Polishing 6061 machined aluminum with Vibratory Tumbler Media 

That would be awesome if you could re-visit this and show what you do now with all the new knowledge you have gained over 10 years...

There are many medias for a Vibratory Tumbler. Cutting, cleaning, and polishing all need different media. You have to run these small machines for HOURS on HOURS. More than in this video. The order of the tumbling process is bigger to smaller media and cutting to polish. Adding liquid and soap helps with the bigger media not the polish.

It’s been a while, but as people have posted below, abrasive ceramic cones come for different metals, grits and benefit from additives including borax dry washing soap. Finish with the walnut shells and jewelers red polish compound. I know the vibratory tumbler is what you have but many plating shops use low speed rotary tumbling drums. They work better and much quicker and can be home made.

I have a cheap harbor freight tumbler and have seen the same results. Polish first then tumble with walnut media and I get a very nice shine on my knife blades.

at work we use a tumbler similar to what you have in this video (for aluminum only). our media is also similar to your ceramic course, however i would call ours medium. we just use plain tap water with a slow but steady stream. this insures the debris is removed and a constant source of clean water. nice video, and nice comparison. :D

Not sure how well it would work for aluminum but from what I seen best for brass is wet tumbler with a drop of Dawn dish detergent and lemi shine with small stainless rods. Make dirty range brass look brand new.

Do you have any updates on this based on your learning since this is recorded? I'm looking around for tumblers for deburring on aluminum and stainless, so my interest level is way up. Thanks.

As you said, you want to do the process in reverse... heavy to light. But what you'll find is that water and some sort of lube make a huge difference. I use a custom built tumbler. I do 1/3 parts, 1/3 water and then a very generous amount of Murphy oil soap. It's cheap and works fine. What that does is whisk away the material and helps prevent staining. When doing it that way, you can actually use just the ceramic and get a sort of used nickle look.

Great video, been thinking about getting one of these, and tbh I don’t think I’m going to bother now… looks like a lot of hassle for poor results, I’ll carry on farming it out to the bead blasters… thanks

is this method able to remove sharp edges and corners on various metals?

I think you would be better off bead blasting your parts. If you needed a more coarse or crystalline structure you could blast them with AO. Aluminum parts that I don't polish get blasted. This is a good way to go if you have a good compressor. Nice videos, keep up the good work. TMFA

@saunixcomp Yeah, most of that stuff is expensive. The soap is just with the ceramic though. I don't know how it would work with other types. It might gum some media types up. I've also used regular fish tank gravel... Little natural river rock that's about BB sized. The key to keeping it clean is plenty of water and soap. And you can drain the dirty water off a couple times if you want.

Porcelain is the best for polishing aluminum period!!!

Thanks for the video it was very helpful. I was wanting to deber and give 6061 a high polish i am close to habar frieght who stocks walnut shells media and some other media that seems very abrasive. have you tried wallnut shells for 6061 to get high chrome like shine? I am melting a casting 6061 for motorcycle parts and makeing homemade tumbler for 6 inch derby cover. Thinking of going rough then to walnut shells.. Any advise on this since its my first attempt at casting a part to buffing

How does the tumbler work now? it is going? I'm thinking of getting one of these for cleaning up aluminium parts. Also really insightful video! I subscribed! Keep it up

Is it possible to achieve Apple alumium finish at home? The macbook, ipads etc.

Excellent video, thanks for posting. #1 liquid cleaner from Mcmaster (4918A31) appears to be VF-77T from Vibra Finish. It mentions 5% ethylene glycol monobutyl ether in the MSDS (solvent/surfactant). Some household cleaners have this. I'm not sure if there are any other active ingredients. I've seen plain laundry detergent recommended as well.

@saunixcomp haha, sorry about that. What i ment to say was would it effect externally threaded aluminum part?

I have never used a tumbler before. How are they on the treaded aluminum threads?

@saunixcomp I think he just means the threads. I was wondering the same thing if they rounded your threads over like they did on the corners?

I think you should try jsut what you did only in reverse. finish with the corn cob........?

Hey,master, does magnetic tumbler works? Or roller polisher?

How would it work on hotwheel cars

Just like wet sanding, I would think water would help a lot.

At work we use a product from Washington Mills Ceramics.

Flycutter son, flycutter.

Awesome video! thanks!

Noooooo.....do NOT "touch up" with green pyramids!!! They are very abrasive. Use ceramic ball media 1mm to 3mm for a polish shine