Harbor Freight 18lb Tumbler

[tabealer]

Hey all,

I just bought the huge vibratory cleaner from hf. I am actually impressed with the unit. Quiet, smooth, heavy. I've run 2 loads through it so far. 1 was about 1200 .223 shells. Had a good rolling motion in the bowl. Cleaned really nice and saved a LOT of time.

HF has them on sale for $150. I used the 20% off coupon and got it for $120. I flipped for the 2 year warranty but after setting it up I'm thinking it wasn't necessary.

TAB

 

[LiveLife]

For $100, I would pick up 2 Cabela's (Berry's) tumblers with these capacities:

9mm: 1000
45acp: 600
223: 450
30-06: 250

So, I could be tumbling 900 .223 cases at once or 1000 9mm and 600 45ACP.

Besides, Berry's tumbler is essentially all made in USA except for the motor, if that matters.

 

[jcwit]

Hope you have better luck than I had. Went thru 4 before I just asked for my money back. Bearings went out in less than 2 weeks of operation.

I agree with bds!

 

[tabealer]

bds & Jcwit, both good comments and sage advice. What can I say, I like bigger and was thinking about one of the big Lyman tumblers (which would be cheaper) but I have been itching for a test of one of these. The 1200 shells I put in it by no means maxed it out. I am going to have to acquire a bunch more brass to test this thing or re-do my stash as I do think it needs to be run through it's paces. I know HF doesn't have the best reputation. Their 5 lb tumbler has a very poor rating but the 18 lb only had a few ratings and they were all 5 stars.

Just thought if someone needed to process a metric butt-load, this one seems to do the trick. Just have to go in with eyes wide open.

TAB

 

[Shadow 7D]

I wouldn't necessarily do the vibe tumbler, but I have heard good things about the drum tumblers

 

[jcwit]

I know HF doesn't have the best reputation.

I wouldn't necessarly say that as they backed their product with no questions asked and no hassle. It was just that the bronze bearing bushings didn't hold up.

 

[rondog]

I'm tired of farting around, my next one will be a Thumler's Model B high-speed with the stainless steel pin media.

 

[45Frank]

I've had a Midway tumbler since about 1990 or so. Use it sometime for weeks on end with out stopping. Never had a problem yet.
I've been buying midway product since meeting I think her name was Sara at an NRA show back in Philadelphia in 98.

 

[hvychev77]

i had one from HF. it was crap. i got a cabelas/ berry and it much nicer. the one from HF lasted 6 months and locked up.