Quiet Vibratory Cleaner

[GJeffB]

Some time ago I (sadly) disposed of all my reloading equipment. I know. I just thought I was done at the time. One thing that went was an RCBS vibratory case cleaner. The only thing I didn't like was it was LOUD. I SAID LOUD.


So now I'm resupplying. I want a case cleaner that is inexpensive (<$100), effective, and quiet. Wet tumblers are not in consideration. Generally, rotary tumblers are either out of the price range or 90 day wonders. So I'm pretty much shopping vibratory cleaners (I just can't call them "tumblers"). Which brings us to a two part question:


a. any suggestions as to the quietest vibratory cleaner that meets the parameters? and

b. if not, has anybody had success with noise suppressors (not "silencers")? I'm thinking encasing the cleaner; adding cheap pillows, towels, etc. I understand adding some type of mat to limit walking ...


As usual, I guess there is "inexpensive, effective and quiet. Pick any two."


-jb, x-posting as usual

 

[burrhead]

I have a Lyman that's out lived my expectation and it's plenty load. I put it outside when I use it.

 

[Riomouse911]

My Frankfort Arsenal vibratory cleaner from a Midway is pretty quiet, but it’s the only one I have experience with so I can’t judge it against others. I will say it is louder when it’s full of brass rattling against each other.

I run mine in the attached garage so I can’t hear it in the house at all.

Stay safe.

 

[GJeffB]

Burrhead said

I have a Lyman that's out lived my expectation and it's plenty load. I put it outside when I use it.

That's my issue. Where I live 4-5 months are sub-freezing.

Riomouse911 commented

Frankfort Arsenal vibratory cleaner from a Midway is pretty quiet

Thanks, that's my #1 choice. Looking back, it's a tough question. Not many have had 15-20 cleaners to compare, right?

-jb

 

[Project355]

Got a Lyman Pro 1200, LOUD, but made a new lid from Hobby-Lobby 10" craft circles and Amazon neoprene sheet. Purrs like a kitten now. Was under $10 for wood circles, neoprene, a T-nut, a washer....

 

[Cypress]

Be careful over insulating an electric motor. They need to be able to stay cool and will burn up or burn your house down if they are run smothered in blankets.

 

[ms6852]

I have the Lyman Turbo twin tumbler. To me it seems quiet but I did spent several years in artillery, so you can take it with a grain of salt. I like that it has two bowls a small and a large one.

 

[drband]

Berry’s makes a nice vibratory tumbler that’s very quiet. If I remember correctly, they also make the Cabela’s brand tumbler.

 

[dcarr]

Be careful over insulating an electric motor. They need to be able to stay cool and will burn up or burn your house down if they are run smothered in blankets.

quite likely, serious

 

[PWC]

I have a Cabelas cleaner, 20 yrs now; once while in use in Phoenix hot garage, the screw holding one rubber motor isolater mount got hot and pulled out of it's plastrc boss. Patched in a piece of sheet metal, drilled 1/4" holes around motor housing, ran quiet and cool. No more heat problems.

Eventually, clear plastic top began to rattle because when not in use I screwed lid down tight. Plastic took a "set" and began to rattle again. Ran a silicone bead around under top edge; quiet again. Now when I finish, I invert the lid so the "set" will work to tighten the fit when in use.

 

[Laggy]

Frankford Arsenal vibratory tumbler. Pretty quiet. In a garage or outside a back door. Never walks.

 

[edwardware]

I second @drband . My Berry's is ~ half as loud as the Frankfort. I still don't set it up in the shop, but it's not bothersome from the other room.

 

[lordpaxman]

Frankford Arsenal vibratory tumbler. Pretty quiet. In a garage or outside a back door. Never walks.

Ditto. I only had it for a short time before my son got it, but it was quieter than the Hornady version. It worked well, well, as good as vibratory can vs wet tumbling . I inverted a large plastic garbage can over the whole setup and that allowed some air flow as well as blocking some of the noise. The garbage can now goes over the wet tumbler. Good luck!

 

[forty_caliber]

I second @drband . My Berry's is ~ half as loud as the Frankfort. I still don't set it up in the shop, but it's not bothersome from the other room.

Another vote for the Berry's Tumbler. Sadly, Brownells is showing that they have been discontinued.

.40

 

[drband]

Another vote for the Berry's Tumbler. Sadly, Brownells is showing that they have been discontinued.

.40

Berrys website indicates sold out for the standard tumbler. They do still have in stock their tumbler with detachable bowl. https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/ber-qd-500-vib-tumbler-110v
I have not see this product before but it looks solid.

 

[irishlad]

My Thumler ultra vibe is very quiet.

 

[GJeffB]

Thank you all for the input. Franklin Arsenal was #1 on my list. I've heard (no pun intended) a lot of good about Berry's but seems unavailable.

Project355, I think I remember your home solution posted before. That's a likely fix. Several others suggested trying to deaden the sound is likely a bad idea, I now concur

If I snag one, I'll report back the answer to the question. Thanks for saving me some mistakes

-jb

 

[buddyd157]

could you just build a box, either wooden or cardboard, and line it with Styrofoam insulation, and cover the vibrator, to keep it quiet?

 

[Riomouse911]

could you just build a box, either wooden or cardboard, and line it with Styrofoam insulation, and cover the vibrator, to keep it quiet?

You can, but if it gets too hot inside the box it may overheat and cook the motor. If you vent it somehow it could work well to keep the noise down.

Stay safe.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Black Friday is coming, Id wait till then.

 

[Rule3]

Quiet, reliable and inexpensive do not usually go together. Unless you buy a Thumler, they are all made with China motors.
Other than that they are all pretty much the same.

Do not enclose it in any way. It will heat up!

Do not buy one with the sifter or slotted lid

https://www.midwayusa.com/case-tumb...C%7Cp_metric_sales_velocity%7C1&Ntpc=1&Ntpr=1

 

[dh1633pm]

Sound is very subjective. What is quiet for one, is noisy for another.

 

[LiveLife]

any suggestions as to the quietest vibratory cleaner that meets the parameters?

My recommendation would be Berry's 400 vibratory tumbler with 1000 9mm case capacity. Other than the motor, made in USA with lifetime warranty on plastics.

While I typically load with 600-800 9mm cases to speed up the cleaning action, it is by far the quietest vibratory tumbler I have heard/used.

In comparison, old and new FA vibratory tumblers are downright noisy with smaller capacity.

Sound is very subjective. What is quiet for one, is noisy for another.

True.

As a reference, wife and I can carry on a conversation with Berry's tumbler running. With FA tumbler, we need to leave the garage/patio to hear each other.

 

[LiveLife]

Another vote for the Berry's Tumbler. Sadly, Brownells is showing that they have been discontinued.

No. No. The "KIT" is discontinued, not the vibratory tumbler - https://www.brownells.com/reloading.../tumbler-pan-media-sifter-kit-prod122008.aspx

No such mention on Berry's website (Maybe they are migrating over to detachable bowl model but still no mention) - https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/model-400

And for $49 + $7.99 shipping in stock - https://www.scheels.com/p/berrys-mo...I5UUCtkM999klYdd7hCXESqDbSumjmmIaAo1OEALw_wcB

Model with detachable bowl for $59 + free shipping - https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/cab...cIbKgv51UNgj0kQQEjwaAgrIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[George P]

Thumbler's Tumbler is extremely quiet; I sometimes forget to turn it off, it is that quiet.