I use the Cabela's separator: I tried the sieve method once then went back and got the separator. I think they are all made by the same factory in China and just poured with different colors for the individual brands...well worth 30 bucks for the saved time, IMO.
The aforementioned "lotto spinner" works for me. You will always have a few remnants in the clean brass, even after running it through the spinner, but this device is a tremendous time saver.
i currently use a colander that i stole from my wifes kitchen cabinet. it gets most of the media out, but since i mostly do 223 cases, you still have to make sure each case is empty. this is my way and i am not recommending it as the fastest and cleanest way.
not to hijack the thread, but what i want to know from you guys that use the rotating separators is, do they actually get all of the media out of the cases or do you still end up dumping each case?
With pistol brass the only time I had media stuck in the cases was the first run when I got zesty with the amount of polish in the media. Otherwise, there's never anything in there (but I look anyway). It should be noted that I deprime after tumbling, so I can't vouch for whether the lottery spinner is good for getting media out of the primer pocket.
$1.98 plastic tub and $2.49 plastic colander from Wal-Mart. Dump media into colander and it drains into plastic tub. shake and pull cases out. dump media back into tumbler.
The top of my Lyman Turbo Tumbler has a built in sifter - and is the same circumference of a 3 gallon bucket. So after removing power and with the lid on tight, I slowly pour/flip the tumbler into the bucket. When it's completely upside-down on the bucket it fits perfectly - then a rigorous shaking, more so with small rifle brass, and presto - no more media.
I've used the Berry's fully enclosed sifter since they first came out with it quite a few years ago. And it's made in the USA, right there in St. George, Utah.
For anyone that is considering buying a new tumbler, here is a tumbler that makes separating the tumbling media from the brass easy.
The Lyman Turbo 1200 Auto-Flow, or the Lyman Turbo 2200 Auto-Flow.
Once you have finished tumbling the brass, you just pull the rubber plug on the side of the tumbler, and turn it on. As it vibrates, all the media flows into the media drain pan (included), and leaves nothing but the clean brass left in the tumbler.
Similar deal for me. Plastic bucket that lets the Lyman lid sifter fit down inside and I have a gallon ice cream bucket in the bottom, dump tumbler, shake, and it doesn't take long, and it was $1.98 or something like that.
I use a litter box with a nested strainer. Picked it up at the dollar store and it works great for this. After lifting the strainer a few inches I swirl the hole thing a few seconds until the cases are empty. Dump the cases out of the strainer and the media back into the tumbler and I'm done.
I use my brass sorter over a 3gal bucket to catch the media. Just don't over fill it and it works very good. I have the sifting bowls too but prefer the sorter.
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