Harbor freight Tumbler Hack for Polishing Metal

[@garywidman8757]

Thanks for all the great vids! I don't know where your black stuff comes from. I've had the same 2 lbs of stainless shot and pins in the same Harbor Freight barrel for a year now. I keep it covered with water and a drop of detergent to keep from tarnishing. I polish silver projects regularly, and have never had any issue with anything off-color. My barrel looks identical to yours. I also have the big Thumlers for rocks and it runs all the time without any issues. Keep the vids coming!

[@aliciareihl4809]

7 years not s problem

[@michaelhenderson5098]

I just found this video. Not sure what you are talking about. I haven't had any issues wet tumbling brass shell casings using soap and SS pins. The casings come out looking like new inside and out.

[@esalenchik]

Another option is a peanut butter jar (plastic) inside the barrel if you’re finding the rubber is causing blackening. I’ve heard people have trouble with lortone barrels sometimes too.

[@cosmickitteh9559]

hi! does the peanut butter jar need to be glued in place? or can it just be placed inside the black canister?

[@jimmbbo]

Cool hack... FWIW, I've been using a HF tumbler for polishing brass cartridges and they come clean and shining...

[@OldSneelock]

Good hack. I like the idea of using PVC pipe with the plugs. The cover on my tumbler chamber is a PITA to put on and take off.

[@demianriley121]

Its the dish detergent turning it black. Try using shot conditioner

[@JGcynicDC2]

From my experience, if you don’t clean the stainless steel media and the inside of the tumbler, it will give things a dark haze. Also try changing the water more often. I’ve also noticed tumbling with dirty water for a long time like 4 hours will do the same. Clean tumbler, clean media, and clean water is the key. I use a thumlers tumbler.

[@ironleaf88]

It doesn't turn anything black. I clean range brass with mine with steel pins and they always come out amazing

[@Bob_Adkins]

Metal does not "interact" with the HF tumbler. What you're seeing is extremely fine metal particles, which always appear black.

[@wstevejoyner6704]

I have the Harbor Freight rotary. It works great for cleaning and polishing my brass bullet cases. It does not turn anything black. Quit the contrary. Bright and shiny.

[@CHIBA280CRV]

Fantastic informative video sir thanks 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@donovangladden9074]

Finally someone with a messier work bench than mine!😂 Thanks for the informative video

[@kristyj796]

Wrong. It's not the stainless steel media. It's whatever chemical you're using. Never had a problem polishing bullet casings with this tumbler. Been 4 years now.

[@JMKGarage]

Great idea, thanks for sharing. I will plan to test this out in some hardware on a few projects that I’m restoring 👍

[@lindaosburn6376]

Thank you so much! You are the first person to explain why jewelry came out black from a Harbor Freight tumbler!

[@aliciareihl4809]

I've had mine for 7 years never once turned anything black this is bullshit

[@neptunevinyl]

@@aliciareihl4809 How long have you worked in Harbor Freights online narrative control department? WTF are you so upset about? The tumbler turning things black is NOT bullshit. Its wonderful knowing that you (as well as many others in the comments) have a tumbler that doesnt turn everything black. But clearly Jason had a different experience than you with the HF tumbler. You can claim that its bs and that it doesnt turn things black, but I bought this tumbler 5 or 6 years ago to deburr/polish small stainless steel medical parts. I have 4 other tumblers ranging from a very large size (about the size of 3 refrigerator freezers) down to a .75 cu ft tumbler. For years I would tumble the steel parts in one of the 2 smaller tumblers. I never had a problem other than the time it took trying to pick out all the parts. It was tedious and time consuming. So I finally got fed up and bought the mini HF tumbler. And the first time using the tumbler with small ceramic stones and a drop of dawn detergent with distilled water......everything came out black. So I washed the barrel out and tried again......same thing! Everything was black. So I tried with no detergent.....black! Switched out the stones for steel pins....black! After trying a couple different things, I finally gave up. So you can say Jason's experience is "bullshit" because you didnt experience the same thing. But that just makes you appear to be a fool. Because I did have the same experience. I dont know why my tumbler turned the steel parts black, but if most people didnt have the same problem, it leads me to believe that there mustve been a manufacturing problem at some point which resulted in defective barrels. This shouldn't be difficult to comprehend!

[@juliepeck6915]

Thanks so much for the hack!! I just picked up a harbor freight tumbler and was kinda worried about that. I have researched and researched issues and what's best and so on. Lol but this seems like an awesome solution.

[@amifeller2261]

So I just bought this very Tumblr. Used it on my aluminum jewelry. Left them dull and scratched. Any tips greatly appreciate it. Thanks

[@HavanaWoody]

I think the ss interaction with the container is called abrasion and the "black" is simply pulverized rubber. The tumble cup on the harbor freight tumbler is the most valuable component, the motor and drive is a FIRE hazard that shouldn't be left unattended.

[@dvorpo]

Which machine and media would be desirable for polishing silver plated materials ( keys) that are damaged and would be silver plated again, and which one just for polishing? Thx

[@ADN1996]

I've never had stuff turn black with stainless steel. Not sure what you're doing wrong.

[@kolleenmaxwell4532]

How long does the PVC need to be to fit in the tumbler with both caps on?

[@bongoforest1]

Yup, mine's at the point that the water turns black. Question for you Jason, I have to 'burp' that rubber barrel a lot; would I have to do the same with the PVC? I'm using the Lemi-shine and drop of dishwashing soap. Appreciate you sharing your great insight as always!

[@driverjamescopeland]

Robin Oriole Any non breathable case will build pressure... because the friction is causing heat, and the heat expands the air. The water and dish soap helps the heat dissipate, as it gives more thermal transfer to the outside of the casing. I wouldn't recommend using water in the rubber chamber, because it accelerates the degradation of the rubber where a lot of the black is coming from. Another option is a non-electrolytic/non-conductive fluid... such at the fluid used in PC water cooling systems. You might also try G05 formula (Chrysler/Mercedes) antifreeze. The process will take longer... but you should see a finer grade shine with less degradation, but don't use it with silver or other metals that are prone to corrosion.

[@highvibemysticallifestyle]

I've had that tumbler for 10 yrs and never had that problem but I have heard of people having that problem. I just rusted the inside of mine because I was sick for 2 months and not in my studio. I'll be trying the peanutbutter jar hack on my next tumble load but I want to make a couple of these. Did you use one on both ends of the pipe?

[@bodeine454]

What about zinc plated parts, would the stainless steel shot be too aggressive for that?

[@bobbiebrian6927]

can you send me a list of what all I need to purchase for tumbling aluminum. What size and how long of a piece of PVC and then what all I need for the top! Thanks

[@phase1ny]

The Lortone one doesnt get black, its much much better rubber. I think you can order just the tube as well.

[@coloradomountainliving2141]

You are a hack genius!

[@aliciareihl4809]

Never on the tumbler turning my metal black

[@aliciareihl4809]

7 years not once

[@ThriftStoreHacker]

I love a good harbor freight hack. good idea!

[@shawnfajardo5012]

how long does this method take to polish? on average?

[@MadeitTuhMidnight]

no it doesn't. I've been using one to polish brass for a long time with one lol

[@bobbiebrian6927]

What do I need to put in my rock tumbler to clean up and polish aluminum do you know?

[@nikkifryn411]

@@bobbiebrian6927 Assorted shot for tumbling... look on Amazon

[@a.o.647]

That ring didn't look very shiny. You compare the process to using a buffing wheel. How shiny do parts really come out? Does it provide a mirror finish or should I stick with the buffing wheel?

[@haruruben]

Anthony O: maybe just touch it up with buffer after some time in tumbler. The real question is how long will it take to peel a potato 🥔???? 🍟 🍟 🍟 🍟

[@gailjones9155]

Jason, the idea that the stainless is reacting to the drum to give the black residue doesn't sound very scientific, not logical at all. Sorry pal.

[@LeslieKailVillarreal]

WRONG I've been using one to polish silver for years for a long time works great

[@Maine307]

wow

[@ghffrsfygdhfjkjiysdz]

The reason why your "tumblers" do not work the way you wanted, is because they are not rotary tumblers, but rather ball mills. Ball mills turn faster than tumblers, but also need a good gripping inner surface to pick up and throw down the balls.

[@DonziGT230]

Bullshit. I get nothing but shiny brass from my HF tumbler and so do thousands of other people. If your stuff is coming out black you're doing something wrong.

[@deeeeeeps]

That is not shiny.

[@garywidman8757]

Thanks for all the great vids! I don't know where your black stuff comes from. I've had the same 2 lbs of stainless shot and pins in the same Harbor Freight barrel for a year now. I keep it covered with water and a drop of detergent to keep from tarnishing. I polish silver projects regularly, and have never had any issue with anything off-color. My barrel looks identical to yours. I also have the big Thumlers for rocks and it runs all the time without any issues. Keep the vids coming!