choosing a wet tumbler

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  • bdybdall

    Expert
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    Jun 11, 2012
    876
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    I'm wanting to switch from dry tumbling to wet. On Amazon they have a Lyman tumbler for $159.95 and a Frankfort Arsenal wet tumbler for $169.48. Does anyone have any input as to which is better? I have both a Lyman 1200 Turbo and a Frankfort Arsenal dry tumbler and I can't tell any difference in their value.
     

    gmcttr

    Grandmaster
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    12   0   0
    May 22, 2013
    8,593
    149
    Columbus
    I have the FA tumbler and while it does an excellent job of cleaning the cases, mine is difficult to tighten the lids enough to prevent leaking. I have to use a strap wrench to do the job.
     

    Papa

    Sharpshooter
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    3   0   0
    Jul 20, 2012
    336
    18
    Ohio
    I have a FA, and love it. Mine has never leaked, but you have to be careful to wipe any spilled water from the threads or it will fling a small amount of water.
     

    Gluemanz28

    Grandmaster
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    29   0   0
    Mar 4, 2013
    7,430
    113
    Elkhart County
    I have a FA, and love it. Mine has never leaked, but you have to be careful to wipe any spilled water from the threads or it will fling a small amount of water.

    I have the FA tumbler and two of the thumblers tumblers. The FA is easier to use and holds about twice as much brass.
     

    bwframe

    Loneranger
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    Feb 11, 2008
    38,170
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    Btown Rural
    Cleaned tons of brass in a Dillon vibratory cleaner over the years.

    Don't know any other wet tumbler than the FA. I've had mine a year and a half and have yet to open the SS media. There might be a use in rifle cases down the road, if there is uber concern for precision, but so far all cases are clean enough.

    Making sure the seal is wet when tightening gives lubrication to get the job done right. I tighten/loosen the lids tapping the fins on the lids with a short section of PVC and rubber mallet.
     

    Doublehelix

    Master
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    15   0   0
    Jun 20, 2015
    1,874
    38
    Westfield
    I have the FA tumbler and while it does an excellent job of cleaning the cases, mine is difficult to tighten the lids enough to prevent leaking. I have to use a strap wrench to do the job.

    I have a FA, and love it. Mine has never leaked, but you have to be careful to wipe any spilled water from the threads or it will fling a small amount of water.

    I bought a small bottle of mineral oil at CVS, and then use a Q-tip to lightly coat the rubber gasket on my FART, and it never leaks anymore. The Mineral oil keeps the gasket from getting old and cracking too. Costs about $2.00, and then the extra few seconds of effort to apply it.
     

    1775usmarine

    Sleeper
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    81   0   0
    Feb 15, 2013
    11,264
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    IN
    Cabelas right now has the FA on sale for 147 and some change. You can use FREESHIP to get free shipping of course. I've been looking at pulling the trigger on the FA and I do have some unused points.
     

    gmcttr

    Grandmaster
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    12   0   0
    May 22, 2013
    8,593
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    Columbus
    I bought a small bottle of mineral oil at CVS, and then use a Q-tip to lightly coat the rubber gasket on my FART, and it never leaks anymore...

    Excellent idea. Should work better than the soapy water i have been using to lube the gasket and threads. Thanks
     

    bigedp51

    Marksman
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    0   0   0
    Apr 30, 2011
    149
    18
    I have the FA tumbler and two of the thumblers tumblers. The FA is easier to use and holds about twice as much brass.

    I have a Thumler's Tumbler and like it but I have also read that the Frankfort Arsenal is a better buy.

    I have had my "metal" Thumler's Tumbler for over ten years and have rust under the rubber liner.

    And the plastic Frankfort Arsenal tumbler will never have a rust problem. (subliminal suggestion) ;)
     

    JMitch

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 5, 2015
    112
    16
    Greenwood
    I was blessed to have been gifted a FART. I have used it with and without the pins. I have been extremely pleased with the results even on tarnished and gravel crusted pistol brass. The previous owner felt wet tumbling was too much hassle. I probably invest more time than is needed on the brass, but it works for me.
     

    Lilboog82

    Sharpshooter
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    7   0   0
    Oct 26, 2014
    541
    43
    Indiana
    I have a FA and it’s never leaked on me. I would suggest the magnet if using steel pins. It works great cleaning brass and my stainless steel baffles.
     

    mark40sw

    Sharpshooter
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    0   0   0
    Jul 5, 2015
    697
    93
    Roanoke
    I have used my Frankfort tumbler to clean many thousands of brass. I did not know how long it would last when i first bought it but has worked well.

    I had issues with the leaking. Learned that if i tighten with the tabs on the ring, then tighten on the next tabs around the ring and so on. Do this until you go around all tabs couple times. Every time you shift to other tabs, the ring may budge slightly. Have not had a problem since doing that.

    Only couple drops of dish-washing detergent and 9mm case full of lemi-shine all that's needed for clean brass. Too much lemi-shine will turn brass a sort of orange tint. Also found that it works best if water level is just below the top of brass.
     

    chuckp

    Sharpshooter
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    0   0   0
    Nov 22, 2009
    452
    28
    Central IN
    The FA tumbler works wonders. I killed a Dillon tumbler will less rounds than I have run through my FA tumbler.

    chuck
     

    gmcttr

    Grandmaster
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    12   0   0
    May 22, 2013
    8,593
    149
    Columbus
    Definitely need a media separator. I use a spinning basket type and fill it with water. The water helps considerably with pin removal.
     

    ZbornacSVT

    Owner at Bobcat Armament
    Site Supporter
    Industry Partner
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    30   0   0
    Feb 15, 2009
    4,458
    48
    Shelbyville
    We have a few wet tumbler options in stock, including the FA and a dual drum unit from Big Dawg. We also have a used Thumblers Model B.
     

    Kirk Freeman

    Grandmaster
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    8   0   0
    Mar 9, 2008
    47,969
    113
    Lafayette, Indiana
    Definitely need a media separator. I use a spinning basket type and fill it with water. The water helps considerably with pin removal.

    I used a colander that I had in college. What a mistake!

    I had to go to the hardware store and buy a huge magnet to get all the pins out of the plastic utility sink.
     
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