Why didn't someone tell me?

[berettaprofessor]

After a number of months of picking up cases individually out of the media and shaking them out, it dawned on me that somebody somewhere must sell a better solution. So a quick search turned up rotary separators by Frankford Arsenal and RCBS in the $25-30 range, and a "plastic strainer" by Frankford (link below) for <$9. I was going to buy a rotary, but by the time I got around to a midwayusa order, they were all out. So I purchased the "strainer", figuring it was so cheap that I could make do for awhile.

Make do for awhile? Just gave it a whirl with a full tumbler load and it took all of 10 seconds to completely clean out the cases. Who needs anything else? Reloading just gets better and better the more you learn.

Kudos to Frankford for a great inexpensive product. And a pox on all who kept the secret of media separators to themselves.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/731116/frankford-arsenal-standard-media-separator?cm_vc=ProductFinding

 

[rondog]

That may be fine for a small amount of brass, but for larger amounts the FA rotary separator is much better. Mine has served me well for many years.

 

[Reefinmike]

I went nearly two years sifting casings out by hand until I ponied up $40 for a rcbs media separator. It does the job very fast but with how clumsy the darn thing is, i can sift em out by hand nearly as fast... big plus is the minimization of exposure to that nasty dust.

 

[RandyP]

Exactly what I use over a 5 gallon plastic bucket. Bought it along with my tumbler from Midway.

 

[rcmodel]

I made mine out of hail screen & wood scrap 20 years ago.

Works like a charm!



Also made a 'sifter out of hail screen and a coffee can but the rotary one works much better.



rc

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I went nearly two years sifting casings out by hand until I ponied up $40 for a rcbs media separator. It does the job very fast but with how clumsy the darn thing is, i can sift em out by hand nearly as fast... big plus is the minimization of exposure to that nasty dust.

I also have the RCBS green giant. Clumsy and awkward, but it works. And it makes a good footrest too boot.

 

[Toprudder]

Berettaprofessor, "Wet Tumbling". Just so you can't say no one ever mentioned it.

I also have the RCBS green giant. Clumsy and awkward, but it works. And it makes a good footrest too boot.

I have a better use for the RCBS separator - separating SS pins from casings after wet tumbling. Works pretty well for that.

 

[jcwit]

Bought a $2.00 colander from the local hardware way back when I first started tumbling brass, this has worked well for ?????????????????? Heck I have no idea how long.

Large amounts????????
Not to sure what that is, but it did work well when I polished two 5 gal buckets and 5 milk jugs of .223 & 9mm brass. Colander holds as much as my tumbler does.

 

[Rule3]

Just so you know, the RCBS, Cabellas and Berrys rotating sifters are all the same made by Berrys. Different colors though.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14629-c47-g8-b0-p0-Double_Action_Rotary_Sifter.aspx

 

[Blue68f100]

I use the brass separators (45, 40, 9mm) over a 3gal bucket.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/847836/shell-sorter-brass-sorter-9mm-luger-40-smith-and-wesson-45-acp-3-bowl-set

 

[Walkalong]

My media separator.

 

[H&R Glock]

I also use the $2.00 plastic collander from Wally World. I can dump 150 9mm into it and have all the tumbler media separated in less than a minute.
A round wheel works well for me.

 

[TexasDon]

I'm sitting here laughing at myself..!!
I have been using a stainless spaghetti colander with handles that I shake in a 5 gallon bucket.

Like this....


Works well for me...I just never moved up to a rotary one. I guess I just read too many reviews of the latch or other plastic parts breaking??
Maybe not all of them but some.
And maybe they were mishandled?
It's hard to "mess up" a stainless one.

I also have the FA plastic shaker I use sometimes.
I always wanted to make on like rcmodel did, I just never pulled the trigger on it yet.

TxDon

 

[berettaprofessor]

There are some inventive people on here. Blue68, I bought those at the same time...there's at least a 50-50 if I'd had them first I would have thought to use them and save my $8.95.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

Iv'e been reloading since 1973. I use a collander and large bowl from the 99 cent store. This works out just fine with a full tumbler.

 

[medalguy]

RC, looks like Dillon caught a peek at yours and started making theirs afterwards. Identical except theirs is plastic.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have two plastic colanders from Dollar Tree. I toss the cases back and forth between then over a plastic tub.

 

[higgite]

Why didn't someone tell me?

Buy low, sell high. Now quit your whining.

 

[Reinz]

"..a pox on those who kept the secret.."

Really?

Have you been living under a rock?

Have you not ever looked at any gun/reloading catalogs?

Do you not even shop, or browse online??m

How could you NOT know??

 

[zeke]

Just wait till ya find out you can buy one with a lid, so ya don't have to breathe the dust.

 

[RKRCPA]

I drilled a hole in my sifter so that it fits over the cleaner. I dump the media into a bucket and then dump it back into the sifter placed over the bowl and sift the media back into the bowl.

 

[Harry1969]

I went nearly two years sifting casings out by hand until I ponied up $40 for a rcbs media separator. It does the job very fast but with how clumsy the darn thing is, i can sift em out by hand nearly as fast... big plus is the minimization of exposure to that nasty dust.

I can do 300 cases in less than a minute, I doubt you can come anywhere close to that by hand.

 

[Rule3]

I drilled a hole in my sifter so that it fits over the cleaner. I dump the media into a bucket and then dump it back into the sifter placed over the bowl and sift the media back into the bowl.

Now take several deep breaths and inhale. Plus wipe your hands all over the exposed areas were that sifter is placed and get all the dust everywhere.

 

[OilyPablo]

Asian supermarkets sell massive plastic colanders.

 

[RainDodger]

I guess I'm the ultimate cheapskate. I use an old plastic milk jug (about 2 gallons I'd guess). It's rectangular, has a handle, and it's sturdy. I cut one end off and drilled holes in the bottom that are slightly smaller than a 9mm case.

I dump my tumbler into it and shake it inside of a big paper shopping bag.

I've been using that same plastic container for 25 years. I've been using the same paper bag for probably 10 years, but it IS getting a bit weak in places.

I don't need no stinkin' fancy-dancy thing.