Reloading Bench Review: RCBS Vibratory Case Polisher

[@asullivan50i]

Thanks for not wasting anyones time with showing us how to open a box. A considerate man such as yourself must be from the Texas panhandle.

[@chrisp7277]

We appreciate the accelerated QC testing you do for our benefit

[@SteveKluver]

Thank you, for this review. The part I appreciated the most, was you showing us it running, while open. That's a big help. My Lyman, rotates the media in a circle, rather than in a rolling motion, like this one. This is how it should be.

[@betopatino5114]

Thank you for doing those tests to the RCBS Vibratory Case Tumbler. This is the kind of thing I look for before making an investment. RCBS makes good products and so far all of the RCBS equipment that I have is running good and it's been a couple of years now. Keep up the good work

[@tomcooke6670]

Sam. Thanks for not wasting my time showing how you take it out of the box

[@carlosjavieruhlmann]

RCBS makes good stuff and this definitely looks it can handle a big load, as you have demonstrated. I have one that I bought from Dillon Reloading and it has performed well. What i've noticed is that the key to getting the brass clean and shiny depends to a large degree in changing the media often, more so than the type of media or the efficiency of the tumbler. I greatly appreciate the matter-of-fact, straightforward and honest way in which you review products and explain things. Alas! if politicians were like that this would be a different world!!! Thanks !

[@dreadsdomain]

this is my type of unboxing. Again, you are the man!

[@luvtahandload7948]

I bought my first RCBS Vibratory Tumbler about 25 years ago. Still have it, still working good. About 10 years ago, I decided I needed another one. I like keeping new media in one for cleaning fired cases and one with older media for removing lube after sizing. By rotating the media like that I get more use out of it. Every once in a while, I'll add a rejuvenator for additional longevity. I will also put in a dryer softener sheet to remove dust between batches (every 5th batch or so). FWIW, I wont be bothered with wet tumbling with stainless pins. I do have a couple (large and small) of sonic cleaners so I'm not against wet brass. It's easy enough to line 'em all up the same way and put a fan on them overnight.

[@PanhandlePrecision]

I do kind of the same thing for nasty pistol and carbine brass. I just use two different buckets of media: one for the junk, and one for the "nice" brass.

[@KC-7mm]

Sam just wanted to say I really enjoy your videos I've been reloading for a long time and very passionate about long range hunting and shooting by no means and expert it's nice to see no bs real world reviews and educational videos thanks you for putting things in a different perspective I've learned a lot so far can't wait for your review on the leica 2700 rangefinder

[@barryradford6151]

Hi Sam another great informative video I use a wet tumbler with stainless pins they come out very clean also have a media tumbler don’t use it that often because it’s annoying when the media gets stuck in the flash hole and you have to pick every case out with a needle great vids cheers Barry from uk

[@MikeSessler]

I like the idea of hot gluing the washer. Will be stealing that. I also went to the home center and picked up a larger plastic wing nut. It's similar to what you'd see on shop jigs and fixtures, or T-track. Makes it easier to screw the lid down.

[@luvtahandload7948]

I have a round, smooth "nut" that I think I got from Sinclair. It has a spring-loaded button on the side that you push in and can then pull right off the bolt or push back on easily. Then release the button and you can give it twist to tighten it. Works pretty slick. Very fast.

[@kenjr9396]

I used to have one of these, lasted about 3 years and the motor gave up, warranty was void, new motor was not available.I believe they might have improved the newer ones though. I bought a Frankfurt Arsenal wet tumbler, I like that one a lot better, the stainless steel media cleans out the primer pockets so you don`t have to mess with them, holds 1000 pieces of .223 brass. I guess I don`t know how long it will last, but I don`t think I`ll ever go back to the RCBS. Just my nickels worth!

[@GARDENER42]

I have both, with the RCBS being 9 or 10 years old & still going strong after multiple loads. The Frankford wet/ss media tumbler is half that age but has run WAY more brass (8,000 7.62x51, 11,000 5.56x45, 30,000 .45 ACP, 20,000+ .38spl/357mag & several loads of .45colt, .44spl/mag) & still going strong. Wet tumbling with stainless media is WAY more effective on most brass, with primer pockets & case interiors near on clean as new but it's too time consuming for 100 22-250 or .243 cases & those smaller loads go in the RCBS.

[@loganburns385]

I work out of town a lot so it’s nothing for me to gone for days at a time. I’ve had one of these and a Lyman for every bit of 7 years. I have them both hooked up to one of those timers set to run 2 on and 4 off. Before I leave I’ll turn them on and have super clean shiny brass waiting on me when I get home. I’ve had them both filled with .338 LM and they don’t miss a beat. Both are great tumblers. That removable cord is definitely an upgrade. Love the videos. Why does it always look so cold outside your window?

[@mrstan3997]

Hey Sam, great review and testing method. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@COBRAWILLY05]

I use a Frankfort Arsenal wet tumbler and I love them

[@thompsonjerry3412]

Willy Rempel no dust, much cleaner brass.

[@GARDENER42]

I have one too, which I use for full loads of pistol & 7.62x51 but if I have say, 100 22-250 cases, I put them in my small, RCBS vibratory tumbler. The latter isn't a patch on the wet tumbler but for small batches, it suffices.

[@FirearmTutorials]

Living in Florida, this thing was in my garage. Summer temps around 90-100. This thing died in 2 weeks. They sent me a new one, that one lasted 5 weeks. Switched to wet tumbler...

[@PanhandlePrecision]

Thanks for the input. When was that?

[@GARDENER42]

Top tips for vibratory tumblers: Fill them to capacity volume wise & preferably weight too, as they do a better job faster when full. If using walnut (I don't use corncob so can't comment) & it gets grey & full of residue & dust, then put it in a bucket, add water & give it a good wash, then drain through a VERY fine sieve, rinse & repeat. I do this in the summer & place the wet media on trays in the sun to dry but if the weather's not good (& you can get away with it...) a fan oven with the heat set at its lowest & the door cracked open will do the drying. Heck, I'm on the same walnut as I started with back in 2010...

[@rickrydalch6373]

I have one of these my issue is there is a media dust on the cases and media stuck in the case flash hole. After watching your videos i see that you dont clean the brass after you tumble them. Am i doung somthing wrong or is my media bad? I went to a different style of tumbler due to this. Do i need to get the media dust off the case? Can you advise me. I feel i spend to much time wiping the brass after tumbling.

[@tiaanvermeulen]

HI Sam, love your work. i have a question please. if i recall correctly in one of your videos you dry tumbled your brass between prep and reloading to clean them up again. I wet tumble, but i find the brass gets dirty and looks terrible after the prep procedure. is it ok to dry tumble after prep and before reloading without affecting any accuracy? if it is ok, how long do you tumble for, what media? and should i run the expander die after the dry tumble should i introduce this step into my reloading procedure?

[@Miguel-re2hv]

What do you add to the media as polisher? We now have problems, for instance, to get Dillon Polisher in Europe. Thank you

[@joecizin9357]

Thats a good looking Box, . Help, Is it possable to seat a 230g bullet in a 300WM with a OAl of 3.55 (spec3.34) a BT of 2.90 and still not be touching the lands or .... now back to the vibrator.

[@jeffreydohl6036]

I used to use one but gave it to my son. It seemed like my brass was still dirty or had cob resido on them. I always ended up washing them in warm soapy water and rinsing them in hot water 4 or 5 times. Putting them on a cookie tray in the oven on 250 for 20 min s or so until they were dry.

[@macgyver5108]

Best part of the video, "here's the box it came in" *CHUCK!*😂🤣

[@francoisst-aubin432]

Hi Sam, I would like to know what you think about wet rotary tumbler using Stainless steel pins like JB was talking about. I heard the lemi shine used to polish the cases can make them more « fragile » and can crack under pressure. I personaly use a wet rotary tumbler for pistol cases (1000, 9mm at a time) but still use the good old vibratory tumbler for rifle brass (300, 6.5 or 45/70). Thanks, be safe.

[@alpha6five528]

Nice 👍. I use a 5 pound stainless steel media or ( rock tumbler) from harbor freight and it works awesome!! I was gonna go with dry media but you have to keep buying media. Stainless you don’t 👍. I don’t shoot as much as you do though Sam lol

[@kencurtis508]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@sidneywhite749]

As a newbie I want to ask did you say you deprime first before cleaning, do you deprime on your press?

[@mikecarlson6083]

What corn cob brand or where do you get some? Use walnut shells now from pet store

[@PanhandlePrecision]

This is what I use: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063GT330/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@garytree7729]

That's the best unboxing I've ever seen...!!!! Just being nosey but do you have a day job or is this your day job...?! Regards from the UK....!

[@mikecarlson6083]

Looks cool

[@halfdollar86]

Panhandle precision, have you ever used other ways to clean brass. I’m in the market for a way to clean brass. The affordability of dry tumblers is attractive. The effectiveness of wet tumbling Is attractive too. What do you think is the best way to clean precision brass? Will the stainless pins hurt my brass?

[@PanhandlePrecision]

Halfdollar 86 I have no idea, but I have zero interest in dealing with wet brass, nor do I care if the interior of the case looks new. I might try the pins someday, but not because I’m dissatisfied with what I’m using now.

[@halfdollar86]

The MEC marksman is popping up in lots of places. Hope I didn’t mess up by getting the Rock Chucker. The Rock chucker is a proven press so I know I didn’t mess up but I just hope I spent my money wisely is what I should of said. The MEC has got my attention.

[@walterpalmer2749]

Without for the graboids when you use it.

[@mrmike1183]

damn man i was thinking about that movie when i saw the brass tumbling

[@larryzapotocky1363]

Thanks for the hilarious comment on “unboxing!” 😂

[@baer4547]

Nothing beats DILLON except Thumblers Tumblers...night and day to all other brands...had them all...

[@douglasbarnes3506]

I had one that gave up the ghost after about twenty uses.

[@rene3261]

good product, I got mine for like 6 years or so. dont fill it mor like 60-70% Seperate media with a different product like the DAA Shellsorter

[@sidneywhite749]

Nice to see

[@neilharris4462]

Great review. If my Lyman ever dies, this looks like a good replacement. I can't help but notice the MEC press in the background. Review on that soon??

[@PanhandlePrecision]

The MEC Marksman is the next review. I was working on them both at the same time.

[@markahdz]

Panhandle Precision I been using mec marksman with great results, a friend and I compared run out between Forster co ax and Mec and they were exactly the same .001 thou, one thing I did with my mec was install a hornady kit bushing so I can swap dies in matter of seconds.

[@762gunr]

I add NuFinish to my media. Available at Bimart.

[@Johnyrocket70]

who buys those dusty machines anymore. stainless steel media lasts forever.

[@torreyintahoe]

most people.

[@Siuuuuuu88]

*impressed with quality. my unit came 🔎🔍 **allabout.wiki/Lyman** with a pound or so of what looks like stainless steel shot and more importantly a spare o-ring for the access hatch and a toothed-belt for the motor-drum drive. Nice touch.the drum and base are both larger than I expected and heavy.the materials and build quality seem good to very good.it's been running on the slowest speed for the last couple of hours with2 pounds or so of my steel parts to be deburred,4 pounds or so of 1" ceramic stars andwater with a little bit of dawn soapfilled to 1/2 the drum volume.I weighed the drum half filled with the previous mentioned items and it came out a little under 9 **pounds.like**: I like the way the drum hatch gets locked.the robustness of the build and motor.con: no instructions that I can see on how to work the base dials/controls, but I got it running by just turning the knobs.grin.not sure if the timer is on or what the 1/0 switch does (it's not on/off to the motor), timer use maybe ??I'll have another look in the box for the instructions or maybe on line .... this is not a big enough of an issue to take rating stars off my initial 5 star rating.update 10.1.2017: ran it 24hrs/day for 4 days straight with 4 different batches of parts and it worked without issues. My a36 steel parts came out as expected with a nice even finish.BTW not mentioned but as I state in the previous line, I've been running it without a 'timer' limit. I suspect the '1/0' switch when switched to '0' disables the timer ... however I got it to work this way, it's the way I wanted, so I can run it overnight without a 3hr reset of the timer.*

[@Dillon1791]

Tremors brought me here