Njbanshee 9 Posted January 17, 2013 I'm getting in to reloading and need to buy a case tumbler. I'm going to be cleaning 223. What is the best tumbler for the job? I was hoping to stay under $100. The more I can clean at a time the better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A-Tech 8 Posted January 17, 2013 If you're going to be tumbling more at one time, than a wet tumbler would be best. It really sucks to have to clean the dust off the cases when using a dry tumbler. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hd2000fxdl 422 Posted January 17, 2013 I will say, wet tumbling with stainless steel media is freaking awesome. Brass comes out looking as good and new if not better. Well worth it to me and many other who have switched. Only down side, it's usually a little more expensive to get into equipment wise. Only plus equipment wise is, your media will last a life time and never need replacing. Also an update for the other wet tumblers. Using the Thumblers Tumbler ( say that 5 times real fast) but doing 425-450 pieces of 9mm or 375-400 .40S&W with 2 tea spoons of Dawn and 1/4 tea spoon of lemme-shine and I'm down to 60-65 minutes to get very clean brass. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krdshrk 3,877 Posted January 17, 2013 I just got this - starting to get into reloading too. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Model-400-Vibratory-Case-Tumbler-Kit/731769.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dcabelas%2Btumbler%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts%26x%3D15%26y%3D4&Ntt=cabelas+tumbler&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Njbanshee 9 Posted January 17, 2013 One more thing I should add. The cases I'm cleaning are VERY dirty. I got a good deal on brass so I got them. What is going to bring them back to life. I can't find the thumbler anywhere. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hd2000fxdl 422 Posted January 17, 2013 One more thing I should add. The cases I'm cleaning are VERY dirty. I got a good deal on brass so I got them. What is going to bring them back to life. I can't find the thumbler anywhere. Try this site http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/?gclid=CKmBvbu47rQCFQ2i4Aodhk0AbQ This will bring them back to as good as new. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Njbanshee 9 Posted January 17, 2013 $250 is bit more than I wanted to spend, but " buy once cry once" the only problem is even that link is out of stock. It says in stock, but when you click on it the tumbler is on back order. Any ideas? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AverageJoe 95 Posted January 17, 2013 I picked up the Dillon 750 tumbler. Its pretty damn good. On a side note, I tried experimenting with something...soaked a bunch of brass in soda overnight like 12hrs...needless to say I hardly drink soda, but I am NEVER drinking it again lmao... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raz-0 1,259 Posted January 17, 2013 I'd rather have ugly brass I can tell has had damage done to it by having stuff leached out of it than checmically treated brass I cannot. THe big ass harbor freight tumbler works REALLY nice and goes on sale for $150. I have done 1000 .223 cases at once in it without problems. You don't like dust on your brass, don't use walnut. Personally I use rice as it is very low dust and easier to get out of places you don't want it than corn cob media. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Njbanshee 9 Posted January 17, 2013 I just ordered the thumler tumbler deluxe kit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hd2000fxdl 422 Posted January 17, 2013 These are after 1hour and 5 minutes of tumbling and they were dirty. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Njbanshee 9 Posted January 18, 2013 With this tumbler I deprime all the brass before cleaning? When I deprime the brass do I do the lube and resizing in this same step? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted January 18, 2013 Up to you. For depriming before cleaning get a Lee depriming die. All it does is take out the primer. Then onto cleaning, etc. Pistol shooters will clean brass with spent primers still in esp. if using progressive reloader. Up to you. Done it both ways and never had a problem. I prefer corncob/walnnut combo with 2 capfulls of Nu Finish Liquid Car Polish and torn up dryer sheet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Candide 0 Posted January 18, 2013 I've stopped using lemishine. Just a small amount of dawn. Not as shiny but as someone pointed out its less likely to mess up the chemical composition of the brass. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteF 1,044 Posted January 18, 2013 With this tumbler I deprime all the brass before cleaning? When I deprime the brass do I do the lube and resizing in this same step? No do not size yet. Any grit on th brass can score the sizing die. Deprime with universal decapper, clean then lube and size. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Njbanshee 9 Posted January 18, 2013 That's what I thought. It didn't seem right to size dirty brass. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AverageJoe 95 Posted January 19, 2013 Up to you. Done it both ways and never had a problem. I prefer corncob/walnnut combo with 2 capfulls of Nu Finish Liquid Car Polish and torn up dryer sheet. Same here. Crushed walnut reptile bedding from Petco, lil bit of Turtle Wax and cut up used dryer sheets. Good stuff. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bully 749 Posted January 20, 2013 FWIW, I clean using Dawn and Lemi-Shine in a Harbor Freight tumbler I got with a coupon for 35 bucks or so. I have stainless pins I bought from Heavyopp on this very board. I use two pours of Lemi-Shine from the powder scoop that came with some used Lee dies. Works a charm. C Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbh03 0 Posted January 31, 2013 Topher, is this the one you use? http://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-rotary-rock-tumbler-67631.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob0115 1,105 Posted February 1, 2013 I've tried corn cob vibratory, ultramsonic and wet tumbling stainless steel. I'd say look for the wet tumbler. There really is no comparison. I just got a Thummler's tumbler and it makes crappy cases look like new, including the flash hole and primer pocket m Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Njbanshee 9 Posted February 1, 2013 Mine should be here any day now Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob0115 1,105 Posted February 1, 2013 I picked up the Dillon 750 tumbler. Its pretty damn good. On a side note, I tried experimenting with something...soaked a bunch of brass in soda overnight like 12hrs...needless to say I hardly drink soda, but I am NEVER drinking it again lmao... Is that Coke classic or the new recipe? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AverageJoe 95 Posted February 2, 2013 Is that Coke classic or the new recipe? Pepsi regular. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Njbanshee 9 Posted February 4, 2013 I finally got my tumbler, once i get my shell holder i can deprime the brass and start cleaning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Njbanshee 9 Posted February 6, 2013 I ran my first run of brass in my thumler tumbler and holy crap. I put some of the worst looking brass I could find to test it. I mean this stuff was black. When finished, they all looked perfect. Very easy to use and great results. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Atlas 0 Posted September 9, 2013 I was using a thumbler vibratory and was pretty happy with the results. After reading threads like this I broke down and picked up a model B. holy crap, I can't believe how dirty my already cleaned brass was! Wet tumbling is the only way to go if you want very clean brass. You just have to do it ahead of time so there's enough time for the cases to dry fully. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heavyopp 167 Posted September 9, 2013 I just did 11 pounds of .45acp shells with 13 pounds of pins in 1 load -- using a 6" drum clean,clean,clean --- 1 ounce dish soap, 1 - 44 mag case of lemi shine, and filled with water is my formula -- works every time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10X 3,301 Posted September 9, 2013 OK--I'll be the contrarian here. While I fully agree that wet tumbling can yield spectacular results, I found the extra work wasn't worth it. I sold my wet tumbler, bought a vibratory tumbler, and never looked back. Corncob or Walnut media that I rarely change, occasionally a capful of brass cleaner, and the brass emerges shiny and ready to go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikeyjones 88 Posted September 9, 2013 OK--I'll be the contrarian here. While I fully agree that wet tumbling can yield spectacular results, I found the extra work wasn't worth it. I sold my wet tumbler, bought a vibratory tumbler, and never looked back. Corncob or Walnut media that I rarely change, occasionally a capful of brass cleaner, and the brass emerges shiny and ready to go. I have two words for you. Lead dust. That was the only reason I went to wet tumbling and eveything else was secondary. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted September 9, 2013 Another two words. Dryer sheet. Torn into strips collects dust. Wet tumbling while nice, is a long process. Half corncob and walnut shells by volume, with 2 caps of NuFinish liquid car polish and a dryer sheet, produces acceptable results. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites