Tumbler question

[alphie]

I've recently re-entered the reloading world. I have a very basic single stage set-up. My equipment was purchased many years ago and never included a cleaning tumbler. I reload for .308 Win. and .40 S&W, but the pistol was purchased recently and most of my reloading will be for the pistol as I don't shoot the rifle all that much. I'm thinking I should get a tumbler, so my question is: what's the best inexpensive tumbler out there? I don't have a large budget, but I don't like equipment that is a waste of my small budget. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[fxstchawg]

I have one I bought at Cabelas. Their brand and it has been working fine for a couple years now. I Reload .45/.38spl/.357/.40 s&w I change out the media every other load and my brass comes out shiney.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I change out the media every other load and my brass comes out shiney.

You might be wasting your money. I haven't changed the media in my tumbler for at least 30 batches and my rounds are brighter than factory rounds. I also toss 1/2 of a used dryer sheet in with each batch. The dryer sheet helps to absorb the crud from the media and keeps the media cleaner.

I have just a hornady tumbler that I have had for years. If I ever replace it I am going to go with this:
Link Removed

You can get it cheaper other places. Picking the brass out of the tumbler by hand is a pain in the rear.

 

[tailslide]

The biggest hassle with a tumbler is separating the brass from the media after tumbling. Franklin has an inexpensive kit that includes a tumbler and separater. Don't waste money on fancy tumbling media. I just use plain white rice bought in bulk. Works great.

 

[justonemore]

I was given a Franklin for Christmas 2 years ago. I run 200 to 400 cases at a time for 4 hours. So far, all I have used is walnut shells. If the case is discolored when it goes in, it will be discolored when it comes out, only clean. I plug it in to a timer set to run from 2am until 6am so I don't have to listen to it. After about 4,000 rounds it is still working fine.
As for getting the media out, I made a seperator by cutting panels out of a 1 gallon paint bucket($1.95) and stapled some mesh to let the media fall out. In other words, the sides are about 80% open. It takes about 2 minutes of rotating it by hand to get everything out. The seperators I have seen run $30 to $80. Not for me.
P.S. I don't change my media, I just replenish it to keep the tumbler 3/4 full.

 

[golocx4]

I have a Lyman 1200 PRO Turbo Tumbler. I put a couple of cupfuls of Brasso in the (walnut shell) media. When the tumbling is done I simply turn the thing upside down over a bucket and 90% of the media comes out. Then I remove the shiny cases and after a good shaking 99.9% of the media is seperated from the cases.
Haven't changed media yet just keep adding a little more each time.
Some guys I know don't clean the cases at all and some clean every couple of times.
Me I like them smooth and clean.

 

[golocx4]

I plug it in to a timer set to run from 2am until 6am so I don't have to listen to it.

What a great idea and yet I feel so stoopid for not thinking of that myself. LOL

 

[NavyLCDR]

I put a couple of cupfuls of Brasso in the (walnut shell) media.

Cupfuls?!? Wow. I have heard of a tablespoon or so, but cupfuls?!? I have also heard that the ammonia in Brasso causes the brass to become brittle and crack sooner. (sshhh :secret:... I use Brasso too). There is polish similar to Brasso that is ammounia free.

 

[murph50]

I have a Lyman and one I got a few years ago from Harbor freight. The HF one does the job and it only cost about $30.
For media I use corn cob with some walnut shell in there. I just throw in a paper towel ripped in quarters to collect the crud.
Corn cob I got at the feed store--50 lbs for about $10
Walnut shell I got at petsmart (lizard litter) 20 lbs for cheap (I forgot how much).
I used that Harbor Freight tumbler for a few years and it still works great --I only got the Lyman when the local Sportsmans Warehouse closed and I picked it up for $25 at the going out of business sale

 

[alphie]

Thanks for all the input. You guys are great! I haven't cleaned the cases yet, but I'm thinking it would be a good idea, so I'm looking. Thanks again!