Is the Frankford Arsenal Rotary Wet Tumbler worth purchasing? (steel pins)

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adrenaline681

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HI everyone,

I've been cleaning my brass (aprox 3000 rounds so far) using the Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler. Its been working fine but when the media gets dirty the cleaning process seems to take more time and its quite inconvenient to have to purchase and keep around a big bag of walnut or corn cob, also the inside of the cases dont seem to be very clean. I also tumble with the old primer in, so the primer pockets dont get clean.

I've read that the Wet Tumbler from Frankford Arsenal is the best to clean shells inside and out, including primer pockets. And that you never have to purchase new media. Just reuse the same 5 lbs of steel pins over and over, adding some cleaning product and water.

Does anyone have this experience with this? Is it worth to spend 300 dollars on this and what about the magnetic media separator? If so what should i do with the Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler? I've been thinking about casting bullets so maybe i could use it to powder coat them?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks :d
 
Mine just came in the mail an hour ago.

I'm going to try and run a batch of filthy 9mm with Dawn and Lemishine (no SS pins). If they're not shiny brand new looking, I'll run another dirty batch with the same recipe + SS pins.

I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Cheers
 
Zee705 said:
I'm going to try and run a batch of filthy 9mm with Dawn and Lemishine (no SS pins). If they're not shiny brand new looking, I'll run another dirty batch with the same recipe + SS pins.

I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Please do. I've got a bunch of dirty pistol brass that could use a shining, more than the vibratory tumbler will take care of.... also don't want to deprime all the brass before cleaning.

Eagerly awaiting the results!
 
I switched over from a vibratory tumbler to wet tumbling a couple years ago and won't go back. Now that I'm processing a lot more brass, my little double drum rock polisher from HarborFreight can't keep up. I've been eyeing the Frankford one as well. The $300 isn't helping to seal the deal.


Wait a sec... you bought a wet tumbler but don't want to use the SS pins? If you have the SS pins, why not use it? They're the aggregate that cleans out the inside of the case and primer holes.
 
I prefer the Frankford Arsenal Platinum model. Got mine from Amazon.com for $149.99 if I recall correctly. It is worth the price.
 
Trinimon said:
I switched over from a vibratory tumbler to wet tumbling a couple years ago and won't go back. Now that I'm processing a lot more brass, my little double drum rock polisher from HarborFreight can't keep up. I've been eyeing the Frankford one as well. The $300 isn't helping to seal the deal.


Wait a sec... you bought a wet tumbler but don't want to use the SS pins? If you have the SS pins, why not use it? They're the aggregate that cleans out the inside of the case and primer holes.
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I'm reloading solely 9mm at the moment so I don't deprime before tumbling. I'm more curious than anything, plus the SS pins can be a PIA to separate. If I don't have to buy an additional pickup magnet, bonus.
 
Yes, definitely worth it. I prefer to deprive all my brass prior to tumbling, and it gets everything crazy clean (outside / inside & primer pockets). Awesome piece of equipment and the built in timer is awesome.
 
RC Fan said:
I prefer the Frankford Arsenal Platinum model. Got mine from Amazon.com for $149.99 if I recall correctly. It is worth the price.
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WHAT?! $149, I'd buy two! Best I've seen was $275.

Zee705 said:
I'm reloading solely 9mm at the moment so I don't deprime before tumbling. I'm more curious than anything, plus the SS pins can be a PIA to separate. If I don't have to buy an additional pickup magnet, bonus.
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Well, lemme know how that works out. I'm honestly curious.

You don't really need a magnet. I believe the Frankford has a strainer end, just pour the drum contents into a large bucket and shake. A magnet won't really help separate your brass from your SS pins. That's the one of the two drawbacks of wet tumbling ie hand picking out brass from the pins and having to dry the brass out after. The drying is easy, just spread out on a tray and in a day, they're dry. If you leave primers in, it'll be two days drying without trying to accellerate the process with a fan or via heat.
 
Trinimon said:
WHAT?! $149, I'd buy two! Best I've seen was $275.



Well, lemme know how that works out. I'm honestly curious.

You don't really need a magnet. I believe the Frankford has a strainer end, just pour the drum contents into a large bucket and shake. A magnet won't really help separate your brass from your SS pins. That's the one of the two drawbacks of wet tumbling ie hand picking out brass from the pins and having to dry the brass out after. The drying is easy, just spread out on a tray and in a day, they're dry. If you leave primers in, it'll be two days drying without trying to accellerate the process with a fan or via heat.
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Gonna either use a heat gun or on an aluminum tray in the oven at 200F. We'll see if the boss let's me use her kitchen equipment.
 
I've been using a frankford platinum timber for two years now. Absolutely no issues and my brass comes out like new after a 2 hour tumble with hot water, dawn dish soap and lemi shine. It's well worth the price.
 
Zee705 said:
Gonna either use a heat gun or on an aluminum tray in the oven at 200F. We'll see if the boss let's me use her kitchen equipment.
Click to expand...

If she says no, rinse the brass in hot water, drain and shake dry in wire basket or a wet towel or pillow case. Dump 'em on a news paper or paper towel lined tray, spread 'em out evenly and set a desk fan to blow over 'em and they'll be dry in about 2-3hrs. Probably cheaper on your Hydro/gas bill than running the oven. :p
 
I picked up a magnet (almost identical to the Frankfort version) at Princess Auto for $10.

I pour the brass into the bucket / spinner that came with my Quick tumbler and it pretty much gets all the steel pins out of the brass. Then into the oven at the lowest temp for an hour. Occasionally I will find the odd pin stuck in a .223 case, but it is pretty rare.
 
Prairie Plinker said:
Please do. I've got a bunch of dirty pistol brass that could use a shining, more than the vibratory tumbler will take care of.... also don't want to deprime all the brass before cleaning.

Eagerly awaiting the results!
Click to expand...

How come you don't want to deprime first? just curious...

I re size and trim/deburr/chamfer first. it'll clean the primer pocket holes too, and get burrs knocked loose. Then i rinse them and stick em in the oven at 200.

Some guys neck size again after cleaning in case the neck got smacked in the process. but at a low rpm i haven't really noticed a difference for my needs.

But yes, SS tumbling is worth it to answer your question haha. The only downfall is picking all the pins out, and some of them manage to perfectly get stuck in the necks of 7mm and 308 cases.

Duff
 
Okay i took the plunge :p What other products i need? Just that Lime Shine, water and dish soap? Can I get the Lime Shine it from any groceries store?

What should i do with my Quick-N-EZ tumbler? Sell it? Save it and use it in the future to powder coat bullets?
 
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