Sometimes I wonder, then I'm sure....maybe. Yeah, it's one of those days. So today I'm tumbling the last of several thousand 45acp brass and find water on the bench. Get to looking and the RCBS Sidewinder tumbler I have has spung a leak. The bottom piece of plastic is glued to the green body and it's apparently coming apart. So I email RCBS and that's when the day went sideways. Not only do they not warrant the drum, or the entire Sidewinder, they don't have any parts for the Sidewinder either. That means I can't even buy another drum for this grossly over priced junk ($449.00 msrp @ rcbs). I looked around at other places like Midway, Natchez, Grafs, etc and nobody has a drum although Brownells claims they can get me one at the loving price of $200.00 plus shipping. Looks like anything with RCBS name on it is now forbidden at my house. After the hand priming tool debacle, I'm done with green and their chinese crap.
SO, what are ya'll using for a rotary tumbler. If I were younger, I'd just spring for Thumblers but I wouldn't live long enough to break in a Thumblers. Not sure about capacity of the Frankfort stuff or the reliability. But I'm open for suggestions. I've gotten accustomed to wet media and not wanting to go back to walnut or that type of media although I have probably 25lbs of it in the garage.
Frankford Platinum is what I've used for the last 6yrs, zippo problems.
I am using the Lyman Cyclone. The tub will hold about 1,000 223 case plus 5 lbs of pins, so they say. I have not put that much in it, but I have had a lot in at one time. I comes with a sifter too. I don't remember what I paid for but is was less than $200. I have had it about three years now. I only use it a couple times a year, but I have had no issues with it.
Bought this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HTN4R6O/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_KgXoDbTWYN8CK
in March 2016 and have processed tens of thousands of rounds of brass. Runs as good today as the day I opened the box, despite the fact that is is stored near the table saw and eats a steady diet of dust.
I have a Lyman. The lid had to twisted very tight so it wouldn't leak. I emailed them to get a new gasket and they sent me a complete new tub free of charge. No more leaks.
Ditto on the Frankford Platinum.. Very solid.. no issues. Plus a great price point.
Sorry to hear your woes with RCBS. So far I've had great service from them, but I've noticed as of late, their products don't quite have the spit and polish they used to have.. Looking at Redding products more.
Yeah, I have a water proof epoxy that I'm going to try to coat the joint from the inside of the drum to see if I can make that work. My biggest gripe with RCBS is their junk now comes from China and apparently there's zero quality control. The mentioned hand priming tool wouldn't work with my old shell holders, they're a little too long and won't fit in the unit. So I bought new ones after a conversation with RCBS, 7 of of them to be exact that covered most of the common sizes. Not a frikin one of them would take a shell as the slot in the shellholder was cut wrong- far too thin. So I called RCBS and yes they would mail me new ones as soon as the ship came in from China. Six weeks later I get a package of shellholders from RCBS replacing the ones I had bought.....only these won't take a shell either as the cut for the rim to slide into is far too thin. A call again to RCBS and yes they were aware of the problem but it might be as much as 6 months before another ship comes in from China. Thankfully, Potterfield at Midway took pity on me and allowed a return of the priming tool since it was far passed their 30 day return policy. RCBS, yet another US company going to crap with chinese made trash. But if the epoxy doesn't work, the Platinum Series tumbler will be on the way. It sure gets good reviews.
Just a thought about the Frankfort tumbler..
The end caps have to be really tight. I've started the unit and came by a little while later to find a puddle on one end or both.
And loosening them can be difficult as well. But it has to be done.
So.. I made a spanner wrench of sorts to make this easier..
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8hRgm48/IMG-20190810-085919030-sized.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/15VMXW8q/IMG-20190810-085852688-sized.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The camera angle makes it look like the bolts are not 90° to the wood, but they are 90°.
OK not meaning to high jack this thread but I just bought a Harbor Freight small tumbler that is running as I write this. It is holding a few hundred 223 cases just for testing and I am using Lemishine to tumble with the Stainless steel chips. I will report back after I run this an hour or so. Craig
Well got hung up at lunch so the tumbler ran for one hour. The brass is like brand new. I ended up with 50 or so but I could have gotten more in and it is a small barrel anyway. Boy very shiny. All the directions suck as who knows how many cases is 3 pounds and then how much Lemishine goes in(I used too much and it overflowed when I added the water.) Still with the problems I couldn't be happier with the turnout. Craig PS The stainless chips worked super as I looked for the worse brass I had and it wasn't as bad as I would have liked for testing but I do have some somewhere I will come across as soon as I don't need it. Ha Ha. Craig
A friend of mine runs the Frankford Arsenal rotary tumblers, he processes a lot of brass for resale and they have been good units for the amount of stuff he cleans with them...
His oldest one has worn the edges and he roughed them up some to keep it going!
Found another container full of dirty brass that I had run through a vibrator and it had some corn stuck in the flash holes so I ran it through the tumbler to see what would happen thinking the water would wash out the corn but it didn't. I will say the flash holes are clean and the brass is like new. There was surplus stuff in there and a lot of very dirty brass all clean now. Craig
Just did 100 9mm and are in the oven drying. They are so good looking I don't know what to say. as good as new or better? Primer pockets without a smug of dirt,very nice. Even if this tumbler goes bad eventually I will replace it with a new one maybe bigger. Craig
Well took some of the new cleaned reloads and some of my other reloads to a gun show and my holster making friend had a crowd at his table. They were oohing and ahhing over the reloads with the cleaned brass and one wife said she didn't think they were real reloads until I pointed out the multitude of head stamps. She got real quiet after that. They were all impressed which made my day. Craig
Quote from: sqlbullet on July 26 2019 08:46:05 AM MDT
Bought this
Built this:
(https://i.imgur.com/EWcae6B.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hULtLmh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/K6qf9xf.jpg)
3, one gallon (bailless) Paint Cans
2, 24" Conveyor Rollers
4, (in my case) 1/2" Sockets
1 Pump Motor and a V-Belt
This baby has been running flawlessly for over 30 years
With hundreds of thousands Cases cleaned and Polished
And I'll bet it didn't cost $50.00 at the time
It can be used wet or dry
1 Can will hold over 300 (9mm) Cases
And, I can tumble three different caliber families at once, without running the risk of "Case Welding"
Or clean some, while polishing others
Very nice, and I was thinking along lines as I had built a large vibrator tumbler but it ended up too big!! So I could make one similar to yours. I think friends have rollers I could use. Anyway just something to keep me off the streets. Craig
Quote from: gadabout on October 01 2019 05:09:52 PM MDT
Very nice, and I was thinking along lines as I had built a large vibrator tumbler but it ended up too big!! So I could make one similar to yours. I think friends have rollers I could use. Anyway just something to keep me off the streets. Craig
Always wondered if an old Paint Shaker would work ?
probably too violent. You would need a high media to brass ratio to buffer the brass.
Quote from: sqlbullet on October 01 2019 08:05:45 PM MDT
probably too violent.
My thoughts too
Not sure if they can be adjusted for "shakes per minute"
Hmm good idea though!! I hate painting anyway Ha. I will just say my brass cleaning way of life won't change in my lifetime now. Craig
P.S. Stainless steel chips who'd of thought?
What if you adjust the psi on a Pneumatic unit ?
Quote from: DenStinett on October 02 2019 12:04:05 PM MDT
What if you adjust the psi on a Pneumatic unit ?
It would probably work with SS chips, but I think the shaking action would be likely to force SS pins to get stuck in the flash holes.
Quote from: Graybeard on October 02 2019 12:18:52 PM MDT
It would probably work with SS chips, but I think the shaking action would be likely to force SS pins to get stuck in the flash holes.
Didn't really care much for any of the Wet Media
All the extra time drying and all
I use Walnut with powdered Rouge, for a good cleaning
Corncob with a little Liquid Polish mixed in, to shine them up
A can loaded with Corncob and 300, 10mm Cases weighs approx 6 lbs
Well so far I have only done small loads of 100 or so but total cleaning and drying in a stove is running about 30 minutes where as corn loads took a few hours or overnight for the really bad stuff and it doesn't work as good as wet media. Craig
Quote from: gadabout on October 02 2019 06:45:47 PM MDT
.... where as corn loads took a few hours or overnight for the really bad stuff and it doesn't work as good as wet media. Craig
That's why I use the Walnut with Rouge, to really cuts even the grungy stuff
Gets them deep cleaned, then the Cob+Polish really shines them up
Just like brand new !
Not sure if you can see just how clean from this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHdWjm6iMYM
Quote from: DenStinett on October 02 2019 03:14:16 PM MDT
Quote from: Graybeard on October 02 2019 12:18:52 PM MDT
It would probably work with SS chips, but I think the shaking action would be likely to force SS pins to get stuck in the flash holes.
Didn't really care much for any of the Wet Media
All the extra time drying and all
I use Walnut with powdered Rouge, for a good cleaning
Corncob with a little Liquid Polish mixed in, to shine them up
A can loaded with Corncob and 300, 10mm Cases weighs approx 6 lbs
To each their own. I have enough processed empties on hand that I'm never waiting for cases to dry. It's just a matter of staying ahead of usage. I'm also fortunate to know the owners of a local indoor range that sell their brass and bullet waste as scrap metal. They've told me to take whatever I need from the range buckets. The only brass I've ever bought is 10mm.
My cases come out looking like new, as well. I'll admit to being frugal and wet cleaning is definitely that, if you're careful. Been using the same SS pins for about 14yrs and only have to buy Dawn and Lemishine.
If you're happy with your method and results, by all means stick with it. More than one way to skin a cat.
Guys, new to page but a long time reloader and this page is great for info. You want to save money? Go to harbor freight and buy the rock tumbler! I think mine was $30. Has 2 rubberized tumblers mine NEVER leaks and comes with an extra belt. I'd enclose a pic but ill see if I can include a link from harbor freight website. Anyways, the thing works great. I bought a 3lb bag of stainless media, put 1 1/2 pound in each drum. I can easily fit 100+ pieces of 223/5.56 in each drum or about 120-140 of 10mm in each drum if that gives you an idea of size comparison. 4-5 drops of liquid dish soap, 2 hours or less and my brass including pockets come out looking like brand new. Just a thought instead of spending hundreds of dollars on all these fancy tumblers. The money I saved by going this route was a crap ton more brass, powder, bullets, primers etc. Ive been using this thing for over 2 years now and it's still working like its brand new!
https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html
I bought the same tumbler but only one drum. It is plenty big enough for the loading I am doing and just did 100+ 40 cal brass that were real bad. Yep came out just like new or better. The tumbler will hold at leased 200+ rounds of 40 cal maybe more. Craig
One thing I need to add is that using the stainless steel chips is the answer for getting the stains out quick. People talk about Dawn and Lemishine and I do use the Lemishine but just that no Dawn or any detergent at all. Just a little water to dilute the Lemishine is all it takes. Craig
Had a friend 3D print me a wrench for the Frankford Arsenal. No more leaks and easy to remove the cap!