Frankford Arsenal Platinum Rotary Tumbler

9mm case lemi shine, squirt of dawn, hot water to the edge of the drum and about 400 9mm cases is what I do. 223 is about 200-300

If it's the large rotory tumbler, they claim it will do 1000 .223. I've done 500 with no problem. I use a cap full of armorall wash and wax in place of the dawn.

What exactly did you buy ??????

I never count anything I put in my FART. I have learned as long as I don't go over 3/4 full it works. But if I stay around 1/2 full before adding pins It cleans a lot faster. LimeShine (citric acid) has to be adjusted to your water. The softer the water is the more limeshine is needed. Start with 1/2tsp if the brass does not clean up add more the next batch. I have to add 1 tsp since I switched over to county water from my well. My well is very acidic.

I prefer car wash w/wax since it will leave a protective coasting of wax behind to slow down the tarnishing process.

For the large FA rotary tumbler they list a max of 30lbs total weight. Thats putting the drum with brass, pins and liquid on a scale.

I've used the 5lbs of pins 900 9mm cases and water to the edge of the rim of the tumbler, like it says in the instructions. Comes to about 26lbs on my scale.

Dave

Blue68f100 said:

I never count anything I put in my FART. I have learned as long as I don't go over 3/4 full it works. But if I stay around 1/2 full before adding pins It cleans a lot faster. LimeShine (citric acid) has to be adjusted to your water. The softer the water is the more limeshine is needed. Start with 1/2tsp if the brass does not clean up add more the next batch. I have to add 1 tsp since I switched over to county water from my well. My well is very acidic.

I prefer car wash w/wax since it will leave a protective coasting of wax behind to slow down the tarnishing process.

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So I dont follow your logic on lemishine "aka citric acid" . The harder your water is the more lemishine you add to lower the ph. If your water is already soft why would you add even more acid. More is not better and strange color issues happen to the cases if to much is used or allowed to sit.

Soft water has a high pH, basic. So more acid is needed.

total recoil said:

What exactly did you buy ??????

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From the @SUBJ:

Frankford Arsenal Platinum Rotary Tumbler

Blue68f100 said:

Soft water has a high pH, basic. So more acid is needed.

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This is how I understand things

I have the "FART Lite" and have noticed the tumbling action is much better if you can see some level of brass when the drum is on the machine. The drum doesn't have paddles inside like most tumblers to make the brass tumble, that seems to be done by the weight of the contents.

rfwobbly said:

I have the "FART Lite" and have noticed the tumbling action is much better if you can see some level of brass when the drum is on the machine. The drum doesn't have paddles inside like most tumblers to make the brass tumble, that seems to be done by the weight of the contents.

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I've never seen a Lite version. Does it not have all the angles and divots like the larger Fart?

Pic of my larger "Platinum Series" FART.


Dave

D Rock said:

I've never seen a Lite version.
Dave

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The "Lite" has a smaller drum with a single cap. It might hold 1000 small pistol cases max, but it has the same hexagon shape to the drum.

https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...ing-tumblers/rotary-tumbler-lite/1097878.html



From time to time you'll see new users complain about the FART. I suspect that they threw 50 cases into the tumbler and expected it to act like a vibratory tumbler. IME, 50 cases is not enough to start the tumbling action. The minimum might be closer to 150-200 pieces.

Thanks, rfwobbly.

I usually clean about 900 +/- 9mm in my full sized. I looked it up and I think one would have to do less with the FART Lite. "This tumbler can hold up to 300 pieces of .223 brass."
https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...umbler-lite/1097878.html?avad=55097_a1abad42d

Dave

rfwobbly said:

From time to time you'll see new users complain about the FART. I suspect that they threw 50 cases into the tumbler and expected it to act like a vibratory tumbler. IME, 50 cases is not enough to start the tumbling action. ...

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Huh. An interesting observation and something that had never crossed my mind.

I have always, naturally, waited until I have a full load because running the process with small batches seems horribly inefficient & effort-wasteful to me.

D Rock said:

I usually clean about 900 +/- 9mm in my full sized. I looked it up and I think one would have to do less with the FART Lite. "This tumbler can hold up to 300 pieces of .223 brass."
https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...umbler-lite/1097878.html?avad=55097_a1abad42d

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And I think that's where the "problem" begins.

All my brass ranges from small to tiny compared to 223. And FA only quotes 223 quantities, like they think that's all anyone shoots anymore. FA offers zero insights concerning pistol brass, which to me at least, is very short sighted. If customers buy the larger unit, then find out it takes 600-900 pistol cases to get the rolling action started... well what new reloader has 900 cases ?

D Rock said:

I have always, naturally, waited until I have a full load because running the process with small batches seems horribly inefficient & effort-wasteful to me.

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Correct. And it's that time efficiency that finally forces people to start using "full container" sized batches.

For us pistol guys, you can't simply go by "tumbling load weight". 223 won't "nest" inside 308, making it hard to separate. But 32 will nest inside 9mm, which will nest inside 40, which will in turn nest inside 45ACP !! I might get 2 or 3 cases nested cases in a vibratory tumbler, but in wet tumbling... if it can nest then it does !! This means pistol reloaders also need to be very careful how they make up their tumbling loads, or they'll spend more time separating than tumbling.


The FART is a great tumbler. No small parts to loose. A leak-free closure. Very good water protection for the motor. But it will force you re-think all your case cleaning processes.
.

My full size FART doesn't have a handle on the lid like the lite version that is pictured. Sure would make it easier to carry to the sink.

I limit the weight on my Platinum model to 15 lbs of brass, pins and water. Any heavier and the drum seems to not spin fast enough. I run mine the full three hours. I also use 100% real lemon juice. I can buy 2 quarts of juice for what the large bottle of lemi shine costs. I'll clean 250-300 .45 ACP cases, adding the water about 2" above the brass, add one ounce of juice and a few drops of Dawn. I also de-prime all my cases first.

Drying is out in direct sunlight for 2-3 hours and then ready to load.

Bill

HDMontana said:

My full size FART doesn't have a handle on the lid like the lite version that is pictured. Sure would make it easier to carry to the sink.

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That is a nice feature. Even the "Lite" can get its 1 gal canister on the heavy side when it's full of water and brass.

I'm not sure they do this anymore, but when I bought my Dillon it came with a free "assistant", and I simply let her do all the heavy lifting.

Darth-Vang said:

What’s the brass capacity...

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Check your instructions. 15 # rings a bell.

I bought my Dillon it came with a free "assistant"

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Looks like I high maintenance item to me, probably very expensive to keep working.

rfwobbly said:

I have the "FART Lite" and have noticed the tumbling action is much better if you can see some level of brass when the drum is on the machine. The drum doesn't have paddles inside like most tumblers to make the brass tumble, that seems to be done by the weight of the contents.

Click to expand...

I have the Lite as well. Wasn’t pleased with the tumbling action. Cases came out cleaned but I was having to tumble them a good bit long than people was reporting. I found this on a review somewhere, but I cut a Half shape out of plastic and stuck it in the drum. Works much better. Cut this one a little large but going to cut a few on the water jet at some point for a better fit.

Jwbfx4 said:

I have the Lite as well. I found this on a review somewhere, but I cut a Half shape out of plastic and stuck it in the drum.

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Not that is a cool idea. Thanks so much.

Jwbfx4
Same lite here, I have to give more time in order to get cleaner rounds even with pins (I don't use Lemi shine).
I will try with an strip insert.