Used tumbler for the first time, what a pain!

[savanahsdad]

this . I paid $20.00 years ago, there about $30 now but worth it , 5 turns one way then 5 turns the other way , and it's all inclosed ,so no dust when sorting meida from brass ,

from Cabela's

 

[mljdeckard]

I hand-dumped them for several months, and felt very good about myself. Then I got the hand spinner like the one in post 26, and I have regained hours of my week.

Also, I have stopped using media treatment entirely. I'm such a rule follower, I do exactly what the instructions tell me to, but once I dumped in some new media (I used crushed walnut shells from petsmart) and I didn't have any when I thought I did. So I ran it dry. NO DIFFERENCE. It was just a pain, you put too much in and the cases are greasy, the media clumps up, I don't know what benefit you get from it.

 

[edpm3]

Ditto to post #26. Done in 30 seconds.

 

[thump_rrr]

When I was tumbling with walnut or corncob I bought the same separator.
Now that I use Stainless Steel pins I still use the same separator.
The only difference is that I fill it with water and spin 10 times in each direction and all the SS pins sink to the bottom.
I then drain off the water and spin it another 10 times in each direction and most of the water is gone.
I then pour the brass onto a large terry cloth or microfiber towel and dry the outside of the cases.
It then gets poured into a clean plastic kitty litter bucket where the rest of the drying takes place.
I have enough brass that I never need to load it right away.

 

[jcwit]

Also, I have stopped using media treatment entirely. I'm such a rule follower, I do exactly what the instructions tell me to, but once I dumped in some new media (I used crushed walnut shells from petsmart) and I didn't have any when I thought I did. So I ran it dry. NO DIFFERENCE. It was just a pain, you put too much in and the cases are greasy, the media clumps up, I don't know what benefit you get from it.

You're using WAY to much polish, simple as that.

I use a metal colander and it takes less than 30 seconds, I think, when the time comes for me to need to time myself sifting media from the cases I'm going to take up a different hobby.

 

[carbuncle]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, for separating media from brass, I use one of these. 20 turns in one direction, 20 turns in the other direction, less than a minute, done.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/176956/rcbs-rotary-case-and-media-separator

I had the same problem as the OP, once: back to Cabelas for the same rotary separator above, no more problem. Usually takes a few turns to be all set, we worth whatever I paid for it in saved time.

 

[Nappers]

I bought a white strainer at Walmart for a buck and use it with no hiccups.

I tumble for hours, wash with dish soap (red rouge in media), dry in wood blocks upside down for a day in the sun

 

[dragon813gt]

View attachment 178991 this . I paid $20.00 years ago, there about $30 now but worth it , 5 turns one way then 5 turns the other way , and it's all inclosed ,so no dust when sorting meida from brass ,

from Cabela's

To the OP, just buy this. Then take a hole saw to the bottom in a bunch of spots. Or cut the bottom out. This way all the media falls back into a bucket for you to pour back into the tumbler. Easy as can be.


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[tcanthonyii]

I use a colander over a bucket. When they right them selves after shaking I just mix them up with my hands. Either way each case should be visually inspected. I do this as a final step. I pull them out, tap them upside down and look them over quickly. Just part of the process.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Here is a pre-made media separator that doesn't cost too much.
http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/frankford-arsenal/catalog.asp?family=media-separators

 

[Steve C]

If you get a plastic sifter like shown below, drill a hole in the center that will allow it to fit over the threaded rod your tumbler lid uses. The quickest way I have found to use the case/media separators is to dump the brass and media after tumbling into a bucket, put the separator sifter on the tumbler as shown below. Pour in the cases and media from the bucket into the sifter and then turn on the tumbler. The media will shake out back into the tumbler and if you rake the cases up the sides of the sifter with your fingers to turn them any media inside the cases comes out. Takes only a minute or two and you've separated the cases and tumbling media.

All other methods are slower and more expensive but if you have an extra large capacity tumbler you may need to use the bucket and turn crank unit.

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

You might want to add a dryer sheet to your media as it does a great job at keeping the media clean and keps the dust down. As far as a method to remove media from cases just get the Franklin Aresnal seperator. Its cheap,easy and simple to use.