Tumbler question

[rd2play]

I've been very happy with the Cabelas model 400, but I think I messed it up and am looking for a replacement.

I believe that last time I put too many cases in it and during tumbling they scratched off the plastic container in which they tumble. There was a very fine green powder all over inside there (the plastic container is green), and when I emptied it the bottom and sides were dull and quite rough.

I guess at this point any further use of it will just scratch off more of the plastic. (Needless to say, the cases were clean of dirt, but covered in this very fine green plastic powder).

Now I know not to overload the tumbler again, but are there any other tumblers who wouldn't do this? But then... I guess that any tumbler that has a plastic container can be scratched off it overloaded. Probably the solution is not to overload it... (And get another Cabelas, since I don't think they sell only the replacement container).

[AAShooter]

What media are you using?

[rd2play]

Corn cob (from Cabelas). This is my setup: http://www.cabelas.com/tumblers-scal...er-kit-1.shtml

[morrow]

Is the plastic container just scratched a bit? Wipe it clean, throw in new media, and keep using it! ...just don't overload it anymore!

If you're looking for a bigger and better vibrator tumbler Dillon makes very good quality ones.

[XDRoX]

I've never heard of over loading a tumbler and doing damage to it. I overload mine all the time.

Are you sure you damaged it? Why can't you just wipe it clean and start fresh?

Is it painted on the inside? If not I'm sure it's fine. Every couple of months I have to empty mine and fill it with paint thinner and let it soak. It loosens all the crap and I clean it out.

[rd2play]

I think it's scratched more than just a bit. But that's what I did anyway... I wiped it, put in new media, put in some clean cases and now it's tumbling. Tomorrow morning if the media is green, it means it keeps eating at the plastic. If it's clean, I'm fine.

[XDRoX]

You tumble over night? That's a long time time. Usually after 3 hours nothing more really happens.

[rd2play]

To clarify, the shiny, "slippery" layer of plastic is gone for good. No matter how much I wipe it, it remains dull and a little rough.

[XDRoX]

To clarify, the shiny, "slippery" layer of plastic is gone for good. No matter how much I wipe it, it remains dull and a little rough.

I'm sure it's fine. My bet is it will still clean brass just fine.

[rd2play]

I'm sure it will clean the brass of dirt, but hopefully not grind at the plastic. That very fine plastic powder is now all over the cases.

[XDRoX]

I'm sure it will clean the brass of dirt, but hopefully not grind at the plastic. That very fine plastic powder is now all over the cases.

Very strange. I've never heard of that. Are you using dryer sheets? The dryer sheets will obsorb all the dust. They're like dust magnets. Your media will last 10 times longer and your brass will come out smelling downy fresh. It really does make the brass smell really nice.

[lpspinner]

What about replacing the bowl?

If you do decide to get another tumbler, go with RCBS, mine is over 15 years old and they're still replacing parts for me. In fact, I once asked for a new lid, they sent me a complete bowl with a new lid and a swifter lid.

I still use this for the small batches....otherwise, I use my big Dillons.

[rd2play]

At this point I must apologize for the false alarm.

I ran the tumbler for about two hours and the media was still clean at the end. I figured, great, even if the bowl is scratched, it looks like I can still use it. When I looked at the bowl itself... there were absolutely no scratches. None. It was all nice, shiny plastic

I have absolutely no clue what that very fine green dust was, and why I wasn't able to remove it from the bowl. Many of those cases I picked from an outdoor range, so maybe there was some kind of stuff in the cases that had been lying on the ground for a while. I don't know... it was such a sticky dust that just wouldn't come off. It really looked like the bowl was damaged. Well... I'm happy I have my tumbler back, I have about 600 cases of 45 to clean.