Tumbler Recommendations II

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
Checked out a former thread ("Tumbler Recommendations"), but it's now 3 years later and thought there might be some justification to address this topic again.

Can't find my old vibrating tumbler since the move. It still might be uncovered, but meanwhile, need a tumbler. Leaning toward either the Frankford Arsenal 7L Rotary or the Dillon CV-750 Vibratory. Both are kind of stretching the the amount of moola I wish to allocate for that one item right now, but I'd also like a machine that will be reliable for a few years.

Suggestions?
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
RJ,
In that older thread I mentioned the recent purchase of the Frankford Arsenal Quick N-E-Z. Three years on and it's still is as quiet and efficient as it was then. I use corncob media, an occasional capful of Nu-Finish, and a used dryer sheet.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
I've no experience with the Frankford Arsenal tumbler but I do with the Dillon and I highly recommend it.. Bearing motor and far quieter than any other vibratory tumbler I've ever seen. I run two of them.
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
Rick, your post in the old "Tumbler Recommendations" thread is what prompted me to go look at the Dillon machine. The fact that you're still happy with it is good to hear (read).

Michael's experience causes me to wonder what I might spend the $100 on that would be saved from buying the "Quick N-E-Z" tumbler.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Both of mine are the 500 not 750. (Just a little smaller) I just now looked at the Dillon page and it seems they don't offer the 500. :headscratch:

If your in a pinch and need one I'll loan you one till you figure out what ya wanna do.
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
Ian, I wish I could allocate that amount of scratch to a tumbler right now, but still a little wary of unpredictable near-term expenses. And,,, OK, I'm a little cheap.

Thanks for that offer Rick. Very generous.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have, and really like, the Frankfort Arsenal wet tumbler. Drying a bunch of 45 Colt cases on a towel o the tailgate of my truck now. An hour in the sun and they are totally dry.

I look at the black water pouring from the tumbler and think about how much of that junk ends upon the dust I had all over everything from my tumbler.
 

Ian

Notorious member
The FA is much more affordable than the SSTM Magnum and I know a couple of locals who use them and like them.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
My FA burned out pretty quickly... I have had a Thumblers tumbler for about thirty years. Its just small. I have two Lymans also small. I bought the FA cause it was real large. It lasted almost two years. I replaced it with a Midway branded with huge bucket. That was three years or so goi g strong. I use that Thumblers Tumbler most. Its quietest.
CW
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
I look at the black water pouring from the tumbler and think about how much of that junk ends upon the dust I had all over everything from my tumbler.

I don't get any dust from my tumbler cause it's not dry. Use just enough of this to keep dust down and brass bright & shiny.

888439.jpg
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
when I had to make this decision I ended up at harbor freight.
then I took the big bowl off the Hornady that finally gave up the ghost and adapted it to the HF base,
it still out rolls the little Hornady bowl by about 50%.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I have had a Thumblers tumbler for about thirty years. Its just small. I use that Thumblers Tumbler most. Its quietest.
CW
This..............I have the Model B, it's the first and last tumbler, purchased well over thirty years ago. Can't argue with that kind of longevity. Does wet or dry. Only time I use wet is when I get a bunch of grungy military brass.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
I think the vibratory type tumblers are all built to fail but the amount of time it takes for that failure to occur is extremely long with some of them.
My old Midway model is still chugging alone after more than 25 years. If it died tomorrow, I wouldn't care. It owes me nothing at this point.

Those devices are nothing more than a 60Hz AC synchronous motor with an offset weight attached to the shaft. Add a base and a plastic bowl and voila ! - you have a tumbler.
A dry media tumbler is going to produce dust and it requires some type of media that will occasionally need to be replaced. However, they are cheap and you can go from tumbling to reloading almost immediately.

The rotating drum / wet type are probably a little more durable. A little more expense up front. Wet requires an extra step of drying the brass. Granted, drying brass is a lot like drying anything, it doesn't require a lot of effort; but it does require time.

I don't need super bright brass casings, some people do. I get a lot of life out of my casings but in the end; it's an expendable component.

Winelover may have the best compromise - A rotating tumbler used dry most of the time.

I intend to use my old Midway untils it dies. As for a replacement, I'll cross the bridge when I come to it.
 

Ole_270

Well-Known Member
Still using the small Lyman I bought in the late 70's. I like tumbling the cases while I clean the gun and then run them through the sizing die, expanding die to be ready for loading whenever needed. No doubt the wet stainless pin types do a better job, just not the routine I'm used to.