Media separator: why?

[VanGoghComplex]

So before coming to this forum (and subsequently noticing them on the shelves at my local Cabela's) I never knew media separators were a thing.

My SOP is just to grab my Lyman turbo tumbler (the lid is slotted) by the base, upend it over a 5 gallon bucket, and turn it on for a moment. A quick shake while it's running seems to do a fine job of emptying most of my brass.

What's the need for a separator?

 

[GBExpat]

Your process, while effective, potentially propels a LOT of dust into the atmosphere. When I use my enclosed RCBS media separator I find it much easier to keep down the dust.

 

[Schwing]

Your process, while effective, potentially propels a LOT of dust into the atmosphere. When I use my enclosed RCBS media separator I find it much easier to keep down the dust.

This is my thought as well. Since I tend to absorb every molecule of lead I get exposed to and always have high lead levels, the thought of doing it in the open like that makes me cringe.

Convenience wise, your method seems easy enough to me.

 

[mdi]

I often use the same method (inverting my Lyman) and I don't seem to produce a lot of dust.

My high dollar media separator system. $1.00 for the mesh waste basket. $1.00 for the plastic pan...

 

[rcmodel]

my Lyman turbo tumbler (the lid is slotted)

No other brand of tumbler I know of has that feature.

Most all are solid to keep the dust from getting out while it is running.

That might be the reason!

rc

 

[ReloaderFred]

I use the predecessor to this one: http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i15215-c47-g8-b0-p0-NEW_Rotary_Brass_SorterMedia_Separator.aspx

It keeps the mess down to a minimum, and since I run three tumblers most of the time, it makes it much easier to keep things tidy.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[gamestalker]

I didn't know they were "a thing" for a while either. Just ask my wife, who's colander's I'd been using for years. I only used a plastic one once though, as it turned red from the walnut dust, stainless steel one's worked ok though.

But one day I noticed that my LGS actually sold separators, so of course I bought one.

As for a tumbler that's slotted and open, not something I would want, my walls, ceiling, and lungs would be permanently impregnated with red dust by now.

GS

 

[higgite]

So before coming to this forum (and subsequently noticing them on the shelves at my local Cabela's) I never knew media separators were a thing.

My SOP is just to grab my Lyman turbo tumbler (the lid is slotted) by the base, upend it over a 5 gallon bucket, and turn it on for a moment. A quick shake while it's running seems to do a fine job of emptying most of my brass.

What's the need for a separator?

The slotted lid on your tumbler IS a media separator. The "turn the crank" type is just a different style of separator used to accomplish the same thing.

No other brand of tumbler I know of has that feature.

Most all are solid to keep the dust from getting out while it is running.

That might be the reason!

rc

My Hornady came with 2 lids, one solid, one slotted.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have a frankford arsenal separator on top of a 5 gallon bucket. Reason being I want to keep using that bucket for that purpose, and it gets old dumping walnut out of cases. My separator does that for me with a couple turns of the handle. The big sides keep the mess down. And the stuff clipped to the bucket makes the bucket hard to use for other stuff like picking tomatoes or filling the aquarium and depositing lead to the contents of the bucket.

 

[njl]

I use the RCBS enclosed media separator. I use it twice per batch...first to separate dirt and other debris from the brass before going into the tumbler/media, then after tumbling to separate the media from the brass.

 

[Olympus]

Media seperators are a MUST for those of us who use stainess media for wet tumbling.

 

[ZGunner]

For big loads of 9mm and .223 I use a pan style separator over a 5 gallon bucket. My lid isn't slotted. I'm glad it's not because it stays under the car port in the Georgia humidity and sometimes sideways rain.

For loads of .308 and other <50 count batches I pick by hand. Just another time to inspect everything whether it be initial cleaning tumble or post loading tumble.

 

[thefish]

I use a collander. Works pretty good.

 

[salpal48]

I have been using a Dillon Rotary separator for years. work great.. I have also used it for Bulk case Lubing . drop in cases
spray the lube I use . rotate until coated and dried . . also works Great
Sal

 

[joem1945]

If you have a bunch of dust in the media and a vib tumbler just take it outside remove the lid, put a box fan behind it and run the tumbler. Fan will blow all the dust out into the yard.

 

[NINEX19]

I have never understood media separators as a form of dust control necessarily. I always just thought it was for convenience and a more thorough and faster job. Unless you are wet/pin tumbling, I see them as largely more for convenience and not really beneficial for "dust collecting".

Doesn't the initial act of pouring the contents of the tumbler into the separator cause as much dust as any other part of the separating process? Then you have to pour the media from the separator back into the tumbler creating more dust.

A sift pan of any type is just as effective and no more dusty. It is just slower.

 

[RainDodger]

For 40+ years I wondered what all the fuss was about, as I thought my home remedy shopping bag and a converted water container with holes in the bottom were perfectly fine for media separating. I would just pour the media back into the tumbler from the shopping bag.

Then I thought - why not just try a media separator and see? I looked around and couldn't believe some of the cheap ones out there, and then I saw the Dillon. It is truly a well built item, so I bought it. I've never looked back. Great quality, lifetime guarantee and it is BUILT.... steel pin hinges and a quality latch. Heavy molded plastic and a great quality tub. It works in a fraction of the time of most home-built units. It's sort of like using a good quality tool - you don't really need it, but it's a joy to use anyway.

 

[salpal48]

Separator are Just convenient. There bid, sure there is a little dust. 2 or 3 turns Your done. easy clean up

 

[otisrush]

I often use the same method (inverting my Lyman) and I don't seem to produce a lot of dust.

My high dollar media separator system. $1.00 for the mesh waste basket. $1.00 for the plastic pan...

Thanks for the idea!

My cost: $0.00.

I took the food tray that came with my Coleman cooler. It fits nicely into a plastic tub I had. Dump the tumbler contents into the cooler tray. Shake the tray a bit. BOOM! Media and brass are separated.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I use a kitty litter scooper -- it works great.

 

[Average Joe]

I found an old plastic bowl that just fits inside the top of an old Spackle bucket. I drilled holes in the bowl, and dump the brass in it, and shake ....works like a charm, and cost $ 0.00....

 

[noylj]

What ever works, works.
I prefer to turn a crank a few times over shaking a pan with my head over the pan.
The RCBS (and others that copied it) separator has a "lid."
Believe me, pouring media and cases into the separator throws out a lot less dust than tumbling the media from the cases.
Do all tumbling activities with corn/nut media outside.
Next, the RCBS works perfect for SS pin tumbling and doesn't take a gallon or more of water. The pins float off the cases after only a few seconds of turning the crank--faster than normal media separation.

 

[orionengnr]

I use a kitty litter scooper -- it works great.

I've been doing exactly that for 5-6 years. Just never saw a justification for a media separator.

 

[mljdeckard]

My justification is that I hard doing it by hand. I used to give them a shake in the colander, but I always had some leftover in the cases. I finally sprung for three RCBS lotto ball tumbler, it is fast, easy, and effective.

 

[Walkalong]

Nothing fancy, just stuff I saved that was headed for the trash.