Gotta ask, has anyone tired one? And will it work?

Have not, but might have potential. Would definitely want larger diameter and slower rpm's. Not going to use one I have since that is how I wax my dirt. Pretty sure would be a bad recipe.

Thanks tightwad! 100 views but no bodies tryed it! Or won’t admit to trying it! Seems like it would work. Does a good job on pistol brass, if you have a five gallon bucket of it...

Never tried it but there are a lot of sharp edges inside a mixer. I'd be worried about cutting the pelts. Maybe ease all the edges inside first.

The other thing is it you're talking about the small DIY mixers it may not be big enough to work properly. The fur is supposed to rotate to the top of the drum and then fall with a large amount of medium back down to the bottom. That's why you have to have the rpms just right.

Don’t ask me why I feel the need to try this! Just curious I guess, I have a bag of long ground corn cob. I thought that if I zip tied some heavy cardboard onto the flights in the drum that this would eliminate any snagging on the hide. I put up a coyote that had a bad scar from a snare, he’s going in! Will see what happens...

I love an experiment! Make a vid and post the results.

I believe Dave Plueger uses one .If you go to his GFW video of him processing coon it shows it.

Well guys I just couldn’t do it! LOL I wanted to put him in after the hide had dried. I did tumble him before I flesh it. Had to wash, very muddy! Tumbled when it was a little damp. Might of helped to dry not sure. Would have been better if it was completely dry! I believe I’ll leave it to the professionals! Paying for it anyways. Sorry jonny pictures and videos are way above my pay rate on here!

I’ve just watched a video put up by Groenwald that is of Dave Plueger’s skinning, scraping, tumbling in a cement mixer and stretching. If it’s good enough for Dave, it’s probably good enough for the rest of us

I saw that video also! And yes a green hide would probably benefit from it. Especially a muddy coon! I tried it on a damp coyote. I suppose it helped, but I believe it would have turned out better if the fur was completely dried. I also thought about trying to tumble it once the hide was dry. But I chickened out,in fear of ruining the pelt. Thanks to all who responded to my question.

I started out using a mixer. I had the small one from Harbor Freight. It worked ok, just small. I have since converted a dryer, works much better. I can tumble several at a time. I tumble when I turn the coyotes to the fur side out. You can't believe how soft and fluffy they come out. I think without a doubt it will get you more money at the buyer. Country buyer that is, not sure if its worth it if sending to auction.

I can see tumbling fur out skins but I see no reason to do fur In skins. Or If your selling coons green maybe tumbling and cleaning may have some benefit.

Has anyone tried making their own tumbler out of a plastic barrel? The commercially made tumblers look to have the same barrel I can get for free and the prices seem to start around $700. A low rpm motor can't be all that expensive.

I'm betting you could go down to the local appliance place that does service work and get a used up dryer for the cost of hauling It away.