tumbler.
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A rotary tumbler can also be used, but rotary tumblers produce slower results and tend to round edges and corners a little more than vibratory tumblers.
This video, by RockTumbler.com, shows what happens under the lid of a vibratory tumbler:
Often, several steps are required before a machined part is ready for use or for application of a final surface treatment such as anodizing or powder coating.
I mainly work with aluminum and hard plastic parts, which means I would need plastic triangles (in fine-cut and maybe medium-cut grades) for light deburring and surface preparation of aluminum, and maybe ceramic media for use on plastic. Polishing would be done with 4mm porcelain balls, preferably with smaller sizes mixed in, and final polishing would be done with compound-loaded walnut shells.
Using a vibratory tumbler is relatively easy, but using one effectively requires multiple types of media, thorough before-and-after cleaning steps, several deburring and polishing stages, occasional cleaning or through-flow water setup, one or more detergent compounds, and a lot of time.
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Prices are all over the place, with small light-duty models starting out at under $100 and going up towards $300. Industrial models are built to handle greater loads and with extra features, while lighter duty models are built with economy in mind.
Vibratory tumblers are also often used to take the edges off rocks, to polish certain jewelry pieces, and to clean brass ammunition casings.
If you intend to look at tumblers for workshop use, you might want to stay away from the lighter duty models marketed for cleaning brass casings. These units are designed to work with light casings and low-density corn and walnut shell media. Plastic, ceramic, and porcelain media will greatly shorten the lives of such models.
There are many inexpensive models available (Amazon Search Link), even for as low as $50, but I have my eyes on the Raytech (via Amazon) and Thumler’s Tumbler (via Otto Frei) 0.1 cubic-foot (~3 quarts) models. I’m leaning more heavily towards the Thumler’s Tumbler, but Raytech seems to have more of a foothold in the tumbler and abrasive media market.
For now, the ToolGuyd workshop will have to do without a vibratory tumbler, but it’s one of several pieces of equipment that’s near the top of my must-have wishlist. Maybe I’ll put it off until I’m also ready to purchase a CNC mill or aluminum-capable router. In the meantime, my small army of deburring blades, scrapers, files, and sandpaper are always ready for action.
Dave L.
Sounds less expensive than a sandblaster and more compact…not to mention less messy.
Stuart
Tumblers can deburr and burnish part features that a sand or bead blaster cannot reach. However, blasters can sometimes do things tumblers cannot, like remove paint or clean parts too large for an affordable tumbler.
Pete
If you want the cream of the crop get a stainless steel media tumbler.
That’s what I use on my brass casings and they look like new when they are done.
Les Garten
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the harbor freight tumbler? Is there anything wrong with it? Lots of folks who build knives or refinish firearms use them.
Stuart
I haven’t looked too closely at the HF models, but read a few accounts of the motors burning out. I would consider them in the same light as the inexpensive light duty models designed for less dense abrasive media and small parts. That’s to say I wouldn’t rule them out for small stuff, but wouldn’t think them to be equivalent to the industrial models I’ve been looking at.
Nicholas
Eastwood makes them as well along with the abrasives.
Hang Fire
I don’t see noise being discussed. This is a BIG DEAL especially if you no concrete floors. If you live in an upstairs apartment, you will be hated.
Anyone considering a vibratory tumbler should at least explore a rotary tumbler, especially if noise is a factor. If noise is a factor and you do get a vibratory, consider building a quiet box for it. Even a cardboard box set over it will help.
Stuart
Very true. I was thinking of buying one this week, and planned to put the tumbler in the next room with vibration dampening pads and maybe a slip-over foam-lined box.
Nathan
I just purchased the HF 18lb tumbler. So far it’s been great on aluminum. I make aluminum coasters. They are 3.5″ diameter and 1/8″ and 1/4″ thick. It takes the edges down perfectly and smooths the face to a nice finish. As with anything from HF…if it has a cord, buy the warranty. I walked out the door with the 18lb tumber, 10lbs of plastic triangle media and the warranty for $180. Anything goes wrong and it’s a short drive for me back to swap it out for a new one no questions asked.