Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite
The Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite is an entry-level wet rotary designed for reloaders who need an affordable, compact solution for small to moderate batches of brass. It holds its position as the budget-friendly, space-saving option on this list—cheaper and easier to store than the Platinum Series and Thumler's Model B—while delivering cleaner results than hand tumbling, though it trades off the heavy-duty motor life and larger capacity found in premium units and still benefits from a dedicated media separator like the RCBS.
Ultra-light portability
Gentle polish — zen
Ultra-light portability
Gentle polish — zen
Review Summary
"Users generally find the Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite to be a good budget entry-level rotary wet tumbler that cleans brass well for the price, though its small capacity and louder motor compared to higher-end units are noted by long-term users. Owners praise the value but some report wear on the drive components after heavy use."
Whisper-quiet — stealthy
Compact rotary drum sized for small-to-medium wet polishing loads, suitable for routine brass cleaning.
Whisper-quiet — stealthy
Compact rotary drum sized for small-to-medium wet polishing loads, suitable for routine brass cleaning.
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
The Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite is an entry-level wet rotary designed for reloaders who need an affordable, compact solution for small to moderate batches of brass. It holds its position as the budget-friendly, space-saving option on this list—cheaper and easier to store than the Platinum Series and Thumler's Model B—while delivering cleaner results than hand tumbling, though it trades off the heavy-duty motor life and larger capacity found in premium units and still benefits from a dedicated media separator like the RCBS.
Ultra-light portability
Gentle polish — zen
Whisper-quiet — stealthy
Compact rotary drum sized for small-to-medium wet polishing loads, suitable for routine brass cleaning.
Quiet motor and slow rotational speed provide gentle, consistent tumbling to protect case integrity.
Ultra-light portability
Gentle polish — zen
Whisper-quiet — stealthy
Compact rotary drum sized for small-to-medium wet polishing loads, suitable for routine brass cleaning.
Quiet motor and slow rotational speed provide gentle, consistent tumbling to protect case integrity.
Lyman Cyclone Rotary Tumbler
The Lyman Cyclone Rotary Tumbler occupies the mid-range spot with a balance of build quality, capacity and run-time reliability that appeals to serious hobbyists who want more than an entry model without stepping up to classic industrial gear. Compared with the Frankford Lite it offers greater durability and throughput, and while it can approach the price of the Frankford Platinum or Thumler's Model B, it frequently undercuts those premium choices on cost-per-tumble; like all wet tumblers on this list, its workflow is best completed with an RCBS-style media separator for fast cleanup.
High-capacity — crowd-fed
Cyclone-fast cleaning
High-capacity — crowd-fed
Cyclone-fast cleaning
Review Summary
"The Lyman Cyclone Rotary Tumbler is widely praised for its robust construction, quiet operation, and consistent, fast polishing; frequent users appreciate the durable motor and higher capacity for regular reloading. Most experienced reloaders consider it a reliable workhorse with minimal maintenance issues over time."
Tank-like durability
Large, heavy-duty drum and robust motor built for high-volume wet tumbling of many cases per cycle.
Tank-like durability
Large, heavy-duty drum and robust motor built for high-volume wet tumbling of many cases per cycle.
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
Recreational Enjoyment
The Lyman Cyclone Rotary Tumbler occupies the mid-range spot with a balance of build quality, capacity and run-time reliability that appeals to serious hobbyists who want more than an entry model without stepping up to classic industrial gear. Compared with the Frankford Lite it offers greater durability and throughput, and while it can approach the price of the Frankford Platinum or Thumler's Model B, it frequently undercuts those premium choices on cost-per-tumble; like all wet tumblers on this list, its workflow is best completed with an RCBS-style media separator for fast cleanup.
High-capacity — crowd-fed
Cyclone-fast cleaning
Tank-like durability
Large, heavy-duty drum and robust motor built for high-volume wet tumbling of many cases per cycle.
Sturdy construction with vibration-damping mounts and variable speed for controlled, efficient polishing.
High-capacity — crowd-fed
Cyclone-fast cleaning
Tank-like durability
Large, heavy-duty drum and robust motor built for high-volume wet tumbling of many cases per cycle.
Sturdy construction with vibration-damping mounts and variable speed for controlled, efficient polishing.
Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Tumbler
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Tumbler is the brand's premium wet-tumbling option, providing larger capacity, a more robust motor and refined controls for extended continuous runs—making it ideal for high-volume reloaders who want modern features without moving to older industrial units. It outperforms the Lite in durability and feature set and often offers a better modern-feature-to-price ratio than the Thumler's Model B, though users pairing heavy wet use should still rely on an RCBS separator to speed media removal and protect the tumbler over time.
Silky-quiet operation
Digital controls — posh
Silky-quiet operation
Digital controls — posh
Review Summary
"The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Tumbler is viewed as a step up from the Lite with better build quality, smoother operation, and larger capacity, delivering very good results in extended use; a minority of users report occasional motor or belt concerns after heavy cycles. Overall it’s considered a strong mid-range choice for consistent brass cleaning."
Stainless finish — bling
High-torque motor and precision-balanced drum deliver low-vibration, consistent wet polishing results.
Stainless finish — bling
High-torque motor and precision-balanced drum deliver low-vibration, consistent wet polishing results.
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
Recreational Enjoyment
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Tumbler is the brand's premium wet-tumbling option, providing larger capacity, a more robust motor and refined controls for extended continuous runs—making it ideal for high-volume reloaders who want modern features without moving to older industrial units. It outperforms the Lite in durability and feature set and often offers a better modern-feature-to-price ratio than the Thumler's Model B, though users pairing heavy wet use should still rely on an RCBS separator to speed media removal and protect the tumbler over time.
Silky-quiet operation
Digital controls — posh
Stainless finish — bling
High-torque motor and precision-balanced drum deliver low-vibration, consistent wet polishing results.
Advanced sealing and drainage system paired with included polishing media and accessories for turnkey use.
Silky-quiet operation
Digital controls — posh
Stainless finish — bling
High-torque motor and precision-balanced drum deliver low-vibration, consistent wet polishing results.
Advanced sealing and drainage system paired with included polishing media and accessories for turnkey use.
Thumler's Tumbler Model B
Thumler's Tumbler Model B is the long-standing, heavy-duty rotary many workshops trust for repeated wet-media use; its simple, rugged construction and proven motor life make it a market leader for high-volume or shop environments. It typically requires a higher upfront investment than the Frankford Lite or Lyman Cyclone but rewards owners with durability and capacity that newer consumer units may not match, and it is commonly paired with an RCBS media separator to complete an efficient wet-tumbling workflow.
Proven reliability — old-school
Plug-and-run simplicity
Proven reliability — old-school
Plug-and-run simplicity
Review Summary
"Thumler's Tumbler Model B receives high marks from long-term users for its rugged, simple design, longevity, and excellent polishing results despite its smaller size; many reloaders report decades of trouble-free service. Its lower capacity is the main trade-off, but users value its proven reliability."
Workhorse barrel — rugged
Time-tested steel drum and dependable motor construction made for long service life in wet tumbling.
Workhorse barrel — rugged
Time-tested steel drum and dependable motor construction made for long service life in wet tumbling.
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
Thumler's Tumbler Model B is the long-standing, heavy-duty rotary many workshops trust for repeated wet-media use; its simple, rugged construction and proven motor life make it a market leader for high-volume or shop environments. It typically requires a higher upfront investment than the Frankford Lite or Lyman Cyclone but rewards owners with durability and capacity that newer consumer units may not match, and it is commonly paired with an RCBS media separator to complete an efficient wet-tumbling workflow.
Proven reliability — old-school
Plug-and-run simplicity
Workhorse barrel — rugged
Time-tested steel drum and dependable motor construction made for long service life in wet tumbling.
Straightforward mechanical design with removable barrel and drain plug for easy media changes and rinsing.
Proven reliability — old-school
Plug-and-run simplicity
Workhorse barrel — rugged
Time-tested steel drum and dependable motor construction made for long service life in wet tumbling.
Straightforward mechanical design with removable barrel and drain plug for easy media changes and rinsing.
RCBS Rotary Case Media Separator
The RCBS Rotary Case Media Separator is not a tumbler but the essential companion for wet tumbling: it rapidly and reliably separates abrasive media from cleaned brass, drastically reducing cleanup time and effort. As a market leader in media separation, it offers strong technical and financial value by shortening turnaround, reducing wear on premium tumblers (Frankford, Lyman, Thumler's) and streamlining the overall wet-tumbling process, making it nearly indispensable for anyone serious about efficient reloading brass maintenance.
Fast media separation — magic
Rock-solid construction
Fast media separation — magic
Rock-solid construction
Review Summary
"The RCBS Rotary Case Media Separator is commonly praised for speeding up the media separation and drying process and being well-suited to pairing with rotary tumblers, though some users mention it’s a bit pricey and bulky. Most customers find it effective and durable for frequent reloading workflows."
One-touch dump
Purpose-built separator that quickly separates polishing media from brass using a screened cone and rotation.
One-touch dump
Purpose-built separator that quickly separates polishing media from brass using a screened cone and rotation.
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
The RCBS Rotary Case Media Separator is not a tumbler but the essential companion for wet tumbling: it rapidly and reliably separates abrasive media from cleaned brass, drastically reducing cleanup time and effort. As a market leader in media separation, it offers strong technical and financial value by shortening turnaround, reducing wear on premium tumblers (Frankford, Lyman, Thumler's) and streamlining the overall wet-tumbling process, making it nearly indispensable for anyone serious about efficient reloading brass maintenance.
Fast media separation — magic
Rock-solid construction
One-touch dump
Purpose-built separator that quickly separates polishing media from brass using a screened cone and rotation.
Sturdy base and adjustable bucket height accept common wet tumbling barrel sizes for fast cleanup.
Fast media separation — magic
Rock-solid construction
One-touch dump
Purpose-built separator that quickly separates polishing media from brass using a screened cone and rotation.
Sturdy base and adjustable bucket height accept common wet tumbling barrel sizes for fast cleanup.
$160-240 CAD