Vibrator tumbler question??

[03Fatboy]

Used dryer sheets trap a bunch of the carbon and grit much better than paper towels. Just a small squirt of NuFinish or similar polish to fresh media and let it run for a while until you don't find clumps. If it hasn't been said yet, go to Drillspot.com and buy their 14/20 corn cob blast media.

So, add the brass after the clumps are all gone or does it matter?

 

[mkk41]

Harbor Freight?

Ya get what ya pay for.

'Nuff said.

 

[bananaman]

Yeah, I know! But anyway I fixed it like chris said. Used 6mm metric rod, new nuts etc. I took the bottom off, and one of the brackets that goes to the motor was off (missing screw) Put it back together, and for now it runs good. I don't think that I ever overloaded it though. Thanks all, for all the insight and ideas! Bob

 

[Maximumbob54]

So, add the brass after the clumps are all gone or does it matter?

Clumps mean it's still wet and wet will stick to cases. You can stir it and break them up with your fingers if needed. And this only needs to be done to fresh new media. A little goes a long way. Don't add too much.

 

[m657]

My bowl would rotate a bit so I added a rubber nut screwed down extra finger tight. No rotation. And usually I leave the lid off as it doesn't seem to make much difference.

I use coarse walnut shells, got about a life time supply in a big box at Harbor Freight about 10 years ago on sale for about $9.

While I've experimented with a variety of media & polish, I like the coarse ground shells and a cap or 2 of Dillon's blue stuff. 8 oz lasts a long time....but so does the media. Maybe once a year or so I'll dump the old just to put in fresh stuff.

I used to like the citrus odor of another company but their prices went way up.so I stick with Dillon

 

[dickttx]

Question: Do you squirt the car polish directly into the media? Also, what are the squares of paper towel for? thanks

Yep, as said by others, let it run a little to disperse the clumps.

Pieces of paper towels work about as good as used dryer sheets to collect dust.

I like the 20/40 cob from Drillspot. But about anything will work.

I have mine plugged into a cheap timer, set for 2 to 3 hours. A lot of times I forget it for several days, so it runs that amount of time every 24 hours.

 

[fredj338]

With most things, you do get what you pay for. The HF or FA stuff is cheap for a reason. I have a Thumbler Ultravibe, had it for about 25yrs & use it at least once a week. It is still going strong.

 

[dmar]

I've got a Lyman, and have had excellent results. It is good quality, and I believe it is made in the US... Runs quiet, and gives good results.

I put some NuFinish car polish into the media (corn cob) and let it run for a few minutes to mix it in, then I add the brass. Works great. I've also done the strips of used dryer sheets, and I guess it works OK, but I don't find that its necessary to keep dust down...

 

[Step N. Mud]

I bought the H.F 5lb. tumbler in Oct. to replace a 3 yr.old Franklin tumbler that the motor went bad that was a replacement for a Lyman 1200 that had a few years on it. Any way the Harbor Freight tumbler didn't seem right from the beginning and keep trying to find ways to make the bowl tighten down to keep from spinning. Last week the main center bolt snapped off at the bottom of the base, maybe with my help. Had a two yr. warranty free replacement and exchanged for a new one and seems far better than the first one. Still have the older Franklin tumbler and noticed the Franklin has small rubber wedges on the rubber pad that the bowl sits on apparantly to keep the bowl in place. Have bought Harbor Freight stuff in the past with good luck but if it's electric, I'll almost always buy the cheap warranty and no problem with exchanging.

p.s., I use my tumbler several times a month, maybe weekly, so it gets lots of use. Lizard media from Pet Smart and 100 to 200 44 cases at a time, filled approx. 3/4 full with media and cases.

 

[novalty]

Have had good luck so far with my Lyman 1200 turbo as well. But have only put a 2000 or so rounds through it so far.

 

[bananaman]

Step N, I don't remember if I bought the extended or not! Old age is setting in. I replaced their rod (stripped) with threaded rod from my neighborhood hardware store. While I was there I bought a car air cleaner nut to better hold the lid. It all works well for now. Bob

 

[44magsam]

just getting to reloading and a tumbler will be my next thing to buy. something i have been wondering about. do you have to change the media after every time you use it? and what is the best media? do you have to have to have the hand separator thing?

 

[snowman]

just getting to reloading and a tumbler will be my next thing to buy. something i have been wondering about. do you have to change the media after every time you use it? and what is the best media? do you have to have to have the hand separator thing?

The media doesn't have to be changed each time. That is what the used dryer sheets/paper towels are for -to absorb enough dirt from the media to extend its life. There is disagreement on the "best" media; crushed walnut shells generally are thought to be a little more aggressive in cleaning the cases, whereas crushed corn cobs are generally thought to polish the cases a bit better. But even that is debated. It's seemed to be true in my experience.

The sieve-type separators make the process considerably easier and quicker.

Hope this helps a bit.
Andy

 

[FloridaFlier]

I've been using the Dillon tumbler for six years now. Probably 20K rounds. Never a problem of any kind. BTW, Dillon specifically says not to tumble wet.

 

[Waidmann]

If you talking about a belt-driven drum, lose it.