I have been reloading for just a short time and have been continuously improving my equipment as time and cash has allowed. My first case tumbler was a rotary type tumbler made by Chicago Electric. Did not have bad results with the tumbler in fact I have been very pleased with its performance but it just does not have the capacity that can be obtained in any of the vibratory tumblers. After several discssions I have decided to upgrade and was wondering where I might look for a used or refurbished tumbler. I know they arent that much new but neither is my budget.

Well -- I stopped tumbling and vibrating when I learned that having the cases knock together in the vibrator "work hardens" the necks.

So I went to some "chemical" cleaning. Dawn dishwashing detergent, vinegar, and some other stuff. I'll have to check my notes. It's been a while.

Also, invest in a "decapper" -- to remove primers without sizing the brass. This allows cleaning the primer pocket and NOT screwing up your sizing die with dirty brass.


Nice thing about "washing" brass is that you can de-cap and then let it soak forever if you want. Then rinse it off and dry -- an oven works for a dryer.

Separator for medium in a tumbler. Save your money! The "hand carry" basket at the grocery is just about perfect!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2528

A few guys on another site I go to have been getting these and say they have good results.This may not be the exact one.It's just one I found with a quick search.I do know they was getting them from Harbor Freight,but I think they was paying closer to $100 for their's.This may be out of your budget,but imagine the capacity.

quote:

I know they arent that much new but neither is my budget.

Scrimp/save/scrraaaaaaape together some cash, and purchase one online from midway usa. I have the cheapie Frankford arsenal tubler, and after 10,000 cases and 2 years it's still going strong; and I abuse the hell out of the thing (like 200 Lott cases at once, 24 hour cleaning runs in 90 degree heat, etc.).

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=317981

I've got one of the Frankford Arsenal ones too.I like mine.I only load in lots of 50,but I always run mine for at least 24 hours per lot.

They are all about the same. I have a Thumblers that has been going strong for 10years or so. I also have the big Dillon for large quantities of brass (I wouldn't have bught one, too big, but won it at a shoot so?).

I have one of the Midway tumblers that I bought in '97. My house was flooded in '98 and the tumbler was completely submerged for around 24 hrs in muddy river water. Cleaned it up with a hose, used high pressure air to blow as much water out as I could, hit it with a shot of WD-40 and it is still going strong 8 years later. In fact, it has a load of .243 brass in it as I type.

I just had a tumbler delivered from harbor freight

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93252

Only I got mine on sale for $29.99. I know it will hold at least 100 30-06 cases maybe more. Last flyier that I got had them for $39.99 but I pitched it or I would give you the letters to go with the part #.

Rad