Using a Tumbler on white metal castings

[Kimosubby]

Sorry to interrupt the flow here but has anyone defined the initial question, what is meant by a tumbler? Is the suggestion to put white metal fittings into a drum filled with fines sand and then give it a spin for period of time? If so then no this will take off detail as well. But if not tumbling this way, what other way is there? Just asking for a friend... :>)

 

[Namabiiru]

Sorry to interrupt the flow here but has anyone defined the initial question, what is meant by a tumbler? Is the suggestion to put white metal fittings into a drum filled with fines sand and then give it a spin for period of time? If so then no this will take off detail as well. But if not tumbling this way, what other way is there? Just asking for a friend... :>)

I think think the consensus has been from early in the discussion that if tumbler=shortcut then, no, it’s not a good idea.

 

[Alan Smith]

Is the suggestion to put white metal fittings into a drum filled with fines sand and then give it a spin for period of time?

You can tumble (rotate) items in a barrel with sand, carbide grit, scraps of abrasive paper, even sawdust but this is a finishing technique normally reserved for large hard metal items where polish is more important than fine detail. Not a technique generally useful in scale modelling.

 

[Corsair]

Sorry to interrupt the flow here but has anyone defined the initial question, what is meant by a tumbler? Is the suggestion to put white metal fittings into a drum filled with fines sand and then give it a spin for period of time? If so then no this will take off detail as well. But if not tumbling this way, what other way is there? Just asking for a friend... :>)

there are also vibrating devices we call tumblers. We use them for cleaning brass when we reload ammunition. They are filled with bits of chopped up corn cob (or other types of media) and have a polishing compound added. But this would not remove the flash.