Rotatory tumblers???

[Carbinegirl]

Hello everyone. Did a search and read several threads regarding case cleaning.

I am getting into reloading. I have been looking at the various cleaning tumblers. When I look at the rotary tumblers my first thought is would/will the steel pins effect/damage the brass? Will it cause me to have to resize my cases after cleaning?

Any help/information would be greatly appreciated.

[Old Jim]

You may also want to consider Maurer's Ceramic Media. Its white ceramic pellet-like material, it works well with straight-wall rifle/pistol cases. I bought them right after getting the Frankfort Tumbler. About an hour of running and BP cases were sparkling clean, inside and out. I've used the original media material for several years.

YMMV

Jim

[Hiwall55]

BP, smokeless,what caliber?
I use ceramic and SS pins and they do no damage but I only leave them in 1 hour.
Bill

[Kurt]

Carbinegirl Welcome.

I have wore out a tumblers tumbler https://ads.midwayusa.com/case-tumblers/...e+tumblers and replaced it a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gho5ozsiEDs and I use the SST pins and the ceramic combined but the volume of cases I clean at times when I'm on the road that will fill a 5 gallon bucket sometimes I ordered a second tumbler, the Frankford Arsenal that has a larger capacity that I actually like better then either the Tumblers Tumbler or the Rebel 17 so I use the pin/ceramic mix it and just the ceramic in the rebel. The Arsenal tumbler turns a lot faster then the Rebel but it does not damage the case mouths more or less then the rebel.
Both pins or ceramic does a fine job cleaning the brass. But using the pins you have to do something to separate the pins so you don't loose to many also the ceramic media. Pins you can use a Magnet like this https://www.amazon.com/SE-PM6550-Magneti...dpSrc=srch and one of the classifiers that has a 50 mesh screen that will fit a 5 gallon bucket to drain the water and hold the media so you don't loose it.
As far as your question about having to resize has nothing to do with using the tumbler. This is a re loading thing you will or will not have to do for a proper bullet retention in the case or what works best for the load your using.
Something to think about ........................Kurt

I might add........The Rebel 17 is a lot quieter to run if noise is a issue.

[Gunlaker]

Here are my experiences, maybe they'll be useful. I was a dyed in the wool ultrasonic cleaner guy. Then I decided to try a rotary tumbler with stainless pins. I bought a new Lyman rotary tumbler. It's terrible. It goes at 100-120 RPM and nothing I did would prevent severe peening of the case mouths.

Later I decided to try again, but with a low speed Thumblers Tumbler and stainless pins. It is excellent. It does the job in 3.5 hrs of run time. Occasionally I get a case mouth with a very tiny bit of detectable peening, but it's not a significant problem.

I'm not sure what to do with my ultrasonic cleaners now as they just take up bench space.

Chris.

[Kurt]

Chris go to your local lumber yard or hard ware store and get a light dimmer switch and you can control the motor RPM from zero to top end. Just make sure you get one that will handle a little more amperage then your motor draws.

[monkeyboy]

Instead of messing with a magnet,separate the cases from the pins with a rotary case separator then put a 5 gal paint filter in bucket and pour all the pins into that.Makes it easy to rinse the pins and you can leave them in the bag for the next use.FWIW--Mike

[Kurt]

Welcome Mike, good to see you.
Will you let me shoot at Alliance this year??
Kurt

[monkeyboy]

Welcome Mike, good to see you.
Will you let me shoot at Alliance this year??
Kurt

Hi Kurt! It seems like we keep missing each other the last couple of years.I'll be at Alliance for sure and also Baker.Maybe a few others if things work out.I'd really like to see you and Carol again! Hope you can make it, Mike

[Fogman01]

I use a Frankford Arsenal tumbler with steel pins and a magnet to pick up the pins where ever they are - in the water, the bucket, on the ground when I spill them - whatever. I love it - 2 hrs and the cases are like new. No re-sizing due to case damage during tumbling cause there isn't any. However I would suggest using Lemi-shine as a cleaner or whatever some other folks here would recommend - do not use the stuff Frankford Arsenal sells - it leaves a gummy film on the tumbled cases that I had to wash by hand to get off. The Lemi-shine leaves them sparkling clean and costs a whole lot less.