How to Build a Wooden Fleece Tumbler

Fleece tumblers help with the extraction from useless debris that finds its way into wool fleece. The apparatus works by placing up to 5 pounds of wool in a cylindrical vessel that has wire mesh sides. The vessel is the actual tumble and it rotates as it is positioned horizontally by two wooden sides. A fleece tumbler saves time because it allows debris like sand, stones and wood particles to fall out as opposed to being pulled out by hand.

Things You'll Need

  • Safety glasses
  • Leather gloves
  • Tape measure
  • Compass
  • 2 plywood sheets, 3/4-by-24-by-24 inch
  • 12 pine boards, 1-by-6-by-12-inch
  • 6 pine boards, 2-by-2-by-40-inch
  • 2 plywood sheets, 3/4-by-24-by-36-inch
  • 2 pine boards, 2-by-4-by-24-inch
  • 2 pine boards, 2-by-4-by-44 ½-inch
  • Drill
  • Drill bit, 1/2-inch
  • Jigsaw
  • Miter saw
  • Screw gun
  • 52 wood screws, 2 1/2-inch
  • 2 bolts, 1/2-by-2 ½-inch, with washers and nuts
  • 6 wire mesh sheets, 3/4-inch holes
  • Hammer
  • 60 staples, 1-inch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw a 24-inch diameter circle on each 24-by-24-inch plywood with your compass. Cut along the line using your jigsaw. Drill a hole through the center of the plywood so it is 12 inches away from the edge. This is one of the sides to your tumbler. Repeat this step to create the other side.

    • 2

      Cut the ends of each 12-inch board at a 120-degree angle so when they lie flat they resemble a trapezoid shape. Do not alter the 12-inch length of the boards. Divide the boards into two sets of six and position each set with their ends against each other. They will resemble a hexagon. Lay the circular pieces of plywood on top of the boards so the edges are flush. Screw 12 screws through the plywood so two enter each board.

    • 3

      Position the tumbler sides on edge, parallel and 40 inches apart with the boards between the plywood. Position the 40-inch boards between the sides at a right angle so they are flush with the outside edges of the 12-inch boards and over the joints. Screw through the plywood sides and into the boards using 12 screws. This is your tumbler frame.

    • 4

      Drill a 1/2-inch hole through the 36-inch plywood so it is 12 inches away from one 12-inch edge and 18 inches away from the 36-inch edges. Hold a 24-inch board flat against the plywood so it is flush with the 24-inch edge, opposite the edge near the hole. The ends of the board are flush with the edges of the plywood. Screw through the plywood and into this board using for screws. This is one side to the tumbler stand. Repeat this step to build the other side.

    • 5

      Position the tumbler stand sides upright so the edges of the 24-inch boards are on the ground. Hold the 44 1/2-inch boards against each pair of ends provided by the 24-inch boards and screw them together using four screws so the corners are flush. Hold the tumbler between the sides so the holes are aligned and bolt the tumbler to the sides. Do not tighten the bolts. The tumbler must be able to rotated freely.

    • 6

      Hold five wire mesh sheets over the 40-inch boards and the 12-inch boards. Staple the sheets to the 40-inch and 12-inch boards using 12 staples for each sheet. Tie the last piece to the two sheets that are next to it. This is how you will access the inside of the tumbler. Unwire it to load the tumbler and wire it shut before rotating the tumbler by hand.