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Hi,

I'm looking for a tumbler for cleaning .308 brass prior to subsequent processing (decap, neck size etc). Need to process max roughly 200 .308 at a time. Having read up a little on tumblers it sounds like they are not a life-long investment, and motor failures are not uncommon, so maybe it's something where buying the best/most expensive is not the ideal policy. Can anyone recommend a tumbler for this application, ideally something with reasonable availability in UK/Europe? Is it worth looking at rotary tumblers?

Also suggestions of suitable media and sources (considering that the cases will be tumbled before decapping, and the main purpose it to remove powder residue from the necks). I'm guessing that I'll also need a media separator.

Comments appreciated.

Rox.
...

I had an Olsen tumbler for nearly 20 years, then it died......

Olsen long since disappeared and my local shop had Lyman 1200's in stock, so grabbed one of them. The blurb called it a "Turbo" and reckoned it would tumble cases in half the time of others, yeah right........... well, it actually does! I've only had it a couple of years, but there's no reason why it shouldn't go on for 20 like my Olsen.

As for media, I use polishing media. Usually made from corn cob and from a number of different makers. I've never found one better than the other, so pick up what ever there is at the time.

You could spend another fortune on dedicated media separators as well. But all th time I've had a tumbler I've used a bucket and a chip pan basket! 98p for a B&Q bucket and £2.98 for a new basket from Robert Dyas. The bucket evn matches the colour of my tumbler!!!

I use and prefer rotary as opposed to vibratory tumblers.

I use three at present two of which are Thumlers one of which I run wet with ceramic media for BP cartridges. The other is a run of the mill lapidary unit that i have corn cob media in if I want shiny

I also have a RCBS Sidewinder as a back up but have never needed to use it.

An hour or so for once fired brass in crushed walnut media has case well cleaned as good as if not better than a vibratory one, if you want them shiny the crushed corn cob media make them shinier than walnut but takes longer to get as clean in my experience.

I have been running one of my Thumlers for 30 years now and have only had to change the drive belt once. They are quiet, efficient and work forever near enough so I have never been tempted by a vibratory tumbler.

If you do go the vibratory route then Thumlers also do excellent models but not the cheapest, in this case you get what you pay for. Of the readily available in the UK models the Lymans seem to have the best reputation for robustness.

For media separation I use net bags to keep the cases in when tumbling so just pull the bag out and dump it into a bowl to catch the media, I'm using bags from a washing machine detergent produst at present but Lyman also brass baggies which do a good job too. This method also means that you can put different calibres in at the same time without getting them mixed up. A cheap plastic riddle from a gardening shop makes a good media separator

BTW I got a life times supply of media in cwt bags from a shot blasting company. They do a fine grain that doesn't get stuck in plrimer pockets or flash holes.

A squirt of T cut car polish helps with shiny and cleaning, cut up paper towels in the media keeps the dust down, change every time as they get shredded if not and a few drops of white spirit now and then re-invigorates the media.

Great info, thanks!

A few people have experimented with tumblers using stainless steel media. Never needs replaced, appears to be fairly gentle as main use is on precious metals and jewellery with the only down side being media getting stuck in the case but then you should be checking it anyway. Price seems to be favourable to tumblers as well and they look a bit more industrial than conventional tumblers so perhaps would last longer?

Here is the link - http://www.ukge.co.uk/UK/barrelling.asp

The 5 lb barreling machine in the link is the other tumbler I have.

It works really well but is a bit small, also the ribber ring that seals the lid in place can be chew on to fit sometimes but it has a small footprint and works well. There are paddles inside the drum.

Mike357 wrote:A few people have experimented with tumblers using stainless steel media. Never needs replaced, appears to be fairly gentle as main use is on precious metals and jewellery with the only down side being media getting stuck in the case but then you should be checking it anyway. Price seems to be favourable to tumblers as well and they look a bit more industrial than conventional tumblers so perhaps would last longer?

Here is the link - http://www.ukge.co.uk/UK/barrelling.asp

Haha Spud, you beat me too it! Just saw this elsewhere and was going to PM you to post it here too :lol: :lol:

Mike does it look ok to you as i wasnt sure as this is my first attempt with a pro camera