Might switch from Dillon Polisher/Separator to Thumlers Polisher

[Just Duke]

At the moment I'm using a Dillon CV-2001 Vibratory Case Cleaner that has a brand new motor in it just replaced 3 months ago and CM-2000 Case/Media Separator.
The Dillon works real good with there upgraded motors but I'm tired of buying Lyman Media at $20.00 a jug. I have it everwhere in different stages. Almost clean to nasty.
These two machine occupy an enourmous amount of my garage floor and seeing I'm pretty much through with the tactical field (500 7.62's and .223's at a time) I am now looking at.....................

http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_212489_imageset_01?$main-Large$

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0003101212489a.shtml


The Thumler Tumblers run with the diagonaly cut ceramic media and the special soap like the black powder guys use from Buffalo Arms.
Per Jon_K and Blake Stepheson this cleans inside and outside including primer pockets.
This polisher takes up less room and is quiet and no media to spill every where.

Anyone else have a Thumlers they can add some input to?
TIA,
Duke.

[cajun shooter]

Duke, I have been using a model B since the 70's. I bought the high speed model B about three years ago from Buffalo arms as they had the best price on that model. Keep your vibatory tumblers as they are still good for other jobs. I got rid of mine and ended up buying another uv-18 I don't want to knock what others use but you don't need to run your ceramic with any special soaps for triple the price. Dawn W/Oxy and just a good squirt will work just fine for your BP cases. I did find that after I bought my first bag of ceramic that it won't quite do all the cleaning. I purchased a bag of 3 MM ceramic balls and they get inside the case and primer pockets. I just mixed the two types together. You also need to run your new ceramic on at least two runs with no brass. It will clean the ceramic from it's production dirt and oil. I did not do this and my brass came out black and oily. I had to wash it all in mineral spirits twice and make a run with soap to be on track again. Pre soaking with Dawn and lemon juice concentrate will help prepare your cases. They will be black with spots but don't worry, just rinse well before putting them in the model B. It will last for years and all I ever did was change one belt. Later David

[Fixxah]

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/110426-Tumbling-with-SS-Media

I want to try that as well but with the stainless media.

[captaint]

Duke - I, too have had a Model B since the 70's. It's IDENTICAL to the one you pictured. I have walnut shells (crushed) in mine, with a little rouge. I don't shoot any black powder. I also have a cheapie vibrator with corncob. Any more, I use the vibrator more often. It seems to produce a better shine. Maybe I should give some of the other medias a try in the model B.
Even though I use the Model B the least, I'm still keepin it!! Mike

[Bent Ramrod]

I use a Thumler's like the picture which is at least second hand with the Maurer ceramic media and the expensive liquid soap. I've used the soap for two years and the bottle is still half full. It cleans the primer pockets very nicely, even though the ceramic chips look to be too big. Also, the cases come out looking new, rather than dusty and "polished" looking, the way they did with polishing media and ground shell. The only issue with the ceramic media's size is it will pack into bottleneck cases and is sometimes hard to work out. For those, the smaller media would be in order. For straight or tapered cases, it's great.

The other great virtue of the Thumler's is it is quiet. You only hear a subdued clucking noise and the quiet hum of the motor as it turns. So far, I've needed to replace the belt (vacuum cleaner belt at Wal Mart) and the rubber gasket for the lid. Both had had plenty of wear and use on them.

[Frank46]

Duke, get in touch with a well stocked welding supply house. Should have both corn cob and walnut in 50 lb bags. I also got tired of buying the high priced commercial corn and walnut media at high prices. Think the last bag of corn cob was about $15 for a 50lb bag. They use both for blasting metal and is less erosive than the regular blasting media. Frank

[thebigmac]

O.K. Fellers; I used the model B for a few years, Worked great. Found Dillon's BIG shaker model at a flea mkt., bought a 50 lb. bag of corn grits, some brass cleaner, and a timer for the electric saver. At the end of the day, I set the timer to go on at 3AM and off at 6 or 7 AM. Doesent bother anybody that way. Before I put the lid on, I place some used dryer sheets, (cut into halves or thirds) in there with the brass. This keeps much of the dirt off the corn and also adds some brightness to the brass. If you've never tried that, do it next time. It works well in Thumbler's Tumbler also. Bigmac

[9.3X62AL]

I've used a Thumler's Model B since c. 1985 or so. Utterly reliable and indestructible, I have been through 5-6 drive belts since it was new and just changed out the drive and idler axles a year and a half ago. I found a second unit for sale at a shop for $50 and snagged it.

These are one of the most durable and reliable reloading tools I own--every bit the equal of a Rockchucker loading press.

[azcruiser]

The biggest profit item for company's in the reloading business is corn cob media the box or container cost more than the corn cob. Go to a feed store -tack shop-pet store -hardware store get a price on a 50lb bag of ground corn cob or walnut shell or rice husks then look up or ask somebody who knows aircraft what kind of polish they use get a gallon or to start a qt . Think 50lbs is like $10 to $14 polish qt maybe $10 so for $20 to 25 bucks you have 50 lbs should last a while . when it gets dirty toss it out . Think Larry at Midway Started out selling corn cob and polish . That gives you some idea of the markup

[Artful]

Nu-finish in Reptile bedding (walnut hulls) - cheap and easy works in my tumbler or a Vibe

[cajun shooter]

Has any one of you who posted above cleaned any brass cases that have been fired with Black Powder? It's a completley different process and Corn Cob and Walnut hulls will clean the outside some. The inside of the cases will contain a very black slick residue that will not budge with these cleaners.

[Bob J]

Hi Fixxah,

If you want to check it out I can loan you mine to try.... PM me if you are interested...

Very cool stuff....

Bob


http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/110426-Tumbling-with-SS-Media

I want to try that as well but with the stainless media.

[Just Duke]

I decide to let the Dillon stuff go post talking to Jon_K on the phone.

[fredj338]

I wore out the belts & gears on my B, sold it, glad to have the vibrating tumbler. Just stop spending moeny on Lyman walnut when yo ucan buy 25# bags for about the same price from HF. Add a cap of Nufinish every other time & away you go.

[splattersmith]

I have tumbled thousands of black powder cartridges in Thumblers Tumbler. They come out "as new" when I follow this procedure. Remove primers, drop dirty cartidges in a pitcher/bucket/jug of water with a touch of dish soap, shake, let sit overnight, shake, empty, rinse, throw in tumbler with ceramic media, water 1/2 up ceramic media and shells, capful or two of Sagebrush tumbler mix, let go for 4 hours or more, open, separate, wash, pour on outside table to dry, anneal, load, shoot, start again.

The 45-70s and 40-65s come out like new, inside and out. It is great for my dies and I don't even need lube for full sizing the shells are so clean and slick. Other methods have scratched some dies.

Also the release tension has improved, as can be felt when loading. Got to help accuracy.

[Recluse]

Bought a Thumler's Tumbler in 1987. The thing has run almost every day since and the only thing I've replaced has been belts.

:coffee:

[Fixxah]

Hi Fixxah,

If you want to check it out I can loan you mine to try.... PM me if you are interested...

Very cool stuff....

BobBob,

If you loan it you may never see it again. LOL

Maybe you can run some of my 47-70 brass. One day I will get that setup. I like the fact that there is no styphnate dust to deal with and you can pour it down the drain.

[zuke]

I started to use a tumbler about a month ago and am more then pleased with it.
I use stainless media with a .40 cal case of lemmeshine and a good squirt of Dove dish washing soap.

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/DSCF1256.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/DSCF1257.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/DSCF1258.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/DSCF1259.jpg

[Bob J]

Bob,

If you loan it you may never see it again. LOL

Maybe you can run some of my 47-70 brass. One day I will get that setup. I like the fact that there is no styphnate dust to deal with and you can pour it down the drain.

It is a pretty sweet setup....:bigsmyl2:

Would be glad to tumble your brass..... Let me know what works for you and I can pick it up....[smilie=s:

[Just Duke]

i started to use a tumbler about a month ago and am more then pleased with it.
I use stainless media with a .40 cal case of lemmeshine and a good squirt of dove dish washing soap.

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/dscf1256.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/dscf1257.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/dscf1258.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/dscf1259.jpg



holy smokers!!! That's great!!!

[Just Duke]

We have the Thumlers enroute and the Dillon now resides at someone else's house.

[Just Duke]

http://stainlesstumblingmedia.com/

[zuke]

That was the receipe of Lemmishine,dove and water with 4 hour's tumbling time.

[mpmarty]

Vibratory tumbler works well for me. those rotating barrels are for rocks if I'm not mistaken.

[Bob J]

The Thumbler's tumbler with SS media sure works great for me..... Really cleans the primer pockets and inside of the case.... Looks just like new unfired brass.....:bigsmyl2:

[EDK]

I've had a Thumbler's Tumbler so long I can't read the numbers on it! AR-6? I've replaced the belt and the nylon bushings over the years...need another set...and got a new drum last spring.

They had corn cob grit that a contractor abandoned at work...got three 50 pound bags...filled a large trash can...gave some away and still got plenty. It works for most case cleaning...and the price was right.

Get the ceramic media for black powder casings...and the really nasty looking range pick up brass that some jerk on the internet sold you. It sure takes the pain out of cleaning brass from my 50/90 SHILOH SHARPS...I take the tumbler and media to the Quigley.

:cbpour::redneck:

[Just Duke]

The Thumlers Arrived!!!