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Thread: Rotary Case/Media Seperators

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

    dale2242's Avatar
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    Rotary Case/Media Seperators

    Do any of you have experience using a case/ media separator with SS pins?
    How well do they work for that?
    Do you have a recommendation?
    Thanks...dale

  2. #2
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
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    I will tell you what my cheap butt uses, a $7 salad spinner from Walmart.

    Rotary tumbler, harbor freight.
    Salad spinner, Walmart.
    Old air fryer tray my wife was throwing out, FREE, and dry in the oven to avoid water staining.

    But, I am a cheap bastard.

    Oh, and a pair of large magnets from Harbor freight to keep the pins from going down the drain.

  3. #3
    Banned
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    Yes, they work great.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Mal Paso's Avatar
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    Run the separator so the brass is mostly submerged in water and the pins will come out in a few revolutions. If you drain the brass before separating the surface tension of the water will hold pins inside the brass and you have to dry the brass and separate again. I have the STM 18 pound kit.
    Mal

    Mal Paso means Bad Pass, just so you know.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
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    I use the Dillon one with the tub almost full of water, rinse and gets the pins out.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    I have a Frankfort Arsenal spinner/separator but don't use it anymore.
    The pins are hard to get out of the bottom of the spinner without setting some free.
    I watched a youtube vid of a guy using cheap 5 gal. paint strainer bags to separate the pins and I've been using them ever since, with no pins escaping.
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-5-ga...36WF/202061360
    I bought some buckets and wire waste baskets at the dollar store and set-up a brass separating/wash "line".

    The 1st bucket has a mesh bag and wire basket, the 2nd and 3rd buckets have just water, and the final bucket has water with a heavy dose of Armorall wash and wax for some protection and sizing lube.

    The contents of the tumbler is emptied into the 1st bucket (mesh bag/wire basket/dry) and the basket agitated up/down to flush out the pins.
    The basket, with the brass in it, is transferred to the 2nd bucket, agitated up/down in the clean water to rinse/remove any remaining pins.
    Then the basket/brass is moved to the remaining buckets for further rinse and finally some wash/wax lube.
    The brass is then spread out to dry prior to reloading.

    The mesh bag is removed from the bucket(s) with the pins inside and moved down the line into/out of all buckets to rinse and "wax" the pins, and spread out to dry still in the bag(s).
    Once dry the end of the bag is tucked into the tumbler and the pins can be transferred from the bag back into the tumbler.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    I only do pistol brass though, if you're doing rifle/bottle neck stuff, never mind.
    Size/Prime a few cases when starting off with a progressive and put them aside. You can plug them back into the process when a bad/odd case screws up in the priming station and continue loading.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    Sep 2008
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    I have been doing all wrong for a long time I had a plastic tub and would fill it half full of water then shake out all the pins under the water. About two weeks ago I thought ok I will try my RCBS media separator (the one used with corn cob media) wow it work so good, wondering why did not I try it sooner.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I use the larger Dillon when I use one. A lot of times when doing a single small batch I just do like redriverhunter and dump them out in a tub and shake out the individual cases.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master


    Omega's Avatar
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    I use one I got from Midsouth, it is great for separating the pins from the brass. Once I pour most of the water out of the tumbler, I pour everything into the basket, spin it a few times, slowly, I then use the magnet to remove the pins. This now has a brass separator, but not sure how well that would work, mine doesn't have that and I have no need.

    Rotary Pro Media Separator With Brass Sorter
    Click image for larger version. 

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    The magnet is now on sale too.
    Media Release Magnet (For Stainless Steel Media)
    Click image for larger version. 

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    "Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it."
    ~Pericles~

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Omega View Post
    I use one I got from Midsouth, it is great for separating the pins from the brass. Once I pour most of the water out of the tumbler, I pour everything into the basket, spin it a few times, slowly, I then use the magnet to remove the pins. This now has a brass separator, but not sure how well that would work, mine doesn't have that and I have no need.

    Rotary Pro Media Separator With Brass Sorter
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	038-39555.jpg 
Views:	17 
Size:	66.9 KB 
ID:	252790

    The magnet is now on sale too.
    Media Release Magnet (For Stainless Steel Media)
    Click image for larger version. 

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Size:	49.9 KB 
ID:	252791
    This looks like the cabelas branded one I have , the case separator is handy for my use .

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    There's this small one for cheap:
    https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-15020...ct_top?ie=UTF8
    jump on it or loose out,
    Size/Prime a few cases when starting off with a progressive and put them aside. You can plug them back into the process when a bad/odd case screws up in the priming station and continue loading.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Like many I fill the drum with brass and pins, fill the basin with water, spin it slowly for a few minutes and all the pins fall out into the water. Dump the drum onto a towel and spread it out to dry. Will sometimes miss a pin, but not often.

  13. #13
    Banned
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    I've never filled the drum with water and only miss a few pins per load.
    I rinse the brass well, then I spin it in the separator.
    I drop the brass in a car wash soap/wax solution then I spin it in the separator,
    I rinse it lightly and give it a final spin
    roll it on a towel removing the exterior water and put it in my dehydrator for a couple of hours


  14. #14
    Boolit Master Bayou52's Avatar
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    For me, the rotary media separator is essential, and it works flawlessly.

    Bayou52
    Bayou52
    NRA Life Member
    "Keep Calm and Reload"

  15. #15
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
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    42
    Try this long handle release magnet.

    https://www.harborfreight.com/long-r...ase-93950.html

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