Rotating Tumbler vs. a Vibratory Tumbler

VonFatman

VonFatman

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I am fortunate.

I have a very good performing Dillon vibratory tumbler (the smaller of the two offered by Dillon). I got it used for $50.00 and have never looked back! A very good tumbler and much faster than my old Franklin.

I also have a BRAND new RCBS Sidewinder Rotory Tumbler. A friend gave it to me and I've never used it.

To me the only real "problem" I have with vibratory tumblers is the dust. I use the used dryer sheets (have plenty on hand since my step-daughter and her son moved in with us!) and I can manage the dust, I just grow weary of the whole dust control process.

If I move to the rotary tumbler:
-I expect I will need "tumbler juice"...expensive to keep clean "juice"?
-I have heard the rotary tumblers are quieter.
-Is there a long drying period?
-Is the brass cleaned as well? I tumble with the spent primers IN.

Anyone who has experience with a rotary tumbler...could you give me some feedback?

Thanks.

Bob
 
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I too have both a vibratory tumbler and an RCBS Sidewinder, I use the sidewinder with walnut shells to clean the soot and other dirt off my brass. I have a bottle of the liquid cleaner but have never used it. I keep the vibratory unit filled with corncob media which I use as a final polish. Media no matter what type breaks down into dust as part of doing its job, if you are getting excessive dust it is time to change to fresh media.
 
Drum tumblers are converted rock polishers. Not the best for our needs, but they do work - if a bit slower.

I'd advise you to polish a few rocks in the drum unit, you'll be amazed at how nice it works.
 
I bought a Lortone QT 12 rotary tumbler (Lortone, Manufacturers of Tools for Lapidary & Jewelry Artists) from Gil Hebard Guns about 30 years ago. I use walnut or corn cob media and about a capful of polish. I use liquid Flitz. It works well on the wife's silver tea service, too.

My tumbler works pretty fast when I don't overload it and the brass isn't badly stained or corroded. It works best with just a couple hundred pistol cases. If I put fewer cases in, it cleans faster. As the lid is sealed tightly, you won't have any problem with dust as the cases are being tumbled. There will be some dust when you are emptying the drum.

I haven't used a vibratory tumbler, but from what I see on the internet, it appears that the rotary tumblers don't break down as often as vibratory tumblers. I also gather that the rotary tumblers are quieter.
 
I have a lapidary tumbler and some really old vibratory cleaner. The tumbler gets used all the time while the vibrator thingy sits in the garage in a box. It's really noisy and takes a lot longer than the tumbler, which is filled with Lyman treated walnut media.
 
I would also recommend Lyman Tufnut, never any dust and the brass looks like new. It also outlasts the corncob media. I use the small Dillon unit, but have been thinking of a tumbler. I would still use Tufnut
 
Thanks guys. Most of you seem to use the dry media in the rotary tumbler. Never expected that! Anyone use a liquid?

sar4937,
Thanks for the tip on the Tufnut...I'll give it a try. Some folks use rice too...may give that a try too.

Bob
 
Last edited:
Yep, very interesting! However, his process seemed to take quite a bit of time. I did learn that too much polish makes for more than normal dust!

Bob
 
I used a rotary tumbler for many years. I always used the regular crushed corn cob or walnut shells.
I would let it run for several days to get really nice brass.

I bought a vibrating cleaner and it will clean the brass the same in about four hours.

Either will clean the brass, one if faster.
 
I originally had a Thumbler Model B rotary tumbler. It did a good job, but was slow and limited in capacity. About thirty years ago, I bought the large Dillon vibratory tumbler. It is twice or three times as fast (as an example, I run the Dillon two hours to clean and polish brass - it leaves it looking like new jewelry). I use Dillon's polish.

I got rid of my rotary tumbler.

Later I got into Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette use. I used the Dillon for those large black powder cases with good results.

However, the "hot" set up with black powder cases is a rotary tumbler with liquid and ceramic tumbling media (of the correct size for the case size). The advantage of the ceramic media is that it cleans the inside of the case as well as the outside. Using black powder this can be a benefit.

In the meantime, I will keep "struggling" with my large capacity Dillon with it's rapid clean properties.

After thirty years, I had to replace the central bolt and knob that holds the lid on (actually wore out the threads). That represents a LOT of use. When and if the Dillon dies, I'll be buying another Dillon.

Regarding noise...
I discovered that the lid against the bowl was creating most of the noise. I carefully cleaned the lid, and installed one layer of foam weatherstrip between the lid and the bowl edge. Most of the noise disappeared (this has lasted for thirty years and looks as if it might make it another thirty years)(:>)).

FWIW
Dale53
 
Bob,

I've been using treated corncob and have never seen any dust. I tried treated walnut shell for one batch and went back to cob.

Jeff
 
I have both, Vib sets idle, I use the Thumbler with dry walnut hulls untreated. Since I don't have to watch or hold its hand I just leave it over night. I have much better/faster results when I wash the brass in Simple Green first (washing machine) that gets the bullet lube off.
There is a high speed Thumbler made for brass cleaning, but IMO brass cleaning is one of those jobs that tends it self and the regular unit does fine.

Wet and with abrasive will go faster but what's the hurry?
A hand crank separator is a great step forward in getting the media out.
 
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