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Thread: Tumblers

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Tumblers

    I had a Midway brass tumbler that lasted me about ten years and was very quiet. The motor finally burned out and I bought a Frankford Arsenal from Harbor freight. The Harbor freight one sounds like a Cement truck, the bowl rotates and it keeps falling apart. I am looking for another one in the $50 - $70.00 range but the reviews say they are either noisy, dusty or a piece of junk. Need recommendations.

  2. #2
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Not sure how much it cost, but I'm happy with my big black Lyman turbo.

    I run old school corn cob media, and it sits on a concrete floor.
    With 1,000 or so .45ACP, .38s in it, or 6-700 rifle brass, it has a definite hum, but I don't think its very loud.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Bub hunter49's Avatar
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    I've owned the Thumler's Tumbler model B about 7 years now and no problems. Does a great job cleaning brass!
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  4. #4
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    I this is the slick plastic bowl on your tumbler, try getting a couple of rubber washer to place between the steel washer and the bowl. If this stops the bowl from spinning you might try some spray on bed liner to quiet it down. I have never tried this and I don't know that it would work. But unless you plan on returning it to Harbor Freight it might be worth a try.
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  5. #5
    Boolit Master

    midnight's Avatar
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    Found a Thumblers model B about 20 yrs ago at a pawn shop. I was on my way to a funeral & stopped. Paid the man $25 & all it needed was a $1 sewing machine belt. Been using it with great satisfaction ever since.

    Bob
    Si hostes visibilis, etiam tu

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    It sounds to me like the nut on the bowl retainer rod is much
    too loose.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Greetings,

    I have several Lortone QT-12 Rock Tumblers.

    They, in the past, were Made In USA.

    Cannot vouch for the new ones.

    Watch eBay and Craigslist. Search for Lortone or Rock Tumbler.

    Cheers,

    Dave

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
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    I’ve never had a tumbler. I would have liked to, but it never worked it’s way to the top of my reloading budget’s list. However, I have been impressed with the wet type that are becoming popular. If I were to buy a tumbler today, I would spend the money for a wet type. For the moment I’ve been into mostly muzzle loading, so probably won’t be getting one until I get back into brass cartridges.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master 444ttd's Avatar
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    buy a HF rock tumbler. get 2 lbs of ss pins. get lemi shine. a piece of 4" sewer plastic pipe, 4" plug, 4' cap.


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    To the Republic of these United States of America, I am strong and free. I will never surrender to godless communist socialism. Pray to images in your demented mind, that you will have mercy, because i will not.

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  10. #10
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 444ttd View Post
    buy a HF rock tumbler. get 2 lbs of ss pins. get lemi shine. a piece of 4" sewer plastic pipe, 4" plug, 4' cap.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSqD...l=LoadsofBacon

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtTx...l=TreeTopFlier
    Don't forget to put something on the inside mounted to the wall of the tube to agitate the brass.
    A vote for anyone other then the conservative candidates is a vote for the liberal candidates.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Way out of your price range...but I have a Lortone QT12. New ,they are over $200.

    You will not get much for $50-70. If you have an old motor and some skill you can make one. The HF one is to small for my needs...even the QT12 is too small IMO; but I have had it for decades and it still gets used for small runs.
    Don Verna


  12. #12
    Boolit Bub
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    I have used the Thumbler and Lyman's turbo wet tumbler. My old corn cob tumbler is gathering dust. The wet tumbler works great with Dawn & citric acid. I no longer use the SS pins as they are a pita. I dry the cases in a food dehydrator I found in a thrift store. Cases are clean inside and out, no residue to deal with.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy 2A-Jay's Avatar
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    I used the HF Dual Drum Rock tumbler to wet tumble w/SS Pins for 6 years it was still working great when I gave it to a new to reloading friend, he is still using it. I bought a National Metalic Wet tumbler from Midway. Yes I clean a large quantity of brass every week, I tumble clean for others as well.

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master

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    A $6 tube of silicone caulk from the home store and your rotating, falling apart problem goes away.
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  15. #15
    Boolit Master 444ttd's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sasquatch-1 View Post
    Don't forget to put something on the inside mounted to the wall of the tube to agitate the brass.
    i have a 1/2" piece of plastic pipe cut in half(about 4 of them) and they are guerilla glued the the inside. TreeTopFlier did the same thing.
    Ad Reipublicae his Civitatum Foederatarum Americae, ego sum fortis et libero. Ego autem non exieris ad impios communistarum socialismi. Ora imagines in vestri demented mentem, quod vos mos have misericordia, quia non.

    To the Republic of these United States of America, I am strong and free. I will never surrender to godless communist socialism. Pray to images in your demented mind, that you will have mercy, because i will not.

    MOLON LABE

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by 2A-Jay View Post
    I used the HF Dual Drum Rock tumbler to wet tumble w/SS Pins for 6 years it was still working great when I gave it to a new to reloading friend, he is still using it. I bought a National Metalic Wet tumbler from Midway. Yes I clean a large quantity of brass every week, I tumble clean for others as well.
    You are a good man. I hate cleaning brass. If my friends asked me to it, I would send them links to various machines that will do the job.
    Don Verna


  17. #17
    Boolit Master oldhenry's Avatar
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    I have a #12 Lortone rock tumbler that I bought from Paul Jones in the '80s. I thought it was expensive then, but today's price is breath taking. To give you an idea of the prices @ that time: I bought 5 SAECO 4 cav. molds from him for $42.00 ea. in a 2 year period.

    It was one of the best investment I've ever made. It'll do wet or dry tumbling and it's built to last.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy
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    I am still using a thumblers tumbler B that my wife gave me 42 years ago. I think I have gotten my money worth out of it.

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy
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    I bought the Cabelas kit came with media and seperator, I like it better than the Midway one it replaced.

  20. #20
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    Bent Ramrod's Avatar
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    I bought a used Thumler’s Tumbler at a gun show for $35. It has stickers from some gun club on it, and had obviously been used for quite some time already. For the past 25 years or so I’ve used it to clean black powder cases, 4 hours per run, three runs a month minimum. I use the Maurer ceramic chips and his liquid detergent.

    I’ve worn out one head gasket and maybe five drive belts in the interval. The gasket and other parts are available from rock polishing suppliers and I take the stretched or broken belts to the vacuum cleaner dept at Wal Mart, or the o-ring section at a hardware store and match the size by eyeball.

    It’s quiet, unlike those vibratory bowls, and runs and runs. One of my better investments. Would be at three or four times the price, too.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check