What Tumbler to Get?

[saunderscc]

I have looked at the tumblers offered on Midway and saw the Harbor Freight deal they have for $39.99. Any thoughts on a good quiet tumbler to get? I sort of like the Lyman tumblers since the lids when flipped become the media seperator. What do most of you guys use?

[ept000]

I got the whole F.A. set-up from Midway. Tumbler, seperator, media, polish, everything. Works great! I have put at least ten thousand cases through it so far, and the only problem I had was one of the connectors on the motor vibrated off. I just stuck it back on and back in business.

[thorn]

I have this one (http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000157631327) . Pretty satisfied with it using crushed corn cob. It has two lids. One is a sifter lid, the other is solid clear plastic. Also comes with 2 bowl sizes. The smaller bowl is quieter than the larger one... but i found that you can the bolt the sifter lid on the large bowl, then bolt the clear lid on top of the sifter (one lid on top of the other.) It doesn't come with a third nut, but i found a rubber washer and hex nut in my junk/tool drawer that fit perfectly.

If you do it that way, it completely contains the dust and also kills the noise level alot. I put the tumbler in a closet and tumbled 300 cases of 9mm the other nite... turned on the TV and watched a movie. Couldn't hear the tumbler much at all... i've owned louder dishwashers. And if you bolt the bowls and load as per instructions, it won't walk around the floor.

The sifter works ok if you do it by hand. Corn cob media came out with a min or two of shaking. Next time i'm just going to try leaving the tumbler running and turn it upside down over the bucket instead of taking the bowl off and shaking by hand.

thorn

[webyourbusiness]

I got the same package deal ept000 mentioned - it was $50 on sale - which is a bit of good deal imnsho...

[BigSlick]

If I was gonna buy a tumbler today and didn't go wit a Thumlers rotary, I would buy the Cabela's house brand Berry's Model 400

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0012554212867a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=tumbler&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=tumbler&noImage=0

I have one and it has held up for a whole bunch of loads. I dog it too. Best bang for the buck out there that I am aware of.



http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/21/28/67/i212867sn01.jpg

[RustyFN]

I have the Cabela's tumbler also, very nice and large capacity.
Rusty

[gokyo]

Lyman 2500 Pro-Magnum has worked for me.

The bad news... It does not have a on off switch. However Does not matter. I have it plugged into a timer. I just let it run for 3 hours and it stops all by it self.

[saunderscc]

Thanks for all the info, I think I have it narrowed down to the Cabela's, a Lyman, or the FA kit from Midway (a nice deal). I appreciate all the input. :)

[yammerschooner]

I have the big dillon, but it probably costs more than it was worth.

The franklin arsenal tumbler worked fine before that, and still cleans well if I give it a little time to warm up. After three years or so I fear it may be on the downward spiral, but I can't confirm.

[BigSlick]

Cabelas tumbler got a 3 yr warranty on da motor, life on errythang else

[AlPackin]

and for just a couple bucks more at Cabelas you get a kit with media, a separator and some polish that works nice. That's what I got

[Shovel66]

It seems like everyone that replied like's what they have. I don't want to HI-JACK, but are there any tumblers that we should stay away from? ie...extremely loud, creates excessive dust, breaks often, no replacement parts support, takes more than 1 hour to clean a small load of pistol brass, or any other reason?
Thanks,
Shovel

[thorn]

I've seen these midway tumblers (http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML98/98088.html) for sale used, on ebay... i'd avoid them. I know alot of people had no problems with them, but since there are other choices out there - why bother risking it.

thorn

[Helms]

I also use the F.A. tumbler, and I have ran several thousand cases through without a problem. The bowl itself is a little small for any real serious work, but for part time work it is a great deal.

[saunderscc]

I also use the F.A. tumbler, and I have ran several thousand cases through without a problem. The bowl itself is a little small for any real serious work, but for part time work it is a great deal.

Cool, I don't plan to be running hundreds at a time, I am small time, maybe fifty to hundred max a cycle. And even at that just that much a week.

[Helms]

it will definitely handle that. I think I picked the tumbler up for 35$ or so. I figure if I get a few years out of it it will probably be worth it at that price, and thus far it has really been great, and works well. Id suggest it to anyone looking for a low buck unit without much of a volume demand.

[freakshow10mm]

I got an RCBS off of Tack. Works well. I plan to get into brass some more so I'm going to get a cement mixer this summer.

[Shadowdog500]

I have an ultra vibe 18 and really like it. It is probably 20+ yers od and stil works well.


Chris

[DssG19]

Check ebay, I got a NIB Hornady M2 tumbler for $40.

[VN350X10]

Get the largest one you can possibly get. A large tumbler with a small amount of brass works well, but a small tumbler with a LOT of brass doesn't.
My next project might be to BUILD a tumbler. I build vibratory equipment for a living & compared to what we build, anything on the market sold to reloaders is a TOY.
I had a Lyman 3200 w/ autoflo, but the motor bearings went bye-bye. Might be a good basis for a home built using a real vibratory motor.

uncle albert

[HiddenEyes]

The big Dillon.

Cleans brass by the bucketful.


Mr. HE:cool:

[Charly]

also got the big Dillon and it is true it works real great but ... is expensive and you even don't get an on/off switch for the big $$$ ! But I really like the way it works !!

I finaly found the best mix working for me to get the blasting shine on my brass.
I am mixing cheap petshop corn media with Lyman corn media with Lyman walnut media with Dillon walnut media and adding a tea spoon of brass polish every time I tumble.

[yammerschooner]

also got the big Dillon and it is true it works real great but ... is expensive and you even don't get an on/off switch for the big $$$ ! But I really like the way it works !!




Mine has an on/off switch on the cord. It was purchased within the last couple months.

[HiddenEyes]

Mine has a switch on the cord too.

Just looked at the website and it doesn't say in the specs if there is a switch or not. Might contact Dillon and ask.


Mr. HE:cool:

[yammerschooner]

Wonder if it has more to do with which side of the ocean it is sold on or when it was purchased.

How old is yours HE?

[HiddenEyes]

That might be. Purchased mine new in 2002.


Mr. HE:cool:

[ede]

i have a northern tools 2/3 yard concrete mixer. i can do 2000 or so cases at a time. cost shipped to me was around 200$.

[saunderscc]

Thanks for all the input, I went with the Cabela's house model. Should be here soon, starting to acquire a lot of ugly looking brass too. The sooner the better. BTW, how much of an effect does dirty brass have while shooting?

[yammerschooner]

Thanks for all the input, I went with the Cabela's house model. Should be here soon, starting to acquire a lot of ugly looking brass too. The sooner the better. BTW, how much of an effect does dirty brass have while shooting?

Depends on who you are trying to impress.

Accuracy wise- none.

[yammerschooner]

How long have you had your big dillon tumbler Charly? What kind of electricty does it run on?


also got the big Dillon and it is true it works real great but ... is expensive and you even don't get an on/off switch for the big $$$ ! But I really like the way it works !!

I finaly found the best mix working for me to get the blasting shine on my brass.
I am mixing cheap petshop corn media with Lyman corn media with Lyman walnut media with Dillon walnut media and adding a tea spoon of brass polish every time I tumble.

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

I have a FA, and a HF tumbler and they both work well, i have considered getting a Dillon cv500 or larger but am not convinced that it is needed yet. I know montegod is going to need more supplies since hes venturing out on his own. so maybe ill sell him one of mine for cheap. sorry i start to ramble

[hugginsvilleH&A]

I followed jjb advice and got the cabelas brand have ran 2k rounds thru it , no problems, cleans fine , and good for a newby CRB on a budget

[BigDog[RE]]

Midway has the FA model on sale for $35 in their latest flyer.

I had a Lyman 2200 Auto flow, it lasted one week past the warranty. I replaced it with a small Dillon and later got an FA tumbler as part of a larger deal. The Dillon tumbler is really nice and does the job well, but the brass doesn't end up any shinier then the stuff run through the FA. The FA tumbler is smaller and louder, but gets the job done.

[RustyFN]

Cabelas tumbler got a 3 yr warranty on da motor, life on errythang else
And it's JJB approved, what else could you ask for.
Rusty