advice needed about tumblers

[dealers choice]

Hey guys. im looking at buying a tumbler for my restoration project. i was wondering what you think would be best to buy. a rotary or a vibratory tumbler?
Thanks Brendan

[Toads]

I use a Lyman 2500 pro vibratory tumbler and find it fantastic. The bigger the unit the bigger the stuff you can put in it. I use corn cob as a medium but a lot of people use walnut shell.

[Pop Bumper Pete]

Tumblers have their uses but I prefer a polishing wheel

[dealers choice]

Thanks for the advice. im borrowing a vibratory tumbler next week to see how it goes. and ill still have to polish some larger parts by hand.

[Strangeways]

Vibratory Tumbler. You still need to hand polish some parts, and I usually buff the prominent parts.

http://www.shooters.com.au/search.asp?s=tumbler&GO=Go&sc=


Huge range

[Retropin]

Ive got a vibratory.. takes time to polish but they do come up well and it leaves you free to attend to other parts of the machine. They can be noisy!.. Mine used to be in my workshop area of the house right next to where the 17 year old slept. If ever he'd piss me off, id chuck a few bits in there, start it up and leave it on all night. They have a few uses.

[dealers choice]

Good one Gav.  im going to use both methods. since this is my first restoration i have to experiment a bit. besides im sure i cant possibly polish these parts by hand.
ps:  i didnt ever think id go to this much trouble to clean up a working machine. but its hard to stop when you want to be proud of the end result.

[Slash]

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I use a Lyman 2500 pro vibratory tumbler and find it fantastic. The bigger the unit the bigger the stuff you can put in it. I use corn cob as a medium but a lot of people use walnut shell.

I've got this one too and have been happy with it so far. I was thinking like you, get the biggest one I could so I could fit in the biggest parts possible.

That said I would still like a polishing wheel to compliment it.

[dealers choice]

I have been using polishing wheel so far (just got to be carefull odd shape parts dont grab) but heaps cheaper to set up a polishing wheel with a $50. Six inch grinder, a rag wheel and some polishing compound.

[Ant68]

Your a shocker Gav

Ive got a vibratory.. takes time to polish but they do come up well and it leaves you free to attend to other parts of the machine. They can be noisy!.. Mine used to be in my workshop area of the house right next to where the 17 year old slept. If ever he'd piss me off, id chuck a few bits in there, start it up and leave it on all night. They have a few uses.

[Retropin]

Good one Gav.  im going to use both methods. since this is my first restoration i have to experiment a bit. besides im sure i cant possibly polish these parts by hand.
ps:  i didnt ever think id go to this much trouble to clean up a working machine. but its hard to stop when you want to be proud of the end result.

I wouldn't be taking those parts off and polishing them at all... some things on an EM are best left alone and the Jones plugs are one of them. If they have lost some tension then the female side can be tightened by squeezing them together individually. A very fine Dremil stone quickly put down the inside will take any tarnish off.. but I mean QUICK! In and out and then gone!

Clean the outsides with an old tooth brush and Brasso if you want them shiny.
Go taking them off and you will end up in all sorts of problem.. they are held in place by spring tension. Getting them back together is a pain!

[Strangeways]

I have been using polishing wheel so far (just got to be carefull odd shape parts dont grab) but heaps cheaper to set up a polishing wheel with a $50. Six inch grinder, a rag wheel and some polishing compound.

I used to do it this way years ago. VERY time consuming. These days, if you use the right media you simply wash the dirt off them and then place them in the tumbler for four - six hours and it is all done for you.

[dealers choice]

Thanks Gav advice taken. I want it looking good inside and out but i dont want to be making trouble for myself at the same time. ill see how the tumbler works next week.