tumblers...

[Dmaxboy08]

I just bought a Lymans pro 1200 series tumbler. It came with zero directions. I have a few questions.
1. how much .45acp and .40s&w brass will it hold?
2. how much media should i put in?
3. how long should i let it run?
4. When its done, should i rinse the brass off?
5. How many times can you use the media?

 

[blujax01]

I just bought a Lymans pro 1200 series tumbler. It came with zero directions. I have a few questions.
1. how much .45acp and .40s&w brass will it hold?
2. how much media should i put in?
3. how long should i let it run?
4. When its done, should i rinse the brass off?
5. How many times can you use the media?

This is a link to the instruction sheets (I Googled "Lyman 1200 instruction sheet).

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/pdf/LyC_TT.pdf

1) I can comfortably do 500 at a time.

2) Enough to cover the brass.

3) I let it run an hour.

4) I don't - others may.

5) I change mine out after about 2000 rounds.

Another tip. Since there is no on/off switch I bought a $3 power strip that has a switch and plug it into that. No need to pull the plug from the wall.

 

[DGT]

Since no one else has stepped up, I'll give it a shot.

I fill the tumbler 2/3 to 3/4 full of media. I have polished 250 round of 45 acp at a time with no problems. I allow it to run a couple of hours and do not rinse the cases off. As far as how long you can use the media, I would say as long as it is doing a good job of getting the brass clean, don't worry about it. If you feel it is not getting the brass as clean as it did, change it.

Hope this helps.

 

[Titegroups]

Fill mine about 3/4 full, add some metal polish and let it run empty to disperse it so it doesn't get packed into cases in globs, how long you run it depends a lot on the media you choose and how clean is acceptable to you, mine 45min with very coarse corn cob. I never clean them off when finished, and have run mine for many thousands of cases till I change it. Just make sure the media isn't jammed into the cases when you're done before loading.

 

[planojack]

I have an old timer that has a plug in tab for on and off. I simply remove the on tab. With the tumbler set for 3 hours, it will go off. Otherwise, I regularly forgot to turn it off. I use the walnut media and regularly refresh it with liquid jeweler's rouge from the local craft store. New media is about once a year.

 

[Dmaxboy08]

Alright, thanks guys. Yall are some big help!

 

[Cerberus62]

All of the above, plus this:

I buy crushed walnut shell at the pet store for media. It is sharp and hard and will clean cases factory bright very quickly. I will sometimes add metal polish as noted by Titegroups, but usually run it dry.

Stuff lasts forever and is dirt cheap when it needs replacement. Also the smaller grit doesn't seem to pack and stick in the flash holes of de-primed cases.

 

[blujax01]

And it didn't take long for me to see the advantage of having a media separator. Yes, it is an overpriced piece of plastic-in-a-bucket but it works, and for me it is worth it!

 

[snowman]

Dmax,

A few thoughts:

-The media separator mentioned above saves a good bit of time; it's a sieve into which you pour both brass and media from the bowl of the tumbler, then rotate until all the media falls out of the sieve and into a bucket. I join blujax in highly recommending it.

-The media will of course collect the residue from the cases, and this contains lead compound from the spent primers. Consequently it's wise to protect yourself from breathing the dust, which gets into the air around the tumbler when used media is poured into or out of the tumbler or when the separator is used. I just take mine outside the garage to do these procedures and sit upwind from the machine.

-The media will grow noticeably darker with each use, and this will help you to some degree to determine when it's time to replace it. Its life can be extended somewhat by running the tumbler awhile with little sections of used dryer sheets(fabric softener), but in my experience this will allow you to use it only one or at most two additional times. As noted by another poster the best indicator that replacement is necessary is when the brass has a film of dust on it after tumbling. You don't want that.

Best wishes,
Andy

 

[RSWMTB]

My media lasts forever...I occasionally put a scoop or two of Dillon case cleaner in the tumbler...works GREAT.



.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I have started washing my brass before tumbling. That gets any dirt and a lot of the carbon out before going into the mix. I was shocked at how filthy the water was when I was done washing. I used warm water in the sink with a shot of dish soap. As a side note, I one time and one time only didn't allow them to dry all the way before tossing them in the media. Not fun scaping out corn cob stuck inside cases. I need to buy more citric acid and start soaking them after washing.

 

[Rule3]

My media lasts forever...I occasionally put a scoop or two of Dillon case cleaner in the tumbler...works GREAT.



.

You just think it does. It losses it's sharp edges and is completely contaminated with lead and other nasty stuff. Takes longer to clean your brass, but you have saved 0.25 cents.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Also, I was buying the Drillspot media but switched to the natual kitty litter as it was the same price when bought at Target or Wal-Mart. But that stuff is too full of dust. When I run out again I'm going right back to Drillspot.

 

[mikld]

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/pdf/LyC_TT.pdf
Google is your friend.....

 

[lpspinner]

Also, I was buying the Drillspot media but switched to the natual kitty litter as it was the same price when bought at Target or Wal-Mart. But that stuff is too full of dust. When I run out again I'm going right back to Drillspot.

+1 on the Drillspot. I buy the 14/20 grit, but I get it at my local Graingers. It's the same product as drillspot and my discount at Graingers, makes it less then Drillspot.

A 40lb bag will last for a very long time.

 

[Dmaxboy08]

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/pdf/LyC_TT.pdf
Google is your friend.....

you are very correct, BUT google can NOT give answers from years of experience. Most the info off of google is book knowledge unless you come across a link to a website like this. I come here and ask a bunch of questions because 90% of these people on here have walked down the same road as i am and they can offer great infomation

 

[rck281]

My media lasts forever...I occasionally put a scoop or two of Dillon case cleaner in the tumbler...works GREAT.
.

I also use the Dillon case polish and it works fantastic. Better than anything else I have tried in the last 30 years.

 

[358156hp]

I have started washing my brass before tumbling. That gets any dirt and a lot of the carbon out before going into the mix. I was shocked at how filthy the water was when I was done washing. I used warm water in the sink with a shot of dish soap. As a side note, I one time and one time only didn't allow them to dry all the way before tossing them in the media. Not fun scaping out corn cob stuck inside cases. I need to buy more citric acid and start soaking them after washing.

Really? You wash cases with lead & carbon residue in the same sink your dishes get washed in?

 

[358156hp]

I was taught to fill the bowl to the halfway mark with your brass cases. The turn the tumbler on, and add media until you can no longer hear the brass cases clinking against each other.