Tumbler

[Bearcatrp]

I have the cabelas. Works great. Even on 50 BMG.

[MXGreg]

so this is the tumbler:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-rotary-rock-tumbler-67631.html

Can you explain what media and the process that you use?

Yes, that's the one.

One pound stainless steel pins, water, a little Dawn dish soap, and a little Lemi-shine. Tumble for about 4 hours. Drain, pull brass out of pins, rinse brass, then dry brass.

I can do about 150-175 9mm cases per batch in a drum. I size and de-prime the brass before cleaning. The pins never wear out and there's no dust.

[andrewP]

I can do about 150-175 9mm cases per batch in a drum. I size and de-prime the brass before cleaning. The pins never wear out and there's no dust.

So the downside to that one is capacity, then. Is there a larger version of that item that would allow for more like 4-500 cases/batch?

[Scratch]

You could go with a tumbler made for rock tumbling like the "Thumlers Tumbler", or you could build something on your own like a lot of people do. Here's mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbuUqjR9KRQ

[MXGreg]

I can do about 150-175 9mm cases per batch in a drum. I size and de-prime the brass before cleaning. The pins never wear out and there's no dust.

So the downside to that one is capacity, then. Is there a larger version of that item that would allow for more like 4-500 cases/batch?

I'm sure they do make larger tumblers. A quick google search would most likely turn up all sorts of sizes.

[Seismic Sam]

I've got one of the Blue Midway ones, use the Lyman greenish tumbler media, and it works great. That being said, I reloaded ammo for 25 years before I ever owned a tumbler, and had no problems with the ammo I produced at all. It's a nice to have, but it's nowhere as critical as getting the basics of reloading hardwired into your head.

One other thing: if you are using SS pins, decap your empties before you tumble. If you are using corncob/other media LEAVE the fired primers IN until after you tumble. Picking primer media out of primer holes is a real PITA!!!

[SkyRock]

You could go with a tumbler made for rock tumbling like the "Thumlers Tumbler", or you could build something on your own like a lot of people do. Here's mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbuUqjR9KRQ

Nice job! Thanks for posting the link.

[Vlad]

I have the big Dillon tumbler that I use with Lizard Litter (availble at pet stores, fine ground walnut shells) and the once a year car polish in the orange bottle. You do have to use another capfull or two before every load. The upside is it is small enought that it does not get stuck into primer holes, downside is that it is a bit dusty especaily with the first few loads (cut up fabric softener sheet works well) and does not shine as well as the corncob media.

I also do a lot of pin tumbling. I use a Lortone rock tumbler 12 LB drum I purchased from Mn Lapidary supply http://lapidarysupplies.com which is here in Princeton Minnesota. They also have models from Thumblers. I like the Lortone as it is all rubber and there is only one screw to deal with instead of the 8 to 10 for the bigger thumbler drums and they do not leak like the thumblers do. I made my own tumbler frame and used an electric motor I had laying around. It is uglier that Sam on a bad day so I will not post a pic. It works well and that is all I care about...

No one else has mentioned it so far but to accelerate the drying, I use a dehydrator that I picked up at a garage sale for drying brass after wet tumbling and that is the cat's ass.

[Seismic Sam]

No one else has mentioned it so far but to accelerate the drying, I use a dehydrator that I picked up at a garage sale for drying brass after wet tumbling and that is the cat's ass.

Thank you for not posting that picture, but as far as the cat's azz is concerned, do you use kitty litter for your tumbling media???

[Vlad]

Not quite kitty litter. Lizard litter.

Finer ground walnut than you get from the tumbler companies... does not get stuck in the primer hole so you can easily tumble after removing the primer. Such as to remove the lube after sizing and before you dump powder and seat the bullet.

[grimbeaver]

Not quite kitty litter. Lizard litter. Finer ground walnut than you get from the tumbler companies... does not get stuck in the primer hole so you can easily tumble after removing the primer. Such as to remove the lube after sizing and before you dump powder and seat the bullet.

Hum. I might have to go look for that. Thanks for the tip.

[SIGP240]

I find that the decap pin removes stuck media from flash hole on tumbled brass.
Dust problem is reduced with softner sheet, Turtle wax brand "Scratcch and Swirl Remover" with a big splash of mineral spirits. Media, on ocassion will need to sit in a cardboard box to dry out to prevent mildew. So, have a second charge on hand to rotate. Media should last over 2 years.
The Thumblers Tumbler is nice, for ocassional use. If you have some scrap PVC pipe, a welder and some pulleys, so easy to make an motorized industrial grade SS tumbler. I can crank out 7-10K of cases a day with mine. One secret is lubricate your dirty range brass, throw it in the Dillon Casefeeder. With a spare tool head fixed with a Lee DECAPPER die and a carbide sizer, you can decap about 1200 in an hour. THEN, once cleaned , these Pre-sized cases are super easy to run thru the 650, especially if you fog them with the lanolin based size lube.

[Hyperlight66]

Can you buy the Stainless Steel Pin Media locally? If so, where?

I found this place, $35.65 for 5 pounds of SS pin media shipped to my door:
http://www.bullseye-reloading.com/Pellet-Pins-Tumbling-Media.html

This seems to be the best deal i can find! Any thoughts?