Ok clear something up please - Page 2

ryalred · April 13, 2009, 10:39 AM

If your going to reload much, you had just as well get a tumbler/vibratory brass cleaner. You'll never know how you got along without one once you have one.

Dingoboyx · April 13, 2009, 10:44 AM

+1 well put, short, sweet & to the point (and right)

Dan The Sig Man · April 13, 2009, 11:34 AM

YES you are all very RIGHT... I am ordering one this week before my loader gets here. I dont know if it will ever get here. Seems like it has been WEEKS since I ordered the Dang thing. I am still in the Process of getting my hands on certain reloading Componets that just are not available at this moment. So even though my Reloader will be here in about 1-2 weeks, I might not even be able to load the first round, cause I cant get certain items that are critical to the process.

Thank you all for your awesome comments about the Vib/Tum situation, I have taken it to heart and I am buying one. I think I am going to get the one with the Bucket reclaim setup and the Vibro tumbler.

Dingoboyx · April 13, 2009, 12:11 PM

Good idea

I tip my cases and media into a 'cat litter tray' with the front screne of an old stand type fan (the ones that stand in the room & sweep back and forward). I lay the screne on the tray and tip my vibro out into the screne, then pick up the screne and shake it over the tray, the shells stay in the screne, then tip the media back in the vibro. then shake the rest of the media out of the screne (makes a racket) Best do do this with music going, coz it sounds like a tamborine

(dont get carried away, you will get media everywhere)

Dan The Sig Man · April 13, 2009, 12:56 PM

Ok here is another question... I was looking at Harbor Freight (Which there are 2 here in Fresno)... They have a 3 Lb. Rotary Rock Tumbler, it is one of the Sideways kind of rotary things... It is only like $32.99, will this do as good of a job as say a Vibro/Tumbler. Which they have a 5 Lb. Metal Vibrator/Tumbler for $55, but I dont think it has anything to reclaim the media. Just me looking for the Cheapest way to get the same job done. What ya'll think?

Magnum Wheel Man · April 13, 2009, 01:31 PM

watch those cases...

aside from being much easier, the tumblers do work good ( most of the time )... I find them a pain to use for any 17 caliber, & I've even gotten to the point that I rarely use mine for 22 caliber cases... I just reciently did a batch of range brass, & almost screwed up my die ( it did pull out the decapping pin ) either a caterpillar or spider had webbed up the unside of one case, & bunch of tumbling media stuck to the webbing inside the case, & I couldn't see it inside, & jammed up my die... this was a 223 case picked up from the range, & I could have seen it if it had been deprimed, but it was dirty...

I guess I've gotten to where I don't pick up much "range brass" anymore...

oh... & it can be pretty hard on nickle plated cases...

so... I wash my little cases, & my nickle cases, & tumble everything larger than 22 caliber

Dan The Sig Man · April 13, 2009, 02:37 PM

Well I would ONLY be tumbling and reloading 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP... I still dont know if the Rock Polishers (Horizontal) tumblers are good or not. Or would the Vib/tumbler be better?

Dingoboyx · April 13, 2009, 03:27 PM

Less moving parts, quieter, would be my choice

PCJim · April 13, 2009, 04:06 PM

Dan, get the vibratory tumbler, period. The rotary "may" last longer (who is to say?), but will take much longer to get the same brass results.. Tumble before depriming and you'll be good to go with your straightwalled pistol cases.

As for separating the tumbled brass from the media, use 1/4" hardware cloth, a fan blade screen as suggested, a kitchen collander (if the cuts are wide enough) or get a tumbler with a serrated top (Lyman 1200). Any of theses will save you from buying a separator and certainly beats picking brass out of a bowl full of dirty media. Just gently perform the separation operation over a 5 gal bucket so as to not lose a lot of media.

On the subject of media, try your local Walmart for some Kaytee Walnut Bird Cage Litter. It works great and will last forever. And, it is even better with a splash of paint thinner/mineral spirits (watch the odor). Some prefer NuFinish car wax in small quantities. If you do use an additive to the media, run the tumbler for 15 minutes before adding brass so that the additive is evenly distributed and does not clump inside your brass.

And tell your CPA the tumbler should be amortized much the same as the press.

CrustyFN · April 13, 2009, 04:13 PM

Or get one of these. I have one and it's the bomb.
Rusty

http://www.grafs.com/product/230094

Dan The Sig Man · April 13, 2009, 04:17 PM

Jim... Thank you very much, you just did a total sum up of what I need and what I need to do. I will get me a Vibro/Tumbler and maybe even instead of a 5 Gal. Bucket, I was thinking about getting one of those rectangle Rubber-Maid storage containers. It would have a wide opening to catch as much stuff as possible, and they come with Lids on them, so that will help too.

Thanks again.

Dingoboyx · April 13, 2009, 06:32 PM

+10 PCjim, perfect advice

markg22 · April 13, 2009, 09:02 PM

This is my answer to the price of a fancy tumbler. an old orbital sander base has the offset mount for the vibrator and an old vacuum cleaner motor and a $17 120 to 26 volt transformer to slow it down a bit and it works as well as any expensive tumbler I could buy. Oh yeh, my wife loved the salad bowl drum.

Dan The Sig Man · April 13, 2009, 09:15 PM

Well that would be Great IF.. IF I could figure out how to build something like that. I dont know if I could do it or not, but yes that is a really nice setup and very inventive... Damn I wish I had that kind of brain to think of stuff like that.

April 13, 2009, 10:39 AM	#26
ryalred Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Location: SE Oklahoma Posts: 491	If your going to reload much, you had just as well get a tumbler/vibratory brass cleaner. You'll never know how you got along without one once you have one. __________________ ryalred rifle & muzzleloader -- exhilarating bowhunting -- obsession reloading -- addicted

April 13, 2009, 10:44 AM	#27
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Ryalred +1 well put, short, sweet & to the point (and right) __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

April 13, 2009, 12:11 PM	#29
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Dan Good idea I tip my cases and media into a 'cat litter tray' with the front screne of an old stand type fan (the ones that stand in the room & sweep back and forward). I lay the screne on the tray and tip my vibro out into the screne, then pick up the screne and shake it over the tray, the shells stay in the screne, then tip the media back in the vibro. then shake the rest of the media out of the screne (makes a racket) Best do do this with music going, coz it sounds like a tamborine (dont get carried away, you will get media everywhere) __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

April 13, 2009, 01:31 PM	#31
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	watch those cases... aside from being much easier, the tumblers do work good ( most of the time )... I find them a pain to use for any 17 caliber, & I've even gotten to the point that I rarely use mine for 22 caliber cases... I just reciently did a batch of range brass, & almost screwed up my die ( it did pull out the decapping pin ) either a caterpillar or spider had webbed up the unside of one case, & bunch of tumbling media stuck to the webbing inside the case, & I couldn't see it inside, & jammed up my die... this was a 223 case picked up from the range, & I could have seen it if it had been deprimed, but it was dirty... I guess I've gotten to where I don't pick up much "range brass" anymore... oh... & it can be pretty hard on nickle plated cases... so... I wash my little cases, & my nickle cases, & tumble everything larger than 22 caliber __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

April 13, 2009, 03:27 PM	#33
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Vibratory cleaner Less moving parts, quieter, would be my choice __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

April 13, 2009, 11:34 AM	#28
Dan The Sig Man Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 191	YES you are all very RIGHT... I am ordering one this week before my loader gets here. I dont know if it will ever get here. Seems like it has been WEEKS since I ordered the Dang thing. I am still in the Process of getting my hands on certain reloading Componets that just are not available at this moment. So even though my Reloader will be here in about 1-2 weeks, I might not even be able to load the first round, cause I cant get certain items that are critical to the process. Thank you all for your awesome comments about the Vib/Tum situation, I have taken it to heart and I am buying one. I think I am going to get the one with the Bucket reclaim setup and the Vibro tumbler.

April 13, 2009, 12:56 PM	#30
Dan The Sig Man Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 191	Ok here is another question... I was looking at Harbor Freight (Which there are 2 here in Fresno)... They have a 3 Lb. Rotary Rock Tumbler, it is one of the Sideways kind of rotary things... It is only like $32.99, will this do as good of a job as say a Vibro/Tumbler. Which they have a 5 Lb. Metal Vibrator/Tumbler for $55, but I dont think it has anything to reclaim the media. Just me looking for the Cheapest way to get the same job done. What ya'll think?

April 13, 2009, 02:37 PM	#32
Dan The Sig Man Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 191	Well I would ONLY be tumbling and reloading 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP... I still dont know if the Rock Polishers (Horizontal) tumblers are good or not. Or would the Vib/tumbler be better?

April 13, 2009, 04:06 PM	#34
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	Dan, get the vibratory tumbler, period. The rotary "may" last longer (who is to say?), but will take much longer to get the same brass results.. Tumble before depriming and you'll be good to go with your straightwalled pistol cases. As for separating the tumbled brass from the media, use 1/4" hardware cloth, a fan blade screen as suggested, a kitchen collander (if the cuts are wide enough) or get a tumbler with a serrated top (Lyman 1200). Any of theses will save you from buying a separator and certainly beats picking brass out of a bowl full of dirty media. Just gently perform the separation operation over a 5 gal bucket so as to not lose a lot of media. On the subject of media, try your local Walmart for some Kaytee Walnut Bird Cage Litter. It works great and will last forever. And, it is even better with a splash of paint thinner/mineral spirits (watch the odor). Some prefer NuFinish car wax in small quantities. If you do use an additive to the media, run the tumbler for 15 minutes before adding brass so that the additive is evenly distributed and does not clump inside your brass. And tell your CPA the tumbler should be amortized much the same as the press.

April 13, 2009, 04:13 PM	#35
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	Or get one of these. I have one and it's the bomb. Rusty http://www.grafs.com/product/230094 __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

April 13, 2009, 04:17 PM	#36
Dan The Sig Man Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 191	Jim... Thank you very much, you just did a total sum up of what I need and what I need to do. I will get me a Vibro/Tumbler and maybe even instead of a 5 Gal. Bucket, I was thinking about getting one of those rectangle Rubber-Maid storage containers. It would have a wide opening to catch as much stuff as possible, and they come with Lids on them, so that will help too. Thanks again.

April 13, 2009, 06:32 PM	#37
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	+10 PCjim, perfect advice __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

April 13, 2009, 09:15 PM	#39
Dan The Sig Man Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 191	Well that would be Great IF.. IF I could figure out how to build something like that. I dont know if I could do it or not, but yes that is a really nice setup and very inventive... Damn I wish I had that kind of brain to think of stuff like that.