Harbor Freight Dual Rock Tumbler for Brass

[TigerCreek]

For convenience and curiosity I pick one of these dual rock tumblers up from Harbor Freight to see how it would work.
Two 3 1/2 lb cans didn't seem like very much since I have a LOT of range brass to clean but I am pleasantly surprised with the results.
Here is a pic of before and after. 1 1/2 hrs with 40 cases, stainless media, lemi shine and dawn in each canister.

$80 with a two year unconditional warranty.

 

[BrianC636]

I've used one of these for about a year and a half with good luck. I would get another one if the one I had went bad.

 

[drz436]

Did the tumbler come with the stainless pins?

 

[El Viejo]

Looks like it does the job. I'll have to keep that in mind in case my current tumbler goes on the fritz.

 

[Dudedog]

HHmmm harbor freight has a cement mixer for not very much $140
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4-quarter-cubic-ft-compact-cement-mixer-91907.html

bet you could do a bunch of brass in that!
(honestly don't know if it would even work for brass)
Glad the tumbler is working for you.

 

[TigerCreek]

The stainless media is separate. These units were made for rock tumbling but I was curious how well it wold work for brass being so compact. I did over 300 NASTY 7.62 range brass today and I am well satisfied.

 

[jeffforkliftguy]

If i.had the link to the.video i would post it but YES a cement mixer does work well. Watched a guy put 5000 223's in with ss pins and his cleaner and wow...just wow!

 

[HoosierD]

I load my HF tumbler with 60 223/556 or 120 9mm, Lemi, and dawn for an hour. Even dirty cases come clean. The rifle brass doesn't get spotless in the primer pocket, but usable.

 

[LocoGringo]

I bought 2 of these when they were on sale, so I do double duty with them. I do 40 .308 cases in each barrel and it works great. I'd rather have 1 big barrel, but I couldn't justify the price difference between the HF rock tumbler and the Thumbler.

 

[mdi]

My first tumbler was a HF single drum rock tumbler. I used it with perhaps a dozen different media (my compulsive "I wonder if..." experimenting) and it kept tumblin' for mebbe 12 years (until I tried to "improve"it). I don't tumble as much as many fellers, but I tumble things other than brass and I made a larger drum for mine. I haven't counted a number of cases for a tumbler "load" an 90% of the time I just dump a handful or two of brass and fill the drum to about 2" from the top. I just fill it up, turn it on and when I get around to it, I'll check the brass and see if it's clean enough. My favorite media; http://www.drillspot.com/products/499763/econoline_526020g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

 

[345 DeSoto]

I have two of them, and don't know how I ever cleaned primer pockets without them...

 

[Thundercat]

I'll have to keep this in mind, sounds like a decent idea.

 

[TenDriver]

HHmmm harbor freight has a cement mixer for not very much $140
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4-quarter-cubic-ft-compact-cement-mixer-91907.html

bet you could do a bunch of brass in that!
(honestly don't know if it would even work for brass)
Glad the tumbler is working for you.

It'll work. A fellow THR member did it.

I found one of those at a yard sale almost brand new for $50. Like an idiot I didn't buy it.

They have steel blades in there which are removable. Plug the holes with a rubber grommet and you're in business.

 

[Toprudder]

I was going to buy the HF tumbler, but they were not in stock when I dropped in. I ordered the Frankford instead, it had just come out. I'm glad I did.

I can do 1000 .40 casings at once instead of 100. My wife and I don't ever go to the range without shooting at least 300 rounds. The overhead for loading/unloading/separating/drying is roughly the same, so there is a huge economy of scale. I just wait until I have enough rounds to fill the drum.

JMHO.

 

[joem1945]

I have two "Thumbler" rock tumblers. They clean slower than a vib type but do a better job and they are quiet.