Best tumbler for the money

I had one and didn't think that it tumbled nearly as aggresively as the higher priced Lyman. I had a Lyman 2500 and sold it because NOTHING competes with stainless pins. I would save my money and get yourself a stainless tumbler right from the beginning. You will be happier in the long haul as corncob tumbling is dusty, takes way to long, doesn't clean the inside of the cases or the primer pockets, and your always replaceing media which is overpriced for what you get. Long story short stay away from Frankford
 
I've had one for a couple of years, now. No problems, so far, and have used it for thousands of rds. of pistol brass.
I use a combination of pet store walnut shell and corn cob for media, and add in some NuFinish Car Polish
Throw in a used Bounce sheet to keep down the dust.
 
OverUnder725 said:
Looking at getting a brass tumbler today. Just wondering what people think of the Frankford Arsenal combo kit with the tumbler, strainer and storage pail? It seems well priced but I know nothing about them.
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Do a youtube search for Stainless Tumbling Media.
It costs a bit more to start but you'll never regret it. No dust and you'll never need to buy corncob or lizard bedding ever again.
 
What about if you don't clean great amounts of brass at one time like say 30, 40 pieces of .308, 243 or whatever? Is Stainless still the way to go?
 
Alleycat said:
What about if you don't clean great amounts of brass at one time like say 30, 40 pieces of .308, 243 or whatever? Is Stainless still the way to go?
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For me it is the only way to go.
I have a vibratory tumbler, an ultrasonic cleaner, and a rotary tumbler with SS pins.
I couldn't care less if my other 2 disappeared.
If my rotary tumbler disappeared I guarantee you another would be on the way the very same day.
If you are mechanically inclined you can make one out of different things as others on this forum have such as an old treadmill etc.
 
I have all 3 and i use corncob the most. Less hassle to me. Tumble all night, ok in the morning. No time to mess with water and pins unless i am tumbling a few hundred dirty cases.

Frankford tumbler is ok but media separator is junk. Get a good one with a cover.
 
i bought the one form cabelas maybe 2 year ago , i dotn know if they always have it but i came with the media and the pan , i think that was maybe 69$ for the kit or less can remenber
 
If I had to do it again, I would get one of the bigger lyman models, and you will need something like an rcbs media separator anyway. The one that comes with the FA is truly junk, trust me, mine is in the garbage. It barely gits above the bucket and will send corn everywhere when rotating.
 
I regularly clean 50 pieces .44-40 brass with no problem in a Thumbler's Tumbler Model B.
Both smokeless and black powder clean up very nicely.
The manual does list an upper limit of cartridges or weight for tumbling.
The motor can only handle so much weight.
I would never go back to the vibratory type cleaner or the ultrasonic type.
 
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A Thumler or Lortone rock tumbler is my recommendation. They are quiet and durable and can be used for either wet or dry tumbling. Get one of the covered crank-operated media separators as well.

I use walnut shells sold as lizard bedding in my Lortone QT-12, as i prefer not having to dry out brass.
 
I'd say it depends on the results you are looking for. If you want "showroom" condition brass that looks like new then I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the stainless steel tumbler. However if you just want to get the soot off your cases so they are clean to handle then I'd say the vibrating corn-cob tumblers are fine. You can play with the mix, use different media and add polishers to the tumbler to get your cases even cleaner and shinier as well. I don't think your gun will care either way.
 
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