Harbor Freight tumbler?

[robpete]

do any of you use one? I thought about giving one a try.

[bangerjim]

I use the 5# vibrator with great success. And don't forget the 20% coupons around everywhere.

bangerjim

[Duckiller]

I have the big one . Works good when you have to cleans lots of brass.

[bullet maker 57]

I also use the bigger one. It cleans more brass faster. The only complaint I have is the noise. It makes a very loud rumble. Otherwise I am satisfied.

[BucketBack]

I just turn up the music when I run the big Harbor Freight tumbler, which will be right after I decap 200 or so 223/556 cases

[robpete]

I should have clarified. I'm interested in the drum tumbler....for use with stainless media. Sorry.

[jcwit]

Why not take a closer look at the Berry tumbler sold by Berry themselves and also Cabela's, Graf's, and others. Its made right here in the U.S.A except for the motor which there is no supplier here for it. Support our own economy.

Course if you would rather support the Red Chinese?????????????????????????????????????

The Berry tumbler is close to the same price point.

[jcwit]

I should have clarified. I'm interested in the drum tumbler....for use with stainless media. Sorry.

Then that's a different deal altogether. No U.S. made in the same price range. I tried one years ago I got at a garage sale for $2.00, worked OK. I also would think they would work for wet tumbling using SS pins.

[L Erie Caster]

I should have clarified. I'm interested in the drum tumbler....for use with stainless media. Sorry.

I looked at one and thought it was the cheapest made thing I have ever seen. I couldn’t bring myself to pay $50 for it. If it works for others great, but I can’t see such a piece of junk on my bench.

[MrWolf]

I have the dual 3 lb one. I use walnut, not ss but it has been running almost 24 hrs straight for at least the last 4 weeks. Only reason I got it was to clean up my pink brass after the citric bath - does what I need it to do.

[jcwit]

I looked at one and thought it was the cheapest made thing I have ever seen. I couldn’t bring myself to pay $50 for it. If it works for others great, but I can’t see such a piece of junk on my bench.

Say what? Harbor Freight sells the single drum for $39.95.

[Lively Boy]

I have a single and the double drum versions. The single drum works great for ss tumbling but the new drums for the double turns my brass black. I use the same mix in all but the new drums keep messing with my brass..

[Silverboolit]

I have a double drum and I like it for SS pins. I haven't had the problem with discolored brass in mine, but it is a few years old. The only weak link is the drive belt. I just use 3 7/8" O rings from the hardware store. They are a lot cheaper than the replacement belts from HF.

[robpete]

I have a double drum and I like it for SS pins.

How much media and brass can you fit in each drum?

[John Boy]

I used the double barrel rotary for about 5 years with extra belts from eBay. It got hosed in Super Storm Sandy. I now use the Lortone double 6# barrel. It's a great product

[Silverboolit]

I get 50 9mm, 40 .45acp, aabout 40 .223. The rest that I do are small batches, but they all come out great.

[rbstern]

I've been using the single drum model to wet tumble brass for about 9 years. It's cleaned 10's of thousands of pieces of brass for me. The machine probably has somewhere between 1000 and 1500 running hours on it. Still on the original belt, too. Best $22 (after coupon) I ever spent on reloading gear.

Cleaning formula: I fill it three quarters full of whatever brass I am tumbling. Fill with cold water just enough to cover brass. Add 2 teaspoons of bottled lemon juice, and 2 drops of Dawn (or similar) dish detergerent. Tumbling for one to two hours will have the brass nicely and clean for use. Tumbling overnight will have the brass come out looking near-factory shiney. Rinse the brass, lay out to dry for a day or two.

[Whiterabbit]

does that get the primer pockets clean? how about the insides?

Think I could get a dozen 338 lapua cases into one drum? Cause otherwise I am with L Erie Caster.

[rbstern]

does that get the primer pockets clean? how about the insides?

Insides come out clean. Empty primer pockets come out clean. I rarely deprime pistol brass before wet tumbling.

Think I could get a dozen 338 lapua cases into one drum? Cause otherwise I am with L Erie Caster.

I haven't cleaned any rifle brass in a while, but in the past I routinely cleaned 308 Win, 7.5x55, 303 Brit, and 30-30. I've probaly run some 30-06 in there as well. I don't know the length of the 338 cases, but I can't imagine a dozen cases being a problem.

[Whiterabbit]

and no stainless pins, that's really impressive.