Fur tumbler

I’m thinking about building one , just wanted to hear some ideas or if anyone want to share pictures I’m fine with that also.

I made a 4ft tumbler last summer, works great. I would put pics on here, but have a terrible time. I had to use a double shaft to get it to turn slow enough. I think I got it down to about 17rpm. Used pelleted corn cob horse bedding for media. Coyotes came out unbelievable, nice and fluffy.

A few pics

Thanks , that’s exactly what I was thinking of building . What size motor do you use ?

I believe it is a 1/2 horse. It came out of an old washer.

Here are some photos of the tumbler I made 9 years ago. I used a 1/2 hp totaly enclosed motor so as the media dust couldn't get in it and start a fire. I used a two pully system in order to get down to around 15-17 rpm and seems to work fine. The only thing I have noticed that when I used corn cob pellets I got a lot more dust from breaking down than when I used fine corn cob media. Aside from that it works fine and I'm glad I built it as it seems to improve the quality of the fur.

How long a cycle for tumbling fur .... yotes primarily, some coon?

All depends on what you want to do with them
30" all around unit

60" high numbers/commercial unit


30 " drum with 30" shaker cage.

I usually tumble 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how many I have to do.

Thanks LDW, was leaning toward building a small tumbler if the price of lumber becomes reasonable.

Scott, you won't regret it. It's not difficult to build, but I did have a hard time finding the biggest pulley. It is 20in and came off of a cement mixer. The others I bought on eBay. Use 3/4in plywood for the drum, not anything less.

A true fur tumbler is probably one of the best pieces of fur handling equipment a guy can have.

BB plyform works well for the ends, it is fairly smooth and very strong

I'm sure those big fancy wooden ones do a great job but, all I ask of my tumbler is to fluff up the fur, knock out a little dry dirt or dried blood just prior to taking them to the fur buyer. A converted old dryer works just fine for all I ask of a tumbler. I wire it so the drum turns with 115V. tape up the holes inside the drum with duct tape, and use corncob horse bedding for a media. I can do about 5 big furs at a time, usually 10-15 min does it.

Of course if you really want to step up your game...

I had one of those before I built the wood one. Your right, they work also.

Jamie that looks like a space saver to me . I was looking to build a big one but hey it’s not like I got 3 or 4 hundred coyotes to do.

I'm in the middle of gathering materials to build my own like yours. Could you give me some advice on how to wire up the motor for 120 outlet? I have a 3 speed motor from a furnace blower to use. I want to use it on the lowest power of course but I am not much of an electrician. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

My method isn't exactly OSHA approved, lol. I just cut all the wires and start touching two at a time to a plugged in cord until I find the two that run the drum (it usually runs the blower too but with the holes plugged it doesn't blow anywhere), then run them through a light switch on the dryer. Its always 2 of the smallest wires. You never know what colors though, there's no rhyme or reason to it, something like a pink and a blue may be the combo. (you may have to flip the breaker a time or two. lol)