Jagermeister
Silver $$ Contributor
What is the best tumbler made now? I will be using media, but haven't put out using pins or liquid. Thanks
Tumblers
- Thread starter Jagermeister
- Start date
dillons are tough, but pricy. had one for years and when it quit it was cheaper to get new ones from amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Ar...9&sprefix=brass+thumblers,aps,127&sr=8-1&th=1 than to pay shipping and a new motor for the dillon. They were on sale for $45. I dry and wet moly, along with corn and walnut. I like the idea of the berrys one, the tub comes off to dump. I have 4 of the frankfort ones, and 2 lyman. of the cheaper ones I like the lyman.
https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Ar...9&sprefix=brass+thumblers,aps,127&sr=8-1&th=1 than to pay shipping and a new motor for the dillon. They were on sale for $45. I dry and wet moly, along with corn and walnut. I like the idea of the berrys one, the tub comes off to dump. I have 4 of the frankfort ones, and 2 lyman. of the cheaper ones I like the lyman.
rwj
Gold $$ Contributor
Vibratory or rotary tumbler?
I use Lyman's ultrasonic wet cleaner and then Lyman's tumbler with corn cob hulls. Has worked great for many years, still the same equipment.
JohnW...ski
Gold $$ Contributor
Try a Thumler's Tumbler.
http://www.thumlerstumbler.com/
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
I've finally got one - The FART - given to me. It is big, and seems like very versitile for wet, dry, pins, or whatever. I'm not much of a case cleaner, so I think this will be waaayyy good enough for me. jd
^^^this. I have an UV-18 (vibratory) that quit recently because the motor quit. 40 years old! That's service! And the company's service is impeccable! They also make a rotary model B that's also 40 something. I bought two drums for it when I purchased it. One for polishing brass and the other for rocks. I think the Dillon is made by them just different color.
As always and eternally it depends.
For some people the Harbor Freight Concrete Mixer works well for large batches unattended. I don't have one.
I do have a Thumlers. I did pull the liner and spray the inside of the metal drum with good paint before wet tumbling with the usual Dawn and Lumishine. It works well and is a quality build but sometimes I want bigger.
So I do have a bigger one: Frankford Arsenal Platinum though I did not pay anything like the current price.
I use coffee filters to separate media and cases with accessory screened end caps and a big screened separator. It's an elaborate process to do large batches and dry them.
To that for quick little mess add a Frankford vibratory kit with rotary separator also bought long ago enough to be half the current price.
I started with a small vibratory that worked well and replaced that with a not that large but very good rock tumbler with fan cooled motor and sleeved rotary shafts in pillow block bronze bearings. I set that up with a number of drums including a double drum; small drum with holes to pass media inside a large drum to collect the media. If I still had it, it would do everything I want. I gave it away when I was moving into housing that would discourage a full reloading setup - that didn't last but it was gone forever.
To that add an ultrasonic cleaner normally used for other things but handy for quick small batch brass for immediate use clean but not polished.
Liquid with steel pins gives the best results at the cost of much more effort and mess. Vibratory is adequate but messy and works best with fresh media; stretching the media by using it longer means more time tumbling and more mess. Ultrasonic is quick and convenient but demands special liquid for best results and scales from reasonably priced for small units to quite expensive for reasonable quantities in a single batch.
.
For some people the Harbor Freight Concrete Mixer works well for large batches unattended. I don't have one.
I do have a Thumlers. I did pull the liner and spray the inside of the metal drum with good paint before wet tumbling with the usual Dawn and Lumishine. It works well and is a quality build but sometimes I want bigger.
So I do have a bigger one: Frankford Arsenal Platinum though I did not pay anything like the current price.
I use coffee filters to separate media and cases with accessory screened end caps and a big screened separator. It's an elaborate process to do large batches and dry them.
To that for quick little mess add a Frankford vibratory kit with rotary separator also bought long ago enough to be half the current price.
I started with a small vibratory that worked well and replaced that with a not that large but very good rock tumbler with fan cooled motor and sleeved rotary shafts in pillow block bronze bearings. I set that up with a number of drums including a double drum; small drum with holes to pass media inside a large drum to collect the media. If I still had it, it would do everything I want. I gave it away when I was moving into housing that would discourage a full reloading setup - that didn't last but it was gone forever.
To that add an ultrasonic cleaner normally used for other things but handy for quick small batch brass for immediate use clean but not polished.
Liquid with steel pins gives the best results at the cost of much more effort and mess. Vibratory is adequate but messy and works best with fresh media; stretching the media by using it longer means more time tumbling and more mess. Ultrasonic is quick and convenient but demands special liquid for best results and scales from reasonably priced for small units to quite expensive for reasonable quantities in a single batch.
.
If you want to go the SS pin/water route, this unit was specifically made for tumbling brass. I've been using one for years without issue. It came with a spare belt which I have never needed.
STM SS pin tumbler Kit
I also use two Lyman vibratory tumblers. One has corncob media in it which cleans sizing wax off quickly. The other unit I just filled with rice. The rice has been recommended by a number of shooters, but I haven't tried it yet.
STM SS pin tumbler Kit
I also use two Lyman vibratory tumblers. One has corncob media in it which cleans sizing wax off quickly. The other unit I just filled with rice. The rice has been recommended by a number of shooters, but I haven't tried it yet.
I use the Harbor Freight rock tumnber about $40. OK for about 75-100 cases. I use pins.
RCE1
Gold $$ Contributor
Darth Thumbler
PhilC
Silver $$ Contributor
My first was a Lyman 1200 in 1987, still use it today. Bought a newer one a few years ago so I didn't have to change media. The new one is much quieter.
Local guy had a Thumlers B for sale, offered $100 sight unseen, he accepted and even delivered it, found 10lbs of brass inside. Cleaned, oiled, new belt, so quiet I forget it's running.
Local guy had a Thumlers B for sale, offered $100 sight unseen, he accepted and even delivered it, found 10lbs of brass inside. Cleaned, oiled, new belt, so quiet I forget it's running.
Fern
Silver $$ Contributor
Funny that’s the one I have been eyeing. I have the FART currently and will probably get the rebel 17 if this one dies
ELR LVR
Silver $$ Contributor
I have a big Dillon, but it's loud
My Blue Midway model has been going near 30 years and still runs quiet and smooth
I also set it on top of a rubber mat and when in the other room you dont even hear it.
I use walnut screened down below small flash hole size so I never have to deal with picking any pieces out of the holes
Everything is quick and easy
Takes maybe 10-15 minutes to tumble clean lubed cases
I don't tumble to get 'em shiny, I tumble to get em just clean enough to shoot
My Blue Midway model has been going near 30 years and still runs quiet and smooth
I also set it on top of a rubber mat and when in the other room you dont even hear it.
I use walnut screened down below small flash hole size so I never have to deal with picking any pieces out of the holes
Everything is quick and easy
Takes maybe 10-15 minutes to tumble clean lubed cases
I don't tumble to get 'em shiny, I tumble to get em just clean enough to shoot
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