Speaking of Tumblers

[aaronraad]

I have to admit the RCBS Sidewinder seems to fit the bill but certainly isn't cheap by the time you imported them into Oz.

I was thinking of something like a small cement mixer:
http://cdn1.blocksassets.com/assets/ozito/product-pics/ZpR9qQoewYvLLeE/40L-Cement-Mixer.jpg

and taking out the blades and inserting something like one of these flexible plastic buckets, as liner and batch container etc:
http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00asotqvrgIYkQ/Flexible-Plastic-Garden-Bucket.jpg

Anyone had any experience/success with this set-up for bullet swaging or cleaning/washing of brass?

[Kiwishooter]

Aaron do you want a tumbler, it would be pretty easy to build one like the Thumler tumbler model B.

I found this post on another forum about a home built tumbler, I thought the base was great but the tubes would only be OK for cleaning cases. I don't think the internal flaps and bolts would be good for cores or jackets and might be a bit hard to clean.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?107444-Homemade/page10

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?169683-Stainless-steel-polishing&p=1902477#post1902477

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?183345-Plastic-Tumblers-with-SS-Media&p=2051046#post2051046

Kiwi

[TinMan]

When I went through the Sierra plant several years ago, they used those mixers or even a bit larger to tumble bullets with walnut media.

[ohnomrbillk]

You can google "Ball Milling Theory & Practice for the Amateur Pyrotechnician by Lloyd Sponenburgh".

His book involves the building of a ball mill that uses PVC pipe for the barrels.

It works very well for numerous applications. I intend to make one for swage operations as well.

I'm not sure what scale you are needing, but I don't know if you need a cement mixer to tumble bullets.