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Help me buy a vibratory tumbler

Stud Duck

From my other thread, I have been convinced to purchase a vibratory tumbler to start-off with, so......which one of the following tumblers would you recommend? Keep in mind, I won't be cleaning a high volume of brass and quality is of utmost importance. That being said, price does not equal quality. ;)

Dillon CV750
https://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-s-cv-750-vibratory-case-cleaner_8_8_23659.html

Thumler Ultra Vibe 10
https://www.brownells.com/reloading...-ultra-vibe-vibratory-tumblers-prod54712.aspx
https://www.brownells.com/reloading...-ultra-vibe-vibratory-tumblers-prod54712.aspx
Berrys Tumbler
https://www.brownells.com/reloading...rs-accessories/berry-s-tumbler-prod36851.aspx
 
the dillon is great of you want to spend that much ( i have the larger one)
but honestly i also have a midway base model..even longer than the dillon.
 
My view on vibratory tumblers is pretty simple. There is a guy just outside Bejing, China making them in his garage and labeling them however you wish. Some of them are pretty much identical less label and color. I have several old units I bought from Midway over 25 years ago with extra bowls and they still run just fine. My experience with them has been paying more for a name brand does not always lead to a higher quality unit. Then there are always reviews:

SMOOTH AS A… 3 BEST BRASS TUMBLERS FOR RELOADING 2017 [REVIEWS]

Top 10 Best Brass Tumbler Reviews 2018

Did you ever wonder why they call a vibratory case cleaner a tumbler when it really doesn't tumble?

The vibratory units all work on the same principal and most use the same little motors to get the job done. Some people like to place them on a timer in a garage in case they forget the thing is running. I generally place mine on a ceramic tile, set it and forget it. Doing small loads you really don't have need for a large bowl so you may want to consider that.

Ron
 
I don't know about the guy in Bejing but I think Vibrahone(?) makes most of the vibratory tumblers. I burned out a motor and I think mine was a Hornady. They sent me to Vibrahone for the parts. As somebody else observed, don't pay a big price for one. Make sure there is nothing to foul the fan/eccentric weight and plenty of air flow around the motor and it should last a long time.
Tom Alves
 
Also, read and follow the manufacturer's recommendations about routine maintenance. I had a UV-18 that ran for many, many years. Well worth the cost, IMHO. When I buy cheap Chinese junk, that's exactly what I get.
 
I can't tell you which case tumbler is the quietest or will last the longest, but I can tell you any tumbler (or media separator) with holes in the top should be avoided. You have no need to see what's going on inside and its better to keep any and all dust inside.

IMO there's no need to spend more than $40 for the FA (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MYGLJC/?tag=accuratescom-20)
And the RCBS Media Separator (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KKD1TW/?tag=accuratescom-20).

Yes, Amazon often has better pricing than the firearms specialists do, but it's also good to support those who support us. Your call.

If you chooose the RCBS Separator, do spend some time looking at the hinges attaching the two clam shell halfs together. You will likely want to separate them to ease emptying the finished brass into whatever container you use.
 
I bought a Cabela's tumbler years ago and would buy another if ever needed. I have seen some good deals
where at times you get the corn cob media and polish for a good price. The Cabela's tumbler is quiet to me and
really keeps the brass moving along very well. Somewhere I thought I read an article that berrys is the outfit
that produces the Cabela's tumbler....Cabela's just puts their name on it. :)
 
pacificman said:
I bought a Cabela's tumbler years ago and would buy another if ever needed. I have seen some good deals
where at times you get the corn cob media and polish for a good price. The Cabela's tumbler is quiet to me and
really keeps the brass moving along very well. Somewhere I thought I read an article that berrys is the outfit
that produces the Cabela's tumbler....Cabela's just puts their name on it. :)
Click to expand...


^^^^^ This
 
pacificman said:
I bought a Cabela's tumbler years ago and would buy another if ever needed. I have seen some good deals
where at times you get the corn cob media and polish for a good price. The Cabela's tumbler is quiet to me and
really keeps the brass moving along very well. Somewhere I thought I read an article that berrys is the outfit
that produces the Cabela's tumbler....Cabela's just puts their name on it. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for mentioning this, never give Cabelas a thought, but I've got enough Cabela's Points on my card to cover this.

It does look the the Berrys unit.
 
I have the Lyman Turbo 1200, been using it for 5 years now and it is still going strong. Purchased from Cabela's on sale for $55. I use Walnut Shells and have the same gallon jug that I bought when I purchased the tumbler.

For the money I could not do any better. I have run close to 20,000 rounds through this unit. Works flawlessly.

To control the noise, I put it into a tall cooler and let it run. Can't tell you the number of times I have forgotten it was running. Deadens the sound that well.
 
I started with a Thumblers' unit and went thru all kinds of grief with it over a several year period - breaking belts, bushings going bad in spite of routine application of lube, spilling due to o'ring breakage and putting up with the noise. I bought a Midway vibratory unit and proceeded to go thru 3 or 4 of those over a several year period - due to motor burn outs.

My last purchase was a Dillon CV-750 unit and its been the best. It has the most powerful action of anything I've owned and will easily remove dry process moly plating wax and all, from bullets (I converted to wet moly). It is quieter than the others I've owned which is important since I run these in the house. The work load on my tumblers has decreased since I wet tumble most of my brass for reloading these days, but if I was going to go back to "dry", it would be with the Dillon.
 
My Lyman must be from the 1970's or 80's. It has two different size bowels. Have used it and abused it, noting only a minor drying and cracking of the rubber bumpers under the unit.

If/ when it ever breaks, my replacement will be the same as I think they still market near the same product.
 
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