Thread: Rotary Tumblers - Cheap or best value

Hey Guys,
I'm looking for the best ways to save time when prepping my brass, I already have a ultrasonic cleaner but I'm not getting satisfactory results with water and vinegar.

Does anyone know the best place to get a cheap or best value rotary tumber or does anyone have any experience with the ones on Aliexpress?


Free ship New 5Kg Rotary Tumbler Surface Polisher Finishing, Jewelry Polisher & Finisher-in Rotary Tools & Accessories from Jewelry on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

Just chucking it out there, you could put that 150USD towards a "toy" sized bench top lathe - then when its not tumbling brass you could play round with it. No that they're good for fk all....

FlecthNZ

I'm sure a good keen man like yourself could make one if your handy in the shed and don't mind scrounging for the stuff at your local recycle centre.

Then you can use your funds for the purchase of some stainless steel pins and other essentials.

I've currently got one under construction using a square Sistemia spaghetti container pushed inside a short length of PVC pipe.

Will use a small motor and drive it off a couple of 1" shafts mounted on plumer bearings.

Cheers
Pete

Sounds cool, love to see some pictures when it's finished. What sort of motor is it?

@FletchNZ did you ever get this tumbler ?

Been thinking of a similar project and seems to be a lot cheaper than one from Stainless Steel Reloading Supplies | Tumblers, Separators, Media, Brass & More!

Rotary Tumbler Case Cleaner | Trade Me

I got one of these , and love it , ... and I use the stainless pins from the same fella , ... I tried making one from all sorts , .... in the end this compact , and powerful 5kg machine , does it all ....

That's great news, I was looking at exactly the same one, I thought the 5kg model would do.

Alas I'll be importing my one directly at US$100 incl delivery, the markup on TM ones is just a bit too greedy for my liking.

a few bucks cheaper with less capacity:

Capacity 3 kg Drum polishing machine, Jewelry rotary tumbler, tumbling machine, Mini Tumbler, Jewelry Tools & Equipment-in Engraving Tools from Jewelry on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

Originally Posted by Kscott

That's great news, I was looking at exactly the same one, I thought the 5kg model would do.

Alas I'll be importing my one directly at US$100 incl delivery, the markup on TM ones is just a bit too greedy for my liking.

he probably bought a few in and had to pay customs fees etc if it exceeded the $400 threshold so it is only fair that they should be able to make a bit of a profit to make up for their costs etc, I would do the same if it were me, no point trying to import stuff to sell if you cant make some sort of profit.

Originally Posted by hunter308

he probably bought a few in and had to pay customs fees etc if it exceeded the $400 threshold so it is only fair that they should be able to make a bit of a profit to make up for their costs etc, I would do the same if it were me, no point trying to import stuff to sell if you cant make some sort of profit.

exactly what you said , he brought in 3 or 4 .... I really like it , if you get one , and tumble more than 2000 cases over a weekend , you need to clean the stainless media and the inside of the tumbler as the carbon coats the inside and makes your brass not so shiny as the first bunch you put through ... makes sense , you cant clean your car with filthy water and a grotty sponge and expect a awesome Volvo finish !!!! ( by the way I have a Volvo for sale )

Would an Ultrasonic cleaner be better? Faster and cleaner end results

Shop ultrasonic cleaner online - Buy ultrasonic cleaner for unbeatable low prices on AliExpress.com

the stainless media + the tumble action , cleans the inside of the brass and the flash hole /primer pocket ...( if you deprime of course )it seems to clean it a lot better than the sonic cleaner, I have used the sonic cleaner , and prefer the tumbler ... ymmv

Originally Posted by stumpy

exactly what you said , he brought in 3 or 4 .... I really like it , if you get one , and tumble more than 2000 cases over a weekend , you need to clean the stainless media and the inside of the tumbler as the carbon coats the inside and makes your brass not so shiny as the first bunch you put through ... makes sense , you cant clean your car with filthy water and a grotty sponge and expect a awesome Volvo finish !!!! ( by the way I have a Volvo for sale )

Volvo?

damn , I was hoping my sales pitch would generate some interest in my Volvo sale

I use a baby formula tin with walnut shell and dash of solvo, not Volvo, paste and rumble it at low speed in my lathe nice clean shinning shells