Recommend a Tumbler

[shooter1]

My tumblers are on the sun porch where there is indoor/outdoor carpet. I just set them on the floor and let them run. Once you walk out of the room, you can't hear them. The dust occurs when pouring the media and brass into the separator. I have a RCBC separator that has a lid to contain the dust as you operate it. Very little gets out.
str1

 

[Thirties]

I started with a Lyman tumbler. I think it is the Turbo model -- the one with the removable little window at the bottom to allow the tumbling media to drain out into the supplied pan.

Tumbler cleans brass just fine. The Turbo part does not work at all -- spills media all over the place.

Then I bought a tumbler from Berry's bullets. This one offered a separate rotary cage, like the one you may see at a bingo hall. You place the cage in the supplied clamshell, close the clamshell, and turn the cage handles back and forth. This catches all the media in the clamshell, and the brass stays in the cage. Works perfectly, and it comes with a clear plastic lid on the tumbler so you can see the progress of the cleaning brass.

I do believe that many different companies sell tumblers, but only a few companies actually manufacture them, so my Berry's may be the same thing as your Dillon, for example.

My advice: look for a clear lid; avoid the Lyman Turbo.

 

[buenhec]

The Cabelas tumbler works great. Im happy with the purchase. It is actually made by Berrys. I also got a media separator from RCBS that has a cover to close while tumbling, it prevents you from breathing in the fine dust while you spin the handle.

 

[WNTFW]

Buenhec,
Mine is running about 48 hours straight this weekend, excluding changing cases.

Everyones says cut up the used dryer sheets for dust reduction. I'm just putting the whole used sheet right over the rod and it works well. The sheet also catches some other contaminants as well.

It is outside right now with the top off & a wind the dust goes elsewhere. When I have it inside with the top on the dust tends to accumulate in it.

Later,
WNTFW

 

[Luggo]

I bought a used Lyman 600 on ebay...serves me really well so far.

 

[RustyFN]

I have a cheap tumbler from Harbor Freight. It works fine and isn't very loud. If I put it on my workbench and walk into the house I can't hear it after I shut the door behind me. Be careful about putting it on anything to thick. Most tumblers draw air from the bottom to cool the motor. If you block the air flow you will burn it up.
Rusty

 

[R.W.Dale]

I think they're all made in the same chinese factory, just pick the color you like best

 

[wworker]

Ah, the Lyman is made in the USA.


How does a person know when the corn cob media is ready to be replaced?

 

[buenhec]

Cabelas tumbler comes with polish and matterial for around $40. Then get the RBCS media separator for about $25, it has a lid so you dont inhale the fine dust.

 

[SilentArmy]

When the media (corn cob or walnut) begins to break down or becomes very dirty, Its time to replace it. I use a polish and add a little more when the tumbler takes more than about 2 hrs tops to polish brightly. When I begin to see fine black dust on the cases or start getting fine brass dust on my hands when changing the loads, I throw it out and start with new. I do get about 60 to 80 thousand pcs polished before changing media. If you use a dryer sheet in your tumbler for each load, it will take out the dust and greatly extend the life of the media. I am not an expert, but I do polish about 100,000 pcs per week in various calibers and I have discovered what works.

 

[lordgroom]

using a tumbler on a rug in an apt

My first post.

The lead poisoning sticky is very informative. In that thread, various writers suggest that tumbling brass with the spent primers still in them creates lead dust that is is dispersed when you transfer the brass and media to the sifter. I would worry about the lead dust getting onto the rug. The posts from that thread suggest depriming the brass first, throwing in 1inch squares of dryer sheet, and using a capful of polish such as Nufinish car polish.... Just some thoughts.

I have the Frankford Arsenal tumbler and it works fine. You can dampen some of the noise by placing a strw over the threaded rod the lid attaches to. I hated the Frankford Arsenal media separator. The spill guards didn't work. The plastic was pretty cheap, and dust spilled all over. I threw it out and bought the RCBS media separator. It is completely enclosed and works very well and very quickly.

Hope this helps. Most of this I have taken from other posts. Good luck.