Any suggestions for cleaning vibratory tumbler?

[dieselrealtor]

Before I Go full MacGyver and trying other things, checking to see if there is an easy solution that works from some of the wisdom here on ingo.

 

[42253]

I had the same thing. I cleaned it by accident. I needed to polish up some small disks of metal so I dumped out the media. Put in some ceramic stone I got from HF some water and a little dish soap. Ran it until my disks were good an boom tumbler was clean.

 

[Mgderf]

I had the same thing. I cleaned it by accident. I needed to polish up some small disks of metal so I dumped out the media. Put in some ceramic stone I got from HF some water and a little dish soap. Ran it until my disks were good an boom tumbler was clean.

Tumbling stones will clean/smooth just about anything.
They'll clean a hole through the bottom if you run them long enough.

 

[Sigblitz]

Did anyone mention tumbling stones, or uncoiled rice.
Or put it in a larger tumbler.

 

[rosejm]

I mean, if it's stuck to the bottom that might be a fine place for it to stay, no?

 

[Cameramonkey]

So what is it that is stuck to the plastic? Do you know?

Simple green might work. Its awesome, smells great, and is non toxic. (in case you are a Marine and think its Lime Kool Aid)

 

[Firehawk]

I just rinse mine with water and wipe it out. If the build up is stuck to the plastic, the suggestion about turning it on with a little soapy water in the bottom sounds smart.

 

[Magyars]

I just rinse mine with water and wipe it out. If the build up is stuck to the plastic, the suggestion about turning it on with a little soapy water in the bottom sounds smart.

That's all I do, water and paper towels

 

[dieselrealtor]

I ended up using mineral spirits, rag & elbow grease. Forgot to take a pic before I put the media back in.

I think it was a buildup of Nufinish, the problem was it was acting like a magnet & swallowing up tumbling media, dryer sheets & growing. It was probably 3/16-1/4" thick at the thickest part.

Going to try it like this for a bit, don't use this one all the time but if I have a small lot I am not wet tumbling this is the tumbler I use.

May get some ceramic media to see if it will polish out the deeper scratches in the bottom (as well as cleaning rusty parts). I think the scratches gather the beginning of the blob.


after

 

[Frontiersman]

Somebody is using large quantities of additive.

Simple green and warm water works good. Dish soap works fine as well. Remember that stuff has a lot of lead in it. Clean the sink thoroughly before doing dishes.