Recommendations for a new brass tumbler.

[nolongcolt]

Looks like its time to retire my old and I do mean old Midway blue bowl tumbler. This is the one that Midway did a recall on about 20 or years ago for some fire hazard or other. I didn't send mine back (wonder if its too late for the recall!!), but just kept using it figuring as long as I am around it could only do so much damage. But its run fine all these years and now it just sounds like a rock crusher! Still works and never did get hot but my hearing is bad enough and I don't need this thing hammering away next to me! So what can you guys recommend that wont break the bank, say around a hundred bucks. Thanks!

[magnumwheelman]

I went with a Frankford Arsenal rotary with the stainless pins and "frankly" couldn't be happier, after I wore out my FIL's old RCBS sidewinder... wet tumbling is much better for empty cases, IMO... there are times when I could have vibratory tumbled loaded rounds that had corroded bullet tips... but have done ok just wiping them down...

[fanofthefortyone]

I've got an RCBS and a Dillon vibrating tumblers, a thumbler and a RCBS sidewinder, tried the wet tumbling with and without pins and didn't care for it. Still would use the wet method for any range brass I buy, just to get the dirt off before processing.
Ronnie

[nolongcolt]

Can you recommend any of those? How is the Dillon?

[fanofthefortyone]

The Dillon is nice especially if you want to tumble a lot of brass at one time, I have zero complaints about it. It is larger than the RCBS so you need a bigger area, but the Dillon seems to walk around less during use than the RCBS. I've actually got 2 of the RCBS tumblers and use one for powder coating and one for brass prep.
www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/3162

Dillon's CV-2001 Vibratory Case Cleaner is the largest in the industry. Its 12-1/2 quart bowl capacity will allow you to polish up to 1,300 .38/.357 or 550 .30-06 cases per hour. Not only is our capacity greater, but our motor is larger in horse power, internally cooled, thermally protected, and turns on precision ball bearings. This is no "hobby" machine! The bowl and base are constructed of 7/32" thick injection molded high-strength polypropylene which is impact and abrasion resistant. All the electrical/electronic components of Dillon equipment are covered by a one-year warranty from date of purchase.

Ronnie

[nolongcolt]

Thanks for that info! Think the Dillon is larger than I need and more than I want to spend for a tumbler. I don't remember what I paid for this Midway one I have 20 years ago, but it was probably under 50 bucks. It still is running out there in the garage right now, just noisy. I see the Frankford blue ones have a fair rep for around $40. Might just go that route. After all my cheapo Midway has lasted this long. Reviews on the other name units vary from suck to best ever, but they are all a tad more money than the FA blue and no better rep.

[bigmuddy]

I've got one of the Frankford Aresenal tumblers. Been running it for a year and a half now with no problems. It runs so quiet I sometimes forget it is on. Much quieter than others I have.

Dan

[wdr2]

I have a Berry's 400 Vibratory Tumbler, see:

www.berrysmfg.com/item/model-400

same as this one at Cabelas:

www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=731769&type=product

works well and made in USA. I use it primarily for powder coating.

Bill

[Snyd]

I've run a basic Lyman for about ten years and I use Zilla Walnut reptile bedding for media. Fine enough to go through flash holes....cheap but effective

[contender]

Well, I happen to have several tumblers & such. Some are used for brass, & others are for powder coating.
As for the RCBS Sidewinder,, I'd pass. I have one that I've had 4 tubs wear out to where they won't turn, OR the center pivot point on the bottom of the tub got worn through.
I have a Midway blue one,, with a spare tub,, only had it less than a year,,, as a PCing unit.
Hornady,,, I've worn out 2 of those over the years. One had the motor go, while one had the tub start cracking. I still have one of these brands.
Lyman,, I've got 2 of them right now,,, but they are very similar to the Hornady ones,, but not broken yet.

Lastly, the Tumblers Tumblers.
I think they will outlast all my heavy use. I have a pair of them,,, as well as spare motor units & parts that I bought off the internet. I had one,, and a guy offered a bunch of spare stuff & I bought it all. I added a spare tub with plans to add 2 more.
Well built, and easy to repair if necessary.
Wet or dry, excellent machines.

[fanofthefortyone]

The one good thing about the RCBS sidewinder is they will replace the drum, all it cost me was the shipping cost of the old drum.
Ronnie

[magnumwheelman]

41... are those lifetime units??? the Sidewinder I have, the drum is worn out... was my FIL's & must be 20 some years old... it literally didn't get used for 15 years... but wore out pretty fast, when I started wet tumbling a few years ago...

of course they probably won't want to see all the spray adhesive I used on it for the last year, to keep the drum roundy rounding... but the motor & bearings are still good... I've been trying to figure out what to do with the chassis

[fanofthefortyone]

I overloaded mine and cracked the bottom, new drums are about $80, so I called RCBS wondering if I could buy a replacement bottom, the man I talked to said send it in with a note explain the problem, took about 2 weeks and I had a complete new drum. Give them a call.
Ronnie

[nolongcolt]

Thanks for the info guys!

[contender]

Yes,,, RCBS will replace the drums. I had several replaced over the years. Now, they require you to ship them the old one first.