GL--is the cement mixer with metal or plastic drum better?
GL--is the cement mixer with metal or plastic drum better?
"You can never have too many knives." --Joe Ambercrombie
Shabbat shalom, motherf***ers! --Mordechai Jefferson Carver
I've only ever used a Thumler Tumbler (B model IIRC) with a rubber liner, and Harbor Freight then Lowes Cement mixers. I'm not sure there is any 'better' with metal/plastic/rubber. The paint steadily wears off the metal. The rubber appears unscathed. I'm sure the plastic would get rougher with use. Not sure it matters - the cases effectively become the media when you ditch the SS pins.
If you are looking at the Franklin wet FART plastic tumbler it looks pretty good. I've contemplated replacing my Thumler with one (higher capacity, lower cost).
When I process 223 I like to use the cement mixer to start then the Thumler with SS pins to finish, theory being the pins chamfer/debur the trimmed case mouth and make extra shiny. Next time I will do the second pass in the cement mixer with no media and am pretty sure it will be good enough. The Thumler will then get sold/retired. Although it is pretty handy for cleaning rusty steel tools or small parts.
Last edited by GuanoLoco; 03-24-2017 at 11:15 AM.
Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Doodie Project?
4# of brass just doesn't cut it for my needs... cement mixer seems like my best option.
Last edited by Clusterfrack; 03-24-2017 at 08:49 PM.
"You can never have too many knives." --Joe Ambercrombie
Shabbat shalom, motherf***ers! --Mordechai Jefferson Carver
If that doesn't work out, I've had good luck with the Harbor Freight dual drum that you can get for under $50 and then convert to a single drum (for ease of use and additional capacity) using PVC pipe. I will do this conversion sooner or later but you can find tutorials online or I can dig it up for you.
Last edited by LittleLebowski; 03-26-2017 at 07:13 AM.
#RESIST