Rotary tumbling or vibratory?

[SteveOak]

Are there any negative(s) to a vibratory tumbler that a rotary does not have?

I would run it in the garage so noise is not an issue. Nor is a modest amount of dust.

I use corn and a little Nu Finish.

Thank you.

 

[dantiff2]

Are there any negative(s) to a vibratory tumbler that a rotary does not have?

I would run it in the garage so noise is not an issue. Nor is a modest amount of dust.

I use corn and a little Nu Finish.

Thank you.

You can always go to the wet tumbling method for the "really" bad stuff (if you have to) with a rotary. It is the only way to go, if you collect range brass!

 

[USMCDOC]

i have one of those big vibratory models from HF.. works great!

 

[Jdne5b]

I run both. My rotary has more volume, and is a little harder on case mouths. You can reduce that some by using more media and less brass. I could probably change a pulley and slow it down some.

My vibe tends to polish better.

 

[dcali]

Are there any negative(s) to a vibratory tumbler that a rotary does not have?

I would run it in the garage so noise is not an issue. Nor is a modest amount of dust.

I use corn and a little Nu Finish.

Thank you.

They don’t clean as aggressively as pins in a wet tumbler. To me that’s a good thing.

But the real answer to the question you didn’t ask (“do you need to clean brass”) is no. It’s not any more helpful than washing your hands.

 

[dcali]

i have one of those big vibratory models from HF.. works great!

+1 on this. These are a great value.

 

[r bose]

Had a well known gunsmith tell me to wet tumble. Dry, vibratory tumblers leave a small amount of corn dust in the cases and when fired will wear barrels quicker than normal. Went to wet tumbling, no pins, and never looked back.

 

[SSL]

True or not, I always felt that the tumbling method could be tougher on brass than the vibratory. Tumbling means cases actually tumbling (falling) from one side of the container to the other and could lead to deformed case mouths and dents. The more sliding and vibrating action of the vibratory method seems like it would be much easier on cases. Once tumbled and all media emptied from cases, they can be shuffled in a heavy napped towel to wipe virtually all the dust residue clean.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Had a well known gunsmith tell me to wet tumble. Dry, vibratory tumblers leave a small amount of corn dust in the cases and when fired will wear barrels quicker than normal. Went to wet tumbling, no pins, and never looked back.

That’s hard to believe.

 

[RegionRat]

Dry, vibratory tumblers leave a small amount of corn dust in the cases and when fired will wear barrels quicker than normal.

I would be curious if whoever told you that could site a reference?

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I would be curious if whoever told you that could site a reference?

Even if there was a minute bit of dust in the case, wouldn’t the powder combustion eliminate it?

 

[drop_point]

True or not, I always felt that the tumbling method could be tougher on brass than the vibratory. Tumbling means cases actually tumbling (falling) from one side of the container to the other and could lead to deformed case mouths and dents. The more sliding and vibrating action of the vibratory method seems like it would be much easier on cases. Once tumbled and all media emptied from cases, they can be shuffled in a heavy napped towel to wipe virtually all the dust residue clean.

Did you feel it or observe it? I've used rotary wet rotary tumblers for five years and have never noticed a dented case mouth. Perhaps some brands are harder on cases than others?

 

[RegionRat]

Even if there was a minute bit of dust in the case, wouldn’t the powder combustion eliminate it?

Would likely be nearly indistinguishable from the normal combustion products but I doubt we could even isolate them in an actual gun setting. Corn Cob media dust is very similar to some of the normal powder ingredients of many powders.

 

[Shooter13]

Had a well known gunsmith tell me to wet tumble. Dry, vibratory tumblers leave a small amount of corn dust in the cases and when fired will wear barrels quicker than normal. Went to wet tumbling, no pins, and never looked back.

Have you tried wet tumbling (no pins) with Frankfurt Arsenals cleaner? (looks like the pod for dishwasher). They do really good!!

 

[The German]

With a vibratory tumbler, you can use the brass right after cleaning, with the wet rotary ones, there is still the drying process. I have both, but most of the time, I use the wet rotary with pins because there must be a female side in me that like the shiny, like gold looking stuff more than the clean, but not so shiny part. Besides that, both ways work well.

 

[mongo chicago]

Used a rotary tumbler for the longest time. I agree with the posters that comment about dented case mouths. Replaced it with a bigger vibratory case cleaner. Quieter and cases are undamaged. Never went the "wet" route in a tumbler but did the boiling stove top cleaning. Too sloppy & much work. If the cases need to be cleaner - just vibrate longer.

 

[SSL]

Did you feel it or observe it? I've used rotary wet rotary tumblers for five years and have never noticed a dented case mouth. Perhaps some brands are harder on cases than others?

Used a smaller Thumler's Tumbler for a very short time back in the early 90s and noticed some case mouths dented (.22-250, .30-06, .45-70 and etc.). Enought to make me wonder. I wanted a larger capacity unit anyway and bought a Lyman vibratory. That same unit is still running strong and I've never noticed a dented case mouth since. Did add an RCBS Case/Media Separator to clean the media from the cases faster before I 'shuffle' the cases in a towel, but that's about it.

 

[drop_point]

Used a smaller Thumler's Tumbler for a very short time back in the early 90s and noticed some case mouths dented (.22-250, .30-06, .45-70 and etc.). Enought to make me wonder. I wanted a larger capacity unit anyway and bought a Lyman vibratory. That same unit is still running strong and I've never noticed a dented case mouth since. Did add an RCBS Case/Media Separator to clean the media from the cases faster before I 'shuffle' the cases in a towel, but that's about it.

I could see those doing it. Going strong with my Frankfort with no problems. Its plastic and lined in a softer rubber.

 

[SteveOak]

With a vibratory tumbler, you can use the brass right after cleaning, with the wet rotary ones, there is still the drying process. I have both, but most of the time, I use the wet rotary with pins because there must be a female side in me that like the shiny, like gold looking stuff more than the clean, but not so shiny part. Besides that, both ways work well.

Nu Finish makes them shiny.

Thanks for all the info!

 

[DiRTY DOG]

If your bench shot brass never touches the ground, you don't need to clean them.

BUT if you scrounge for free 9mm/556 brass in the dirt and mud on public shooting spots like I do, then wet tumbling easily wins. You can take the nastiest tarnished and dirty brass, with gravel and spiders in the case mouth, and easily make it better than new. Dry vibrating won't ever get it as clean as wet. Once it's cleaned up, vibrating does fine for your own freshly fired brass.

I sold several tens of thousands of pistol brass a few years back. All free range pickup. All super nasty and tarnished. I tried dry vibrating but it took many hours to get mediocre results. The walnut media was full of dirt and junk, it got super dusty, and I burnt out my vibrator from extended use. Got a FART wet tumbler and it made the chore a breeze with excellent results.

Try dry vibrating these.