FRANKFORD ARSENAL - PLATINUM SERIES ROTARY TUMBLER 7L

[jski]

There seems to be a consensus that Frankfort Arsenal’s sonic brass cleaner is the best? RCBS would be second? Does this sound reasonable?

I’m looking to replace my dry media (crushed walnut shells) tumbler. I want something that will clean primer pockets!

 

[milsurpguy]

Yeah water pins can clean primer pockets thats for sure.
How much brass you going to do at once?
And how dirty is it?

 

[jski]

Yeah water pins can clean primer pockets thats for sure.
How much brass you going to do at once?
And how dirty is it?

Usually around 300 pieces of pistol brass:
357, 45ACP, 30 Carbine, 45 Colt.

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

Yes it works great. Should be able to find it in the $160 range, but it's not a sonic cleaner as in ultrasonic.
That's an entirely different animal.

 

[milsurpguy]

For lightly soiled brass it might almost be over kill.

 

[jski]

How does it compare to others? Seems to get the best reviews. Maybe RCBS?

 

[CMB]

Are you asking about the rotary tumbler or an ultra sonic cleaner? I can speak for the platinum wet tumbler....... it cleans the pockets well. Add a little Lemi-shine and a quality car wash and wax and shells will look almost new. It takes a little adjusting to but you will develope a routine to remove those little pins. By the second or third use you will stop cursing at them.

I wish I would have switched over sooner - dirty primer pockets is one reason I switched. The other major reason was the ability to dump out the dirty water and start clean every time.

Now the dry vibratory cleaner is the final step to remove the sizing lube and polish. Works Great.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Are you asking about the rotary tumbler or an ultra sonic cleaner?

Some manufacturer needs to build us a ultra-sonic rotary tumbler.......... meow.......

 

[Highland Lofts]

I tried all three methods, dry tumbler, ultra sonic and wet tumbler with the stainless steel pins.
The wet tumbler with the stainless steel pins is the only way to go.

 

[CKweigand]

Tip: when you go to dump the water out of the rotary tumbler. Instead of using the supplied strainer insert that comes with the tumbler. Invest in a 5 gallon bucket elastic banded paint strainer. ($4 for a 2 pack) It slips on the bucket. Pour all the contents into the strainer. Then just remove the strainer from the bucket and now you have the brass and pins separated from the water.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Trimaco-2-...VdsqUCR0GHQfwEAQYASABEgLUOfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

can’t take credit for this. Picked up this life hack from THR a couple years back.

 

[call1911]

I tried steel pins with my Frankford Arsenal Rotary tumbler Lite but I hate them - the pins.

Citric acid and some detergent do the job good enough (for me). Give it a try.

But I was not happy with how to dump the dirty water from the drum and so I invested a little time with Fusion360 (which I have never used before) and designed this strainer based on the size of the transparent lid.
A good friend printed it on his 3D printer. I luv it but actually it should come with the tumbler.

 

[ms6852]

I would not know about Frankford Arsenal sonic cleaner so can not comment negatively or positively about it. I own the Hornady XL, I don't think they make anymore and am pleased with it. I use it for multiple purposes like cleaning my firearms but mostly range brass. does a good job. If I want shiny brass than I tumble it in walnut for about 30 minutes. Need trick I learn was to keep a small glass jar handy for when you only do a small batch of brass. I'll fill the glass jar with the brass cleaner solution as I am doing only 20 pieces of 30-06 , I than place the jar in the sonic tank and fill it up with water. Doing it this way you save on brass cleaning solution because you use a small amount for the jar instead of the sonic cleaner.

 

[jski]

Are you asking about the rotary tumbler or an ultra sonic cleaner? I can speak for the platinum wet tumbler....... it cleans the pockets well. Add a little Lemi-shine and a quality car wash and wax and shells will look almost new. It takes a little adjusting to but you will develope a routine to remove those little pins. By the second or third use you will stop cursing at them.

I wish I would have switched over sooner - dirty primer pockets is one reason I switched. The other major reason was the ability to dump out the dirty water and start clean every time.

Now the dry vibratory cleaner is the final step to remove the sizing lube and polish. Works Great.

Wet tumbler.

 

[W/Vickers1938]

I switched to to wet tumbling with the Frankford Arsenal Platinum series to clean primer pockets and the inside of cases. All my goals were met with resounding success. In operation the end caps leaked for a few minutes of each run, but did subside. What did amaze me the most, was the ability of those miniscule pins to escape my vigilance and end up several feet away. A magnet and a led flashlight helped corral the strays.
I have retired the walnut shells and the bucket of perc.

 

[bullseye308]

I have the regular one, not the platinum. It is the cats butt, and the cases come out looking like they were just made. So much simpler that walnut and nufinish and better results in half the time. Just do it, you won’t regret it.

 

[jmorris]

Usually around 300 pieces of pistol brass:
357, 45ACP, 30 Carbine, 45 Colt.

If you don’t already lube or do not wish to start, you might be less than happy with the squeaky clean inside and out, brass.

I have won more pistol matches using brass that had dirty primer pockets (I assume because the primer was removed at station 1 and replaced by a new one before I could look at it) to know that it’s not on the list of things that matter. I still have two wet pin tumblers though as well as ultrasonic, walnut and corncob ones too. The walnut one doesn’t get used much anymore though.

 

[jski]

If you don’t already lube or do not wish to start, you might be less than happy with the squeaky clean inside and out, brass.

I have won more pistol matches using brass that had dirty primer pockets (I assume because the primer was removed at station 1 and replaced by a new one before I could look at it) to know that it’s not on the list of things that matter. I still have two wet pin tumblers though as well as ultrasonic, walnut and corncob ones too. The walnut one doesn’t get used much anymore though.

Well, I gave my son-in-law my dry tumbler, so I definitely need a replacement.

I’ve been reading glowing reviews of the wet tumblers for quite awhile, as a result I’ve decided to go with that alternative.

 

[Highland Lofts]

Well, I gave my son-in-law my dry tumbler, so I definitely need a replacement.

I’ve been reading glowing reviews of the wet tumblers for quite awhile, as a result I’ve decided to go with that alternative.

This will be money well spent.