New to reloading. Need a tumbler.

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theproph

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Im slowly getting into reloading. Ive been saving my brass for awhile now and I want to start prepping to reload down the road. Im just taking baby steps at this point so I figured a good first step is preparing my brass. Whats a good tumbler/cleaning kit? I dont need something crazy high end because Im not going to be cleaning thousands of rounds per month. I found this kit and was wondering if I should take the deal on it or look elsewhere. Thanks!

Here is the kit Im interested in: http://slickguns.com/product/frankford-arsenal-master-tumbler-kit-6557-fsss?a=5735&k=other
 
I have not used the one in your link. I have a Lyman Turbo 600 bought in about 1985. The rubber pad between the bowl and base finally gave up the ghost and the bowl split this year (2012). I got a piece of rubber mat and made me a new pad and I had an extra bowl. So now I'm back in business. So the vibrator type cleaners work good for me.

Dwight
 
Ive read a lot about Lyman. Would you consider them a better brand than Frankford? Like I said I dont really need anything overly heavy duty.
 
I haven't used the Frankford, so I can't speak to it's quality.

I recently picked up the Lyman 1200 Autoflo. It's around the same price range as the Frankford. The reason I got the Lyman Autoflo is that it has a plug you can take out and it drains the tumbling media out into a extra bowl that comes with the kit. I've had the Lyman for about 2 weeks and have run a 5 gallon bucket of mixed brass through it so far. I'm pretty happy with it so far.
 
Not real familar with the Frankfort but I'd suggest you take a look at the Berry tumbler or the Cabela's #400 tumbler. They are the same item both made by Berry and made in the U.S.A. except for the motor which is not available from any manufacturer here in the states.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14546-c47-g8-b0-p0-400_Tumbler.aspx
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104761080;cat104661180
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/5395

BTW if you buy it from Cabela's you get a forever satisification warranty.

Add on here, they are all in the same price range, why not support our workers?
 
I have the Frankford and it works great. I have ran it for probably close to 100 hours total. The only issue I had was the threaded post coming out, but that was my fault.
 
I got the Berry's Tumbler and it works great! Quiet and does a great job!!
 
Here's a thought to consider before you get a tumbler. Hot water and citric acid will get the brass as clean as a tumbler, just not as shiny. I use 1 Tbsp of Ball canning preserves along with three drops of Dawn dish soap in three quarts of 100-110 degree water in a freezer ziplock bag. I tumble in the bag for 15-30 minutes and then rinse the brass in hot water. This gets almost all the gunk out of the brass.
 
i bought a Smart Reloader model SR 737 Nano on ebay for 39.95 incl ship. works fine. will hold about 100-150 of my .40sw cases, they say 300 9mm cases. i bought Zilla walnut media for tumbling at Petco for 8 bucks, 5.5lbs worth. Harbor Freight has 25 lb FINE grit for 22.95. but that would last forever. lot of guys use corn cob media, but walnut is probably better. corn cob is supposed to shine cases more. whatever you wish.

also, NuFinish Car polish, about a capful hand mixed in media before cases go in. it's NOT a wax, it's a polish.

welcome to the high road, my friend. there's so much good to learn out here. one guy, named kingmt, helped with my Lee Loadmaster setup issues. what a sage bunch out here, man.
 
I have the FA tumbler kit and the Cabela's tumbler (same as Berry's 400) and although the FA tumbler works well, I would highly suggest the Berry's tumbler for higher capacity, larger/more powerful/quieter motor, on/off switch on longer/thicker power cord (FA tumbler cord is very short with no on/off switch). I see people posting that they need to run their tumbler 1-2+ hours to clean their brass, my Cabela's tumbler will clean/lightly polish 800 9mm cases in 20-30 minutes with walnut media/NuFinish polish.

$49 for the tumbler and $79 for the kit.

If you are buying the kit, the small "fins" that clip-on to the 5 gallon bucket move around and won't capture all of the media. The Berry's media separator with the cover will capture all of the media. Believe me, it really is a much better tumbler/media separator.

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I also have the smart reloader nano. Its capacity isn't super large, but for what I do it works quite well. I didn't want to invest a lot because I'm also a fairly new reloader. I can't speak for long term durability as I've only had it for 6 monts with about 20 hours of runtime.
 
I bought a Cabela's tumbler and use corn cob media with capful of polish, I have cleaned 1,000s of rounds over the last 5 years. Works great. Didn't have to put it together and I don't use a seperator, which might save a few minutes of time, but with limted space, I don't need a bucket and seperator sitting around in my way.
 
I have the Cabella's tumber and it's been good. I use NuFinish Car polish in 20/40 corncob blast media. This is fine enough it will not get stuck in flash holes. You can get a 40# for about $30 wich is more than enough to last for many many years.
 
I will also throw my lot in with the economy of usefulness of the Cabelas tumbler boxed set.

Given how the transaction with Cabelas turned out however, I cannot recommend ordering it from them.
 
This is not directed towards any members here but in regards to the SmartReloader.

Italian Company with chinese manufactured and copied goods, with a very questionable warranty, why help the red chinese out, they are not our friends. Especially when U.S. made goods are available in the same price range. Ya, they are a little cheaper, by about 6 gallons of gas.
 
I do have a harbor freight close I might have to go check them out. I didnt even know they had tumblers. Thanks for the siggestion!
 
I went thru 3 Harbor Freight tumblers in as many weeks before I had my money returned and bought a Cabela's.

Again chinese quality and same price range.
 
Maybe ill just stock up on media from them then haha. I dont need a heavy duty setup but I need something that will last. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Frankford sucks...My went to heck in less than a year. I waited a month to try to return it as I have an old rotary back up. Guess what? 1 year warranty... Lizard bedding makes great and cheap tumbling media...same as any crushed walnut and a quarter the price
 
Tumblers

Here the one I built for myself 25yrs ago. I works fantastic for just being some steel plate, a one gallon bailess paint can, some hardware items and a furnace blower motor.

2 hrs with wallnut and some Wizards finishing compound and they look like new in the box.

Not exactly osha legel but they don't have to run it.
 
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