I’m looking for a good quality case tumbler that I will be using primarily for rifle rounds. Previously, I used a cleaning solution, but a tumbler seems to be the way to go in the long run. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Lyman tumblers, but they have a lot to choose from. I would say the biggest load that I would do at one time would be 100 .300 mag cases. Does anyone have any recommendations as to what would work best? I’m moving soon to an apartment, so I probably shouldn’t get something that is insanely loud. As far as price, I would say that $100 would be the ceiling, but I'd prefer to stay cheaper.
Recommend a Tumbler
- Thread starter sam700
- Start date
- Status
The Bushmaster
Member
Look at www.midwayusa.com ...They usually list the capacity of each tumbler...Yup Lyman, or whoever makes it for Lyman. Mine has been running for over 20 years and only cleaned the motor twice or maybe three times in that time...Good product...
I bought the Cabelas brand @ the store. It seems to work fine. I have nothing to compare it to though. The unit has a fan for the motor & an on/off switch. It is made by Berrys. The clear lid is not a big advantage as is get dust on it. I find you take the lid off to see better when you want to look at what's going on. The strainer type separator is fairly effective.
In trying to figure out what to buy there were too many conflicting reviews on every model. 1 guy says it is quiet & stays put. The next says it is loud & walks.
I was wanting a Lyman but decided to go cheap & get started. The autoflow looks like a good idea. Some reviews say it is great & some say it doesn't work.
I guess expectations play into it. I find how I load mine makes a difference.
Later,
WNTFW
In trying to figure out what to buy there were too many conflicting reviews on every model. 1 guy says it is quiet & stays put. The next says it is loud & walks.
I was wanting a Lyman but decided to go cheap & get started. The autoflow looks like a good idea. Some reviews say it is great & some say it doesn't work.
I guess expectations play into it. I find how I load mine makes a difference.
Later,
WNTFW
evan price
Member
I have a midway 1292 with the basket strainer, I leave it on for days at a time and it doesn't overheat or walk off my dining room table. As far as noise, if you load a lot of long rifle cases in it they will rattle and clatter but if you have a lot of pistol cases in it it is pretty quiet.
Be sure to check eBay for good deals on tumblers! Got my nearly new Midway 1292 with bucket, strainer and 6 lbs of media and both lids for $26 plus $12 ship.
Be sure to check eBay for good deals on tumblers! Got my nearly new Midway 1292 with bucket, strainer and 6 lbs of media and both lids for $26 plus $12 ship.
buenhec
Member
I just ordered the Cabelas tumbler,not a bad deal and comes with a bunch of stuff for under $50.
buenhec
Member
I just ordered the Cabelas tumbler,not a bad deal and comes with a bunch of stuff for under $50.
Starter52
Member
+1 for Lyman. I've had mine for 15+ years. Not the cheapest machine on the market, but very dependable.
FYI - I've found that adding a used dryer sheet to the contents helps reduce the noise.
FYI - I've found that adding a used dryer sheet to the contents helps reduce the noise.
res45
Member
I use one of these had mine about a years no problems so far
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=414369&t=11082005
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=414369&t=11082005
fourrobert13
Member
Another +1 for Lyman. Mine has been going strong for 10 years.
SilentArmy
Member
My Lyman turbo Magnum 2500 went 1 yr at Commercial (daily) use while my two Dillon CV2001's have been back to Dillon for motors twice and I bought them in June and August 2007! At least they do it for free other than $7.50 each time to send them to AZ. The Dillons run super quiet for about the first 100 hrs after which, they sound like a cessna as the bearings go to hell! I love the capacity of my Dillons but I could have bought 4 more Lymans for what they cost.
stubbicatt
Member
My Midway vibratory tumbler has served me well for probably 20 years or so. Now sometimes it doesn't want to start up when I flip the switch, so I guess it is become time to get something else.
Was thinking of one of those barrel type tumblers which you can use wet. Don't know that wet media will be any better, but maybe it is.
Was thinking of one of those barrel type tumblers which you can use wet. Don't know that wet media will be any better, but maybe it is.
Smokey Joe
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,617
Tumbler...
Sam 700--You want a vibratory tumbler, not a rotary (possible wet use) tumbler. Because you never want to get yr cases wet, since then you have to dry them, bringing up issues of proper drying methods, damage to primers if not dry, accidentally annealing cases while drying them in the oven, etc, etc.
The few cases that can't be cleaned dry aren't worth the hassle of cleaning 'em wet--chuck 'em into yr scrap bucket. Scrap brass is selling very well nowadays anyhow.
As to which vibratory tumbler, IMHO it doesn't make enough difference to worry about; they are all built the same. Get one you can get a good price on, and it will serve you well for many years. There's really not much to go wrong with these things--They're not exactly rocket science.
Never had a problem with mine "walking" while working, but I was concerned about that when I first got it so I made a simple fence for it, putting together 2 pcs. of 1x2 at a 90° angle, which I clamp to the workbench edge. The machine sits behind that, humming away.
I have BTDT with case cleaning: Cleaned by hand with a rag, washed in a bucket & dried in the oven, cleaned with horrid chemicals, etc, etc. Thought I was being smart in saving $$ not buying a tumbler. I wasn't. I was wasting my time and effort.
Get a cheap, vibratory tumbler, and a bag of finely-ground corncob lizard bedding from a pet store, and be done with it. (Some lizard bedding is too coarse!) A nice tumbler should cost < $40, and lizard bedding is much cheaper than corncob tumbling medium, although it's the same thing. You'll be glad you did.
Sam 700--You want a vibratory tumbler, not a rotary (possible wet use) tumbler. Because you never want to get yr cases wet, since then you have to dry them, bringing up issues of proper drying methods, damage to primers if not dry, accidentally annealing cases while drying them in the oven, etc, etc.
The few cases that can't be cleaned dry aren't worth the hassle of cleaning 'em wet--chuck 'em into yr scrap bucket. Scrap brass is selling very well nowadays anyhow.
As to which vibratory tumbler, IMHO it doesn't make enough difference to worry about; they are all built the same. Get one you can get a good price on, and it will serve you well for many years. There's really not much to go wrong with these things--They're not exactly rocket science.
Never had a problem with mine "walking" while working, but I was concerned about that when I first got it so I made a simple fence for it, putting together 2 pcs. of 1x2 at a 90° angle, which I clamp to the workbench edge. The machine sits behind that, humming away.
I have BTDT with case cleaning: Cleaned by hand with a rag, washed in a bucket & dried in the oven, cleaned with horrid chemicals, etc, etc. Thought I was being smart in saving $$ not buying a tumbler. I wasn't. I was wasting my time and effort.
Get a cheap, vibratory tumbler, and a bag of finely-ground corncob lizard bedding from a pet store, and be done with it. (Some lizard bedding is too coarse!) A nice tumbler should cost < $40, and lizard bedding is much cheaper than corncob tumbling medium, although it's the same thing. You'll be glad you did.
Last edited:
SilentArmy
Member
You are going to get media everywhere anyway! May as well just pour it out the top. I bought a Frankford arsenal media separator for about ten bucks and just use a small coffee can to empty the big Dillon machines but my lyman I just poured it into the separator. I would not spend anymore for a hole in the side of my machine!
Lyman Turbo Pro 1200, the name is fancier than the price. It's a good one!
Don't forget if you live in a sizable town, the corn cob media and ground walnut shells are common bedding in the larger pet stores for little pet lizards. Save big dollars and buy your media there! Thanks to the lizards we can save good money.
Don't forget if you live in a sizable town, the corn cob media and ground walnut shells are common bedding in the larger pet stores for little pet lizards. Save big dollars and buy your media there! Thanks to the lizards we can save good money.
Pumpkinheaver
Member
I have one from Midway that has been going strong for 8 or 9 years. It is there own model. They are now sold under the frankfort arsenal name.
pinkymingeo
Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2007
- Messages
- 591
Vibratory tumblers are loud, period. Living in an apartment, you might not be able to run it without complaints from the neighbors. I went with a Thumlers Model B rotary because of noise, and couldn't be happier. The downside is cost. At $150, it was more than my press. The upside? Cleans faster and better than my old vibratory. Uses less media (dry, not wet). Built to last a lifetime. Quiet.
Smokey Joe
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,617
Noise factor...
Pinky Mingeo--I must respectfully disagree. You said
I will certainly agree that a rotary is quiet, dry or wet. And your using yr rotary dry rather than wet, is a mark of intelligence IMHO. But unless you were to operate it on top of some kind of sounding box, I can't imagine a vibratory tumbler making an unacceptable racket.
Mind you, I'm glad you now have something that works for you, and that you are happy with. Agree that in an apartment situation, consideration of the neighbors' reaction to yr activities is important.
Pinky Mingeo--I must respectfully disagree. You said
My tumbler--It happens to be a Berry's--sits on my basement workbench while working, and upstairs directly over the workbench there is a barely audible hum. What tumblers did you listen to, while actually working WITH a load of medium and cases, before deciding that they were all noisy? IIWY I wouldn't tar 'em all with the same broad brush.
I will certainly agree that a rotary is quiet, dry or wet. And your using yr rotary dry rather than wet, is a mark of intelligence IMHO. But unless you were to operate it on top of some kind of sounding box, I can't imagine a vibratory tumbler making an unacceptable racket.
Mind you, I'm glad you now have something that works for you, and that you are happy with. Agree that in an apartment situation, consideration of the neighbors' reaction to yr activities is important.
mjrodney
Member
Be careful with the coarse reptile corn and small diameter rifle cartridges like the .223.
.223 brass will fill up and clog tight.
It can take you hours to get the corn unjammed.
In straight wall pistol, coarse reptile corn works. It's cheap and cleans fast.
In shouldered rifle, use the small stuff.
.223 brass will fill up and clog tight.
It can take you hours to get the corn unjammed.
In straight wall pistol, coarse reptile corn works. It's cheap and cleans fast.
In shouldered rifle, use the small stuff.
AirplaneDoc
Member
I'm in the market for a 2nd tumbler just to have as well. I think the vribratory are all basically the same. I have a old midway that has served me well for 15+, and it has been given a workout. I am going with whatever I can get my hands on easily and for the right price. When i stumble onto one, I am going to get it, what color it is dosn't really matter. Just my .02
I went with the Lyman Turbo 2500 from Natchez. It was on sale for $61.99. The only problem with the 2500, it does not have an on/off switch. I ended buying an appliance timer and set it when I'm doing a load of brass. The brass comes out clean between 2-4 hours, depending how dirty the brass was.
pinkymingeo
Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2007
- Messages
- 591
Me and my sweeping, all-encompassing statements! A vibratory doesn't have to be objectionable, of course, if you have the facilities. My house is wood, floors wood, no basement (it would be under water), no slab. Any place I put a vibratory it, well, vibrates. And the sound carries. On the other hand, I can share a room with the rotary no sweat, and the neighbors aren't throwing rotted fruit and road kill in my yard to retaliate. Since the Thumlers has enormous capacity (600 45acp is the most I've done at one time, but it'll take a lot more), is quiet, and will last forever my choice was clear. Other folks, other circumstances, other choices.
shooter1
Member
I've had a Llyman for over 20yrs. It's still going strong. I recently bought a "Frankford Arsenal" tumbler from miday because of the volume of cases I need to clean. It works great and is larger than my Llyman. And, it was on sale for $29.95. I use the RCBS media seperator, and just dump the tumbler contents directly into it. If you set the tumblers in the floor on carpet or a rug of some sort, they are very quiet, especially the Llyman.
str1
str1
So, if I picked up a vibratory cleaner and put it on a carpeted floor, would the noise level be acceptable in an apartment? It sounds like a wood table would be a no-go in this situation.
What about dust. Is there ever an issue with them spreading dust when the cover is on or does the lid seal pretty well?
What about dust. Is there ever an issue with them spreading dust when the cover is on or does the lid seal pretty well?
- Status
