What Tumbler Are You Using?
- Thread starter AJ
- Start date
About 50 years ago, my brother bought a Lortone Lapidary tumbler. It has a rubber drum and sits in a frame. After he quit reloading I ended up with it and it gets a lot of use. I had to replace a belt about 5 years ago, but the firm is still in business and they still had the belt for it!! I mostly use walnut media and tumble for around 4 hours. Works great.
They still make them, the model I have is similar to the model 3A and they are reasonably priced.
They still make them, the model I have is similar to the model 3A and they are reasonably priced.
Removing case lube after resizing
I use a Thumbler's Tumbler Ultra-Vibe 10 with ground walnut shells and triangular ceramic tumbling media, about a double handful of triangles to a batch.
After the dry media and lubed brass have mixed, I spray water and Dawn dishwashing liquid onto the media. One teaspoon of Dawn to 16 ounces of water in a spray bottle. I cover the tumbler bowl with a flat plastic bag that has a center hole, install cover, and tighten the nut. 1-1/2 to 2 hours later I have dry, gleaming brass ready to load.
Yup, I violate all the rules of "Polished Brass" but it has worked for 10 years for me. No more wiping down individual cases or trying to remove black gunk from the outside of cases.
I use a Thumbler's Tumbler Ultra-Vibe 10 with ground walnut shells and triangular ceramic tumbling media, about a double handful of triangles to a batch.
After the dry media and lubed brass have mixed, I spray water and Dawn dishwashing liquid onto the media. One teaspoon of Dawn to 16 ounces of water in a spray bottle. I cover the tumbler bowl with a flat plastic bag that has a center hole, install cover, and tighten the nut. 1-1/2 to 2 hours later I have dry, gleaming brass ready to load.
Yup, I violate all the rules of "Polished Brass" but it has worked for 10 years for me. No more wiping down individual cases or trying to remove black gunk from the outside of cases.
max503
Member
Tumble schmumble. My cases get washed with water/salt/Dawn/citric acid. I ain't had no complaints.
Lortone QT-12. I can't recall how many decades I've owned it. It is a beast!
Wow, interesting thread! I never thought about different tumblers until I read this. I also have a Midway 1292 that's ran for years (it's the only one I have). Quite a while ago, like 20 years or so, it just quit working. I took it apart and found a wire had shaken loose from the motor. I soldered it back up and it was off to the races. It still works like the day I got it. Dang it, now I really need to open it back up to take a closer look. Maybe give Midway a call, who knows...
Thanks to the OP for starting this thread as I knew absolutely nothing about that recall!
Thanks to the OP for starting this thread as I knew absolutely nothing about that recall!
OP
AJ
US Veteran
OP
AJ
US Veteran
That was not the question.
Not that I am really cheap but a question. When I polish the case lube off in te big tumbler after 4-5 batches the corn cob media gets to where it seems to get loaded up with lube. Kinda wasteful...Anyone have a method fpr getting the lube out of it?? ...well yeah...I guess I am being a bit cheap
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this one replaced the old Midway blue
Graf Brass Tumbler 110 Volt - Graf & Sons
Been working fine for last coupe years, and is more effective/quieter than the Midway was. A little (maybe tbsp or 2) added to the walnut media helps with the dust, and cleaning. Am surmising the walnut helps by increasing the friction coefficient, judging by the water vaporizing and condensing on bottom of lid. A closed media separator and dust mask also helps.
Graf Brass Tumbler 110 Volt - Graf & Sons
Been working fine for last coupe years, and is more effective/quieter than the Midway was. A little (maybe tbsp or 2) added to the walnut media helps with the dust, and cleaning. Am surmising the walnut helps by increasing the friction coefficient, judging by the water vaporizing and condensing on bottom of lid. A closed media separator and dust mask also helps.
I have a Dillon 1000, a Lyman that holds around 300 - 500 45 ACP or 44 mag. And an old Thumblers Tumbler that I started with and is still kicking just fine. I don't worry about noise as they are in the far side of My basement.
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Some claim that a paper towel or something similar will allegedly clean the media. I've found it doesn't do anything. Media is cheap; when it stops cleaning effectively, I throw it out.
I'm using this vibratory case cleaner from Midsouth Shooters Supply. It's made by Berry's manufacturing. Simple, inexpensive and effective.
Vibratory Case Tumbler by Midsouth Reloading
Vibratory Case Tumbler by Midsouth Reloading
Ican't remember were I got it or when but I Have a old Past
that I use with walnut chips, to clean up my pistol and rifle brass, when it is time.
It has a on/off switch in the middle of the six foot cord and a plastic cap on top
that keeps things from unscrewing ?
A little noisy, so it goes outside.
that I use with walnut chips, to clean up my pistol and rifle brass, when it is time.
It has a on/off switch in the middle of the six foot cord and a plastic cap on top
that keeps things from unscrewing ?
A little noisy, so it goes outside.
BourbonCowboy
Member
I caught a sale on Frankfort Arsenal stuff a few years ago. Got the rotary tumbler that I use with the pins for cleaning. Bought an extra drum that I use with crushed walnut media for polishing. Works well.
You want the lube in there. It lubes the cases lightly and makes them much easier to load.
OP
AJ
US Veteran
I have found that a used dryer sheet works great for keeping down the dust and stuff. I change them about every other time that I tumble cases. No specific brand, just a used dryer sheet for softening clothes.
For pistol loads, I tumble my brass in my Lortone QT 12 with either ground walnut shells or corn cob, with a small amount of liquid Flitz. I use case lube that is 90% alcohol and 10% lanolin. The cases get lubed just before being sized in a Dillon carbide sizing die. I don't clean the case lube from the cases. I just box and shoot the ammo!
OP
AJ
US Veteran
I guess it is a hold over from my days in the Corps, but I use a couple of capfuls of liquid Brasso about once a week. I tumble several times a week.
