Glass Media use question

[JPSmit]

I am loving using my vibratory tumbler to clean nuts and bolts for the Vauxhall. In it, I am using glass media. Today I went out and bought 50 lbs of the stuff. Anyone want to venture an opinion on how many times I can use it before I need to change it?

thanks all!

 

[Gliderman8]

No guess on length of service in your tumbler, but I have glass media in my small blast cabinet and its been there for at least 4 years with no problem.
Yours might last longer since (I'm guessing) tumbling may not break down the glass bead as quickly as "blasting" it onto a surface.

 

[George_H]

I would think it could last quite a long time in a vibratory tumbler. It shouldn't break the beads very much at all. BUT make sure the nuts and bolts are degreased as much as possible.Dry and crusty is ok, thick and gunky not so much. Once grease gets into the mix it will coat the beads making them all but useless.

 

[DNK]

... Once grease gets into the mix it will coat the beads making them all but useless.

Then you run them through the dishwasher JP

 

[Jerry]

I bought a vibratory tumbler from Harbor Freight with the green wedges as abrasive material. I was not happy with the result. ran it overnight and it still did not clean up some old bolts and nuts. Is it the material I am using or the HF source?
Jerry

 

[JPSmit]

Not sure about the green wedges - but, did learn about dry and crusty versus degreased. Not only does it not glean but it comes out greasy and clogged. My first lot of grit got exactly clogged - next is much better - and, sifts much better. I bought a hand held colander at the dollar store to pour the cleaned parts through.

I have been pleased with the results. Not perfect by any means but miles better - the biggest problem is actually my impatience. I was leaving parts in for 2-3 hours - they really need about 6 hours. So, two or three loads per day instead of five or 6. My tumbler is also HF BTW.