Anybody use or own, Lone Star wet tumbler?

[minmax]

Happened upon a video on the LT-5 wet tumbler. http://casetumbling.com/products/lonestar-tumbler-model-lt5 This is by far the best design that I have seen.
It's a little pricy for my blood, $420. It has a patented plastic tub (what ever you call it) heavy duty motor with a gear reduction.
The really cool thing is he sells a kit for $159, all you you need is a motor and some sort of mount.
I'd like to get one, after the first of the year. My problem is we (my uncle) have to many projects going on at once. So needless to say, I never get to the project that I want.
Just last weekend I was looking a getting an ultra sonic cleaner. I like the idea of being able to to change
solutions to clean different things. Again my only problem is being able to afford one with a large capacity at a lower price. Right now I don't even have a vibratory cleaner. I just use a citrus wash. If needed, I can have a friend run a batch or two for me. Just polish them up. Sometimes, I end up hand polishing them if is s really small batch.
It will be nlce to upgrade to a wet system and SS pins. Plus be able do large batches in a couple of hours.
In the meantime I'll be figuring out how to make a a motor mount. I do have one question, what would be the optimum RPM when running this unit? Lone Star's video says he has it at a very slow speed. I don't remember off the top of my head. I'll just have to re watch the video again.
Any suggestions, comments will be helpful. I would also like it. If anyone who has made a homebuilt, wet tumbler. List any problems they had, and what the fix was. What type of performance can be expected compared to a commercial unit.
I guess, I should have had a seperate thread. To answer all of questions I came up with.
Sorry but I type soooo slow and and to top it off I am on a tablet.
Over the course of a few weeks. I have done hundreds of Google searches. Of all types of brass processing.
I feel that I have done my due diligence. Even so I sill have questions.
After looking until my head hurt. I have still pretty much decided to go with the Lone Star kit.
Have a happy Holidays, be safe and God Bless

[LUBEDUDE]

Looks like an awesome tumbler. First thing I'd do is replace those drum nuts with knobs/wingnuts. I'm very surprised that it doesn't come with them.

It's also a bit disappointing that it is maxed out at 20 pounds of total load weight.

[minmax]

There is the new LT-5HC tumbler with a max 40lb. capacity. Maybe, I'll contact them to see if they will be offering this in the kit form.

[SlowBurn]

If anyone who has made a homebuilt, wet tumbler. List any problems they had, and what the fix was.

Here's my $33 special:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?286774-another-cheap-wet-tumbler
(http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?286774-another-cheap-wet-tumbler)
No problems so far. I would have preferred a larger diameter barrel, but then the caps would have been more expensive.

g'luck!

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

One thing that stands out to me about the design of the factory unit is you have a big bucket full of water, steel pins and brass hanging out in space without any support except the motor shaft. Oriented like it is in the pictures, you will have worn out the motor bearings/bushings well before you should.

While buying the kit would be cheaper, you are then still limited to 20 pounds of brass and if you're looking for volume, there's better ways to go. These units where the tumbling container is supported by roller bars are more likely to last longer and the parts likely to wear will be the ones cheaper to repair.

Finally, if you want real volume, you can have that by buying a Harbor Freight cement mixer and building some construction fabric drying/sorting racks. The cement mixer can be had for $200.00 or less on sale and holds a massive volume of cases. Take a gander at these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5y_dsP3dsM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcvbzEwTv8A

One last thought: If you choose the cement mixer, you can also use it to mix cement for projects around the house!

[minmax]

Yes if I can't get the HC model that holds 40lbs. I have seen the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Case Tumbler, at ridiculous prices lately. $147 shipped with ss pins, 30lbs capacity. People seem to love them ot hate them. It doesn't seem the love to hate them though. I think I might place an order for one and be done with it.

[salpal48]

The loan star Is in the Oblique Style of Rotary Tumblers.. Oblique styles are Not made to spin fast. The motors and shaft Do support the weight . Yes It is expensive. People who use Obliques like them Because of The weight factor ( rock Tumblers)
I recently picked up this One
60 Lb capacity