New tumbler

[Old Jim]

For the most part, I'm usually behind the "new stuff" curve.

Recently I noticed that Lyman has come out with a rotary case cleaner, similar to the Frankfort product. May be worth looking into for those that are shopping for such an item.

Jim

[Don McDowell]

I haven't seen those Jim, but if they're like most of Lyman's other stuff it should work good. What are they asking for one?

[Old Jim]

Advertised price is $190 for the Lyman tumbler, $170 for the Frankfort, most of this stuff is a little bit pricey!

I have the Frankfort tumbler, a large Hornady Sonic cleaner, and an antique Midway vibratory cleaner. Somewhere along the way, I WILL get cases clean!

Jim

[Don McDowell]

That little sonic cleaner you gave me, I found that if a person starts with new cases, prewash those in oxyclean, and then use the Hornady soap in hot water and run two cycles, those cases come out like they had never been fired. It does a pretty good job with much used cases, but doesn't keep the shine on like it will with newer cases.

[Gunlaker]

I've got one of those new Lyman tumblers. I think it's well built, but it goes 100 mph. I used it for a while but could never completely prevent case mouth peening. It just sits in my garage now. I switched back to my ultrasonic.

Chris.

[salpal48]

As it was said above Peening. I found The more you tumble the same Brass with Pins. Peening will Overtake the entire Case. I had several Bad experiences. for the rifles i shoot . Example 43 spanish. I use Original Remington Brass From about 1880 primed with 6.45 Mm berdan. primer. . after constant Tumbling . The brass had an Orange Peel effect . small mico Dents . That Popped out after shooting . After that I stopped with Pins and went Back to quick wash and media.

[SgtDog0311]

I just picked up A lightly used FA for the cabin. Got a Thumbler at the house. Have always wanted to try ceramic but so far only SS pins. Have not used the Franford yet so good to read a good report. Dawn and Lemishine is all I’ve ever used.

[Old Jim]

With the Frankfort tumbler, the Mauer ceramic pellets work pretty well, when used with a little of his soap. Cleans BP cases when run time is an hr. or so. People tell me not to use the pins with bottle-neck cases.

My bn cases are all smokeless, so it don't matter !


Jim

[SgtDog0311]

Thanks Jim. I went and read Texas Mac's write up on the two options. Looks to me like ceramic might be wise in the Frankfurt Arsenal tumbler as that is I understand that is a faster motor. That and higher water level. So far I've not seen any problem with the Thumbler unit but probably have not measured as closely as Mac. I did have some cases roll over once but they were turned to under .008 thickness. Needed to be scrapped anyway.

I've got a 40-63 whose case are turned to .009 and I'll be watching them a lot closer and tumbling for only an hour.

[Old Jim]

After running the Frankfort for an hour, I dump the entire mix thru a screen, where everything except the cases pass thru, into a 5 gal. bucket. Then the remainder is poured onto a much smaller screen to trap the pellets. Dump them back into the tumbler and pour out the fluids. Takes about 2 min. to do.

Works for this old guy .

Jim