Brass Tumbler Selection Help

[Triumph]

Brass Cleaner -
1. Vibratory tumbler (Cabelas 400 or Thumbler's Tumbler Ultra-Vibe 18). The Thumbler's is expensive but US made & very quite.
Or
2. Thumbler's Tumbler Model 2B - the one that looks like a heavy duty rock polisher & uses Stainless Steel Media

Or - get the vibratory tumbler now & maybe wet later.

Also - need advice on a Media Separator.

Thanks

 

[GT1]

If you have the money time and space and shoot a lot the SS media in a thumbler is probably awesome. I have never used so can't speak from experience.
If money is not as plentiful Berry's vibratory tumbler and separater combo($100) probably can't be beat.
I use a Lyman twin 1200 tumbler and the lid and a gallon bucket to separate which doesn't take long for what I do(several hundred .223 and a few hundred 9mm/45 a month).

 

[Cosmoline]

I'm using the Thumbler with no stainless and it's working great. With stainless your brass comes out basically factory-shiny. Without it mine is really clean but has a very faint patina from the process. I'm liking the look of it. I would not go back to the dusty mess of dry media.

 

[bonza]

I've been using the Frankford Arsenal vibratory tumbler & seperator from Midway for a number of years & have been more than satisfied with it.

 

[cfullgraf]

I am currently using Berry vibrating tumblers. Work great and are quiet. I believe the Cabela's tumbler is made by Berry, just a different color.

I also have a Berry separator. Works fine. I separate the two halves of the container and turn them around so the hinges do not interfere so that I just remove the top and get it out of the way. It is easier to empty the separator and pour the media back into the tumbler.

I also wet tumble on occasions with a Thumler Tumbler and ss pins. I do a thorough cleaning once in a while but mostly dry tumble in the vibrating tumbler. Wet tumbling with the Thumler Tumbler is slow and time consuming when compared to dry tumbling.

I used to have a Frankfort Arsenal tumbler. It was LOUD. I could hear it all over the house even though it was in the basement. It also had numerous wire failures.

 

[jcwit]

If I was young, which I'm not, and was just starting into reloading and cleaning cases, I would highly suggest the SS pin wet method.

I'm now old and have all kinds of equipment, bunches of it seldom gets used, so it would be far from cost efficient for me to invest in another method of cleaning brass.

 

[Triumph]

I am currently using Berry vibrating tumblers. Work great and are quiet. I believe the Cabela's tumbler is made by Berry, just a different color.

I also have a Berry separator. Works fine. I separate the two halves of the container and turn them around so the hinges do not interfere so that I just remove the top and get it out of the way. It is easier to empty the separator and pour the media back into the tumbler.

I also wet tumble on occasions with a Thumler Tumbler and ss pins. I do a thorough cleaning once in a while but mostly dry tumble in the vibrating tumbler. Wet tumbling with the Thumler Tumbler is slow and time consuming when compared to dry tumbling.

Glad I found someone with that set up. Thats what I'm thinking of doing. Berry tumbler and separator now and Thumbler's Tumbler Model 2B with stainless later.