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Author Topic: What tumbler should I get?  (Read 3884 times)

Offline blackpowderhunter

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What tumbler should I get?
« on: September 21, 2018, 10:04:46 AM »
Looking for a basic tumbler to clean my brass. 
Wet? Dry?
Was looking at the frankford arsenal quick n ez tumbler (40 bucks on amazon)
or my buddy runs the harbor freight tumbler with stainless media and lemi shine.

so now i look to all of you reloading internet experts  :chuckle:

Offline Curly

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2018, 10:17:19 AM »
I only have experience with the wet type and steel pin media.  I loaded for 20 years without tumbling but 2 years ago I finally got a tumbler.

Here's the one I got:  https://www.midwayusa.com/product/713881/frankford-arsenal-platinum-series-rotary-case-tumbler

It works great.  But since I have no experience with other types I probably can't give you much useful advise........all I can really say is the one I got seems to work really well. :twocents:
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Offline Magnum_Willys

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2018, 10:30:40 AM »
 :yeah:
Have it works great.  However for best accuracy I just wipe off with 0000 steel wool and dont tumble.

Offline blackpowderhunter

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2018, 10:57:04 AM »
:yeah:
Have it works great.  However for best accuracy I just wipe off with 0000 steel wool and dont tumble.
curious what your overall cleaning process is then?  fairly new to reloading and so just looking at others processes to get ideas.
do you just brush out the neck of the case and clean the outside with the wool?

Offline HawkCreek

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2018, 10:43:56 AM »
I've never used a wet tumbler but I don't tumble my brass each and every time either. When doing small batches (such as during load development) I usually just clean inside the neck with a brush and the outside with a little steel wool if it needs it.

Everyone tells me wet tumbling is faster but this is 4 hours of tumbling in corncob(my mistake) walnut media (with a capful of NuFinish and mineral spirits) and no drying required. But this DOES mean I have to clean primer pockets myself.

« Last Edit: September 25, 2018, 12:30:38 PM by HawkCreek »

Offline Evil_EdwardO

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2018, 11:14:39 AM »
I use a Lyman tumbler 1200 pro. Was just using corn but then saw a post on here someone mentioned 50/50 corn/walnut and that it would work for primer pockets. I tried it last week and I did notice a big difference that my brass was shinier and primer pockets were cleaner.

Offline BULLBLASTER

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2018, 04:57:21 PM »
Stainless media wet tumble for me every firing  :twocents:

Offline Oh Mah

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2018, 05:58:54 PM »
I almost never clean my brass. When I do I love the sonic cleaner or just a little steel wool.  I feel the carbon in the neck actually helps.  Jmo based on my experiences.  I noticed my es jumped up a bit when I clean necks. Tested it several times before I made up my mind
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Offline Biggerhammer

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2018, 09:03:42 PM »
:yeah:
Have it works great.  However for best accuracy I just wipe off with 0000 steel wool and dont tumble.

Same here! If I have time to tumble I will. If not a tear off a piece of steel wool spin the necks in it by hand and into the die it goes.

Offline Magnum_Willys

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2018, 06:48:48 AM »
:yeah:
Have it works great.  However for best accuracy I just wipe off with 0000 steel wool and dont tumble.
curious what your overall cleaning process is then?  fairly new to reloading and so just looking at others processes to get ideas.
do you just brush out the neck of the case and clean the outside with the wool?
Exactly.  Then anneal, size, Chamfer neck  and clean primer pocket and brush neck on lyman prep station.   

Offline Jason

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2018, 06:53:13 AM »
I use a Lyman Turbo 1200 dry tumbler. I only use an untreated corn cob media. I like to get as much carbon off the brass as possible before I anneal.

Offline Stein

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2018, 07:06:05 AM »
Frankford with walnut works perfect for a great price.  I sometimes add a few drops of polishing compound I bought at Cabelas 10 years a go.

Offline CAMPMEAT

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2018, 08:25:22 AM »
I have the Horbady tumbler. Works fine, but I haven't owned any thing else.
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Offline rudysts

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Re: What tumbler should I get?
« Reply #14 on: October 03, 2018, 04:06:22 PM »
Been using one from Harbor freight for may years now.
https://www.harborfreight.com/5-lb-metal-vibrator-tumbler-67617.html

 


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