Case/Media Separators

[dale2242]

I am in the market for a rotary media separator.
I see a number of them for sale, RCBS, Lyman, Frankfort, Etc.
What are your experiences with these?
thanks, dale

[onelight]

I have this one . It will sort and separate cases and seems to do well with pins but it is the only rotary one I have used so nothing to compare it to.
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-rotary-brass-media-separator
I also have one similar to this for dry media mine has a hole in the center for the stud that holds on the lid , you pour the cases/media in a bucket mount this on the vibrating tumbler turn it on and pour cases/media back in to vibrate separate the media.
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-media-sifter-pan

[XDROB]

Without going down stairs. And looking I believe I have a Lyman seporator. I inherited it from my dad when he passed away. I took a quick look online at most of the newer ones. Mine did not come with a bucket or cover. Not sure why you need a cover when cranking, because you don't crank like a banshee. But if quality is a question. Mine is at least 30 years old. And it works very well. Doesn't matter when using dry media or wet stainless pins.

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[metricmonkeywrench]

Frankfort here, bought new as an upgrade from a pail and colander. I use dry media but I guess it’s nice to have the capability to go wet/pins in the future.

Does what I need it to do and seems durable enough

[Baltimoreed]

Bought a plastic 1.99 colander from the thrift store. I just dump my tumbler into the colander and run my hands through the mix to flip the brass to get the dry media out of the cases. My simple idea only works with pistol cartridges. I dump the media back into the tumbler a couple times during the process as it piles up under the colander. Of course I do this inside a box to catch the media. Easier than picking the cases out one at a time.

[farmbif]

depending on how handy you are and what resources you might have its not difficult to make a screen frame out of 2x4s and 1/4" hardware cloth

[ReloaderFred]

I've used the Berry's separator for many, many years, and find it to be about the best design I've tried.

Here's the link: https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/rotary-brass-sorter

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Bazoo]

I have a cabelas tumbler and it came with a colander style separator that looks like a gold mining pan with holes. I have found if I take a lid and put on it and hold while shaking, most if not all of the media filters out.

[1I-Jack]

Without going down stairs. And looking I believe I have a Lyman seporator. I inherited it from my dad when he passed away. I took a quick look online at most of the newer ones. Mine did not come with a bucket or cover. Not sure why you need a cover when cranking, because you don't crank like a banshee. But if quality is a question. Mine is at least 30 years old. And it works very well. Doesn't matter when using dry media or wet stainless pins.

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Having a lid keeps the water from flying everywhere when separating SS pins after wet tumbling. I tumble them IN water to help wash the pins out of the cases.

[BigAlofPa.]

I use a steel wire mesh basket for a media separator. I shake it over a plastic bin. The baskets are a buck at the dollar tree.

[XDROB]

Having a lid keeps the water from flying everywhere when separating SS pins after wet tumbling. I tumble them IN water to help wash the pins out of the cases.I don't crank so fast that I have to worry about splashing. What I do is pour them from the tumbler into the separator. Water goes into bucket. Then I crank a few dozen times. I then pour the brass into a towel to dry. Sometimes I turn a small fan in to blow across the brass to help dry quicker. I have a strong magnet taped to the side of the bucket. Then I pour the water into another bucket. With the magnet side down to catch any loose pins. The magnet is taped a few inches from the bottom to let the water drip out of the trapped pins. I let that dry for a few days and then untape the magnet to let them fall into the bucket. Then I use the Franklin Armoury pin picker upper (lol) and put them back into the storage bags.

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[dale2242]

I should have stated that I want a rotary media separator.

[Omega]

I should have stated that I want a rotary media separator.

Just get this one, it's cheap and works great. I use mine with pins, but can also be used with other media. This is an upgraded version, I think you can adjust the opening to separate different cases, though I always hand sort.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0003839555/rotary-pro-media-separator-with-brass-sorter
273179

[onelight]

Just get this one, it's cheap and works great. I use mine with pins, but can also be used with other media. This is an upgraded version, I think you can adjust the opening to separate different cases, though I always hand sort.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0003839555/rotary-pro-media-separator-with-brass-sorter
273179
This is identical except for color to the one I got at cabelas

[edp2k]

Best is the Dillon. The opposite of flimsy.

[mac1911]

I should have stated that I want a rotary media separator.

Your going to find most are the same, just re labeled and or a different color.
I have a older RCBS. The latches are poorly made and one of the handles broke early in life. It also takes up a good amount of space.
Depending on your needs.
If you can check them out in person even better.
RCBS and STM are the same.
Old spaghetti strainer works good also as long as the holes are big enough.

[Lloyd Smale]

have had the cheap ones. they work but one of the best investments ive made is the big dillon seperator.

[remy3424]

Another Dillon user, wish I had purchased it years earlier.

[lightman]

I have the larger Dillon and it has worked well for years. I recently bought an RCBS to have a smaller easier to use unit and I was not happy with it. It has grooves inside each end that were just the right size to catch and hold the little stainless pins.

[1hole]

I use a steel wire mesh basket for a media separator. I shake it over a plastic bin. The baskets are a buck at the dollar tree.

Ditto. My Dollar Tree wire mesh office waste paper basket has done a fine sifting job for decades.

I store my loose media, sifting basket and Lyman 1200 vibrator in a lidded plastic HomeDepot 5 gal paint pail so everything is protected in a compact package under my bench. I just pour my cases and fine grit (40/20) cob media into the tumbler. When it's done I put the wire mesh basket in the pail and pour the tumbler contents into it. I tilt the pail to about 45 degrees and then hand rotate the basket 3-5 times; all the cases are quickly emptied and everything is ready to be put away again.

No $50+ hand crank media sifting device can beat it for effectiveness and simplicity, never mind the cost savings!

[remy3424]

Had the "pan" collendar style, it just took too long and never got all the walnut media out. I figured the weight of the cases at the primer end made them not wanting to "turn-over" and empty-out, the cranking rotation has them emply of all media in seconds, amazingly quick.

[mattw]

I use the Dillon and have since the first made it. I have tried others and always went back to this one.
https://www.dillonprecision.com/cm-500-case-media-separator_8_8_23663.html

[Conditor22]

I've used the Lyman for years Is holding up well.
https://www.brownells.com/reloading/case-cleaning/case-tumblers-accessories/turbo-case-media-separator-sku100018211-80173-167233.aspx?avad=163829_c1ebc815d&aid=134945&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-Avantlink-_-Custom+Link&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=Avantlink&utm_content=NA&utm_campaign=Itwine

and recently got an RCBS for $5 at an auction
https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-87076-Case-Media-Separator/dp/B000KKD1TW

I use mine to separate the pins from the brass and remove all the excess water when wet tumbling.

[CarlMc]

I'm a kitchen colander user. For rifle cases I just don't sort that many at a time. If you play with the shaking motion you'll find one where the cases roll over nicely and dump out. I do it over a large plastic bowl.

[375supermag]

Hi...
I used a large kitchen colander for years...decided to upgrade to an RCBS unit about 20 years ago. I worked OK but over time and with use the plastic hinges gave way.
I replaced it with a Dillon unit that has a steel hinge...works very well. I highly recommend the Dillon unit.

[jd9770]

I inherited a rcbs case/media separator when a friend got out of reloading. It’s ok. I used a colander before for years. The rotary is easier in my experience.

[alfloyd]

I have the Dillon one and like it. When I do 22 LR brass they will not fall thru the slots but the pins will.

Lafaun

[Happyguy]

I use the Lyman for wet tumbling, a Cabela's for sorting different size brass and the Dillon for the dry media.

[JKH]

Resurrecting this thread. I bought the Frankford arsenal unit that is made for wet or dry media, I have run ad least 10K cases through this mostly wet with SS pins, works exceedingly well and is far from flimsy. Recently I was using my old Lyman vibratory cleaner being lazy, I use rice as a media which works well but is difficult to get out of .22 caliber cases, I decided to try the Frankford separator and was truly impressed! It took about 10 turns to completely empty several hundred 5.56 cases completely. I am beyond pleased with the Frankford unit, it was very reasonably priced and shows no wear whatsoever, it is efficient, and very easy to use.

[dale2242]

I bought the Lyman.
it is working fine to separate SS pins.

[gifbohane]

I bought the RCBS separator 6 months ago. I wish I did it at the onset of my reloading. Quick and easy. Plus I am a fan of RCBS due to their fine customer service, actually that is why I bought their separator.

[country gent]

I have the big dillon now. But before that i used one made with a minnow trap for the basket and a plastic storage container. worked well for dry media wet media and separating the balls from bullets moly coated.when I made it I cut the handle slots deeo eniugh so that the lid could be put on when turning. Saved a lot of dust and mess.

[1hole]

I bought the RCBS separator 6 months ago. I wish I did it at the onset of my reloading. Quick and easy. Plus I am a fan of RCBS due to their fine customer service, actually that is why I bought their separator.

To each his own; a company that provides lavish "customer service" costs more than others. After all, at the end of the day nothing can be truly free and someone has to pay for all of that "free" parts and service!

IMHO, how valuable "free" repairs and parts is to anyone depends on how clumsy he is. Those who don't bend or break many tools end up paying for those who do. In some 55 years of reloading, I've had to order a few decap pins and one "C" spring that holds shell holders in the ram. The pack of headed pins were Lyman and I paid for them, the broken "C" spring was RCBS and it was free.

My total repair parts cost for 55 years of work came to less than $5 and I've saved a LOT more than that by not buying much green stuff just so I could get free parts.

[jsizemore]

Made one from a wire mesh office size trashcans I got at the flea market. Plywood lid fits in the top against 1x2's attached to the length of the inside. Leftover closet rod through a hole in the plywood and bottom. Notched the handle area on each end of a plastic tote. Works really good on any brass to remove walnut media. $2 for the trashcan and scrapped the rest.

My buddy has the large separator from Dillon and loves it. He does really large batches for resale.

[wv109323]

About 2 years ago my research lead me to the Dillon. I chose the smaller size and it is big enough for what I do. However the smaller size requires two batches for one drum of brass from my rotary tumbler. You need to rinse the brass in clean water a couple of times to get it properly rinsed and remove the pins. Even the small one takes about 4 gallons of water times 2 for rinsing.
The Dillon seems to be well built. I would go the same route if I had to do it over. Another thing is storage size. The big one is well big.

[oley55]

About 2 years ago my research lead me to the Dillon. I chose the smaller size and it is big enough for what I do. However the smaller size requires two batches for one drum of brass from my rotary tumbler. You need to rinse the brass in clean water a couple of times to get it properly rinsed and remove the pins. Even the small one takes about 4 gallons of water times 2 for rinsing.
The Dillon seems to be well built. I would go the same route if I had to do it over. Another thing is storage size. The big one is well big.

Storage was exactly the reason I went with the smaller Dillon, but if I had to do it again I would get the big one. My home built tumbler is pretty big requiring three batches through the tumbler.