What is the best stainless steel media tumbler?

[Boomer4570]

Looking at a stainless steel media tumbler for less than $400 which one is the best? The search function on tapatalk received no results, having a hard time believing this hasn't been discussed before.


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[JO JO]

It has been discussed several times, I think it depends on your volume?
At your price range take your pick , The rebel, thumbler's, lortone, Frankford
All well under 400 I would pick one that can be repaired if needed, meaning ability
Of repair parts anyway just my opinion

 

[Reefinmike]

The harbor freight single drum rotary tumbler is good for 50+ pieces of brass
A cement mixer is good for 5,000 pieces of brass

The frankford arsenal rotary tumbler seems to get good reviews as a middle ground.

A lot will depend on how much you intend to tumble at a time.

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Here is my vote for the American made Lortone QT12.

I reload 9mm. I run batches of roughly 500 cases with 8 cups of hot water, 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons ajax, and 1/8 teaspoon lemishine. No pins. They come out almost flawless, but no quite perfect primer pockets since I don't use pins anymore.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I'll vote for the Thumler's Model B. I've been using one for over 4 years now and it is still going strong. I had to replace the rubber seal that goes under the lid due to brass finally causing it to leak, but other than that no problems. I have probably cleaned 40 to 50 thousand pieces of brass in this machine and hopefully it will last at least that many more before I have to replace the motor. When I replaced the rubber seal I also picked up a spare belt but will wait until the old one breaks until I replace it. I have lubed the motor a few times and other moving parts. Really can't say enough about how pleased I am with this machine.

 

[jmorris]

I didn't want to spend a lot of money when I started tumbling with stainless, so I built a tumbler that used two 12.7gallon (100lb) chlorine buckets and a gear motor from eBay.

Spent $48 building it not counting the media and it will tumble more than 3000 45 ACP cases per batch.

 

[sbwaters]

Happy with my new Frankford Arsenal tumbler using dawn, Lemishine, and a dash of Armor-all wash. Suppose I could drop the dawn. Done in an hour.

 

[mrdemal]

jmorris:

Great Yankee ingenuity.

 

[SauceNM]

I picked up a couple of Lortone wet tumblers, sans the tumbling jugs, at a garage sale. One is the single length and the other is the double length.
I use Walmart 'Great Value' apple sauce jars and they work perfect.
AND its Sooooooo good for me.

 

[Kaldor]

If you want best that doesnt cost a fortune Id buy one from STM
http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/reloading-products/tumblers/extreme-tumblers-rebel-17.html

If you want decent but not pricey. Probably wont last as long as the STM
https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-909544-Rotary-Tumbler/dp/B00HTN4R6O

Or you can just build your own like I did
https://goo.gl/photos/FEEvQGEAW1LUuCzN7

 

[Boomer4570]

Thanks to everyone who replied, I like the cement mixer idea, how ever I don't need to tumble that much brass at once. 1000 to 2000 45 ACP brass should be my upper limit.


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[gwpercle]

I've been using a Thumler's Tumbler model B since 1973 , has a 15 pound capacity, Midway has the high speed unit listed at $200.00.
Use the right size vacuum cleaner belts , available from wally mart , and you good to go. The factory belts don't last and are pricey.
Gary

 

[lightman]

Was pretty happy with the Thumblers model B that I had for 30 something years. Wanting more volume, I bought a "Big Dawg". They make a few different sizes, although the biggest one is over your stated budget.

 

[wiiawiwb]

My hats off to those of you who build your own. It's a great talent to be able to do that. Kudos.

 

[USSR]

At $150, the Frankford Arsenal rotary tumbler is the best value. I used one to clean brass commercially for a couple of years and it is still going strong. And, no belts to replace.

Don