Thumler’s Model B

[Skylerbone]

I ordered a Model B this week as an anniversary gift for my wife who wants to begin tumbling rocks. My question is, do any of you use the low speed rock tumbler for brass in place of the faster model specific to reloading?

I’m sure it works, just curious if it doubles or triples the time needed, and I know it’s much slower than my old MidWay vibratory. Still, if I get a chance to sneak in my rifle brass, I’d love to be able to run some of my big batches through. Any guidance appreciated.

 

[dgod]

I have both the rock polisher as well as 2 vibration brass polishers. Don’t use the rock polisher any more.

 

[Otto]

The high speed model has a 3000 rpm motor vs. 1550 rpm for the other model. Either one works for brass, just takes longer.
If your wife loses interest in polishing rocks, it's easy to swap out the motor and covert to high speed. A new motor is like $70 at the rock shed.

 

[Skylerbone]

I hope she stays interested considering what I paid. It wasn’t expensive in terms of anniversary gifts but when I think about it (and the media/grit/polish/rough) vs a new Lyman or the like...I could have added a second Rock Chucker too.

Good tip on the motor swap, I’ll file that away JIC.

 

[Skylerbone]

@dgod, your signature line reads like my father’s resume; 7 1/2 years Army, Vietnam Vet (22 months), 100% mil. Disabled, VFW, VVA, NRA, 30 years police work, retired 3 times, and still doing his best to live life fully. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

 

[GW Staar]

I have two vibrating polishers and one Thumblers B model. Below:


The Thumblers with stainless steel pins in it, a .45 ACP case full of Lemishine, and a 2 second squirt of regular Dawn dishwashing liquid makes it really hard to want to revert back to the vibrating ones........except a 15, to 30 minute vibe to remove lube from finished cartridges.

Below......typical results from the Thumbler:



Even well tarnished LC 7.62 brass is transformed to new in 3 hours:



I would suggest an idea that she could get YOU one next Christmas! A his & hers matching set!

 

[25-5]

Got mine 40+ years ago when it's primary use was lapidary. Decades with the slow motor always a good result. When the motor died I replaced it with the faster motor. Same result just less time. I do dry method.

 

[Laphroaig]

Well thanks for nothing guys. I've had mine for close to 40 years, and never knew there was a difference in speeds. Mine came with instructions for rock tumbling so it must be the slow one. With new media it does a pretty good job in about 2 hours, so I guess I can't complain. About that anyway.

 

[splattergun]

I have a 25 year old model B that I use for anything that needs to be tumbled, brass to baubles.

 

[ZGunner]

Silly question, but how is the noise. At least, how is it compared to the vibratory tumblers?

 

[GW Staar]

Neither is noiseless.....I never load while either is running. That's what my timer from Home Depot is for.....switch a plug.....stick a timer/switch into where the switch goes. I go to work in the morning after I set the timer in my garage.....5 pm I come home to bling. And since it's in the garage, the wife never notices or cares.

 

[Laphroaig]

I tumbled some brass this afternoon, and was checking out my motor. It is rated at 3000 RPM. Is that the slow one, as I suspect?

 

[Skylerbone]

checking out my motor. It is rated at 3000 RPM. Is that the slow one, as I suspect?

That’s the brass tumbling model, the rock tumbler is a 1550 rpm. I envy you

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

The Thumbler is what I use for all my brass cleaning.

 

[Cemetery21]

I never knew there was a difference either until I went to replace a 40+ year old motor. Saw there were two, so got the fast one. I don't notice a lot of difference in cleaning time, but I only use it these days for taking sizing lube off bottleneck brass. Dirty stuff goes in the vibratory. All dry for me, so far.

 

[whughett]

That’s a luxury item. At the opposite end of the price scale is the Harbor Freight twin drum rock tumbler, which is what cheap oh here uses. Works great, albeit small batches, so would think the “B” would also.