Well so far in the last couple of years I have burned up 2 Frankford Arsenal tumblers and one RCBS.
Time for a new one. Any recommendations on a vibratory Tumbler that will last longer than a year or 2?

I've had my Lyman for about 12 years. The only thing that went wrong was the goofy rubber plug that let the media out while keeping the cases in the bowl. The plug deteriorated from the heat of being out in my gargage all those years. Hope this helps.

Regards,
BB

Hey steve

Hate to be a WA, but just don't buy one. I gave mine away after using another method. Here is a pic of one of my prepped cases and a new case




The prepped case is on the left and the new case on the right. Save a lot of money on tumblers, media and polishing compounds and don't have to worry about media dust cycling through my action and barrel or media getting stuck inside the primer pocket or case. Instant cleaning too, don't have to wait for that tumbler.

Would you be kind enough to tell us what your other method is?

quote:

Originally posted by woods:
Hey steve

Hate to be a WA, but just don't buy one. I gave mine away after using another method. .

Sounds great, I'm all ears(or eyes), what's the method you use?

quote:

Originally posted by merganser1:
Would you be kind enough to tell us what your other method is?

Get a Lee Zip Trim and a Universal Chuck. Mount the Zip Trim on a piece of 2x4 and clamp it on your bench or in a vise. Spread just a dab of Flitz along the case and spread it with one of those sponges you get in the top of bullet boxes. Spin the case while you are spreading it and put some pressure on it. This is where the Flitz is cleaning and polishing the case. Hold a rag against the case and spin it again. Shinier than new and with a protective coat on it.

Not to mention that with a Cutter and a Case Length Gauge you can trim square and to the same length everytime. Chamfer with the chamfer tool and clean the inside of the neck with some steel wool wrapped around a 22 caliber bore brush.

All those prep steps at the same time and to an amazing consistancy. The only other case prep not done there is the primer pocket cleaning.

My vibro finisher is from Hornady.....I've had it for seven years now and it's still working fine....

Thought some pictures might help.

cases, trimmer, chamfer tool, flitz, neck cleaner



zip trim with case locked in and trimmer in place



spread flitz



wipe with rag



chamfer



clean inside of neck



one prepped and 4 new cases

A powered option instead of the Ziptrim...

I have a Lyman and a Franford arsenal from Midway. I have had the Lyman for about 10 years with no complaints . I bought the FA one so I could put walnut media in one and corn cob in the other. Both work fine but for the money you could get 2 FA's for the price of most of the others .
My system is to clean my brass in Lyman tuffnut walnut media and to get the heavy stuff off and then in corn cob media with Midway brass polish in it cause the Tuffnut media leaves a lot of rouge on the brass and it builds up in my dies. I use Hornaday one shot lube and resize if FL sizing the back into the corn cob media for a final polish. The final polish is over kill but I like it this way.

I had a Midway for several year, and then the case cracked.. who knows why.. Midway said to send it back in and they would replace it at no charge...

But not wanting to be without a thumbler and considered getting a back up anyway, I ordered a Cabelas, for the same price as the Midway... that was like 4 years ago now...

The Midway is still sitting here collecting dust..

The Cabelas's top is much wider and easier to load and unload...

It has more capacity....

Plus, it is a very very Quiet Thumbler!... I have to sometimes remember I left it on, when I am using it...

My Midway thumbler.. every time I used it, I had to turn up the radio volume quite a bit as it was that distracting...

for the same price.. or even twice the price.. I'd go with another Cabelas, hands down!

I once tried Carnu polish(South-African product) to clean loaded ammo. They were very shiny but I had difficulty opening the bolt even with lower loads. If there is any wax residue the case don't grip the chamber and the bolt takes all the pressure.
After prepping the cases try a mixture of 1 pint of water, 1 lemon's juice and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Take the cases out when they are clean enough for you and dry them.

wrongtarget.....

I'm with you - I prefer the Elecktro/Mechanical to the physical/mechanical application, too! I also like the Lee Trimmer Widgets for the Elecktro/Mechanical method. Never could figure out why Lee managed to sell these Motorboat-Starter appliances since most elctrical screwdrivers on Special are a better bargain at the local House Fix-It Store.

I've been using a Lyman 1200 for the past countless years and never experienced an issue; but then again we use 220 volts here in Europe; so we have to order ours separately (thanks Lyman); perhaps the increased voltage affords us 220V users added tumbler life?

Oh, Bye-the-Bye; I'm a retired Procter & Gamble employee, so please use real Bounty Kitchen Roll instead of that generic "cheap-o" imintation so I can afford to go hunting & shooting!

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
wrongtarget.....

I'm with you - I prefer the Elecktro/Mechanical to the physical/mechanical application, too! I also like the Lee Trimmer Widgets for the Elecktro/Mechanical method. Never could figure out why Lee managed to sell these Motorboat-Starter appliances since most elctrical screwdrivers on Special are a better bargain at the local House Fix-It Store.

I have tried it both ways. The Zip Trim spins it faster, has an immediate stop and anti-reverse, there is no torque and no hand fatigue. If it were just the drill without the Zip Trim, I would still be using the tumbler.

JMHO

quote:

All those prep steps at the same time and to an amazing consistancy. The only other case prep not done there is the primer pocket cleaning.

EXCEPT for the base/rim of the case. You can't polish the head when it's being held in the shell holder! I did it that way for years before buying my FA/midway tumbler. I just put up with the grungy case heads in contrast to the shiny sides and shoulders of the cases.

I still use the lee system, but AFTER they come out of the tumbler. And I use a cordless drill, or a 1/4 hole shooter. Both spin at high enough RPM to trim quickly.

Without question this is the best.

And someday if you grow tired of handloading you can polish rocks in it. I have a Thumlers and it really is "all that".

http://www.thumlerstumbler.com/vibratory.html

I've got the Thumler's #10 and #18. Have had the #18 for at least 10 years with no problems. They are quiet and do an excellent job. They are not cheap.

I had the Midway as a back up to the #18 but couldn't stand the noise.

I needed a Tumbler asap. The Hornady was out of stock everywhere I looked. I went to Cabela's and purchased thier unit. Very quiet and works well, although I don't think it cleans as fast as my RCBS.

I contacted RCBS and asked if I could purchase a new motor. Nope, no money required! They are sending me all the parts I need free of charge. Now that's service!

See, no one ever listens to me.

Oh well, more Flitz for me!

Don't lift the tumbler while it is operating.I suspect this to have ruined mine.

I wore out a Lyman vitrabratory cleaner. Bought the large Dillon and I have had zero problems in the 7 years I have owned it. It is the only cleaner at a reasonable price that cleans 50 caliber cases in quantity.

I had the lyman plastic see through lid crack on me a couple of times.I changed the bottom part with the motor when my tumbler went and that dodn't cost that much but if it goes again I will try the Dillon.Whatever tumbler you get,I recommend Hornady ONE SHOT tumbler media.She should surely shine those shells!

I have a Thumblers Tumbler the belt wore out and all of the metal rods have rusted it still works kind of. I have a Midway they had to replace it once so far. I also have a Dillon CV-500 Vibratory Case Cleaner I bought the large version and sent it back to big the the smaller one is just right.

I put crushed walnut shells in the Midway and then switch to the Dillon CV-500 Vibratory Case Cleaner with corn cob and Dillon Polishing media. They are all bright and shiny when I am finished.

BTW I use a Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder for cleaning and trimming the .223 shells I reload with my Wilson Bench Rest Dies it is not as easy as the Dillon setup but I am not re-loading that many shells. They make ity bity groops with my Remmy XR-100.

The new Lyman 2500 Pro Magnum made by Raytech is not bad http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=NjGQlKyulqU

I use the Dillon 2000 for the BMG