Home made tumbler

[#1 headhunter]

 A few years ago, I was going thru a divorce, moved into a small house, gave up taxidermy and sold my tumbler. Now moved into a new house, build a good sized shop, but miss my tumbler. I still do taxidermy, just not as a business anymore. Has anyone used an old clothes dryer to make a tumbler for deer capes. My old dryer quit heating up, so I went to Home Depot and got a new one on sale. The old dryer runs good , just doest heat up. If I add some wood chips, would it do alright? Please tell me your opinions. thanks

[outwoods taxidermy]

proberly not big enough for fur but ok for feather

[mark c]

Most of the stuff that i tumble is cats dogs and coons. I use a dryer and corn cob grit with some dp in it to keep the bacteria from growing . Works great and im pleased with the way it comes out . You can use it on birds also just make sure to use the dp in with it   mark c

[machine gun man]

I dont see why it wouldnt work. i have one made out of a 55gal. drum- rigged up with baffles and 1/4hp motor. it works fine. Tumble time is around 30 min with sawdust.

[Henry J.]

Sure it will .

[ChipD.]

Just be sure to caulk the little holes in the drum.

[Todd B]

Sure it will work but it turns a little to fast in my opinion.  I tumble my birds at about 12 rpm's.

Todd B

[cypresslake]

yep thats all my buddy uses, just caulk the holes it works great. he also put some duck tape in the door hole so when he opens the door his sawdust doesnt fall out

[tazzymoto]

I have one thats older than me, thats all i use it works great for skins, but not for birds i blow dry all my birds, I use corncob grit with mineral spirits to clean all my hides it leaves them sqeauky clean, you can add a deoderizer as well for fox and yotes

[BowHunterXT]

Worked fine for me, but like chip said caulk them little freaking holes...It does make a mess....

[jwj4856]

Been using the same old dryer for 17 years and it is still working very well.

[DWC Taxidermy]

I have one thats older than me, thats all i use it works great for skins, but not for birds i blow dry all my birds, I use corncob grit with mineral spirits to clean all my hides it leaves them sqeauky clean, you can add a deoderizer as well for fox and yotes

Tazzy, how do you use the corncob grit with mineral spirits?

[Justin P.]

I tumble birds in mine and they turn out fine.  From woodcock to turkeys.  Works great.

[Cole]

I tumble birds in mine and they turn out fine.  From woodcock to turkeys.  Works great.

You tumble woodcocks...and they have feathers left when finished?

[3daddysinc.]

We have 2 of em. One for fur and one for feathers.
Gorilla tape the holes up and put new foam seals around the doors (to prevent grit or sawdust from leaking out) and you are good to go. CheapTOO