Reloading Tumblers - A question

[heeeheee]

I am a rock tumbler, beginner, but not just starting out. I have been tumbling for a year or so and have had different luck with different tumblers.

You folks are the experts on tumblers and I have found that tumblers used for reloading are more economical than the ones aimed at rock tumblers. I know they are completely different uses, but was looking for some input.

Can you give me opinions on using the tumblers - either vibratory or rotary - for tumbling rocks? I am a hobbyist, but looking for something to increase capacity.

I have Lortone equipment now, but its fickle and sometimes unreliable.

Thanks for any insight, I appreciate it a lot!!

 

[dannyabear]

The Thunblers thumbers are the best there is!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bensdad]

Sorry, I don't have an answer for ya, I just think it's funny cuz I use a rock tumbler (cheap toy) for brass, and it has survived tens of thousands of rounds.

 

[cdrt]

heeeheee

Which Lortone are you using? I have a QT-12 that I bought in 1975 and it's still going strong. I can easily clean 400 .45 ACP cases at a time with either walnut media or liquid cleaner.

 

[VARifleman]

I would think that since rocks are heavy like bullets, you would want to make sure that you use a rotary as a vibratory tumbler won't last long if you use it on bullets. That's all I got for ya though.

 

[Sport45]

I agree with the rotory suggestions here. To polish rocks you're going to have to get them bumping each other pretty hard and that probaly means dropping them on each other. A rotory will do that much better than a vibratory polisher. The vibrating type might work for the final polish, but I don't think I'd want to wait on one in the beginning stages.