RickT Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 My Frankford Arsenal tumbler is about to give up the ghost and I'm looking for a durable replacement. We're running through about 4K rounds/month and I'd like to be able to do 1000 9mm cases at a time. Would also like the darn thing to last a few years. Is there anything out there that fits the bill? I'd settle for 500 rounds capacity, but I need the durability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 I generally put around 1500 9mm cases per batch in my big Dillon tumbler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 I have a Lyman 1200 turbo tumbler...I think I put about 500 9mm in at a time with mixed cob and walnut. Been using it for about 7 years...no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safeactionjackson Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I generally put around 1500 9mm cases per batch in my big Dillon tumbler. +1 ~g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dapribek Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Have had my Hornady tumbler since '98, tens of thousands of cases through it and it still works great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I have an old Frankfort Arsenal tumbler, I think about 500 cases or so per run, but it's all offline. Meaning unless you only have 20 minutes to tumble, you just run it around the clock, and keep reloading. After only a few weeks you have thousands of cleaned cases. When I get halfway thru a 5 gallon bucket of brass, I run the tumbler operation for a few days and build up the next 5,000 cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddKS Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 (edited) If you want volume and durability in a dry tumbler Thumlers is what you need. The UV18 will do 1000 9mm, if you really want volume get a UV45. They are not inexpensive but they will last and do an excellent job. I have both. Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk Edited September 13, 2015 by ToddKS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
microham Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Try using a sonic cleaner. The lead dust is washed away not put in the air where you're working. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Go wet !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njl Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/2500-auto-flo-tumbler.php I've had mine since 2008. I haven't counted, but they claim it can handle up to 1000 .38spl...so 1000 9mm should be no problem. I found the catch pan that came with it to be undersized and basically unusable. I bought a much larger one from a local feed store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1gcountry Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I'm happy with the Dillon big tumbler. 1500 9mm cases easily. Plus the separator works well. My busy purchased his 17+ years ago, and it saw heavy use by him for 5 years and is now getting heavy use from me for 2 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickT Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 I think I'm going to give the Hornady a try. Capacity is only 500 or so 9mm, but I believe it comes with a 2 year warranty which would be 80,000 cases. I'd be happy to get 2 years out of an $80 tumbler. If the Hornady fails the Thumler UV-18 looks interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 In that case, go Harbor Freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=vibrating+tumbler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
microham Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 You still need a sonic cleaner and use the tumbler for polishing brass only. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 After 30 years of reloading I have yet to use a sonic cleaner but I am interested. Do you have any links that will do 1000 9mm cases or more at a time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDA Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) I have a seven gallon Crest Ultrasonic cleaner that would easily do that. http://www.amazon.com/Crest-CP2600HT-CP2600-HT-Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Heat/dp/B0064I9TMM/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1442191173&sr=8-12&keywords=crest+ultrasonic I have yet to clean any cases with it, as I have been vibratory tumbling them as it seems easier. A few years ago I found a new Burr King 150 on eBay for a couple hundred bucks ($700.00 tumbler) and it does a great job! I occasionally wet tumble brass, but can't seem to stop it from tarnishing before it dries. Then I end up dry tumbling it anyway. Edited September 14, 2015 by TDA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickT Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 I'm perfectly happy with a dry tumbler. Just looking for something that will last a couple of years. I know the Hornady is not a great unit, but a least I'll have some cheap data when it dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddKS Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I think I'm going to give the Hornady a try. Capacity is only 500 or so 9mm, but I believe it comes with a 2 year warranty which would be 80,000 cases. I'd be happy to get 2 years out of an $80 tumbler. If the Hornady fails the Thumler UV-18 looks interesting.The Hornady is underpowered and noisy. That is what I had before I got the Thumlers. Gave it away once I got the Thumlers. Buy the UV18. You will be happy you did. Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David.Hylton Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 A friend uses a cement mixer from harbor Freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4-quarter-cubic-ft-compact-cement-mixer-91907.html Use a super coupon and it will even cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDA Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I use a Thumler UV-18 for dry tumbling, it has done a very good job. I bought it used with zero idea how much use it had seen before me but I have done at least 30,000 cases with it and it works the same since the day I received it (I have also done some wet tumbling of metal parts/hardware with ceramic media so it sees a variety of uses). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwall64 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 In that case, go Harbor Freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=vibrating+tumbler How many cases are you able to tumble in the Harbor Freight? I only bought the Franklin wet tumbler because I wanted to do roughly 1,000 .223s at a time (I was tired of 200 - 300 in my 30 year old Lyman 1200 Pro!). Wet tumbling for me is a lot of extra work, so I am also looking for a large capacity dry tumbler... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) I have a seven gallon Crest Ultrasonic cleaner that would easily do that. http://www.amazon.co...rest ultrasonic Only $1700...that is more than I charged for the tumblers I built that would tumble 30 gallons of brass at a time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlZOYjmAnO0 Edited September 14, 2015 by jmorris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDA Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 The other issue that I see with Ultrasonic cleaning cases, other than the cost, is that cleaning agents that are really good for removing carbon usually attack yellow metals and aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueeyedme Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Last year I went with a Kobalt 4-cf Cement Mixer from Lowes and I could not be happier. 1 bucket of sorted brass, 2 buckets media. I run it with a cover on - took it off for the video so you can see the action. http://tinyurl.com/CMtumbler The Kobalt has an resin drum which is much quieter then a metal drum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 It's not the number of rounds per bowl, it's the number of rounds per run. Like I said, I run mine off line, overnight, one is walnut with mineral oil for cleaning, the other is corn with nufinish for polishing. In 20 days I can fill a 5 gal bucket. Currently have three 5 gallon buckets full ready to load, and 3 more ready to process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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