I am thinking about getting one as I am tired of cleaning corrosion of all the little parts with a wheel. Anybody use one and if so....how do you like it? Is it worth the money?
In case you don't know what I am talking about, here's one at harbor freight. Uses abrasive media and vibration to clean parts.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=vibratory+tumblers
Thanks. I figure if anyone has one they have got to be on here.
I have the smaller HF version of that. I've use it a few times to clean corrosion & polish yard sale tools. Works pretty well. Worth what I paid for it.
I used one regularly when I worked for Bontrager Cycles where steel MB frames were made form all sorts of litte bits and pieces besides the tubes. They work really well, just not very fast. Think hours instead of minutes, so it was used for 100 of somthing at a time. The parts were all chrome moly, so it was tough material to clean up. Of course softer materiel would take allot less time.
I used to have to use a big one of those. They worked very well but ended up being messy. We used what amounted to soapy water as the tumbling agent.
I used a gigantic one at a manufacturing job I had a very long time ago. We could do a lot of 15 to 20,000 parts at a time. I liked that one, no experiance with a little one however.
Never used one myself, but found these a while back.
The "BucketHorse" tumbler
And a DIY vibratory tumbler from the same guy
I have the HF 5 pounder that I filled with the green pyramid rust cutting media to clean nuts and bolts. It is noisy to the point that I won't use it if I am going to be in the garage at the same time. That pretty much means I don't use it. I tossed a big handful of 40 year old Fiat bolts into it and gave them a few hours and while they were cleaner they aren't clean enough to justify the purchase.
I should buy another type of media and try it out. I didn't realize just how disappointed in it I was in it until now.
I used a few back when I was at a tech school. I liked it and it did a good job cleaning up old valve train parts.
Yeah, but she really didn't like being used. 
All I have to add is that although it may seem like a good idea to throw some rusty bits into an empty baby food jar with some blast media. Then tape the lid shut. Then put it inside of a Mechanics glove for even more protection and throw it in the laundry with a load of work clothes to tumble around for a bit. After my experience today I would offer that it is not that good of an idea...
