Separating

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Guy48065

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Macomb Co. Mi
Anyone found a cheap but effective alternative to a $70 Frankford media separator?
Bingo ball tumbler... Hamster ball...?
I'm sure there are clever inventions out there.
 
One of those giant pretzle containers. Drill a bunch of small holes in the lid. Dump media plus cases into it, screw the lid on, turn it upside down over a 5 gallon bucket and shake the snot out of it until media quits falling out.

Protein powder jug works well also.
 
I'd think you could just cut a big opening in a milk jug, and put some slots in it to let media out. any waste basket or a 5 gallon bucket would do. I have one of the Frankfort separators and found it annoying at first, but now really appreciate it.

one of those kitty litter pans and tird separator would probably work pretty good too
 
I used a colander type for years, and always ended up having to shake most of the media out of bottleneck cases by hand anyway. A rotary separator has been one of the best time savers I have found. Don't they generally cost about 40 bucks? I have the small Dillon version and it meets all of my needs.
 
I have used a Cabelas rotary hand tumbler for 18yrs, and still going strong. Still got the tag on it, $20.99.
 
Get two buckets, one bigger than the other. Drill a bunch of 1/4” holes in the smaller, you can really agitate the snot out of the cases with this setup.
 
I was going to suggest a Hornady media separator, you know, because it’s red.
It’s also a little smaller, keeping my work on the countertop instead of leaning over the bucket on the floor.
But, dang, sixty five dollars at Midway?
I don’t think it was that much when I bought one a couple of years ago. I know it wasn’t. I’m cheap, I would’ve gotten an FA. I have plenty of buckets...
 
Agitating/separating while immersed in water is very effective. Much easier to break the surface tension between stainless and brass. My wire deep-fryer basket does the job quickly.
 
After you've used an RCBS media separator for about 30 years, cost doesn't enter in to it very much.
 
Pull out a case, turn it upside down, tap it on the side of the bucket.

But it’s kind of tedious.
 
I use a colander type over a plain old bucket. if you flip the cases in it, like you would stir fry in a wok, the media flys right out of the cases.
love this method.
I used to be a “two at a time, tap tap tap” guy but omg what an inefficient use of time
 
I'd think you could just cut a big opening in a milk jug, and put some slots in it to let media out. any waste basket or a 5 gallon bucket would do. I have one of the Frankfort separators and found it annoying at first, but now really appreciate it.

one of those kitty litter pans and tird separator would probably work pretty good too
That’s what I did until two things happened: first my old Lyman tumbler finally gave up the ghost and second I found out about a month before that the cat box shovel broke so my wife started using mine - without telling me. Figured it didn’t really matter. I bought the Franklin kit - tumbler, separator, bucket, etc - and tossed everything but the shovel. We’re still using it in the cat box.
 
I have an old set of 'tupperware' style containers, drilled a lot of 3/8" holes in the bottom of one as a sifter, nests with the undrilled media storage container.
 
I have the larger Dillon that works well but its kind of pricy. But for years I used a plastic tub and a French Fry basket.
 
I've been using a colander on a bucket but it's tedious and I want to upgrade.
I can get a FA rotary separator for $18? How many different sizes do they make? Amazon has them for $60.
 
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