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Need heavy duty tumbler: Recommendations?

ronas

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 28, 2010
575
0
70
Charleston, South Carolina
My old 12 quart Midway 2094 tumbler finally died. It was 110 volt. It had Fasco 1.3 amp motor.

I used it to polish brass and remove lube for the last several years as I now use an ultrasonic cleaner to actually clean the brass.

I will overload the next one I buy, that's why I would like it to have a strong durable motor.

Recommendations would be appreciated.
 
I just ordered a tumbler named "Biggdawg". I'll post more about it after it arrives. Do a Google search on it, he has a nice web site, and was a great guy to talk with. If you don't want something that large or expensive, the Dillon is a nice machine. So are the Thumbler machines. I have both and use them a lot. I just wanted to run larger batches of brass.

Some commercial loaders use cement mixers. They are not terribly expensive from places like Harbor Freight. I just don't have room to store such a beast!

I started a thread on this subject a few weeks ago. You might search for it, and check out the responses that I received.

The 220 volt version of these machines are for sale in Europe, where 220 volt is the house hold voltage. I also think it may be 50 cycle. Anyhow, you don't need it. The standard 120 volt unit will do all you need it to do. You can also move it around to more places. Lightman

Edit to add: I looked at the motors on my Dillons. They are rated at 60watts, .094 amps. Not as big as I thought, but they do the job.
 
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I bough Harbor Freight item # 96923, price $199.99 but on sale for $159.99. With 20% off coupon it was $138.87 which included tax.

I dumped the contents of my Midway into Harbor Freight model and it filled the same as the Midway.

As for motor and it's amp rating I took off the bottom but could not find motor information including amp rating. I will say the motor is very large compared to the Fasco in the Midway, like 2 1/2 to 3 times as large as Midway motor.

As far as noise level when run I would say superquiet can barely hear when running.

Midway was so loud that I ran it in another garage so I did not have to listen to it.

I was thinking this was going to be a hold me over tumbler until I can get a nicer one; however, at this point I plan to stay with the HF.
 
I'd go with anything but the Dillon. My CV 2000 lasted just over the one year limit and Dillon won't fix it for less than it costs to buy a new one. I can buy 3 midway junkers for the cost of one dillon and my junkers all lasted more than a year. I'd say the cost savings goes to the cheap ones. I've got a few friends who have had the same issues with their dillons and one bought the Lyman heavy duty and its been working well for about 4 years now. Another buddy bought a Thumlers vibratory and has been overloading it for a little over a year with good results. The harbor freight unit at $60 or so looks promising as well. At 3 to one on price you've got a better chance of going longer with them than the dillon.


Frank
 
Or...Try the Thumbler Tumblers vibratory models. I have the middle size, forget the number. Quiet, runs cool, works VERY well and Made in the USA.

I have been taking a stand on the "Made in China" products and refuse to buy them. Yes I pay a bit more...But I don't really care.
I'd rather put money into an american company than give it to china, Viet Nam, Mexico, etc.
 
You can't go wrong with Thumler Tumblers. Made in the USA and they do a fantastic job. I bought an Ultra Vibe 18 because I was wanting more capacity. I noticed two things immediately. First, it is significantly quieter than my other tumbler, second, it moves the media much faster. It does more brass in less time.
 
I bough Harbor Freight item # 96923, price $199.99 but on sale for $159.99. With 20% off coupon it was $138.87 which included tax.

I dumped the contents of my Midway into Harbor Freight model and it filled the same as the Midway.

As for motor and it's amp rating I took off the bottom but could not find motor information including amp rating. I will say the motor is very large compared to the Fasco in the Midway, like 2 1/2 to 3 times as large as Midway motor.

As far as noise level when run I would say superquiet can barely hear when running.

Midway was so loud that I ran it in another garage so I did not have to listen to it.

I was thinking this was going to be a hold me over tumbler until I can get a nicer one; however, at this point I plan to stay with the HF.


this... its huge... a normal 5# tumber is on the right..

IMG_20130705_160818.jpg