Looking to buy a new Tumbler *link to fine corn cob inside*

[soundguy]

a collander works.. though lyman makes a specific one you set on a pucket and pour thru.

[CampingJosh]

Originally Posted by Chadk

do you then have to own a media seperator?

You don't have to. I did two batches of brass without one. Pick out each case, dump it out, put it in the bucket.

But that way sucks. The media separator is worthwhile.

[ozo]

I use white rice for media

[soundguy]

i cut my treated lyman corn cob media withun treated corn cob litter media, plus white rice. 25# bag of rice is like 7# at walmart... 25# bag of untreaded pet litter corn cob media is abot 8$.. and the lyman media, treated corn cob is about 18& per 4# .. I mix em up and really, really extend my media. you can buy media reactivator and add in a bit too. can also add in a lil brass polish compound to the media.. makes a great shine.

I usually ultrasonic clean all my brass as well.

[Fast Forward]

Originally Posted by steve4102

Not to mention it is Fast and Very Quiet!

I just got the Cabelas,,comes with a bag of Nuts and a bottle of polish,,I,ts quiet doesn,t walk across the floor and it works great,,thanks for the info Guys

[JLA]

I wanna get a media separator. I have a sifter bowl but it makes a friggin mess if i shake it around too violently. and picken em out one by one sucks especially if youre tumbling about a thousand .380s

[soundguy]

get 2 5g buckets.. the lyman sifter sets on a 5g bucket mouth perfectly.

then pour your tumbler basket into that or another bucket.. then pour thru..

[dayooper]

I have owned a large capacity Thumler's Tumbler for many years and never had to replace anything. For tumbling media, I found a 50 lb bag of crushed walnut shells for only $16.50 at an abrasive equipment distributor in Tucson. You could look online or in the yellow pages under "abrasives" and probably find a similar price in your area. This is alot cheaper than buying from one of the internet reloading distributors and paying shipping costs on top of what you see.

[oldman570]

The newer 1200 Lyman trubo with the seperator built in is the best I have used in over 35+ years of reloading. I've use most all of the other tumblers made and have sent them to the scrapyard farly quick. The new sonic liquid units do a super job, but alot of orep and cleanup makes them a big pain. The fine media from Drillspot with 3 parts Brasso polish to 1 part paint thinner mixed and allowed to mix in with the media really dose a fast and supper job of cleaning and dose not stick in the primer holes as other media dose. JMO
Oldman570

[soundguy]

the group had a cow when i mentioned ZI also used a lil brass polish on.. well.. brass. that tip was given to me from an old guy that relaods lots of wildcats... I imagine after use any amonia flashes off.. but whatever.. may cause less chest clutching to switch to nufinish car polish or something..

[Clipper]

Originally Posted by steve4102

My Tumbler history and opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

I have owned and still own a few tumblers.
Frankfort Arsenal (Midway).
RCBS
Cabala's
Berry's

The FA was slow and loud. The motor quite after a few years. I purchased a new motor, it lasted a few more years and quit. My experience, slow, loud and not very durable.

The RCBS is fast, it is also very loud, very loud. The motor quite after several years, I purchased a new one from RCBS for less than $20. It is still going strong and works very well. It is loud, I can't leave it run in the garage overnight cuz it keeps my wife awake. My experience, fast, durable and loud.

I purchased the Cabala's when my RCBS was down with a BO motor. This unit is fast really fast, it is also extremely quiet. I can have it running in my man cave and still listen to the radio. My experience, fast, quiet and still running after many years.

I purchased a Berry's because I needed another tumbler, OK I didn't need one I wanted one. This unit is fast, very fast and very quiet. In fact it is identical to the Cabala's tumbler as Berry's is the manufacturer of the Cabala's unit. My experience, Fast and quiet.

IMO, if you want speed, quiet, and durability go Cabala's or Berry's which ever one is cheaper.

Hmmm, I also have a RCBS tumbler with a burned out motor. I called Customer Service regarding the motor but they didn't offer any solution. I still have the thing gathering dust under my bench, think I'll ding them again for a new motor!

I use a large mesh bag for media separation, works fine for me.

[Buzzard II]

Thumblers Tumbler from Buffalo Arms and stainless steel pins. Dish detergent and Lemishine from Wally World. Cleans primer pockets and brass comes out like new. Real good on blackpowder!

[bradley485]

If you guys are cleaning large amounts of brass then you may want to consider a cement fixer. You can purchase a small one at Harbor Freight for cheap and it will do a lot of brass quick. I sell brass so I work with large amounts, but I use a few of their large models and hook timers for the power.
I use white rice and brasso and it does a great job. I buy the rice at 18.00 for 50 lbs so it is a great way to clean cheaply.

[soundguy]

they do have plastic tubs too!

[flintlock]

Last year I bought my second Lyman Turbo Tumbler 1200. The first only lasted 14 years.

[mike.h]

I got into reloading about a years ago, using the Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit with Quick-N-EZ Rotary Media Separator. It works very well...one suggestion; is to put a dryer sheet in with your brass, helps with the dust.

[soundguy]

hmm.. havn't tried that one yet.

next on my list..

[bradley485]

Anyone else use rice as media? I use it all the time and it works great and it keeps the dust down. I made a media separator out of a manure spreader. The mesh barrel used for manure spreaders is perfect. I just built a box for it and drop the drum down into two slots I cut then added a simple handle to turn it. I can do 1500 - 2000 rounds at a time.

[soundguy]

i use a mix of rice in my tumbler... add in some walnet treated media and corn cob as well.

might start adding in a dryer sheet .. sometimes I add some nufinish car polish too

[jbbooks4440]

Been using the Hornady M-2 Tumbler. For media and polishing have been using Zilla crushed Walnut Reptile bedding (can be picked at @ pet stores)and some Nu Finish Car polish --both were Youtube tips for saving $$. So far its been working out, but again Im just starting out in the reloading hobby...

[siplace]

Originally Posted by Twicepop

Thirty + years ago I purchased a Thumler's Tumbler, and am still using it. Every few years I have to replace the drive belt, for this I go to the local hardware store and get large neoprene O rings that I match to the size of the drive belt, works like a charm. The tumbling media I use is straight ground corn cob media for cleaning dirty stuff, such as range brass and the like. A25/75% mixture of the ground corn cob and treated crushed walnut hulls for general cleaning with little polishing effect. Then for polishing my brass I use the jewlers rouge impregnated walnut hulls. Don't put dirty brass into the walnut hull media, treat it with polishing rejuvinator occasionally and it lasts for a very long time before having to discard it.


those who beat their guns into plowshares, will plow for those who didn't

I just picked up a Thumlers "B" model off of an auction site for about 80 bucks including S&H. Looks like it needs a little tender loving care. Some oil and some paint. Seller says it runs well. We will see.

Do you use yours wet? All the videos I have seen on these use Stainless steel pins, water and a bit of Lemi-shine with some Dawn dish washing liquid. Water comes out opaque dark brown, brass comes out looking clean as new. Inside and out even the primer pocket. Videos say the steel pins last forever.

I am new to reloading and I'm just curious how you do it.