I have a Dillon tumbler that I've used A LOT over the past 4 years and I have no idea how much is was used before that because I bought it new. It's not the big 1200 model, it's the 500 model. The Dillon tumbler is very strong from what I see.

quote:

Thumler's Model B

+1!

Hey, thanks for all the info!!
I've never seen the Thumblers before - going to check it out for sure.

The old Midway lasted about 10+ years and I'm sure it would have continued had it not just gone to pieces. The fatal blow was the threaded rod eventually loosened and dropped down on top of the motor and vibrated throught the insulation damaging the coil.

Initially I was going to do a quick search for a replacement motor but the bowl was torn up pretty bad as well.

Good info - thanks again for the input.
Rob

The best price I know of is here.
http://www.lockstock.com/products.asp?dept=534

I have two thumblers from the late 70's. The smaller one motor went out when I loaned it to a friend. I bought a Lyman 1200, and a sidewinder as soon as they came out in the mid 80's. I had to replace the motor on the Lyman. I paid $149 for the Sidewinder, they sure have went up in price. The sidewinder works well with liquid but is slow to clean the cases, just like the thumblers. I bought the biggest Dillion the late 80's. I usually use the Dillion and the Lyman and the RCBS Sidewinder the most. The vibratory models are faster.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AMOS,

I have a Dillon 500 that lasted me for 13 years. I ran the heck out of it for hours at a time. The motor finally gave out. I shipped back to Dillon and, IIRC, for 30 dollars they rebuilt it to better than new when I got it. The only thing of the old tumbler returned was the screw and bowl. That was an out of warranty repair and included shipping. Can't argue with that. Figure I'm good to go for another decade and a half.

Sgt Preston here. I also have the Dillon CV-500 & use it to load 15,000 rounds per year. It works well, is rugged & simply doesn't let me down. One can always buy less expensive products, I try to buy the best that I can afford. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

I don't care what kind of tumbler you have, you need to have it set up so that cooling air gets to the motor. I have had a Midway 1292 for years now. As another poster mentioned, they had a recall, because of motors burning out. There is a fan on the bottom to cool the motor. That said, if left on a flat surface, not enough air can be sucked up under the base to supply a constant supply of air to cool the motor. If your tumbler is similar in design to this, simply raise it up on supports in order to give the motor fan access to fresh air beneath the base. I've had my Midway set up like this for years. It has always got the job done!

After ten years, of competition shooting, my Dillon motor went out. One phone call had a new part in the mail to me at no charge. I buy Dillon whenever I can for the no BS guarantee.

I use a Lyman 1200 w/ AutoFlo.

Cleans brass just fine ... but the AutoFlo is a gimmick that doesn't work as well as I'd hoped. Just get one of the strainers and dump it over a bucket.

Whatever brand you buy get a timer to plug it into and that way you won't forget about it and leave it running for a week or so like some people do which will shorten the life of the vibrator type tumbler. On the other hand the rotary type, like the Thumbler Tumbler, can just about run forever without any ill effects since they are rock polishing tumblers made for that sort of thing.

Smitty

My Lyman Turbo 1200 is over 30 years old and nary a problem.
Rich

Bought a tumbler at Harbour Freight Tools last year. Run a few through it every week using Wal-Mart corn cob (for pet beds). Costs me 29.99 for the tumbler and 4:95 for the 10lb bag of media. Tumbler looks like the Midway tumbler, except for the color.