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Post by lyonch on Feb 6, 2013 8:21:03 GMT -5
Lets talk about tumbling fur. I want to know if you like, dislike, think it's a waste of time, etc. etc.
If you do tumble your fur,
How big is it?
What do you use for media?
How long do you tumble?
Do you have a pic of one you use?
I have a lot of questions and I'm preparing to take my fur handling abilities to the next level.
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Forrest
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Trapper
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Post by Forrest on Feb 6, 2013 9:10:57 GMT -5
Give me a call Chris..... I have a tumbler from VanDykes Taxi. it runs around 800.00 and IMO could be made better much cheaper.. I know after you use a good tumbler you wont want to be without one ever again! I researched tumbling pretty extensively years ago and received a lot of tips from guys who handle ungodly amounts of fur...
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Post by ewoktrapper on Feb 6, 2013 10:42:10 GMT -5
Forest share the knowledge bud !!! LOL Was just talking about this very subject 2 days ago to a new local buyer.Weather I end up as partners with him or go on my own,this is a subject that got my attention...
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Post by macesfurs on Feb 6, 2013 15:25:07 GMT -5
We converted a old Dryer into a tumbler although it does make a mess out the vent we just used a nylon stocking to keep it contained. Would not be without it for wet, dirty Fur. Highly recommend one to all who has the space and puts up alot of fur.
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Ohio
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Post by Ohio on Feb 6, 2013 16:02:08 GMT -5
Nick Bower has one made from an old gas drier. As i remember he used saw dust for media. Did a real nice job.
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Post by mark572 on Feb 6, 2013 16:23:34 GMT -5
I owned a large hole made one worked great just messy LOL Oh wait that was just me!If you selling local then a tumbler is nice but if you shipping to auction they do it for ya~ I ran Hardwood sawdust only and added a few caps full of mineral sprites... drumming will sure fluff them up and shine up nice
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Post by nightstalker1 on Feb 6, 2013 19:16:43 GMT -5
55 gal. drum type @ 27 rpm's Hardwood sawdust (almost like flour) as media with some Borax added 15 - 20 minute cycle time  |
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Ohio
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Post by Ohio on Feb 6, 2013 19:36:37 GMT -5
Nightstalker those look good.
Mark, What did the mineral spirits do?
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Post by mark572 on Feb 6, 2013 21:01:43 GMT -5
Cleaned up the hides real nice and gave them a super luster..Made my mounts shine! stopped doing it do to the cleaning up took many hours to truly get the hides cleaned out on them life size bears
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Post by macesfurs on Feb 6, 2013 23:49:27 GMT -5
We Only use Corn Cob Bits!
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Post by ewoktrapper on Feb 7, 2013 6:45:49 GMT -5
We Only use Corn Cob Bits! What about the borax?  What % mix? when and why use it?.. Are you going to the district 2 sale on the 16th? The Renoldsville sale is a special invite. that's the 23rd... |
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Post by lyonch on Feb 7, 2013 10:22:49 GMT -5
From the very little things i knew about tumbling before asking here was that borax is a must in your media. I heard many mixed reviews about corn cob media as it makes it tough to get out of the leather in area you don't flesh like the head. I see that some of you have tumbled some fur before, but how do the ranch mink guys do it? they tumble thousands and thousands of fur every year and a few pennies makes a big difference in their fur check.
Have any of you thought about floor dry instead of the coarse sawdust? It would act as an absorbant and an aggressive agent to help beat the mud and blood out of the pelt.
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Post by Law Dog on Feb 7, 2013 10:32:54 GMT -5
Chris I have a commercial dry in the shop you can have to mess with, the heat is out but the rest is good. I have not had time to mess with it and could use the room. I would hate to scrap it as it's the perfect size!!
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Post by lyonch on Feb 7, 2013 11:18:22 GMT -5
Jerry I have two tumblers coming from a mink ranch. I need to seperate the stand so it can be two tumblers. When I'm done I will take pics. I am pretty excited about it to say the least. Now I need to find room in my shed for it lol.
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Post by John Doe on Feb 7, 2013 13:34:32 GMT -5
I use a wash and tumble process that makes critters turn out real nice. Here's a VIDEO of a cat that has been through the process. Notice how just the slightest breeze by my hand makes every hair respond, and look how fluffy it looks.  Here are a couple fox that went through the same process.   I just use corn cob grit for tumbling media. |
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Post by pappasmurf on Feb 7, 2013 14:10:00 GMT -5
Hey Chris, I was half afraid to post pics of my tumbler I made last summer. I have been using it on cats and coyotes and a few big coons before fleshing. I've been running three five gallon buckets of sawdust and a box of borax. It's been working great, just kind of unsure if that's what I should be doing. I've been paying attention to this thread and hope more info shows up. Here's what the girls call "big ole Betty" the tumbler lol. You have to promise to not laugh at it though lol.   Cant get pics to show, will work on it. |
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Post by lyonch on Feb 7, 2013 14:15:10 GMT -5
I think the pics not showing up are a proboards thing. Try to hit the reply button bottom right and do a direct upload to the site. You can only do 1 pic at a time though. I look forward to the pics!
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Post by lyonch on Feb 7, 2013 14:16:06 GMT -5
Great looking fur john doe!
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Post by cageycat on Feb 8, 2013 20:11:07 GMT -5
I am using a tumbler for the first time this year.I have been tumbling my cats and gray fox after fleshing before boarding in straight borax and am very happy with it so far. I do plan to tumble before the sale also.
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Post by nightstalker1 on Feb 9, 2013 9:06:37 GMT -5
If tumbling after dry and off the boards before selling , I have added old sneakers or baseballs in the tumbler.
These help break down or loosen up the stiff leather and makes the pelts more pliable......heading towards the pliable tanned fur feel.
The media still "shines up" and puffs up the fur...they really come out nice
Tom
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Post by toddh on Feb 14, 2013 16:45:22 GMT -5
To me there is a BIG difference between 'Tumbling" and "Drumming". Tumbling seems to be used by people more for drying & cleaning fur by removing moisture and or dirt/blood where as Drumming polishes already cleaned fur and helps break the fur and leather prior to sale. I know NAFA uses corn corb grit for "Drumming" fur out articles as well as in the processing of rank mink in their NAFCO division. I myself prefer corn cob grit over saw dust as it doesn't cling to the fur as readily as saw dust, just my 2 cents. With that said in my opinion a "Tumbler" can be smaller in diameter but a "Drummer" you would want in a much larger diameter like the one below.  |
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Post by lyonch on Feb 14, 2013 18:55:13 GMT -5
Toddh do you think the distance of the drop is the main reason for the large size? Thanks for the pics.
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Post by toddh on Feb 14, 2013 22:18:43 GMT -5
Toddh do you think the distance of the drop is the main reason for the large size? Thanks for the pics. As far as Drumming goes....YES. Low rpm's and fall is what breaks the hair and leather. I have also tossed in a bunch of baseballs to help soften stiff hides but usually the fall from a large drum is all that is needed. If you are using it as a Tumbler to clean or dry fur the smaller drums work fine. |
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Post by lyonch on Feb 14, 2013 22:33:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply! The tumbler I will be using is coming Sunday. I will snap some pics and post them here after I have it ready to go.
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Post by lyonch on Feb 17, 2013 23:37:35 GMT -5
Well i wasn't too happy with the tumbler that came. I don't have a single penny in this thing so i am out nothing on it. It is a 4' diameter tumbler but it is only 18" deep. So my brain started spinning its wheels and did some really quick R&D and came up with a tumbler that is 6' in diameter and 5' deep. I think start to finish this tumbler will cost me about $300 to build. If I can scavange the parts i am thinking of at reduced prices this shouldn't be a problem. The metal will be my biggest expense. I am looking at putting in 5 or 6 paddles. the paddles will be a 2x12 that is cut to length. Do you think these paddles this high will hurt a red fox pelt since it could have 100 lbs of media or dropping onto the 2x12? I'm hoping to tumble a dozen coon pelts or half dozen coyote pelts at one time or more if the tumbler can handle it. Well it is off to the drawing board and some headscratching to see what i can come up with! If anyone can think of an idea on what they would do please feel free to post it. I'm open to all ideas and suggestions.
Ends for tumbler - either plywood sandwhiched together or the end of a wire reel
baffles/paddles - 2 x12 would you angle them slightly or not?
motor - 1/2 horse motor from an old treadmill with variable control
gears - i plan on using sprockets with chain instead of belts
tumbling media - still researching and need to talk with forrest at least one more time on that one
Door - 1/4" sheet steel that has a piano hinge on one side and tool box clasps on the other and gasket underneath to seal it
RPM's - The one i currently tinkering with now is operating at 12 rpm. what you would you run it at?
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Post by dtraper on Feb 18, 2013 4:37:53 GMT -5
Thats sure is big !!!! the plans I am looking at sounds like the one you recieved and that might be about the size I need only planning on doing my cats and dogs , going to take a chit load of wood chips and borax for the one your building--lmao-D-
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Post by uttrapper on Feb 18, 2013 17:44:19 GMT -5
What size of corn cob media is used in a tumbler/drummer? I am making one out of a 55 gallon drum, that will be used mainly after dry and before sale. I can also get sawdust from the high school, don't know what kind of wood it is though.
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Post by nyredfox on Feb 23, 2013 8:46:48 GMT -5
55 gal. drum type @ 27 rpm's Hardwood sawdust (almost like flour) as media with some Borax added 15 - 20 minute cycle time I own the one on the right. This tumbler has been priceless to our fur handling. We use it more for drying and cleaning, rather than polishing. All pieces of fur go through the tumbler process. If I get a mud-ball animal, it is just rinsed off, skinned, thrown in the tumbler, along with some hardwood sawdust and tumbled for a bit. Once the skinning is complete, I will remove a piece at a time and flesh and stretch, till all pelts are complete. In my opinion , this piece of equipment is a "must have" in anyones shop..... Your fur will look so much better with this process..... |
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Post by pappasmurf on Feb 25, 2013 22:29:24 GMT -5
Here ya go Chris. Got photobucket rolling again. Don't laugh but it works pretty well. Need to get the motor up higher and new covering around it as this one leaks a hair to much lol. Sure makes coons, cats, and coyotes look like a million bucks.   |
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Post by deerlane on Feb 26, 2013 2:28:17 GMT -5
Very nice pappasmurf
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What % mix? when and why use it?..
