Rock Tumbler with wood parts

[ERSRich]

Has anyone used a rock tumbler to round wood blocks? Or other parts?

Thank you,

-Rich

 

[Bryian]

Yes I have. I use walnut shell medium for tumbling wooden tackle blocks, and ceramic stones for tumbling metal parts like gun barrels etc. good luck with your project.

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

i also have done it and it works quite well

 

[AllanKP69]

I use one all the time if I am making my own blocks. Easy to do and works extremely well. Making one is easy as well. Any old plastic jar or cup with a cap, some sand paper and a stem to seat in a drill. The flapper is a big plus though and I am pretty sure they are not found in rock tumblers. Have you seen the one at
https://shipsofscale.com/sosforums/threads/tricks-of-the-trade.15492/ Scroll to post #4
Allan

 

[ERSRich]

Tried the drill/flapper rig. Looking for something “set and forget”.

Thank you all.

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

you can get this inexpensive kit that is what i used

 

[AllanKP69]

you can get this inexpensive kit that is what i used

Dave, I would love to get something like this. Does it have an abrasive lining to sand down the blocks? Can you post before and after photos of a few of the blocks you ran through it? THANK YOU
Allan

 

[ERSRich]

you can get this inexpensive kit that is what i used

View attachment 632057

Much obliged, thank you.

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

Dave, I would love to get something like this. Does it have an abrasive lining to sand down the blocks? Can you post before and after photos of a few of the blocks you ran through it? THANK YOU
Allan

there is no lining i used a grit from lapidary supply. In rock tumbling the grit is wet i used it dry. i no longer have before samples of blocks but i still have some tumbled samples. I experimented with trying to remove the char from laser parts it did remove the char but it also rounder the corners. My thinking it would remove the char faster before rounding out the edges.

 

[ERSRich]

Dave, I would love to get something like this. Does it have an abrasive lining to sand down the blocks? Can you post before and after photos of a few of the blocks you ran through it? THANK YOU
Allan

As Bryian mentioned, the medium is black shell walnut - find with Google search.

Decided to go with Lortone 3a Tumbler, the Nat Geo’s are toys.

 

[ERSRich]

Yes I have. I use walnut shell medium for tumbling wooden tackle blocks, and ceramic stones for tumbling metal parts like gun barrels etc. good luck with your project.

Any insight on run time to do the job on blocks? Thanks

 

[Bryian]

Any insight on run time to do the job on blocks? Thanks

I let my tumbler run overnight as the crushed walnut husks are not aggressive in removing imperfections.

 

[AllanKP69]

Any insight on run time to do the job on blocks?

If you go the drill and plastic can with sandpaper and flapper, depending on speed, 20 to 60 seconds is typical for Castello wood blocks.
Allan