You all DO have a shell case tumbler, right?
The results...
So, I started out with 4 wheel halfs like this...
I blasted them with some pretty arressive coal slag (Black Diamond) media, & got this...
The media worked really well, actually smoothed out some scratches, nicks, etc., but left a coarse, dry, sandblasted concrete look.
So, 20 hours or so in the tumbler & ...(in all the pics, the darker wheel with the bearing is the after pic)
My crappy cell camera doesn't show it, but the tumbled wheel has some sheen to it now. A clear coat & they'll look nice.
I'm pretty happy with how it came out.
So, I started out with 4 wheel halfs like this...
I blasted them with some pretty arressive coal slag (Black Diamond) media, & got this...
The media worked really well, actually smoothed out some scratches, nicks, etc., but left a coarse, dry, sandblasted concrete look.
So, 20 hours or so in the tumbler & ...(in all the pics, the darker wheel with the bearing is the after pic)
My crappy cell camera doesn't show it, but the tumbled wheel has some sheen to it now. A clear coat & they'll look nice.
I'm pretty happy with how it came out.
Try filling your tumbler with .22 casings (short, long rifle, WMR, it all works).
The results are 110% FANTASTIC.
I tumble a lot of stuff. When I have really, really grimy casings or parts, that's what I do. Leaves them at a nice, high luster. You may also substitute .177 steel bb's & motor oil provided you are able to wet tumble.
It does an absolutely wonderful job, and leaves a very silky surface that just wipes clean (you'll need a thorough degreasing after, but hey, it's worth it!)
The results are 110% FANTASTIC.
I tumble a lot of stuff. When I have really, really grimy casings or parts, that's what I do. Leaves them at a nice, high luster. You may also substitute .177 steel bb's & motor oil provided you are able to wet tumble.
It does an absolutely wonderful job, and leaves a very silky surface that just wipes clean (you'll need a thorough degreasing after, but hey, it's worth it!)
It looks much, much smoother than it would otherwise. It's kind of a compromise between walnut & stainless steel media (much better for delicate/tolerance sensitive parts).
If you let it run a long time, everything will have a brassy sheen to it. Take an oily rag, wipe down, and enjoy!
(I don't have any photos of stuff I've tumbled, as I haven't done it in a while. Now I need to tumble more stuff thanks to you :wink: )
I use the steel bb's & used motor oil for steel stock that's really grimy. It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL when it comes out of the tumbler.
If you let it run a long time, everything will have a brassy sheen to it. Take an oily rag, wipe down, and enjoy!
(I don't have any photos of stuff I've tumbled, as I haven't done it in a while. Now I need to tumble more stuff thanks to you :wink: )
I use the steel bb's & used motor oil for steel stock that's really grimy. It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL when it comes out of the tumbler.
Sorry to give you some more work but it's all good intentions. I'd really REALLY like to see some of your results now. Especially the used motor oil version. That sounds very interesting.
When you say brass hue, are you saying it leaves a sort of brass looking sheen to it? I know I don't want my aluminum to look anything like brass. I'm getting ready to start restoring some of my LiL Indian parts and this would bum me out if my wheels started to look like anything other than aluminum. So I'm just asking before I do something that I'd regret later. Hence the reason for seeing some examples.
When you say brass hue, are you saying it leaves a sort of brass looking sheen to it? I know I don't want my aluminum to look anything like brass. I'm getting ready to start restoring some of my LiL Indian parts and this would bum me out if my wheels started to look like anything other than aluminum. So I'm just asking before I do something that I'd regret later. Hence the reason for seeing some examples.
