Tumbler question

[BHFG]

I need to order a tumbler and looked through the forums for recommendations and pictures that show what others are using. One that shows up a lot and that I like is the Lyman 1200 versions.

I see a lot of complaints about the Turbo Pro 1200 sifter lid causing dust to go everywhere. But it looks like there is a Turbo 1200 Classic on the Lyman website that has a solid lid. I have a Dillion separator so I don't need the sifter lid.

Does anyone know for sure if the Classic model has a solid lid?
Is a solid lid is available for the 1200 Pro?
Any better recommendations in about the same price range (<$85)?

Tnx

 

[RandyP]

Midway had a great sale on the Turbo 1200 last month (under $50) so I picked it up for my rookie reloading gear.

I also found the open top to be a dust spreader so I just used some clear plastic shipping tape over the slots and turned it into a solid top. Since I had also purchased a blue round separator from Midway, I didn't need to use the tumbler's sloted top. I had a unused 5 gallon plastic bucket that the blue media separator fits perfectly to recover the media for re-use.

For tumbler media I went to Petsmart and bought a bag of Lizard Litter (crushed walnut) and a small bag of corncob. I use about a 3-1 (walnut to corncob) combination for the media in the tumbler. I added 1 tbl of liquid car polish to the media, let the tumbler run for an hour or so to evenly distribute the polish before adding any brass and a couple cut up used dryer sheets to absorb the dust.

Works great.

 

[Woodstock45678]

$85 for the Lyman? That seems a little over the top. I paid $60 about 2 months ago at the local store (which of course, marks everything up).

I've got the sifter-top one, and I haven't noticed too much dust, but to be on the safe side I cover it with an old T-shirt and a towel. Just cover the top, not the sides because it can cause it to overheat. I do notice dirt on the shirt, but I think that's because I've got new media, not because it's lead or gunpowder. The towel also helps dampen the noise a little too.

As far as the solid lid, I haven't seen one for sale but Lyman does advertise them which means they're out there somewhere. They probably sell it with the sifter lid because it's cheaper for them and easier for us new guys to not have to buy a sifter.

Mine is ridiculously quiet. I can hear the media swishing around OVER the sound of the motor. The trick is to make sure the lid is on very tight. Otherwise it is really noisy.

 

[BHFG]

Here is the one that looks to have a solid top. There are a few dealers that have them anywhere up to $103. Not sure this is the least expensive site, but it shows the picture.

Anyone have this model and can comment on the lid type or performance?

Tnx

 

[RustyFN]

I have a suggestion for a $45 tumbler. The Cabelas tumbler is high capacity ( 650 38 spcl cases ) light weight and fairly quiet. I have had mine for around one year and am very happy with it.


Rusty

 

[jcwit]

Right on RustyFN and with their customer satisfaction policy it basically guarented forever.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, good tumbler. It and the Berrys are one and the same. The Lyman tumblers are good too. My 1200 finally died after 20 plus years. I have a Berrys and a bigger Lyman now. I like them both.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Whatever is cheap...

BHFG--The "Which is the best/worst tumbler" question has been batted around quite a lot on these fora. The consensus seems to be that it doesn't matter much, as they are all built pretty much the same.

There doesn't seem to be any one brand of tumbler that stands out as particularly long-lived, or particularly cheap, or doing a particularly XLNT job of cleaning/polishing brass.

A few people report their tumblers dying prematurely, but that is to be expected with any mechanical device, and the premature deaths don't seem to be concentrated on any one brand of tumbler.

Therefore, it would seem prudent to get a tumbler that you get a good deal on, and only pay for extra bells & whistles that you personally think would help you.

I'm thinking about getting a media separator now, after several years of sifting the brass out by hand. If I had the whole thing to do over again, I'd take a deal on a tumbler AND a separator, but that's just my experience. You will find your own way.

 

[jcwit]

When Harbor Freight first came out I had one replaced by them 3 different times then got my money back. They had bronze bearings and didn't hold up at all. Not to bash H/F as alot of their merchandise is a fairly good value for money spent. Just had trouble with their tumblers, don't know but they may have put ball bearings in the motors now.

At any rate I believe the Berrys/Cabelas are better quality at basically the same price.

 

[mkl]

I bought the Lyman 1200 version that comes with both the large and small bowl about eight months ago.

I have been very satisfied with the performance, and don't seem to have a dust problem. I mix in about a tablespoon of Flitz metal polish with the media, so perhaps that is what ameliorates the dust problem.

Looking at mine, I would think that a 12 X 12 inch piece of Saran wrap or any kitchen type plastic wrap would be easy to put over the top to the bowl to seal in any dust.

Mine did tend to "walk" across the smooth surface on which it was placed. I fixed that by simply putting a piece of the rubber "no slip" shelf lining stuff under it. You can find it at any RV supply store and in many grocery stores.

 

[benzuncle]

The consensus seems to be that it doesn't matter much, as they are all built pretty much the same. There doesn't seem to be any one brand of tumbler that stands out as particularly long-lived, or particularly cheap, or doing a particularly XLNT job of cleaning/polishing brass.

+1 to that. I bought my Thumler Tumbler UV-10 just over a year ago. It works fine and is quiet. No bells or whistles on it. After someone shared that they left their tumbler run for 4 days before remembering it was on, I added a cheap timer so it will turn off after it is finished.

The simplest setup: a 15" woofer laid on its back with a bucket full of brass in it. Rock-n-Roll!

 

[Walkalong]

After someone shared that they left their tumbler run for 4 days before

Wasn't me!!!

I left mine on for longet than that.

 

[bullseye308]

I had a Frankfors arsenal tumbler that died after a year. Replaced it the next day and got back in business. Opened up the dead one to see what made it tick and found a wire had come loose. Plugged it up and now have 2 FA tumblers running. Hit the dollar store up for a large colander that will fit over a large bucket and you have a media separator for a few bucks. No charge for the extra advice.

 

[ranger335v]

"I see a lot of complaints about the Turbo Pro 1200 sifter lid causing dust to go everywhere."

I don't know what you read but there will be no billowing clouds of dust from any proper tumbling meda, lid or no lid.

So far as I can find, ALL vib. tumblers use cheap bronze sleeve bearing motors. I think it's safe to say that IF any of them did have ball bearing motors their adds would be crowing about it. By their silence, I think not.

Anyway, all those common little AC motors need to run virtually forever is a few drops of a fine, non-gumming oil on the bearings once or twice a year. I use Automatic Transmission Fluid.

Bullseye - "Hit the dollar store up for a large colander that will fit over a large bucket and you have a media separator for a few bucks."

Right. And, if they have any of the $1 expanded mesh/wire web office size trash baskets, they work even better than colanders! I sift my tumbler into a clean 5 gal. paint bucket and store my extra media in there too, the snap-on lid keeps it clean. The lidded bucket also serves as a "table" for the tumber.

 

[jcwit]

Ya but, boy do I like that phrase, ya but, 4 defective tumblers in 6 weeks is a bit much. I don't know what kind of bearing the Berry/Cabelas tumbler has, and could care less, as its been running for 2 days a week for 2 years now and still going strong. All this with no lube, don't need to as its replaceable IF it ever quits during my watch.

 

[ranger335v]

"...its been running for 2 days a week for 2 years now and still going strong. All this with no lube,..."

JC, keep it up, you'll get there!

 

[jcwit]

Probably and then they give me a new one. Simple isn't it.

 

[Walkalong]

Anyway, all those common little AC motors need to run virtually forever is a few drops of a fine, non-gumming oil on the bearings once or twice a year.

Ditto. Bronze bearings will last nearly forever if they never run dry. I have seen 50 to 100 plus year old electric motors with bronze bearings that looked like new when I worked in an electric motor shop way back when. We would be rewinding them. The bearings were fine. Those motors have a wad of packing holding the oil and a "wick" drawing it to the shaft through a machined spot in the bearing. If it does not run dry, they will last indefinitely. The little motors in tumblers do not have anything to hold oil except the bearing. The bearings are porous and hold oil themselves.

If you will oil those fan motors in your inside and outside A/C units (Blower and Condenser fans) (I did A/C work for years too), they will last nearly forever as well.