What tumbler <$60?

[marsofold]

I use the harbor freight rock tumbler that I bought for the princely sum of $29.99. Works well but the single drum is rather volume limited (about three dozen 454-casull brass). Wish I had splurged for the dual-drum model.

 

[rangerphil]

I second the Cabelas tumbler made by Berry's. Great price and quality.

 

[Halo]

Regardless of which tumbler you end up getting, I heartily recommend the media sifter Midway sells. It sits in the mouth of a standard 5 gallon bucket and with a bit of shaking all your media will end up in the bucket, leaving behind that beautiful shiny brass that warms the heart of all reloaders. I have a bucket each for walnut and corncob and I just leave the media sealed up in the buckets when not in use.

I also recommend Flitz metal polish. That stuff is a great media additive. I've heard people have good luck with car polish too, which is certainly a cheaper alternative.

 

[tbtrout]

I bought the Cabelas kit a few months ago. Works great.

 

[Quoheleth]

Thanks, all for he helpful thoughts. That Cabelas kit looks pretty good. In the meantime, a friend at church said I could borrow his tumbler if I buy new media (mice got into his). So that saves me $50...or, another way to look at it is that's $50 into my CCL fund.

Q

 

[BeJaRa]

Looks like you have a tumbler now, but I'll chime in with my experience for anybody intrested in tumblers. I have a Lyman twin tumbler, which is a lyman 1200 with an extra 600 bowl. I never really use the small bowl. Tumbler works great and doesn't make as much noise as I thought it would. been running strong for 1 yr. I ish the larger bowl had a solid top like the smaller bowl, but for $60 I can't complain.

 

[evan price]

Picked up a Midway 1292 on eBay for $26 with the media strainer, bucket, both lids and 5# media, looked brand new. Shipping was $18 more. Total $44.

Personally, there is one tumbler that the lid is also a strainer- it has holes in it- and I can't think of a better way to cover the entire room with grey dust than use a perforated lid on a tumbler. I think it is Lyman that is this way. Just be aware of that.

 

[RustyFN]

Another vote for the Cabelas tumbler. It's a high capacity tumbler, quiet and light weight. It will hold 650 38 spcl cases. I have one and love it.
Rusty

 

[jetrecbn]

My Franklin/Midway case vibrator is over 10years old and still cleaning.

 

[aerod1]

I bought a Chicago tumbler from Harbor Freight for $39.95 and it works great so far. I had money left over for media.

 

[DEDON45]

As to the media sifter; I don't know how much the "official" media / case separators are, but for around 4.00 I picked up a small bucket and a plastic pasta strainer to fit on the bucket at the dollar store.

 

[RichardInFlorida]

I've had good luck with the Frankford tumbler from Midway. I've cleaned A LOT (multiple 55 gallon drums) of range brass with it and a Lyman. No problems out of either one. I like the Lyman better, but I have no complaints about the Frankford.

Well, an unfortunate update for anyone trying to figure out which tumbler to buy.

My Lyman Pro 2500 died last night. I had it for only a few months before it burned out on me. On the other hand, the Frankford Arsenal I have been using for a couple of years is still churning away.

YMMV.

 

[offthepaper]

I bought a Franklin a couple of months ago, have only cleaned about 1000 cases with it, but so far no problems. I am a little concerned after reading some of the posts on the Franklin however.
I keep my triggers crossed.

 

[rc109a]

The only problem I had with the Midway tumbler is the connectors have broke on both hot leads. It was a very easy fix and it is still worth the money I have paid for it. Going on 3 years and it runs daily.

 

[Jimfern]

+1 on the Lyman 1200. I set it outside in the Texas sun when I run it and it keeps on going.

 

[xcalibre]

Tumbler Recall

I see that some older Frankford Arsenal tumblers sold by Midway were recalled for motor replacement. Check here ---

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/317981

If you have one of these you can send it in for repair.Luckily mine had the aluminum baseplate so not part of recall.

 

[lordgroom]

I have used the Frankford Arsenal for over a year. Light to moderate use and it works fine.

 

[Quoheleth]

Since this was my original thread, and since my tumbler money went to gas for generator usage post-IKE, I have a follow-up question.

WHile cleaning my garage Saturday, I found my old ice-cream maker with a "stainless" steel canister for the cream - it's got rust both outside and inside. The motor works, though. I can't use the canister for ice cream, and to buy a new one costs as much as a whole new maker at WMart. So, I think I might try using the old ice cream maker as a tumbler.

Anyone ever try this before?

I'm still planning to get the Cabelas kit, but for now, renew, reuse & recycle...

Q

 

[rondog]

My Frankford Arsenal tumbler kit from Midway works just fine. I've heard that if they quit, it might actually be the in-line switch and not the tumbler. Loose or broken wiring internally is also easy to fix.

 

[easyrider604]

BUT, I also drilled a row of 1/2" holes about an inch apart around the bottom of the base before I reassembled it. Don't know if it's the new motor or the better circulation but it doesn't get warm in use anymore.

This is OT, but a great idea. Heat is the biggest killer of any motor.

My Thumler's Tumbler Ultra Vibe doesn't need these holes, though. You could actually see the motor through a two inch high window all around. Maybe that's why it's still working after all these years

 

[rondog]

Very good point! You want to put them on a hard surface such as a floor, and not on carpet, so they can get airflow into them.

 

[LJH]

I picked up a Harbor Freight tumbler over a year ago when it went on sale for $29. It runs 24/7, at least for the last 6 months. Only problem I had was the bowl started to rattle so I glued it to the platform.

 

[rondog]

I picked up a Harbor Freight tumbler over a year ago when it went on sale for $29. It runs 24/7, at least for the last 6 months. Only problem I had was the bowl started to rattle so I glued it to the platform.

Man, I looked at one of their big ones, and it was nearly $200! I damn near choked. $200? From Harbor Freight?

 

[jhansman]

Well, like so many others here, my Frankfort Arsenal tumbler is going strong (although getting louder). Of course, when it does eventually die, I'll be wondering how to find this thread.

For the OP, stay with the vinegar/water soak, but skip the salt. It's what discolored your brass. A 5-6 hr. soak really makes the media's job easier during the tumble (and don't forget the toss in a cut up dryer sheet to collect the crud and extend your media's life).

 

[rondog]

You can also soak tarnished brass in orange Kool-Aid (without any sugar). It will actually eat the tarnish off, but they'll still have to be polished afterwards.