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Thanks OP for this amazing thread! I'm using the single drum tumbler, 50 .223 casings at a time. I have a universal decapping die, but I used my normal depriming/resizing die for .223 this time and just wiped off the case lube afterwards with paper towels, then put the brass into the tumbler.
4 hours seems like a good tumble time. After pouring off the dirty water (black as ink!) I rinse the media and remove the brass, then pour off all the rest of the water and dump the media onto a washcloth and spread it around, which removes about 80% of the moisture. Then I shake the media from the washcloth onto a paper towel, which absorbs the rest, and it's ready to be used again. ETA: PICS! 
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Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
So would most of you recommend the single drum or dual drum models? And do any of you also use an ultrasonic cleaner before or after tumbling? For the price get the Dual Tumbler. Get more done then the single model. I don't use a ultrasonic cleaner because the HF Tumbler gets the case perfectly clean and shiny. |
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Originally Posted By JSzabo:
For the price get the Dual Tumbler. Get more done then the single model. I don't use a ultrasonic cleaner because the HF Tumbler gets the case perfectly clean and shiny. Originally Posted By JSzabo:
Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
So would most of you recommend the single drum or dual drum models? And do any of you also use an ultrasonic cleaner before or after tumbling? For the price get the Dual Tumbler. Get more done then the single model. I don't use a ultrasonic cleaner because the HF Tumbler gets the case perfectly clean and shiny. ^^ Yup |
Semper Fi
Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and everybody thinks everyone else's stinks.
"Be wary of the man with only one rifle, he'll surely know how to use it"
Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and everybody thinks everyone else's stinks.
"Be wary of the man with only one rifle, he'll surely know how to use it"
| I'm planning my setup around the HF dual drum and I'm trying to decide if I need to buy a hand press / universal decapping die. The way I see it, I can get the same results and save the money and time it takes to deprime separately if I dry tumble, lube, resize/deprime, wet tumble with stainless media, then hand prime. Are there any downsides to doing it this way? It seems like most people wet tumble first and then dry tumble to get the lube off before priming, which aside from the cost/time of depriming separately I might also have to deal with getting corncob out of cases. |
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Originally Posted By boblo:
I'm planning my setup around the HF dual drum and I'm trying to decide if I need to buy a hand press / universal decapping die. The way I see it, I can get the same results and save the money and time it takes to deprime separately if I dry tumble, lube, resize/deprime, wet tumble with stainless media, then hand prime. Are there any downsides to doing it this way? It seems like most people wet tumble first and then dry tumble to get the lube off before priming, which aside from the cost/time of depriming separately I might also have to deal with getting corncob out of cases. I've done it both ways on my Lee press. The advantage I have found to using individual presses is that the depriming die is also the sizing die, so you are completing two jobs at one time. On the other hand, it takes a little longer to process because you dont want to mess up the resizing stage. And you will need extra collets for teach die in each die sets. The advantage i have found to using the universal decapping die is how much faster you can process brass. Since you are just popping out the primer, you move as fast as your hands allow. You dont have to dry tumble or lube first; only the pin is touching the case. In addition, you can deprime calibers of range pick-up brass that you dont have dies for, but may want to sell later on. In the past week I have deprimed maybe 2000 rounds of calibers I dont have dies for, nor intend to reload. Now that it is deprimed and wet tumbled, this shiny stuff is going with me to the next gunshow. Downside is that some cases are deformed and need resizing. |
I'm not black; I'm just the tactical version.
| Just a heads up.. I purchased the dual drum tumbler from a HF store 2 days ago and it rang up as 39.99 instead of the usual 49.99 ($31.79 out the door with 25% off coupon). I am not sure if this was specific to my store or if they are on sale for 39.99 throughout August, but the website still lists them for 49.99. |
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Went to my local HF and picked up a double drum today for 49.99 -20%. Also just placed my order for the media from buffalo arms. Can't wait to give this stuff a shot!! |
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Thanks OP for a great thread. I was debating between the HF dual drum and building a 5 gallon bucket tumbler. I was worried the HF was going to be tedious to use because of the small volume but 160 case of 223 or 240 case of 9mm sounds just right for the amount of shooting I do right now.
Anyone thought about replacing the dual 4" drums with one larger drum? If the unit can handle 8lbs (1lb drum x 2, 2lbs brass, 2lbs water, 2lb media) then it might be worth trying a larger (6"?) plastic container that is less than 1lb and get more brass and more tumbling volume. The unit will need some modification since the side panels will be in the way but it can be cut and bent so the larger circumference will fit. I was thinking of trying a plastic gallon paint cans. Two 4" drums equates to about 100cu-in while a paint can (6.5 x 7.5) gets 153cu-in. |
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Originally Posted By Are-O-Be:
You can cut the tubing off and it still works fine. I had problems with the shaft just spinning inside the tubing and not rotating the drum. I just cut the tubing off and it works fine without it. The drums are made of rubber so there is still enough friction to rotate the drum. Originally Posted By Are-O-Be:
Originally Posted By D_LaMz:
Anyone else having a problem with the rubber tubing that lines the metal rod that rotates? On mine the tubing would move towards the plate that houses the motor and grind itself away until the whole thing just stops. You can cut the tubing off and it still works fine. I had problems with the shaft just spinning inside the tubing and not rotating the drum. I just cut the tubing off and it works fine without it. The drums are made of rubber so there is still enough friction to rotate the drum. That would change the rpm of the drum. My understanding is that 30-60rpm is the norm with the better results at higher speeds. Though changing the rubber tubing sounds like a good way to tune the speed for a larger drum. |
| I dont have an empty 9mm casing to measure the lemi-shine in so does anyone have another way to measure out the correct amount to use in 1 of the drums? Dont have any Dawn dish soap but have some Palmolive Pomegranate scented dish soap.. it should be fine to use instead of Dawn right? |
A level 9mm case of lemi-shine weighs 10.4 grains by my measurements. The label that came on mine from STM said to use 1/4 tsp. or 1 9mm case for one gallon of water. I think the OP said to use 1/2 of a 9mm case for one drum. I'm just twiddling my thumbs until my tumbler arrives.  |
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Got my HF DD tumbler on Saturday, media came today.
First batch is done and next batch is in now. They came out great but I ned to work on a media separating solution now. http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd425/lmorrison17/IMG_01662.jpg |
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Originally Posted By TxPiKapp: I dont have an empty 9mm casing to measure the lemi-shine in so does anyone have another way to measure out the correct amount to use in 1 of the drums? Dont have any Dawn dish soap but have some Palmolive Pomegranate scented dish soap.. it should be fine to use instead of Dawn right? Next time your at your local range, pick up or scrounge a 9mm case.
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Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
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Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
I dont have an empty 9mm casing to measure the lemi-shine in so does anyone have another way to measure out the correct amount to use in 1 of the drums? Dont have any Dawn dish soap but have some Palmolive Pomegranate scented dish soap.. it should be fine to use instead of Dawn right? I'm pretty much the outlier on measuring Lemishine. I use a tablespoon, and I add the amount that looks about right. I use hot water in order to get the Lemishine dissolved. So far I have yet to saturate the solution, and I've added some prodigious amounts of Lemishine a couple of times. Before we started using stainless pins, I was soaking range pickup brass to remove the bad tarnish, then tumbling in walnut. I use about the same amount of Lemishine now. Anyway, I hadn't looked into this thread in a while, and I think it's pretty cool that so many people are finding an economical start to this cleaning process. For separating brass, I'm still using a fine mesh strainer I found at Target for $8 or $9; it about killed me to pay that much, but it was the only large strainer with fine mesh I could find. Since then I found honey strainers that can sit in the top of a 5 gallon bucket. Hold on while I get a link. Plastic Honey Strainer These strainers are cheap, and I've seen them for less than $4 at other beekeeping suppliers. |
It is not easy to explain Liberty to those that are not familiar with Liberty. Kevin Jamison, on explaining firearm regulation to a Massachusetts lawyer. Jeff City, Mo 18 Apr 13.
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I've got the Harbor Freight double tumbler and am doing the following with great results for my .308 Remmy..
Decap brass with a Lee universal decapping die. Tumble around 40 pcs in each in the HF tubs using a couple squirts of diluted Simple Green and a pinch of Lemishine, water enough to about cover the cases and a pound ea. of SS pins. (Amazon has 2 lb. pkgs of the pins...I've yet to lose more than a few...I guess some are lost, but I never counted them) An hour or so cleans and shines once fired, if I want the primer hole spotless, it takes longer...I have been cleaning the hole with a hand pocket uniformer anyway, as my Lake City de-crimped pockets are still kinda tight. In the laundry tub (or kitchen sink), run water into the drum for a minute, then turn drum over into a "standard sized" hand held FLOUR SIFTER (5$ for a SS one at Target that goes nicely over the rubber tub) , held over a plastic dish pan and pour/shake to get out the water, Hell, rinse and repeat if you want. A few of the pins will likely be spilled into into the dish pan as well as the last dirty dregs of water doing this. Set the tub into the pan and one or two at a time, shake out pins and transfer the brass to a smaller plastic cereal bowl. Pick up the few pins that you dropped in the dishpan with a MAGNET and put them in your oatmeal next morning.  Empty bowl of brass on a towel and roll and tap each case to get them sorta dry, which also knocks out any few pins you missed the first time...If I'm in a hurry I will completely dry them with a heat gun on low, your wifes hair dryer would work as well, If she doesn't see you. Or a day sitting out will dry them up.
Neck size (twice) the brass with the Lee collet neck sizer (no lube needed!) and the die stays cleaner using shiny brass...easy. Powdered up and bullet seated with a Micrometer die...1' MOA ammo! No lube! Using two cheap dies and a slightly pricey Redding Comp. seater , .001-.002 runout. (until I have to full size my LC brass...3 firings so far ... don't even need a trim yet) I was lying about the !' MOA...it's closer to 1/2"...and did I mention...ITS CHEAP! I gotta start thinking about annealing.... |
Went to WalMart to get a couple random things and remembered I needed a media separator so looked around and came across this salad spinner in the kitchenware section and thought I would try it out with my tumbled brass.. tried it out and was pretty impressed.. worked like a charm.. rinse dirty water still in drum until it runs clear, then just dump all the contents with some clean water to get the media from inside the brass, give the handle a couple pulls and youre done.. worked a lot faster and better than my ziplock bag with a bunch of little holes poked in it for damn sure.. was going to get a media separator but this solution works pretty well for me and cant beat the price (believe it was $10)..
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Originally Posted By TxPiKapp: Went to WalMart to get a couple random things and remembered I needed a media separator so looked around and came across this salad spinner in the kitchenware section and thought I would try it out with my tumbled brass.. tried it out and was pretty impressed.. worked like a charm.. rinse dirty water still in drum until it runs clear, then just dump all the contents with some clean water to get the media from inside the brass, give the handle a couple pulls and youre done.. worked a lot faster and better than my ziplock bag with a bunch of little holes poked in it for damn sure.. was going to get a media separator but this solution works pretty well for me and cant beat the price (believe it was $10).. http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t523/TxPiKapp/5937D5DE-D452-468B-8776-0298D810C816-9783-0000015C14F17DA9_zpse2a42cbf.jpg http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t523/TxPiKapp/4F1FF58B-A59C-4821-B7D6-ECBDC0BABFF7-9783-0000015C0BCE5864_zps91a04aa2.jpg http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t523/TxPiKapp/A49CFD1B-4928-43F7-BC4B-F99EF5A57E7B-9783-0000015C038893DE_zps3f6f004e.jpg That's awesome! Thanks for sharing.
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Fortuna Favet Fortibus
| I am new to reloading and just getting into it. I found this thread and decided this was the way to go for cleaning cases. I walked into my local HF store today to pick up a tumbler. The store had a few in stock. I started looking at the display and had second thoughts. The drums seemed very small. I know guys were posting they were doing 50 .223 cases per drum. I am going to be loading .223 and 308 mostly. Can anybody tell me how many 308 cases they are fitting in a drum at a time? 50 .223 cases in a drum seemed like they would be a tight fit. I'm now rethinking the HF tumbler and just spending more money to get a bigger one so I can do more cases at one time. |
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Originally Posted By west2746:
I am new to reloading and just getting into it. I found this thread and decided this was the way to go for cleaning cases. I walked into my local HF store today to pick up a tumbler. The store had a few in stock. I started looking at the display and had second thoughts. The drums seemed very small. I know guys were posting they were doing 50 .223 cases per drum. I am going to be loading .223 and 308 mostly. Can anybody tell me how many 308 cases they are fitting in a drum at a time? 50 .223 cases in a drum seemed like they would be a tight fit. I'm now rethinking the HF tumbler and just spending more money to get a bigger one so I can do more cases at one time. I have done 50 cases of .308 in each drum at one time (100 total in 2 drums) and it worked fine. On an information slip i got with my SS media, it said 2 lbs. of .308 cases are about 100-120 pieces. |
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Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
I have done 50 cases of .308 in each drum at one time (100 total in 2 drums) and it worked fine. On an information slip i got with my SS media, it said 2 lbs. of .308 cases are about 100-120 pieces. Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
Originally Posted By west2746:
I am new to reloading and just getting into it. I found this thread and decided this was the way to go for cleaning cases. I walked into my local HF store today to pick up a tumbler. The store had a few in stock. I started looking at the display and had second thoughts. The drums seemed very small. I know guys were posting they were doing 50 .223 cases per drum. I am going to be loading .223 and 308 mostly. Can anybody tell me how many 308 cases they are fitting in a drum at a time? 50 .223 cases in a drum seemed like they would be a tight fit. I'm now rethinking the HF tumbler and just spending more money to get a bigger one so I can do more cases at one time. I have done 50 cases of .308 in each drum at one time (100 total in 2 drums) and it worked fine. On an information slip i got with my SS media, it said 2 lbs. of .308 cases are about 100-120 pieces. Thanks. It just does not seem like 50 308 cases would fit and still leave enough room to tumble. Maybe I just just try this and see if it works for me. If not its only $40 bucks im out and I could always use it for small batches down the road. |
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Originally Posted By west2746:
Thanks. It just does not seem like 50 308 cases would fit and still leave enough room to tumble. Maybe I just just try this and see if it works for me. If not its only $40 bucks im out and I could always use it for small batches down the road. Originally Posted By west2746:
Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
Originally Posted By west2746:
I am new to reloading and just getting into it. I found this thread and decided this was the way to go for cleaning cases. I walked into my local HF store today to pick up a tumbler. The store had a few in stock. I started looking at the display and had second thoughts. The drums seemed very small. I know guys were posting they were doing 50 .223 cases per drum. I am going to be loading .223 and 308 mostly. Can anybody tell me how many 308 cases they are fitting in a drum at a time? 50 .223 cases in a drum seemed like they would be a tight fit. I'm now rethinking the HF tumbler and just spending more money to get a bigger one so I can do more cases at one time. I have done 50 cases of .308 in each drum at one time (100 total in 2 drums) and it worked fine. On an information slip i got with my SS media, it said 2 lbs. of .308 cases are about 100-120 pieces. Thanks. It just does not seem like 50 308 cases would fit and still leave enough room to tumble. Maybe I just just try this and see if it works for me. If not its only $40 bucks im out and I could always use it for small batches down the road. doing 40 cases in each drum at once did provide better results.. i usually run about 3 hours and it comes out clean.. i usually look at the primer pockets to guage how clean they are.. when i did 50 cases the primer pockets werent as clean as when i did 30-40... but running another hour should do it.. so it does seem like having more room for the contents to tumble will provide better results.. |
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Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
doing 40 cases in each drum at once did provide better results.. i usually run about 3 hours and it comes out clean.. i usually look at the primer pockets to guage how clean they are.. when i did 50 cases the primer pockets werent as clean as when i did 30-40... but running another hour should do it.. so it does seem like having more room for the contents to tumble will provide better results.. Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
Originally Posted By west2746:
Originally Posted By TxPiKapp:
Originally Posted By west2746:
I am new to reloading and just getting into it. I found this thread and decided this was the way to go for cleaning cases. I walked into my local HF store today to pick up a tumbler. The store had a few in stock. I started looking at the display and had second thoughts. The drums seemed very small. I know guys were posting they were doing 50 .223 cases per drum. I am going to be loading .223 and 308 mostly. Can anybody tell me how many 308 cases they are fitting in a drum at a time? 50 .223 cases in a drum seemed like they would be a tight fit. I'm now rethinking the HF tumbler and just spending more money to get a bigger one so I can do more cases at one time. I have done 50 cases of .308 in each drum at one time (100 total in 2 drums) and it worked fine. On an information slip i got with my SS media, it said 2 lbs. of .308 cases are about 100-120 pieces. Thanks. It just does not seem like 50 308 cases would fit and still leave enough room to tumble. Maybe I just just try this and see if it works for me. If not its only $40 bucks im out and I could always use it for small batches down the road. doing 40 cases in each drum at once did provide better results.. i usually run about 3 hours and it comes out clean.. i usually look at the primer pockets to guage how clean they are.. when i did 50 cases the primer pockets werent as clean as when i did 30-40... but running another hour should do it.. so it does seem like having more room for the contents to tumble will provide better results.. I was looking at the "build it youself" thread and saw a guy that replaced the two rubber drums on the HF tumbler with one he made out of PVC pipe. This maybe just what I am looking for. |
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Hey guys. Just got my HF tumbler in the mail today. I opened it up to check the pulley tension etc. I noticed that the pulley is wobbly when it spins. I think it's because of the screw to keep it in place. When I screw it down it tilts the pulley to one side. When the tumbler is running it makes the pulley wobble back and forth. I'm afraid this may decrease the belt life. Has anyone else noticed this? Sould I return for a new one?
Thanks! |
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I posted this in the other thread, seems I missed this one, but I'll repost it since it seems more relevant here.... And I've ran about 20 loads through it in the last week.
Originally Posted By MrZeat:
This thread really got me motivated, but I just couldn't justify building a big one like BIGDAWG does (which are awesome btw, the two drum setup on his website looks kickass!).... I just don't think I even have that much brass! So I figured I'd try the cheap route. Bought a Harbor Freight dual tumbler yesterday to get my brass wet, and immediately hated the dual container setup which is just tiny, so I wanted to see if I could keep the same motor/roller setup and use a better drum. And I did. Here's my recipe for a nice smallish pvc drum, add baffles if you wish, I haven't yet... 4" Sch 40 piping ~$10 http://www.lowes.com/pd_23839-1814-PVC+04400++1000_0__?productId=3133051 4" knock out plug ~$1 http://www.lowes.com/pd_23408-1814-PVC+00131++1200_4294935907__?productId=3339786 4" removable gripper plug. ~$6. I bought it at lowes so I know they have them, but google can't find it so here's the home depot link. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-4-in-Mechanical-Plastic-Test-Plug-33403/100204964 Not too bad imho $17 with plenty of PVC to do another one. I did replace the wing nut with a standard nut on the plug due to the fact that it would hit the side of the tumbler and not be able to spin, I had one in my toolbox, no idea the thread size. Took it home and cut it up, added ~4 lbs of ss media, filled it full of brass, water, added dawn and lemishine. Total weight of the full drum was ~14.5 lbs. The original containers with a lb of ss pins in each and filled with brass were only about 7lbs combined. We'll see if the thing lasts, but if the motor burns up, I won't be too upset. With the 20% off coupon the tumbler was only $40+tax. After several hours of running the motor is just warm. 
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Originally Posted By MrZeat:
I posted this in the other thread, seems I missed this one, but I'll repost it since it seems more relevant here.... And I've ran about 20 loads through it in the last week. http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/383/6j7m.jpg http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3366/20kc.jpg http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7237/zjeu.jpg http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4905/1sbe.jpg Originally Posted By MrZeat:
I posted this in the other thread, seems I missed this one, but I'll repost it since it seems more relevant here.... And I've ran about 20 loads through it in the last week. Originally Posted By MrZeat:
This thread really got me motivated, but I just couldn't justify building a big one like BIGDAWG does (which are awesome btw, the two drum setup on his website looks kickass!).... I just don't think I even have that much brass! So I figured I'd try the cheap route. Bought a Harbor Freight dual tumbler yesterday to get my brass wet, and immediately hated the dual container setup which is just tiny, so I wanted to see if I could keep the same motor/roller setup and use a better drum. And I did. Here's my recipe for a nice smallish pvc drum, add baffles if you wish, I haven't yet... 4" Sch 40 piping ~$10 http://www.lowes.com/pd_23839-1814-PVC+04400++1000_0__?productId=3133051 4" knock out plug ~$1 http://www.lowes.com/pd_23408-1814-PVC+00131++1200_4294935907__?productId=3339786 4" removable gripper plug. ~$6. I bought it at lowes so I know they have them, but google can't find it so here's the home depot link. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-4-in-Mechanical-Plastic-Test-Plug-33403/100204964 Not too bad imho $17 with plenty of PVC to do another one. I did replace the wing nut with a standard nut on the plug due to the fact that it would hit the side of the tumbler and not be able to spin, I had one in my toolbox, no idea the thread size. Took it home and cut it up, added ~4 lbs of ss media, filled it full of brass, water, added dawn and lemishine. Total weight of the full drum was ~14.5 lbs. The original containers with a lb of ss pins in each and filled with brass were only about 7lbs combined. We'll see if the thing lasts, but if the motor burns up, I won't be too upset. With the 20% off coupon the tumbler was only $40+tax. After several hours of running the motor is just warm. http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/383/6j7m.jpg http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3366/20kc.jpg http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7237/zjeu.jpg http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4905/1sbe.jpg How long Have you been running this setup? |
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A little over a week and a half ago, been running about two loads a day since... fits about 450 or so 9mm and probably a little over half that for 223 nothing too crazy over the two small drums, but it sure makes things easier.
But now I'm just waiting on pulleys for my larger setup like bigdawgs though with the 6" pvc. Sure got expensive fast building the silly thing, I was trying to stay low budget and ended up almost $200 in to it after the costs of the media and large drum. |
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Originally Posted By MrZeat:
I posted this in the other thread, seems I missed this one, but I'll repost it since it seems more relevant here.... And I've ran about 20 loads through it in the last week. http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/383/6j7m.jpg http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3366/20kc.jpg http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7237/zjeu.jpg http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4905/1sbe.jpg Originally Posted By MrZeat:
I posted this in the other thread, seems I missed this one, but I'll repost it since it seems more relevant here.... And I've ran about 20 loads through it in the last week. Originally Posted By MrZeat:
This thread really got me motivated, but I just couldn't justify building a big one like BIGDAWG does (which are awesome btw, the two drum setup on his website looks kickass!).... I just don't think I even have that much brass! So I figured I'd try the cheap route. Bought a Harbor Freight dual tumbler yesterday to get my brass wet, and immediately hated the dual container setup which is just tiny, so I wanted to see if I could keep the same motor/roller setup and use a better drum. And I did. Here's my recipe for a nice smallish pvc drum, add baffles if you wish, I haven't yet... 4" Sch 40 piping ~$10 http://www.lowes.com/pd_23839-1814-PVC+04400++1000_0__?productId=3133051 4" knock out plug ~$1 http://www.lowes.com/pd_23408-1814-PVC+00131++1200_4294935907__?productId=3339786 4" removable gripper plug. ~$6. I bought it at lowes so I know they have them, but google can't find it so here's the home depot link. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-4-in-Mechanical-Plastic-Test-Plug-33403/100204964 Not too bad imho $17 with plenty of PVC to do another one. I did replace the wing nut with a standard nut on the plug due to the fact that it would hit the side of the tumbler and not be able to spin, I had one in my toolbox, no idea the thread size. Took it home and cut it up, added ~4 lbs of ss media, filled it full of brass, water, added dawn and lemishine. Total weight of the full drum was ~14.5 lbs. The original containers with a lb of ss pins in each and filled with brass were only about 7lbs combined. We'll see if the thing lasts, but if the motor burns up, I won't be too upset. With the 20% off coupon the tumbler was only $40+tax. After several hours of running the motor is just warm. http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/383/6j7m.jpg http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3366/20kc.jpg http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7237/zjeu.jpg http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4905/1sbe.jpg DAMN! Your brass turns your drums BLUE! Thats some tight shit there! Is it the Lemi Shine?  JK
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HOLY CRAP!!!
I have not checked this thread in like over a year. I honestly did not realize it took off the way it did. I just sat here enjoying some bourbon and read everyone's posts. This is great! I am actually planning on doing a load tomorrow, which will be the first one in about six months. Havent been shooting as much this past year (Still do of course) just not as frequently. I have a load of BAD brass that needs some attention a friend gave me as he does not load so will be putting these bad boys to the test. Granted I already know it will come out fantastic. I am SO happy to see all of you guys having the same success as I did with these cheap tumblers. My two still run like champs and I have done at least 40lbs of brass so far. This is great! Side note. MrZeat, I am going to give what you did a shot. I really like that idea! Worst case I am out 20 bucks and it is no harm done. |
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Originally Posted By PapaGeno21: HOLY CRAP!!! I have not checked this thread in like over a year. I honestly did not realize it took off the way it did. I just sat here enjoying some bourbon and read everyone's posts. This is great! I am actually planning on doing a load tomorrow, which will be the first one in about six months. Havent been shooting as much this past year (Still do of course) just not as frequently. I have a load of BAD brass that needs some attention a friend gave me as he does not load so will be putting these bad boys to the test. Granted I already know it will come out fantastic. I am SO happy to see all of you guys having the same success as I did with these cheap tumblers. My two still run like champs and I have done at least 40lbs of brass so far. This is great! Side note. MrZeat, I am going to give what you did a shot. I really like that idea! Worst case I am out 20 bucks and it is no harm done. |
Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
I've got about 1000-1500 piece of 9mm to tumble here soon. I've run about 20 batches through my HF tumbler without doing any sort of maintenance, do I need to do anything to keep her running good? I don't know what happened to the manual, it went into black hole that sucks up primers and other components in my garage 
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Originally Posted By PapaGeno21:
HOLY CRAP!!! I have not checked this thread in like over a year. I honestly did not realize it took off the way it did. I just sat here enjoying some bourbon and read everyone's posts. This is great! I am actually planning on doing a load tomorrow, which will be the first one in about six months. Havent been shooting as much this past year (Still do of course) just not as frequently. I have a load of BAD brass that needs some attention a friend gave me as he does not load so will be putting these bad boys to the test. Granted I already know it will come out fantastic. I am SO happy to see all of you guys having the same success as I did with these cheap tumblers. My two still run like champs and I have done at least 40lbs of brass so far. This is great! Side note. MrZeat, I am going to give what you did a shot. I really like that idea! Worst case I am out 20 bucks and it is no harm done. Thanks man, I got a setup and so did my bro and nephew. I have wet tumbled thousands of cases and I look forward to seeing my bright shiny brass every time. |
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Can you post the weight of the pvc + endcaps (ie, empty)? I too am considering building one large tube, although I like the convenience of the two small ones for small jobs. I have a 12VDC fan on the motor, but it still gets too hot to touch if I am tumbling too much weight. I also don't have a case separator. I just rinse the stuff out in the sink, and then remove, shake out, and rinse each piece of brass by hand under the running water. I'm only doing 50-100 cases at a time, so its not a huge deal. If i go with a large single tube, however, I am certainly going to have to get a media separator. Also, did you put anything physical inside the tube to agitate the mix yet? I've seen its need debated here before, just curious if you used anything. |
What?
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Originally Posted By jbizzle:
I've got about 1000-1500 piece of 9mm to tumble here soon. I've run about 20 batches through my HF tumbler without doing any sort of maintenance, do I need to do anything to keep her running good? I don't know what happened to the manual, it went into black hole that sucks up primers and other components in my garage There's a sort of a bearing or bushing thingy that the drive shaft rotates through. Oil it every now and then. I use synthetic gun oil because I have some lying around. |
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Originally Posted By InfiniteGrim:
I've been having issues with my seperating method. But last night I pulled the magnets out of an old harddrive. Works perfectly! Much better then the strainers or just individually picking the brass out. Duuhhh. Of course. Some varieties of stainless steel can be picked up with a magnet. I had forgotten that. I'll have to try that on the few that got away from the strainer in the morning before my wife's idiot hens try to eat them. Chickens are only smart enough to be chickens, but these are extra stupid. |
NRA Life Member
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So for, the strainer is doing the job of containing most of the pins. The magnet gets the strays.
Soon after I started using the HF rock polisher, I had to take it apart and sort of modify it. The clear plastic tubing on the drive axle was not sufficiently adhered. That caused the drive axle to spin within the tube and only turn the drums in fits and starts. I replaced the clear plastic tubing with a slightly longer length of 5/16 inch rubber automotive fuel hose. That hose was slightly undersize. So I dribbled Dawn dish detergent into the hose and all over the drive axle, and then applied some pressure. After I got it slid on, I washed off the detergent and let it dry. It works much, much better. While I had it apart, I lubricated what Harbor Freight calls bearings--they are really plastic bushings--with a nickel based anti-seize compound. That will keep the bushings in lubricant for a long time. If you are going to do this, you will need a good set of 45 degree or 90 degree snap ring pliers and an assortment kit of replacement external snap rings. The snap rings that are used to contain the drive axle are a mild steel and deform when removed. If you have the tools and the $3 snap ring assortment, it's a good upgrade. |
NRA Life Member
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
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WA, USA
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Originally Posted By Mekks: I'm having issues getting the primer pockets fully clean. Running Ultra 47 pins with a very small amount of lemishine and dawn. Could my pins be too large? or maybe I am putting too much brass in each drum? |
Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
| I reload the 5.7x28 and can't use media and stuff. Just 10% simple green and water. Well, after acquiring 2000 pieces of brass, this thread inspired me to get this device to tumble my brass. Started the first batch and waiting for results. Also contemplating if there is an alternate SS pin media on the cheap. Cut wire, bristle brush stuff, something... |
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Joined:
Jun 2007
Posts:
27242
EE: 100% (1)
WA, USA
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Originally Posted By LuxorDeathbed: I reload the 5.7x28 and can't use media and stuff. Just 10% simple green and water. Well, after acquiring 2000 pieces of brass, this thread inspired me to get this device to tumble my brass. Started the first batch and waiting for results. Also contemplating if there is an alternate SS pin media on the cheap. Cut wire, bristle brush stuff, something... In a Thumblers high speed tumbler, 2 hours is ideal. Brass gets cleaned and the coating remains intact.
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Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
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