Reusing the casings has numerous advantages. It can save a lot of money as well it’s good for the environment. After multiple rounds of firing, casings can become very dirty and sometimes tarnished. Every reloader wants their casings to be shiny and polished like brand new and who can do that job better than stainless steel media. Nothing is more effective than stainless steel media. In order to use the stainless steel pins, you need a good rotary tumbler. There are thousands of stainless steel tumblers in the market that can easily confuse a beginner. Therefore we have created a list of stainless steel brass tumbler reviews that features the best handpicked rotary tumblers for more effective cleaning.
So let’s begin,
But wait
1)Best Overall-Frankford arsenal rotary tumbler
2)Easy to carry-Lyman cyclone rotary tumbler
3)Premimum grade-Extreme tumblers rebel tumbler
4)Can also consider-Hornady 05022 tumbler
Reaons to get stainless steel tumbler right now
Even though you can clean brass casings by hand but the effectiveness and the additional benefits you will get while cleaning casings with stainless steel media is unmatched. Here are some reasons why you should get a tumbler using stainless steel media:-
Effective cleaning: The cleaning process is very effective and the brass gets cleaned from inside as well as outside. Stainless steel media will convert highly tarnished casings into brand new ones. Proper interior cleaning ensures proper powder burn. The pins reach each and every hole and clean the brass thoroughly.
Dustless process: The process of wet tumbling with stainless media does not produce any dust.
Time-saving: Using stainless steel pins will save a lot of your time as you just have to pour the casings and put them in detergent. The tumbler will automatically clean the casings.
No damage to brass: Your brass will not get damaged by the stainless steel pins. So you can use them without worry. There are no chances of cracks and bends occurring on the casings.
Longevity:Once you purchase the stainless steel media, you don’t have to buy it frequently as the media has a very long life which will ultimately save your money in long term.
Things to consider while getting a brass tumbler
- Quality-Everyone needs a product that has great quality. Generally, quality is directly dependent on the cost. An expensive tumbler will obviously be of better quality. There should be no sign of breakage and malfunctioning even after multiple rounds of tumbling. After you receive the tumbler, make sure that there is no breakage and all screws are perfectly fitted. The speed of the wheels should stay constant even after several sessions of cleaning.
- Built material: A well-built material is very important for great durability. The tumbler can either be made up of plastic or metal. For obvious reasons, the steel one is more tough and durable but will cost you more. However, since the plastic is mostly heavy-duty, it is also considerably durable and works great.
- Type of casings to be used:If we talk generally, most of the tumblers are compatible with all types of casings but there are some tumblers that work with only one type of case. It will always be a great idea to get a tumbler that works with the maximum type of casings. This is best for those who work with different types of casings.
- Capacity of the tumbler: The capacity of the tumbler: Capacity is another very crucial factor to look at in a tumbler. In order to get faster results, it’s better to get the tumbler with a large capacity. 500 to 1000 casings are the capacity that is seen with most of the tumbler which is optimum capacity if you are using tumbler for personal use. The higher the capacity of the tumbler, the more expensive will the product.
Best Overall | Easy to carry | Premium Grade | Can also consider |
|---|---|---|---|
Frankford arsenal rotary tumbler | Lyman cyclone rotary tumbler | Extreme tumblers rebel tumbler | Hornady 050220 tumbler |
Can hold 1000 casings | Can hold 1000 casings | Can hold 700 casings | Can hold 5 pounds of casings |
Very quiet and durable | Powerful motor | Coated with high strength powder | works with both wet and dry media |
1.Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series stainless steel brass tumbler
- Capacity:7 liters
- Very quiet
- Features media separation
- See-through drum ends
- Made of heavy-duty plastic
- Can hold 1000 .223 casings
- Maintenance-free drive train
- Very durable build quality
- Secured with rubber lining
- Brass cleaning solution incuded
Frankford Arsenal is one of the most brass tumbler among reloaders. Frankford Arsenal is one of the best choices for those looking for cleaning and polishing their brass for reloading. Due to its smooth functions, this tumbler is pretty much famous among shooters.
Frankford Arsenal is one of the most brass tumbler among reloaders. Frankford Arsenal is one of the best choices for those looking for cleaning and polishing their brass for reloading.
Due to its smooth functions, this tumbler is pretty much famous among shooters. Its cleaning and polishing of casings with the help of a rotary drum is much more effective and fast compared to ultrasonic or vibratory tumblers.
The capacity of the number is 7 liters and can hold around 1000 brass shells. This brass tumber provides the highest capacity as compared to other tumblers.
Along with cleaning and polishing, this tumbler also provides you with the facility of media separation which further enhances the cleaning experience. The tumbler further reduces your work with the help of its inbuilt timer which can be set from 0 to 3 hours.
The noise of the tumbler is significantly reduced due to its molded rubber lining. What makes it great for beginners is that it is made up of durable heavy-duty plastic which can handle mishandling by beginners.
You cannot ignore the fact that this tumbler comes with Frankford Arsenal Brass cleaning solution along with 5 lb. of 304 Stainless Steel Media which will save a lot of your money.
You can easily monitor the cleaning process with its see-through drum ends. Overall it’s one of the most features packed tumbler with great user reviews and experience. This is a well-deserving product in our stainless steel brass tumbler reviews.
2.Lyman 7631550 Cyclone Rotary stainless steel brass tumbler
- Very easy to carry
- Can hold 1000 pieces of 223 brass
- Comes with 5lbs of stainless-steel tumbling media
- Powerful motor rotates at 3000 RPM
- Features inbuilt timer
- Made up of heavy-duty plastic
- Features rubber lining for no leak
- Additional media shifter included
Lyman cyclone rotary tumbler will take your experience of cleaning the brass casings to different heights. The tumbler is extremely durable as it is composed of heavy-duty plastic. The additional functionality of the tumblers helps in better cleaning and polishing.
Due to its large capacity drum, you can hold up to 1000 .223 brass shells at once. What makes cleaning fast with this tumbler is its powerful motor which can provide a rotation of around 3000 RPM.
The powerful rotary actions along with stainless steel media and pins added with the cleaning solution have the capacity to provide the best and efficient cleaning. Due to the amazing capacity of the tumbler, it has made its position in our list of stainless steel brass tumbler reviews.
One great thing about getting this tumbler is that you will receive 5lbs of stainless-steel tumbling media. Your task will further automate with this tumbler with the help of its inbuilt which can be set between from 0 to 3 hours and will shut automatically.
The life of the tumbler is further enhanced with the rubber lining. The price of the tumbler is also satisfactory. You will also receive a media shifter that will keep the cases and media pans separate after the process of tumbling.
3.Extreme Tumblers Rebel 17 Ammo Reloading stainless steel brass tumbler
- Capacity:17lbs
- Premium grade tumbler
- Exclusively for stainless steel media
- Can hold 700 .233 brass shells
- Made of heavy-duty plastic
- Powerful motor rotates at 3000 RPM
- Has solid base
- Coated with high strength powder
- Features long-lasting seamless drive belt
Extreme rebel is a premium-grade brass tumbler that is exclusively made to work with stainless steel media. Due to its extra added features, this tumbler delivers premium polishing.
The capacity of the tumbler is 17 lbs and can hold around 700 .233 brass shells. It is made up of heavy-duty plastic which makes it very durable. The brass casings can be cleaning in significantly less time as the motor rotates at 3,000 RPM.
For its proper functioning, this tumbler required regular maintenance which is not a perk as every tumbler requires little or more maintenance. The tumbler will not get displaced from its place while cleaning as it has a solid base.
The high-strength powder is used to coat the outer and inner sides of the tumbler. The exteriors of the tumbler look very premium due to its clean welding.
The tumbler keeps the casings secure with its convenient on/off nylon locking drum lid knobs.The tumbler is equipped with longer-lasting seamless drive belt that will add extra life to the tumbler.
4.Hornady Rotary Case Tumbler
- Capacity:10 lbs
- Cleans effective
- Works both with wet and dry media
- Stainless steel media included
- Absolutely no leakage
- Secured with rubber lining
- Can be automated up to 8 hours
- Inbuilt digital timer
- Inbuilt cooling fan
Hornady rotary case tumbler is a great tumbler by a reputed brand called Hornady. This tumbler is specially made to fasten up the process of cleaning and polishing the cartridges. When it comes to stainless steel brass tumbler reviews this tumbler genuinely holds very good public reviews.
The overall capacity of the tumbler is 10 lbs out of which 5 lbs are for media and the other 5 lbs are for casings. With the help of its 5 lbs capacity, you can clean a great number of cartridges at once.
The shine provided by this tumbler is phenomenal with the help of its strong rotary actions along with steel pin tumbling media. This tumbler is very versatile as it works great with both wet and dry media.
One more advantage of getting this tumbler is that you will receive stainless steel media pin. Corn cob can also be used with this tumbler. There is no chance of leakage as it has very durable material and to ensure a perfectly tight seal the drum is equipped with rubber lining.
Two of the points where this tumbler as lead is its capacity and aspects.While other tumblers provide automation of 3 hours ,this tumbler can automate the task till up to 8 hours with the help of its digital timer. The motor of the tumbler is highly effective and is cooled using a cooling fan.
Recommended cleaners
Simple green
- Biodegradable
- Trusted non-flammable, non-abrasive and non-corrosive cleaner
- Cost-effective concentrate
- Used to clean and degrease all washable surfaces.
- Very effective cleaning and can clean toughest stains
Lemi Shine
- Dishwashing detergent pods clean and remove grease, stains
- Powered by natural citric acid
- easy to use, environmentally friendly
- Effective in cleaning without bleach or ammonia
Types of brass tumblers ?
There are different types of tumblers available in the market to suit the needs of reloaders. Although there are various types of tumblers but two of the major broad categories are -vibratory tumbler and rotary tumbler.Let’s discuss them in detail:-
Vibratory Tumblers:-These types of tumblers are a great option if you are on a budget. For cleaning brass casings, vibratory tumblers are effective. The mechanism and design of the vibratory tumbler are very uncomplicated. As the name suggests, it undergoes vibratory motion to clean casings. The bullets that have to be cleaned are kept in a large bowl.
Friction between the casings due to vibratory motion allows them to collide with each other. Due to vibrations, casings displace from their position for thorough cleaning. After cleaning, you just have to strain out the casings. This tumbler makes use of corn cob or other small objects as media. You can only make use of dry media with them.
Advantages of vibratory tumbler:-
- Not so expensive
- Can clean a large number of casings at once
Disadvantages of vibratory tumbler:-
- The process of cleaning can be time-consuming with them.
- The brass can harden as the casings will rub against each other.
- The surface inside the case is difficult to clean with them.
Rotary Tumblers: As compared to vibratory tumblers, rotary tumblers are more expensive. Both dry, as well as wet media, is compatible with this tumbler. Rotary tumblers are compatible with stainless steel pins while performing wet tumbling. In case you are performing dry tumbling, then walnut media or corn cob media will work great.
The mechanism of rotary tumblers is simple as well. Due to the rotary actions of the machine, the barrel also rotates and the casings along with pins inside the barrel get cleaned. To attain better cleaning, you can add liquids with casings like water or dishwashing detergent which will better clean the dirt. When it comes to rotary tumblers, the chances of leakage is almost mil.
Advantages of rotary tumbler:-
- Compatible with wet as well as dry media
- No problem with leakage
- Allows you to add dish wash detergent
Disadvantages of rotary tumbler:-
- Bit expensive
What are the other media options ?
Apart from stainless steel media which is mainly used for wet tumbling, there are other media options such as walnut media and corn cob media.Lets discuss them in detail :-
Walnut media:If you have used casings for a considerable amount of time and need a proper clean then walnut media will help you.
If you haven’t used the casings for long and now your casings are tarnished then again walnut media will help.
Though walnut media cleans effectively, they sometimes failed to provide a brand new look to the casings.
To overcome this problem you can choose to clean in two different media. First, you can opt for cleaning in walnut media and then with corncob media.
In addition to that, you can also provide shine using a polishing agent. A vibratory tumbler is compatible with walnut media.
Corncob media:Another very effective media is corncob media but in case your casings are heavily tarnished this media is not much effective.
This media is much more effective with casings that are not much used. Both vibratory and rotary tumbler is compatible with corncob media.
Due to its robust performance, corn cob media provide shine like gold to your casings. Treated corncob or polishing media can be used for additional polishing.
Wet tumbling v/s dry tumbling:which in better
Whether to chose wet tumbling or dry tumbling is completely dependent on the variant of tumbler you are using. In case you have a vibratory tumbler then you don’t have any other choice rather than choosing dry tumbling. Even the warranty of the vibratory tumbler will end if you try to do wet tumbling with it.
In case you deal with rotary tumbler then wet tumbling can be done with it. In case the rounds are highly corrosive and are in mud and dirt for days, wet tumbling is the great option.
Wet tumbling can be really effective in cleaning casings that are dirty to unto next level. Stainless steel pins are mostly used with wet tumbling which is the best media for tumbling.
Frequently asked Questions
How long does stainless steel media last?
When it comes to stainless steel media they don’t have any life limit and they last forever. Therefore, you just have to make a relatively high investment in the beginning on steel media and in long term, it will save your money.
Does stainless steel media damage brass?
No , stainless steel media will never harm or tarnish the casings. Rather, they provide an excellent clean and shine to the casings and make then brand new.
How long do you tumble brass with stainless steel media?
For proper cleaning of brass with stainless steel, you have to leave them for at least 4 hours in case your brass is not heavily tarnished.
In case your brass is heavily corrosive then you have to keep the brass for around 5-6 hours with lemi shine liquid. In this time, the lubes and primer pockets will also be thoroughly clean.
In case you don’t have washing detergent then the time will increase to 7-8 hours. In case the casings are dirty and nasty to up to the next level then you need two rounds of tumbling along with soap and lemi to shine liquid for proper cleaning.
How long do you leave brass in tumbler?
The time of cleaning depends upon the number of casings you are cleaning. Once you put around 100 brass casings inside the tumbler, you have to wait for around 4-5 hours for them to get cleaning properly.
If you are cleaning more casings then the cleaning time will increase. After multiple cleaning sessions, you will be able to figure how that how much time your tumbler needs to turn casings into brand new ones.
How many times can you reuse brass casings?
When it comes to brass casings, they can be used around 4-6 times. However, aluminum casings cannot be reused.
Should I Deprime before cleaning brass?
It’s always better to tumble first and then deprime. Since most of the deprime die can also work as sizing dies. The interior surface of the die can get tarnished or scratched if dirty casings are inserted inside it.
Does Lemi Shine hurt brass?
There is no recorded incident of lemi shine liquid harming the casings. It’s completely safe to use it for thorough cleaning to remove dirt effectively.
Is Simple Green safe for brass?
Simple green is absolutely safe for cleaning the brass. The only catch is that simple green is for cleaning only and not for polishing. So in order to polish your casings, you need a polishing material.
Conclusion
Here we come at the end of stainless steel brass tumbler reviews. These are the best tumblers for stainless steel media and are trusted by thousands of os reloaders worldwide. These tumblers provide the most effective cleaning and can even turn the hardest corrosive casings into polished shining gold. Once you get the tumbler make sure to take care of it properly. Dont keep it in high moisture places and clean it regularly in order to increase its longitivity. I hope you have found the stainless steel brass tumbler reviews useful. In case you have any questions or feedback feel free to leave the comment down below. Thanks for visiting leanoutdoor.com.