Tumbler dust control

G

g-manz35

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
18   0   0
Location
NE Sask
I've read a few comments when researching tumblers that complained about how dusty tumblers can be. I just received my Lyman 1200 today and found that it had a strainer lid. Thinking I should nip the dust problem in the bud I bought a cheap $2 Frisbee from the local thrift shop and drilled a hole in the center and set it over the strainer lid. Am I over simplifying things? Any other options? I may just run it in the garage also.

G
 
I find I only have dust for the first 2-3 times I use a batch of media. After that there is a fine black dust stuck to the inside walls of the tumbler but that's it.
I add 1-2 scentless dryer sheets cut into 6 pieces each in the tumbler for the first 2-3 cycles of the media and after that I don't bother.
When I say dusty the first 2-3 times I mean the brass is dusty afterwards. There is no noticeable amount of dust on the floor or in the room even after a 12 hour run (really corroded brass).

I'm using a Lyman 1200 with Lyman treated corn cob (green) mixed 50/50 with untreated ground walnut from the pet store.
 
Last edited:
Always use an hermetic cover on the tumbler to prevent air contamination and so you don't breathe dangerous contaminants such as lead residues.
 
I use a couple of used dryer sheets between the strainer lid and the plastic see-thru lid...just poke them over the stud. Never had the issue before with the green media but since I switched to a different (non-firearm) crushed walnut product it has produced dust in the room. Dryer sheets as described solved that!
 
I had a small roll of thin plastic kicking around so I cut a circular piece just bigger than the lid and use that on top of the cover. I do use cut up dryer sheets in with the media and that seems to keep the dust down as well.
 
"...Always use an hermetic cover..." Like a cardboard box.
"...lead residues..." There is little or no lead. Certainly not enough to cause any health issue. Geezuz.
 
Just don't use NEW dryer sheets. They gum up the media

I've tried chunks of the blue shop paper towels. They collect a lot of crud.
 
unless you are using lead free primers ... run your tumbler outdoors.. same goes for media seperation and replacement. Not worth the potential hazard to yourself or family/friends
 
How do the majority of you function in today's world? Aren't you worried about the mass pollution of our lakes and waterways? Or about electro-magnetic induced illnesses? How about the extreme rape of our land resources by clear cutting operations or the oil industry? Or the heavy metal content of many of our fisheries? or avian flu, swine flu, or mad cow disease leaping over to humans, or the extinction of amphibians in North America. No, you are worried about tumbler dust!!?? How the hell do any of you reload at all...you realize that primers contain lead and just de-priming when you re-size contaminates your home (lead styphnates and lead azides are used predominantly) callously murdering your wives and children? What would happen if you had to cast bullets??!! OH MY WORD, better put the entire neighbourhood in a hazmat tent while you rent a suit from the CDC.
Wake up!! Apply some common sense. What is the "extreme dust hazard" that exists with a tumbler that is killing the world's population?? NOTHING. Hype spread by the un-informed to the unknowing and gullible.

Case in point. 15-17yrs ago I was mad a ware (throguh a magazine article) that there exists critically high levels of lead associated with the reloading process which is dangerous to children, leading to cognitive and other health problems. Primers contained lead. Tumblers cleaned the lead off and the powdered lead contaminated the entire area as it settled on the benches, furniture, and central air system. Bullet casting produced lead vapours which also settled into the bench and then was spread throughout the house by the furnace, slowly killing your family!! My children helped me reload all the time!!! NOOOOOO!

So, concerned, I went to work, talked to the Preventative Medicine Officer, explained my concerns, and borrowed a test kit (bear in mind that I am a trained Radiation Safety Officer so I know how to properly grid and swab test areas) to determine my danger levels. I swabbed my entire bench, tools, tumbler, and floor area. NOTHING CAME BACK BEYOND LIMITS! MOST DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO TRIGGERING ANY CAUTIONS and many were unreadable. I reloaded there for 10 yrs or more, sweeping my bench off and the floor when it was needed. Occasionally vacuuming with a shop vac.

Don't get caught up in this, many people would have you believe that reloading is completely unsafe in all of its aspects. I don't "de-activate" primers if I miss prime something, I just push it out with the de-capping pin. I won't explode! You can't seat primers with a hammer and pucnh, right? well, what if you have a Lee Loader? Far too much "safety crap" involved in the world today!! I have been a carpenter for 30 years, still got all my fingers, vision, and toes. I have been shooting for almost 40yrs, still got everything intact (well maybe hearing). I have been reloading for 30yrs and nothing has exploded, wrecked a gun, or killed me. Have I made mistakes? Sure. Have I had to stop the entire world to fix it?
 
I put an empty overturned bucket over my tumbler when its running... really helps to keep the noise down in addition to catching any dust. I don't know how it affects the motor, if at all, but it hasn't overheated yet.
 
I always include a used bounce (dryer) sheet cut into six strips as well. Keeps the dust down and gives the brass a better shine.
 
rookie wildcat said:
How do the majority of you function in today's world? Aren't you worried about the mass pollution of our lakes and waterways? Or about electro-magnetic induced illnesses? How about the extreme rape of our land resources by clear cutting operations or the oil industry? Or the heavy metal content of many of our fisheries? or avian flu, swine flu, or mad cow disease leaping over to humans, or the extinction of amphibians in North America. No, you are worried about tumbler dust!!?? How the hell do any of you reload at all...you realize that primers contain lead and just de-priming when you re-size contaminates your home (lead styphnates and lead azides are used predominantly) callously murdering your wives and children? What would happen if you had to cast bullets??!! OH MY WORD, better put the entire neighbourhood in a hazmat tent while you rent a suit from the CDC.
Wake up!! Apply some common sense. What is the "extreme dust hazard" that exists with a tumbler that is killing the world's population?? NOTHING. Hype spread by the un-informed to the unknowing and gullible.

Case in point. 15-17yrs ago I was mad a ware (throguh a magazine article) that there exists critically high levels of lead associated with the reloading process which is dangerous to children, leading to cognitive and other health problems. Primers contained lead. Tumblers cleaned the lead off and the powdered lead contaminated the entire area as it settled on the benches, furniture, and central air system. Bullet casting produced lead vapours which also settled into the bench and then was spread throughout the house by the furnace, slowly killing your family!! My children helped me reload all the time!!! NOOOOOO!

So, concerned, I went to work, talked to the Preventative Medicine Officer, explained my concerns, and borrowed a test kit (bear in mind that I am a trained Radiation Safety Officer so I know how to properly grid and swab test areas) to determine my danger levels. I swabbed my entire bench, tools, tumbler, and floor area. NOTHING CAME BACK BEYOND LIMITS! MOST DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO TRIGGERING ANY CAUTIONS and many were unreadable. I reloaded there for 10 yrs or more, sweeping my bench off and the floor when it was needed. Occasionally vacuuming with a shop vac.

Don't get caught up in this, many people would have you believe that reloading is completely unsafe in all of its aspects. I don't "de-activate" primers if I miss prime something, I just push it out with the de-capping pin. I won't explode! You can't seat primers with a hammer and pucnh, right? well, what if you have a Lee Loader? Far too much "safety crap" involved in the world today!! I have been a carpenter for 30 years, still got all my fingers, vision, and toes. I have been shooting for almost 40yrs, still got everything intact (well maybe hearing). I have been reloading for 30yrs and nothing has exploded, wrecked a gun, or killed me. Have I made mistakes? Sure. Have I had to stop the entire world to fix it?
Click to expand...

So you use dryer sheets??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom