rotary tumblers

[wheelgun7360]

guys, looking for advice on rotary tumblers. going to start the stainless pins tumbling method. already have the pins and lemishine. what do yall recommend, thumbler, lortone, rebel 17 or something else ? want 1 that will last for several years so harbor freight is out. thanks allen

 

[Damfino]

The Rebel 17 has been a good one for me. Seems robust and well-built. I've tried to overload it a couple of times and it keeps on chugging. No experience with any of the others.

 

[michaelnel]

I have a Thumler's Tumbler, and if I were in the market for a wet SS tumbler today, I would buy the Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler (affectionately known as the FART). It is a much better design than the Thumler.

 

[wheelgun7360]

from what I have read I think i'll go with the rebel 17. thanks for all the replys. allen

 

[Joe R]

Allen,
Before you jump take a look at the FART ;D here's a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CK252BJn_4 its the only tumbler designed specifically for cleaning brass. The others are rock tumblers adapted to cleaning brass. It's also cheaper than the Rebel 17. But its only money anyway...

Joe

 

[wheelgun7360]

where's the frankford arsenal made and what kind of warranty does it have? also where's the rebel made? I know it has a 3 year warranty on the drum and 1 year on the motor. thanks allen

 

[waldo1979]

I have a Rebel 17 it works great. I've noticed a burr develops on the lip after tumbling. I can't imagine the FART spinning that fast is good for the brass. Rebel 17 has a proven record for 1000 yard accuracy. The octo-screw cap is easy to make leak free.

My Rebel 17 is rusting near the welds. At the rate it's rusting (i used it 3-4 times a week) it'll likely last me my lifetime.

The STM kits are fairly reasonable:
http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/products/package-kits/stm-complete-package.html

I also picked up a cheapo food dehydrator for drying the brass.

Another option which has zero impact on the brass is an ultrasonic cleaner. Still requires cleaning primer pockets however its far fast overall and has zero impact on the brass.

 

[7stubby]

where's the frankford arsenal made and what kind of warranty does it have? also where's the rebel made? I know it has a 3 year warranty on the drum and 1 year on the motor. thanks allen

Frankford is made in china. They have a one year warrenty.
I had a thumblers before I bought the frankford. I'm glad i sold my thumblers yo get my frankford. No worries about rust as its a plastic drum with a molded rubber liner inside. Gear drive too. No worries of belts to slip. Had that problem with the thumblers.

 

[ericbc7]

Some things I've observed wet tumbling,

To minimize peening case mouths you can increase the ratio of pins to brass.

Wet tumbling with too large a tumbler volume compared to volume of media and cases can also aggravate peening. Filling the tumbler with more water will reduce the force of impacts and peening (and make process somewhat less efficient).