Had to get a new rotary tumbler

[SheepDog]

I checked the different capacities because my old Thumbler's 6AL was on the small side and I wanted to up-grade the replacement. Comparing prices, capacity and reliability I had two options. The big Thumbler's and the Frankford Arsenal tumbler. I found a new Frankford Arsenal at a ridiculously low price so I bought it. I paid $120 and got free shipping. I didn't want to use the liquid and steel pin media so I called customer service to ask if dry media would hurt the tumbler. I was told it would not hurt the tumbler but it would likely scratch and dent the brass.
I gave it a try with some range brass filling the can one third with cases and then another third with media. WOW! I have never heard anything so loud. The timer was set for one hour and I had to leave the shop while it worked. When I came back to check on the brass I was a little disappointed with the job it did but I was going to try again. Another third of the can with more range brass and then I filled the can with walnut media to about an inch below full. I set the timer for an hour and it only made about half as much noise. I prepped some cases while it worked and I was not driven out by the noise. When the tumbler shut off I opened it up to find nicely cleaned brass. It did a great job and the brass was all shiny and ready to prep. It cleans three times as much brass as my old tumbler and only takes twice the time.
I am a happy camper!

 

[butchlambert]

I checked the different capacities because my old Thumbler's 6AL was on the small side and I wanted to up-grade the replacement. Comparing prices, capacity and reliability I had two options. The big Thumbler's and the Frankford Arsenal tumbler. I found a new Frankford Arsenal at a ridiculously low price so I bought it. I paid $120 and got free shipping. I didn't want to use the liquid and steel pin media so I called customer service to ask if dry media would hurt the tumbler. I was told it would not hurt the tumbler but it would likely scratch and dent the brass.
I gave it a try with some range brass filling the can one third with cases and then another third with media. WOW! I have never heard anything so loud. The timer was set for one hour and I had to leave the shop while it worked. When I came back to check on the brass I was a little disappointed with the job it did but I was going to try again. Another third of the can with more range brass and then I filled the can with walnut media to about an inch below full. I set the timer for an hour and it only made about half as much noise. I prepped some cases while it worked and I was not driven out by the noise. When the tumbler shut off I opened it up to find nicely cleaned brass. It did a great job and the brass was all shiny and ready to prep. It cleans three times as much brass as my old tumbler and only takes twice the time.
I am a happy camper!

Well goody for you!

 

[Rsadams]

Good deal.. but why not just pick up a vibration tumbler.. you can pick up the Frankford pretty cheap on sale like 40 bucks sometimes... I use the Cabela's tumbler and it also works great... It probably wouldn't make so much noise...

 

[Webster]

I checked the different capacities because my old Thumbler's 6AL was on the small side and I wanted to up-grade the replacement. Comparing prices, capacity and reliability I had two options. The big Thumbler's and the Frankford Arsenal tumbler. I found a new Frankford Arsenal at a ridiculously low price so I bought it. I paid $120 and got free shipping. I didn't want to use the liquid and steel pin media so I called customer service to ask if dry media would hurt the tumbler. I was told it would not hurt the tumbler but it would likely scratch and dent the brass.
I gave it a try with some range brass filling the can one third with cases and then another third with media. WOW! I have never heard anything so loud. The timer was set for one hour and I had to leave the shop while it worked. When I came back to check on the brass I was a little disappointed with the job it did but I was going to try again. Another third of the can with more range brass and then I filled the can with walnut media to about an inch below full. I set the timer for an hour and it only made about half as much noise. I prepped some cases while it worked and I was not driven out by the noise. When the tumbler shut off I opened it up to find nicely cleaned brass. It did a great job and the brass was all shiny and ready to prep. It cleans three times as much brass as my old tumbler and only takes twice the time.
I am a happy camper!

Has anyone designed and built a large tumbler. If we can build electronic annealers someone could come up with a design and part list. 8" diameter plastic pipe, 20" long, thread on end cap, motor, rollers, on/off switch. The real problem is what abrasive material that's cheap.

 

[spclark]

Has anyone designed and built a large tumbler. If we can build electronic annealers someone could come up with a design and part list. 8" diameter plastic pipe, 20" long, thread on end cap, motor, rollers, on/off switch.

Yeah, I've seen something like that the past couple of years somewheres... can't recall exactly where though. Market's likely pretty small considering how many truly need that kind of capacity who aren't also capable of building their own from scratch. 8" PVC & fittings might be the biggest hurdle, that stuff's not cheap!

(Here's another DIY idea!)

I just processed 300 308's in my Model B this morning, took two hours (usual run time) & they're probably dry by now sitting out on my driveway in the sun.

 

[SheepDog]

In answer to why I didn't buy a vibratory tumbler - I have the big orange beast and besides the fact that it is noisy and takes forever to polish brass it is fine. Some day I will give it away to someone I really dislike. I will never go back to wet cleaning brass. It is too much hassle to clean, rinse and dry the brass. I tried that long ago before it was popular and it failed on the amount of time it takes to process brass. I take my brass out of the tumbler and process it. No need to rinse and dry before I prep and reload it.

 

[Rsadams]

In answer to why I didn't buy a vibratory tumbler - I have the big orange beast and besides the fact that it is noisy and takes forever to polish brass it is fine. Some day I will give it away to someone I really dislike. I will never go back to wet cleaning brass. It is too much hassle to clean, rinse and dry the brass. I tried that long ago before it was popular and it failed on the amount of time it takes to process brass. I take my brass out of the tumbler and process it. No need to rinse and dry before I prep and reload it.

Lol... Someone you dislike... I have both also but agree on wet tumbling. I only do it for dirty range stuff like if it's muddy ...

 

[dickn52]

I use the thumlers for rifle and vibrator pot for pistol. I have 2 drums. One is SS media and the other is dry walnut with polish. The pot is using walnut right now. I get the lizard stuff at Petco.

 

[Rsadams]

I use the thumlers for rifle and vibrator pot for pistol. I have 2 drums. One is SS media and the other is dry walnut with polish. The pot is using walnut right now. I get the lizard stuff at Petco.

Don't forget you can get 25 lbs of crushed walnut media at harbor freight for $25....

 

[Milo 2.0]

They make big ones, high dollar though.

http://therockshed.com/tumbler4.html

 

[dickn52]

Don't forget you can get 25 lbs of crushed walnut media at harbor freight for $25....

Don't that much. I can get 25qts for under $20.00 at Petco.

 

[SheepDog]

I buy walnut media at the local seed, grain and farm supply. The label says its edible and nutritious but I was told it is blast media for sand blasting. 25 pound sack for $20 dollars. Its about the same size as a 50 pound bag of taters. I use black diamond media in my blaster. I think it would wear the brass out in a short time.

 

[Rsadams]

I buy walnut media at the local seed, grain and farm supply. The label says its edible and nutritious but I was told it is blast media for sand blasting. 25 pound sack for $20 dollars. Its about the same size as a 50 pound bag of taters. I use black diamond media in my blaster. I think it would wear the brass out in a short time.

Lol yes it would...

 

[ToddKS]

Has anyone designed and built a large tumbler. If we can build electronic annealers someone could come up with a design and part list. 8" diameter plastic pipe, 20" long, thread on end cap, motor, rollers, on/off switch. The real problem is what abrasive material that's cheap.

If you are looking for high capacity tumbling cement mixers are an easy option. I wet tumble in a cement mixer that is lined with rubber matting. I dry tumble in a Thumblers UV-45. I can dry tumble in the cement mixer but it takes longer and gets dust everywhere.

Unless you are needing to process brass 5 gallon buckets at a time these high capacity situations are not worth the investment. It takes a different approach to deal with 7 gallons of water and 40# of brass than in a smaller rotary tumbler. Same for the UV-45 with 3000+ 9mm cases in it plus the media. It is a lot of weight to deal with.

I do most of my small batch stuff in a Thumblers UV-18.

 

[Jdne5b]

In answer to why I didn't buy a vibratory tumbler - I have the big orange beast and besides the fact that it is noisy and takes forever to polish brass it is fine. Some day I will give it away to someone I really dislike. I will never go back to wet cleaning brass. It is too much hassle to clean, rinse and dry the brass. I tried that long ago before it was popular and it failed on the amount of time it takes to process brass. I take my brass out of the tumbler and process it. No need to rinse and dry before I prep and reload it.

I made this for wet tumbling. I also hate the hassle of clean, rinse, separate, drying brass. I now use it with fine corn cob from Grainger. I bought the 40lb bag of 20-40 grit for $40. I can do somewhere between 1000 and 1500 .223 cases in 2 large drums. Fewer cases gets done faster.

 

[divingin]

The real problem is what abrasive material that's cheap.

Walnut shell from Home Depot or other building material place. As stated by others, it's media for sandblasting. Choose a grit that minimizes kernels sticking in flash holes.