A Tumbler Question
- Thread starter okie john
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Now that I have one, I can't imagine not having nice shiney brass.
rewster
Member
I have used a Lyman Turbo Flo from the start. Wouldn't be without it !!
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
I have had one of the Lyman's from jump too.
I just recently got a Franklin kit with separator. Not overly impresses with the action of the Franklin but it works. What I really wanted was the separator to be honest!
I just recently got a Franklin kit with separator. Not overly impresses with the action of the Franklin but it works. What I really wanted was the separator to be honest!
tbury
Member
For most of my reloading life I did not use a tumbler. Now that I have a Lyman Autoflow Tumbler I would not do without one. For me it is not just liking the polished brass it is "Clean" brass. It makes resizing easier and eliminates the possibility of scaring a reloading die.
Amici
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How can a serious - or even casual - reloader NOT have a tumbler? What do you do; put your cases in the dishwasher?
I've used a Lyman since about 1986. It still works fine.
HINT: You can buy tumbling media as lizard litter from most pet stores for less than you would buying it as tumbling media from a gun store.
I've used a Lyman since about 1986. It still works fine.
HINT: You can buy tumbling media as lizard litter from most pet stores for less than you would buying it as tumbling media from a gun store.
I am still using a Bonanza case tumbler that I've had since the late 60's and it works great. Actually it is a rock tumbler that the folks at Bonanza (then Gopher Shooters Supply) sold as a case tumbler. Rock tumblers are designed to run for weeks and weeks, so this one has held up great over the years! It does a good job polishing cases, but it is considerably slower than the vibratory type tumblers. I just never had any reason to replace it with something faster.
tomf52
Member
5 gal bucket, really hot water (just enough to cover the shells,4 tblspoons lemon juice, and a squirt of Dawn dish detergent. Amazing! Don't need tumbler!
rewster
Member
Like I've always said, there's more than one way to skin a cat
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Just as long as they get "skint"!
FrankD45
Absent Comrade
For the past 25 plus years I have been using a Thumlers Tumbler. It is a belt driven barrel tumble originally designed for rock and gem polishing. I fill it with a mix of 60/40 walnut/corn and use Flitz additive and dryer sheets. The only maintenance issues have been to replace the drive belt twice.
I hope that helps,
Frank
I hope that helps,
Frank
Erich
Member
That might have been my friend Sam Damewood, who's a member here. He's got a cement mixer tumbler down there by his gunsmithing shop in Alamogordo. Turns out that sand is a great polishing medium!
Originally posted by Erich:
That might have been my friend Sam Damewood, who's a member here. He's got a cement mixer tumbler down there by his gunsmithing shop in Alamogordo. Turns out that sand is a great polishing medium!
That may have been the one I saw.
Amici
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Originally posted by Erich:
That might have been my friend Sam Damewood, who's a member here. He's got a cement mixer tumbler down there by his gunsmithing shop in Alamogordo. Turns out that sand is a great polishing medium!
Great SCOURING medium; I doubt it actually polishes that well.
It also requires a second step to clean the grit off, unless you consider worn dies and gouged brass to be acceptable.
I think I'll stick with corn cob and crushed walnut shells, thanks.
I have the large Dillon machine, but it is a little too much of a good thing most of the time. My 20 year old Midway vibrator tumbler got more use, but the motor crapped out a few weeks ago. I looked at RCBS, Lyman, and the others. They all seemed lightly built than the old Midway and a little cheezy. So I got the smaller Dillon. Cost a few dollars more but the difference in construction is noticable. And it is quiet compared to the old Midway one, (which I'll probably fix one of these days.)
tomf52
Member
Harbor Freight has an inexpensive tumbler. If it breaks, toss it and do it again. 40 lb bag of corn cob blast media at Grainger Industrial Supply is currently $22.70 + or -.
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