I've seen Thumbler mentioned, and Big Dawg as well.

 

Any other mfg's to consider?

 

I will be doing pistol exclusively...9mm and perhaps 40 in the future, but no anticipation of loading rifle.

If cost is a consideration (or you don't need to do a sh$%ton of brass at a time), I use a Harbor Freight rock tumbler to great effect. I and get... I don't really know, a couple hundred pieces of 9mm at a time in there. Get the pins from Heavyopp and you'll be all set. Works a charm.

 

C

The harbour freight tumbler will work for small batches, the thumbler for medium sized batches, and the bigg dawg you can get different sized drums depending on how much you want to tumble at once. The bigg dawg is by far the most expensive of the three but it's also very user serviceable if anything ever breaks. Which is not likely, the thing is built like a tank. I went with the bigg dawg mainly because I just wanted it and I don't have access to welding equipent or the skills to do it myself. I got the 8" medium with 15lbs of media and it will do 1k .45's in about 2 hours.

If cost is a consideration (or you don't need to do a sh$%ton of brass at a time), I use a Harbor Freight rock tumbler to great effect. I and get... I don't really know, a couple hundred pieces of 9mm at a time in there. Get the pins from Heavyopp and you'll be all set. Works a charm.

 

C

 

Chris can you post a picture please?

I've got 2 more on the bench right now.... Also have 8" drum parts coming in this week if thats the way you want to go -- and, when you factor in shipping, will be cheaper than Bigdawg

 

Any problems with my tumbler and I'm local -- You really gonna send a tumbler back to Bigdawg?

 

I've sold media to people all over the country, When they tell me what tumbler they have it seems to be 50% have a home built of some sort -- then the thumlers -- then the harbor freight

 

They all work -- Just gotta know your limitations -- and if your gonna gonna buy a custom built tumbler at least go see the local guys machine, you won't be disappointed

I'm glad you replied, and you make very good points.

 

I'd prefer to buy once, cry once, but at the same time don't see much value in over buying...the analongy of using a hammer to kill a fly, you know?

 

I'm going to be doing 9mm only, but allow for the possibility of 40 cal in the future. I have no anticipation of going to 45 (I don't care for 1911's and the ammo is to damn expensive) and I have zero anticipation of needing to load rifle ammo.

 

What size drum and machine would you put together for me for that purpose, and at what cost? If you'd prefer to reply by PM, that would be great too.

 

I'll definately consider your machine first.

Unfortunately, size doesn't matter ---

 

It's not the cost of the aluminum or the pipe that drives the final cost of the machine -- I still have the same amount of welding, fitting, and parts to build it 1 foot long or 3 feet long

 

Parts cost, regardless of size of the final product

 

The only real difference in doing smaller amounts of brass would be in the amount of media you need -- If you wanted to keep it down to 300 or 400 cases cleaned at a time you could get away with 5 pounds of media and a smaller drum. If thats the case, go with the thumlers.

 

Your statement above -- I'm going to be doing 9mm only, but allow for the possibility of 40 cal in the future. I have no anticipation of going to 45 (I don't care for 1911's and the ammo is to damn expensive) and I have zero anticipation of needing to load rifle ammo

 

You've got a youngster involved -- how can you be so sure he won't fall in love with high-power shooting or some other discipline -- Once your set up to reload -- switching calibers is the easy part and rifle ammo is where you really save -- Has he ever shot an AR? In .223 not .22 rimfire?

 

 

I've been in your shoes -- we just started younger -- he was 8 when he started at .22 rimfire, been into skeet with 20 gauge -- lately is handguns and steel -- this year will be about uspsa with centerfire ammo -- who knows where it goes -- he just turned 13

 

I don't mean to sound like a salesman, I'm not. If your really sure about your reloading situation, sounds like the thumlers and 5 pounds of media will work for you -- Maybe the question you need to ask is -- How many guys who wet tumble wished they could do more in 1 batch?

No, I really appreicate your input. You have insight and I'm a noob...I need to pay attention to you advice, and of the others.

 

As far as the boy shooting high power, and how I'm confident he won't start shooting that discipline...pretty easy....I ain't payin' for it. lol. I want these damn kids off the payroll and out of the house. lol

 

He has shot high power, at our range, and it wasn't for him. Too much time getting setup, putting on the jacket, going prone, whatever. We enjoy the USPSA, steel and skeet/trap.

I have no anticipation of going to 45 (I don't care for 1911's and the ammo is to damn expensive)

 

Now you did it! I think we may have to have your son play with some 1911's at the next steel match. I'm sure he will have better taste than dad.

Chris can you post a picture please?

 

Sure. Give me a bit.

 

C

Here you go...

 

Tumbler was around 40 bucks or so. I waited for the coupon so it felt like a good deal. Got the media from Heavyopp. Dish soap with white vinegar pre-mixed in a bottle from the beauty supply and just a touch of "Lemi-Shine" and I was off and running. Works well.

 

C

 

Here you go...

 

Tumbler was around 40 bucks or so. I waited for the coupon so it felt like a good deal. Got the media from Heavyopp. Dish soap with white vinegar pre-mixed in a bottle from the beauty supply and just a touch of "Lemi-Shine" and I was off and running. Works well.

 

C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just bought this setup and tried it out last night. Worked pretty well for the price ($40). Not sure how long it will hold up, but for another $10 I got the 2 year protection plan...the guy said they'll replace it at any time for any reason, no questions asked.

 

 

I was able to do 40 rounds of 7mm-08 in a batch. I'm a recreational reloader at this point, so it's perfect for my needs.

 

I started out using about 2/3 of the 2 lb media pack at first, but ended up adding the rest after the first hour. The brass itself was pretty clean after 1.5 hours, but I let it run for 3 hours or so it would get the primer pockets good.

 

I didn't use the white vinegar...just Dawn and a sprinkle of Lemi-shine.....came out looking better than new brass.

 

 

Funny part is, I ordered the tumbler online with the 20% off code, so I got it for $32....but I ordered it last Saturday and the tracking # says I'm not getting it until NEXT Thursday! I didn't realize there was a HF near me, but it turns out there is.....so I went and bought it in the store yesterday, and plan to 'return' the one I ordered online when it comes, lol.

 

 

I must admit.....that lid makes me nervous. No real retention, it's basically just a rubber stopper in a rubber can. Didn't leak a drop though.

 

 

 

Topher,

 

How much Dawn/Lemishine/water/media do you use? How full do you fill the drum with brass? (40 rounds of 08 came a little over halfway, maybe 2/3) My concern is the rifle brass....I suspect it won't "tumble" well if packed too tight....you won't have that problem with pisol brass.

 

I just kinda guessed at it.....about a tablespoon of dawn, probably half a teaspoon of Lemishine and covered the brass with water.....I ended up adding more water when I added the rest of the media because it was really 'frothy' at first.

I think I must be the only one who thinks wet tumbling and all the extra work just isn't worth it. Is getting your brass so clean going to give you such better accuracy or reliability? I'll save the time and load more and shoot more.

I think I must be the only one who thinks wet tumbling and all the extra work just isn't worth it. Is getting your brass so clean going to give you such better accuracy or reliability? I'll save the time and load more and shoot more.

 

You're not the only one. I sold my rock tumbler this year, and couldn't be happier with a vibratory tumbler with dry media and an occasional touch of brass polish. I'll never go back. Not saying wet tumblers don't do a spectacular job, but what a pain!

I think I must be the only one who thinks wet tumbling and all the extra work just isn't worth it. Is getting your brass so clean going to give you such better accuracy or reliability? I'll save the time and load more and shoot more.

 

Its not extra work for me. I dont decap and I have a large tumbler. I also don't have dust that contains lead particles in my air and all over everything.

For one, it saves the step on cleaning the primer pockets, which is a huge PITA IMO.

 

Secondly, it's not that much more work....the only additional step is rinsing/drying really. Plus, you have the added benefit of not having to pick the dry media out of the flash holes.

 

So... + drying -primer pocket - flash hole = less work to me.

 

(I suppose it does add the extra step of decapping first, but I'd do that either way, wet or dry because I'd rather run clean brass through my neck sizer)

 

And to dry, all I did was roll them around on a towel to dry the outside of the cases....then load them onto my loading block and put them in the oven that I turned on for about a minute just to raise the temp slightly. They were bone dry this morning.....looking brand new. Also, the media doesn't wear out like dry media does.

I dry mine outside with a floor dryer shooting air at the brass.

When I started to reload, it was for precision rifle ammo -- That meant clean primer pockets -- That carried over to pistol ammo for me, I just couldn't let it go and load without cleaning the pocket

 

Wet tumbling cleans the pocket, so I say there's no extra work, it actually saves work by eliminating the brush

 

I de-primed brass no matter what method of cleaning beforehand, Tumbling time is faster, larger quantities per batch, you still have to separate media either way.

 

The only real extra is the rinse -- drying doesn't take any work -- just lay them out on a towel

 

Well worth the drying time in my opinion

I have a Thumlers. I'm sure there's plenty of good ones but wet cleaning is by far the best.