Submitted by Dan R on 8/27/99. ( ) 209.149.175.130
Can I use an old dryer as a tumbler as long as I disconnect the heating element. Do I need to dis conect the blower also and just let it tumble. Need an answer quick cause I just saw an ad for a used dryer for 35 buck.
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This response submitted by Chris Brower on 8/28/99. ( cjbrower@netzero.net ) 4.16.44.112
Dan-
You can use a dryer after disconnecting the heater elements. If the drum has holes in it, you will need to "clog" up the holes to keep tumbler media from falling through the holes. Bondo or epoxy can be used for filling the holes. The other problem with the dryer, other than its size, is that the sawdust or other media tends to spill out when you open the door. You can tape cardboard or something over the lower half of the opening to minimize this.
I used a dryer for a while when I first started, but soon found that it was worth the cost of buying a good, large tumbler. If you need more info- e-mail me and I'll try to help.
Chris
This response submitted by George Roof on 8/28/99. ( georoof@aol.com ) 205.188.209.38
Dan,
Chris just gave you some of the best advice you'll ever get. You spend $35 on a used dryer and take 8 hours to convert it to a tumbler. In 8 hours you could have fleshed and mounted a deer. You've already spent more than a good tumbler costs.
A very wise friend of mine made a sharp observation about taxidermists as a whole recently. He wondered why most of them seem to be so cheap spending their own money and complain they aren't being paid enough for their work.
Look through these threads and you'll see dozens of how can I do this cheaper. Not that it's a bad practice to be frugal, but you get exactly what you pay for. If you ding your car, I'll bet you insist on factory replacement parts instead of generic ones. Buy good products and project a professional image and your customers will appreciate it
This response submitted by mike b on 8/29/99. ( ) 216.138.61.71
this is what is wrong with the world NO COMMON SENSE!!!! use your brain, and know how. Do you fell beter buying something or saying hey i built that BOY IT WORKS GOOD. i built my tumbler i can also adjust speeds from 5 rpms to 30 rpms by a knob. use all you have it will make you a beter taxidermist
This response submitted by mike.g on 9/11/99. ( doghouse@velocity.net ) 208.31.7.121
looking for info on how to build my own tumbler anyone have plan's the would like to share or sell?
just getting into taxidermy.
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