Tumbler Choices...

[DarkRose]

Still slowly looking at getting into reloading... Starting with a tumbler at the moment, to do some case prep at home as dad has a press I can use for now...

Haven't decided between rotary or vibratory... Vibratory is what dad has used for years, what I'm more familiar with, so probably going that direction for now...

Which brand? I don't need monster capacity, just would be loading 9mm and .223 for now.

Hornady, Lyman, Frankford Arsenal, RCBS?

Anyone used multiple brands, if so, which one was more reliable/lasted longest?
Dad's had two so far I know of, I think both were Lyman. I know the first one was, can't remember what he has now, buried under assorted "stuff" on the workbench, lol...

 

[jason conley]

I have a lyman that is 25 years old at least and still works.

 

[kwatters]

I have a lyman that is 25 years old at least and still works.

Yeah but that doesn't count, they don't make much of anything the way they did 25 yrs. ago.
I bought one from Harbor Freight with a 20% off coupon, running over a year now, no probs.

 

[Hiker1911]

Lyman Turbo 1200, and it's on sale.

 

[indygunguy]

I've got a Cabela's brand vibratory tumbler that has been working strong for a couple of years now... and was less expensive than some others.

 

[gunman41mag]

Still slowly looking at getting into reloading... Starting with a tumbler at the moment, to do some case prep at home as dad has a press I can use for now...

Haven't decided between rotary or vibratory... Vibratory is what dad has used for years, what I'm more familiar with, so probably going that direction for now...

Which brand? I don't need monster capacity, just would be loading 9mm and .223 for now.

Hornady, Lyman, Frankford Arsenal, RCBS?

Anyone used multiple brands, if so, which one was more reliable/lasted longest?
Dad's had two so far I know of, I think both were Lyman. I know the first one was, can't remember what he has now, buried under assorted "stuff" on the workbench, lol...

You left out D I L L O N, they are the BEST

 

[WhitleyStu]

Thumler Tumbler Ultra Vibe 18...

 

[DarkRose]

Well the Lyman Trubo 1200 on sale looks like a great deal, too bad due to a sick kid (I had to stay home with) and tsunami-related production slowdowns at work, I won't have the money for a couple weeks, and probably won't be on sale then, lol.

 

[hueycrew]

I bought the cabela's brand. Warranty card is from Berry's MFG. I had a frankfort that stopped running so I bought the cabela's. Takes less time to clean the brass with the cabela'/berrys mfg brand.

 

[BE Mike]

I've had good luck with my Lortone QT-12 rotary tumbler. I bought it in about 1980 and have only replaced the drive belt. See: Lortone, Manufacturers of Tools for Lapidary & Jewelry Artists

 

[Andre46996]

GE!!!!

The Girlfriend complains about the noise and says it makes it hard to get clean clothes butI can process 20,000 .223 brass in about 2 hours.

 

[bman1962]

I got Cabelas brand and it works fine. Have not been using it loing enough to comment on longevity yet.

 

[Aszerigan]

I can process 20k 9mm rounds in a couple hours in my cement mixer too. But that's not what the OP was asking... Are you planning on polishing loaded rounds, or only brass casings? I think that's an important point to look at.

 

[DarkRose]

Just polishing brass in an apartment to get some prepwork done at home before I take stuff over to dads to load.

Never saw a need to tumble loaded, nice shiny brass before loading, good enough for me after loading, lol.

Also, tumbling brass and nickel plated if that makes any difference. Not large quantities either. 200-300 at a time would be plenty.

 

[Brownie]

I have been running a Lyman autoflo for about 8 years with no problems. The ability to pull the plug in bottom of tumbler and empty media is handy.

 

[RobbLG]

Stainless Tumbling Media Package

 

[1$Chuck]

I gather from your previous post that you've probalby got more time than cash at this point. I'd just get a basic tumbler from Harbor Freight, or maybe a "Smart Reloader" brand one like this.

Midsouth*SMART RELOADER*SR 787 DREAM CASE TUMBLER 110 VOLT

There's not much to the things really. Get you some "Lizard bedding" bedding (walnut shells) from a pet store, some Nu Finish car wax and a colander to separate the media from the brass and your in business. Who cares if it has to run a little longer than some of the other options above, doesn't sound like you'll be doing multiple batches a week.

 

[HICKMAN]

I'd just get a basic tumbler from Harbor Freight

 

[DarkRose]

I gather from your previous post that you've probalby got more time than cash at this point. I'd just get a basic tumbler from Harbor Freight, or maybe a "Smart Reloader" brand one like this.

Midsouth*SMART RELOADER*SR 787 DREAM CASE TUMBLER 110 VOLT

There's not much to the things really. Get you some "Lizard bedding" bedding (walnut shells) from a pet store, some Nu Finish car wax and a colander to separate the media from the brass and your in business. Who cares if it has to run a little longer than some of the other options above, doesn't sound like you'll be doing multiple batches a week.

Yeah, that's why I liked the Turbo 1200 on sale at Midway, but the sale will probably be over before our reduced hours at work end... lol.

 

[Leo]

I really like the Hornady M-2. I believe the curved bowl has a better action. The old midway units were curved bowl, but it died after 10 years (no complaint, I used it a lot) and the new ones are different, so I bought the Hornady. I have polished (15) 5 gallon buckets of brass since Christmas, and it is holding up fine.