Looking for a tumbler

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Wildyams

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I'm looking for a good inexpensive tumbler. Mainly for 9mm and 45 acp.

I'm just wondering what you guys would suggest that works, and is a good price ($50-$75?)

Thanks,
Scott
 
Mentioned this on another thread. Cabelas tumbler $40 last I was at the store, might be a little more with shipping.

Had bad luck with Harbor Freight, went thru 4 and asked for my money back. They only lasted 2 weeks at best, however others have better luck lately. Maybe they're using a better motor.

Anywho they're not rocket science, and the expensive ones just cost more with nothing else gained.

BTW my Cabelas tumber has been running for 5 or 6 years now and just keeps purring along. And I do tumble A LOT of brass.
 
I bought a used Frankford Arsenal tumbler about two years ago. Cost about $40 shipped (fpund out later I could have bought a new one for about the same).

I used it like crazy (I'd been saving brass for the last couple years) and one day it quit. I took it apart and found a broken wire. Used a butt splice to fix it and it worked for quite a while.

Eventually the motor quit. I called Frankford, told them I had bought it used and asked if I could buy a motor. They said Hell no, just send it back and we'll replace it. Cost me less than $10 and I had a brand new tumbler.

Recently it quit, and I found a broken wire in the same spot. Fixed it again with a butt splice. Apparently the vibration is hard on the wiring splices, but it's a 5-minute fix (piece of cake).

Considering how much use I get out of this tumbler, it has been a great value, and I would not hesitate to get another. I'm very impressed with Frankford Arsenal's Customer Service.
 
I was looking at the frankford arsenal ones, I noticed they had a 110 volt and a 220 volt model. any advantage to either one?
 
I'm with JC, I love my Cabelas tumbler. It's high capacity and is advertised to hold 650 38 spcl cases. Mine has been very quiet and is lite weight.
Rusty

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I'm a big fan of the Lyman 1200. Extremely quiet and holds a gallon which is sufficient for me. Paid about $60 but you can find them cheaper elsewhere. The Cabelas special would probably be my second choice, or the FA.
 
orionengr: TWO in two years??

Wildyams: Twice the volts = half the amps and more power. So..........maybe better?
 
Check out Ebay. I picked up a Midway 1288 about a year ago there. I don't recall what I paid but it was pretty cheap. It just keeps humming along. There's other good deals too.
 
I just got a lymann 2500 it is super quiet, and works quickly. It is a bit bigger than your needs, but I heear great things about the smaller ones as well. I also have a old (15 years) midway that works well but is a bit noisy.

Check grafs and sons, great prices and shipping.
 
Wildyams

The 220 V is for europe an the rest of the world that does not use 110V. Do not try and use oa 220V in the USA the hertz is different as well. The plug will not fit a US 220 outlet either
 
I bought a Dillon tumbler used for a good price. I've been using it for well over 4 years now and it's still going strong. I've heard good things about the tumbler Cabela's sells too.
 
I think I've narrowed it down to 3 - the Frankford Arsenal, Lyman 1200 or the Cabelas one.

I've heard great things about the customer service and warranty of Frankford Arsenal, any word on Lyman or Cabelas?
 
I can tell you I had a Frankford Arsenal tumbler, and won't have another. It crapped out on me, and they WOULDN'T stand behind it. I now use a Lyman Turbo Pro 1200, and it's far better than the FA ever was.
 
Hey Scott,
I used my Lyman 1200 Auto-Flo for the first time today and I am tickled. It wasn't noisy like I thought it would be but the best part was just pulling the plug and draining out the media. After the media was out I stirred the brass around with my hand for a minute and all that was left was nice shiny brass.

ST
 
I'm with JC, I love my Cabelas tumbler. It's high capacity and is advertised to hold 650 38 spcl cases. Mine has been very quiet and is lite weight.
Rusty
Click to expand...

I still have my old Midway 1292 and it keeps chugging along but I am a bit nervous about it crapping out. I am really looking at this cabelas tumbler. how many 223 cases do you load at once? Rusty, you shoot 45 acp, how many per batch?

LGB
 
I still have my old Midway 1292 and it keeps chugging along but I am a bit nervous about it crapping out. I am really looking at this cabelas tumbler. how many 223 cases do you load at once? Rusty, you shoot 45 acp, how many per batch?
Click to expand...
I usually load around 350 to 400 223 cases and 500 to 600 45 cases. I'm sure I could get more but don't want to over load it and slow it down. I get good movement with those amounts and with walnut and a little Nu Finish they come out like new in 1.5 to 2 hours.
Rusty
 
Are there any available plans for building your own tumbler? Source for motors? Making clear "see through" covers?

At the prices quoted above for comercial units, it probably isn't worth the effort...but if one just happens to have the material on hand...! Plus the pride in using something you made yourself...like hand loading in general!:p
 
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