38 replies to this topic

[Rugster]

someone told me about a tumbler with stainless steel brushes that uses no media and only a little dish washing soap. anyone know what im talking about? i'm so sick of media and polish costs with my dillon. i tumble thousands of rounds a week and i have to have this stupid thing running every day to keep up and the media and polish expense is pissing me off.

thanks

I haven't heard of anything with stainless brushes inside, but I have seen people use actual stainless media. I think it was tiny pieces or rice-sized stainless that you added water and soap to. Lasts forever.

[SlowShooter]

FYI:

When I first started reloading I got one of those "Tumbler + media separator" kits (Frankford arsenal, http://www.midwayusa...arator-110-volt).

It is very loud, I can't be in the room with it running, it hurts my ears. I thought all tumblers were like this; until one day I saw someone else's tumbler: we could hold a normal conversation while it was running, without having to yell.

It's been two years now and recently the motor on that tumbler froze-up. I walked into the room and didn't hear it running, but smelled that burning electronics smell. Luckily no fire, I caught it in time.

Also, for dust reasons and to prevent lead exposure, I now always do the brass/media separation outdoors. It was just too messy to do inside, as that cloud of dust is probably not good for me

Now I need to buy a new tumbler, I would like to know from you all which ones are loud and which are quiet?
( I'm trying to keep it under $75)
Also Which ones have a clear lid? I like to watch the shiny brass and media swirl around

Edited by SlowShooter, 27 January 2012 - 09:49 AM.

[Rugster]

My lyman 1200 isn't too loud, and I like the sifter lid.

[RammerJammer]

FYI:

When I first started reloading I got one of those "Tumbler + media separator" kits (Frankford arsenal, http://www.midwayusa...arator-110-volt).

It is very loud, I can't be in the room with it running, it hurts my ears. I thought all tumblers were like this; until one day I saw someone else's tumbler: we could hold a normal conversation while it was running, without having to yell.

It's been two years now and recently the motor on that tumbler froze-up. I walked into the room and didn't hear it running, but smelled that burning electronics smell. Luckily no fire, I caught it in time.

Also, for dust reasons and to prevent lead exposure, I now always do the brass/media separation outdoors. It was just too messy to do inside, as that cloud of dust is probably not good for me

Now I need to buy a new tumbler, I would like to know from you all which ones are loud and which are quiet?
( I'm trying to keep it under $75)
Also Which ones have a clear lid? I like to watch the shiny brass and media swirl around

I am going through this now. I've tried a rubber mat, cranking the top down. Now I just close the door and run it at night for a kind of white noise from down the hall. The combo is a good starter set though because it has everything you need.

[Unregistered]

I have a Lyman 1200 and I sprayed adhesive onto the top of the lid and stuck cling film over it to form a seal and crank down the lid very tight. I live in an apartment and unfortunately must tumble in the apartment. Realized the problem after I bought the tumbler! Should have gone with one that had a solid lid.

I've set the tumbler on top of a large cardboard box which in turn sits on top of my spare set of car tires (summer tires/winter tires). Decently quiet, even though it is technically in the same "room" as where my computer is.

[lostinar]

Hello first post. New reloader but I bought a traditional tumbler and it worked but too far too long and I got tired of poking media out of the flash holes and the inside being dirty. I returned it and bought the Hornady magnum ultrasonic cleaner and it is the best thing in the whole world, brass is better than new inside and out, primer pockets are sparkling after thirty minutes. It's amazing. Look up my review on Midway underder the Hornady ultrasonic magnum I'm "hog fan"

[czambesi]

Thanks and welcome to the forum!

[SlowShooter]

I just got my new Hornay tumbler and I like it.

I don't have any other to compare it to, but it is very quiet. Like a desk-fan running. Much better than the loud noise I was getting from the old Frankford Arsenal tumbler.

The only thing is it doesn't have a clear lid. I keep having to take the lid off to see if the brass is moving freely (I like to see the shiny brass swirl around )

Edited by SlowShooter, 15 February 2012 - 02:41 PM.

[czambesi]

haha thanks!

[Killertraylor]

thanks again for all the info. looking forward to my trip to bass pro

Thanks,

Chris

I've been using the Lee for about 10 years - run it for days at a time sometimes and I'm amazed at how the motor keeps up. I've had to patch a seam or two that started to come apart in the basket, but it's still going strong.

[Tactica]

For what its worth, I'm using the Hornady. Have been using for 13 months with no problems. It's the only one I've used. It came with two different tops, one with perfs and without. Wing nut and washer to remove the lid... same to remove the whole bowl. That makes it easy to dump contents into a large strainer with large bowl. Sift media to retrieve brass. Quite a simple to use device really with an inline power switch on the cable. The feet are rubberized and spring loaded so had no problems with it walking off of a tile surface either. I've sent about 10,000 rounds through it now of 9mm and .40S&W. I use corn media and couple dallup's of Nufinish. I reuse the media for several runs.

[lostinar]

I just got my new Hornay tumbler and I like it.

I don't have any other to compare it to, but it is very quiet. Like a desk-fan running. Much better than the loud noise I was getting from the old Frankford Arsenal tumbler.

The only thing is it doesn't have a clear lid. I keep having to take the lid off to see if the brass is moving freely (I like to see the shiny brass swirl around )

The hornady can run without the lid just fine, just tighten down the wingnut (as if the lid was there) and you can watch it all day.

[Tactica]

I just got my new Hornay tumbler and I like it.

I don't have any other to compare it to, but it is very quiet. Like a desk-fan running. Much better than the loud noise I was getting from the old Frankford Arsenal tumbler.

The only thing is it doesn't have a clear lid. I keep having to take the lid off to see if the brass is moving freely (I like to see the shiny brass swirl around )

The hornady can run without the lid just fine, just tighten down the wingnut (as if the lid was there) and you can watch it all day.

^ Glad I'm not the only one.

[czambesi]

my wife got me a 3lb rotary tubmler, anyone else using one?

Thanks,

Chris