Types of Barrels for Every Finishing Use

Let’s say you know you need a finishing system (we say the chances are high, given you’ve landed here). Let’s say you even know that from among the surface finishing options, barrel finishing is what will meet your needs. Maybe you’re looking for a barrel finishing system to round out those corners, deburr, burnish, or polish, and you want to finish multiple parts at once.

Then you go to explore said barrel finisher and…you realize there isn’t just one type of barrel system! Rather, there are many different types of barrels for different finishing needs, including those that perform wet and dry finishing. You’ll also find variety among barrel finishing system size and design.

Choosing the right barrel finishing system is critical to ensuring the integrity of your products. Finishing a surface correctly is often about much more than just aesthetics. How a surface is finished can affect how your part performs, too.

Let’s take a look at barrel finishing system options here at Kramer Industries for a better understanding of what each type of barrel can offer.

The K Series

This barrel tumbler is a standard bearer among models. Big enough to accommodate heavier loads (it’s a freestanding tumbler) and engineered for high frequency use, this finisher is ideal for those who know they have a lot of parts to finish on a regular basis and want to invest in something that’s built to last!

Best for: slag and heavy burr removal, part-on-part tumbling, polishing, burnishing

The K-14 Series

This is a bench-top model that’s compact in size but can allow for multiple barrel sizes. This is also a good option when high level of surface polishing is in order. The heavy duty engineering makes this perfect for regular, daily use.

Best for: heavy and light deburring, polishing

The K-9 Series

Looking for a countertop solution that can serve the smallest of parts? This is the barrel finisher for the job. This mini barrel finisher is portable and can rest on countertops. While small in size, this barrel can carry out the functions of most larger barrels, like deburring, cleaning, and polishing.

Best for: deburring, jewelry polishing

The MT Series

This is a mini roller barrel, table-top model that can be used for either wet or dry tumbling (because the barrels are water tight). This barrel also allows operators to easily adjust speed, which makes it advantageous when working with parts that are particularly delicate.

Best for: lab testing and R&D environments

The TT Series

A rarer bird, this barrel finishing system has an octagonal shaped tumbler and can be used for both wet or dry tumbling. This is a heavy duty tilting tumbling system that is a great option for those that need more control during the tumbling process.

Best for: parts drying, part-on-part tumbling

These are just some of the types of barrels that can be used in surface finishing. For a deeper dive on which type of barrel is best for your next project, reach out to our team at Kramer Industries today.