Which Tumbler and why?

I have only owned 1 tumbler and it's the Lyman 1200 turbo. I like it but again, have nothing to compare it to. I'm hoping it lasts years. But when it does crap out I'm going wet tumbling, stainless pins.

I bought a Lyman 1200 from cabela's when it was on sale for 44$ plus I had a 20$ coupon so it worked out ok for me. I tumbled with the lid off in the garage.

I bought an UV 18 new in 1987. Never have had a problem, course I don't do 500-700 cases at a time either. Nice and quiet too.

Well there ya go, UV18, doesn't get much better than that. And considering the quality of their tumblers, you can expect very similar quality with the smaller models also, such as the UV10 I have used for 15 or so years.

What not to get, don't buy an RCBS. I had one back in the early 90's, and before the motor died, which happened within a year or so, everything else on it rattled apart, very poor quality, which surprised me, considering it was an RCBS product.

I mean if you don't have the money to spend on a good one, just buy a HF for the time being. They work, they don't last very long, but they don't cost an arm and a leg either.

GS

I use the Lyman 1200 Turbo works for me.

I did no research at all and bought a Thumlers Tumbler 35 years ago. Still running but showing its age.

When it dies I'm not sure what will replace it. But I have been looking at Thumlers using steel pins.

I bought some small cheap tumbler online that didn't even last through one cleaning. It ran for about an hour and then cut out. After a short while, it would run for a bit and then cut out again. Seems that whenever it warmed up the circuit would open and cut power. It was returned the following day. I went to Cabelas and bought their tumbler a few days later and it's been working fine for a couple of years now.

Lyman 1200 turbo works fine for me. I like the sifter lid.

I bought an Ultra Vib over 20 yrs ago and it's still going strong.

I have two of the 5lb units from Harbor Freight. Paid around $45 @ after the coupon. I use them about once every 6 weeks, running them about 4 to 5 hours each session. They are loud enough to merit putting them in a different room or the garage. They were prone to partially vibrating the tops off and causing chaos in doing so. Simple solution was adding two more fender washers and a star washer, above the lid, under the wing nut. One of them required a bit of work to tighten the bottom nut on the bowl when it started rotating in use. In that repair I also noted the ground wire had fatigued/broken loose from the screw terminal at the motor housing, simple repair for me.

Overall I have been reasonably satisfied with them over the past 5 years, but obviously this is another item where you get what you pay for.

Same thing on my first one that is now going on 6 years old. (Still running) I bought a second one so I could do different pistol calibers at same time.

Made that washer mod FIRST and glued it to the lid with Gorilla Glue. Has not failed and thus, has not chewed up the lid.

j357 said:

I have two of the 5lb units from Harbor Freight. Paid around $45 @ after the coupon. I use them about once every 6 weeks, running them about 4 to 5 hours each session. They are loud enough to merit putting them in a different room or the garage. They were prone to partially vibrating the tops off and causing chaos in doing so. Simple solution was adding two more fender washers and a star washer, above the lid, under the wing nut. One of them required a bit of work to tighten the bottom nut on the bowl when it started rotating in use. In that repair I also noted the ground wire had fatigued/broken loose from the screw terminal at the motor housing, simple repair for me.

Overall I have been reasonably satisfied with them over the past 5 years, but obviously this is another item where you get what you pay for.

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I've been using a Frankford arsenal for about 2 years now with no complaints. Its cheap and does the job required... just my 2 pennies

Ccctennis said:

I bought the lyman 1200 and it arrived today. Call me crazy but the bowl is mis-shapen? My counter top is level. I even checked it with a level. Once i filled up the bowl 2/3 full more of the media was sloped to one side? So much so that with only 2/3 filled the media jumps out that corner of the bowl? Anyone else have this happen? Is this something that is fixable?

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sounds like it was dropped on it's head I'd send it back , you shouldn't have to fix something that is brand new,

My Lyman 1200 has outlasted 2 RCBS models of similar size. I use it and a Harbor Freight model. I will repair the RCBS tumblers. Motors gone in both of them.

I agree they should replace it at no cost.

Chicago electric 5 pound vibratory tumbler from harbor freight because it's cheap and works well.

I've only used one tumbler. The Lyman Pro 1200. Haven't had it quite 20 years but it's been absolutely fine. Lost the lid screw. Can't find the lid either but it has never had an issue. I think they are running ~54 bucks or so at the local Cabelas. I would get another if this one quit.

That is what I would do if my Lyman Pro 1200 takes a dive I would just buy a new one.

When I first got into reloading, about 5 years ago, I bought a Lyman Turbo 1200.
Why? Well it seemed like a good one, based on the reviews.
(but I really had no idea what I was doing)

The only issue I've had with it, is when I dropped it.
I broke the cover & bent the center threaded rod.
Less than $20 later Lyman sent new parts & it's running great.

It just works, so if & when I have to replace it, it'll be another Turbo 1200.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/10431

My Lyman 1200 tumbler is very close to 25 years old and still going strong.

I like the "Thumblers". They are rock tumblers and are real quiet. Slower than the vib ones but do a nicer job in the long run.

I have the Berry's MFG 400 tumbler, going on three years and no problems, run it a lot. Berry's provides a life time warranty on all the plastic parts only.

I also have the HF dual rotary tumbler for wet washing, has lasted for two years so far (knocking on wood)

Bought a cheap Harbor Freight tumbler and like so many HF items, I unboxed it, plugged it in, and nothing! Never worked from day one so I wasn't going to take another chance since it was a long drive back. Went on Midway USA and got an RCBS tumbler which so far I am pleased with. Doesn't seem too noisy to me but then I have nothing to compare it to.