TUMPLER FOR BOLTS & MISC

[ALLZS]

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN BOLTS BACK TO THERE ORIGINAL LOOK I HAVE HEARD US A SMALL TUMBLER BUT WHAT TYPE OF MEDIA PRODUCT ??

[seventy2plus2]

I remember seeing something on jaylenosgarage.com a few years ago, but the bolts had to be clean before putting them in the tumbler. Check the his website.

[cook_dw]

Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/5-lb-metal-vibrator-tumbler-67617.html)

[olredalert]

----I have that Harbor Freight tumbler. I bought it to remove rust from tons of stuff that got rusty due to the fire and its aftermath in my old shop. The guy at H-F told me to use these little pyramids as media that they had in stock. They worked to some extent but never did the whole job as they were too big to get down in the threads and complete job. I ended up glass beading every bolt to get them truly clean. Another media might have done more......Bill S

[cook_dw]

I heard crusted walnut was good for shining up finishes. Not sure if that is 100% true though.

[Enoch]

A soft brass wire wheel will get dirt, oil, grease and slight corrosion of without damaging the original finish (If you have a light touch. But for 99.9% you have to glass bead, tumbler will not work to the extent that glass beading will. Many times you will have to remove wrench marks then re tap....plain and simple its lots of hard work!!