Welcome everyone to the TFB Armorer’s Bench! As mentioned in the little blurb, this series will focus on a lot of home armorer and gunsmith activities. In this article sponsored by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal, I decided to take a closer look at the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator. Recently, as you may well know, I have been working with a few of the reloading products that Frankford Arsenal offers. Most recently it was their Rotary Tumbler Lite which was a humbling experience, and in the end, an enjoyable process. That being said, this accessory to that vary product was part of it being enjoyable. The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator is a quality of life tool and I am excited to break it down below. Let’s dive right into the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator!
TFB Armorer’s Bench: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator
Welcome to our recurring series of Armorer’s Bench which is made possible and brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal who are our sponsors. Here, we at TFB hope to inform, entertain, and even inspire any would-be gunsmith or armorer out there. Ideally, with the information I provide and with the help of our sponsors, you can have some useful knowledge pertaining to the conservation and improvement of firearms technology while at the same time sharing experiences and teaching each other new tips and tricks along the way in the comments. Digging deep into what it is to be an armorer or gunsmith has significance but what is important is what those people do to show they’ve earned that title. I am happy to share my experiences and knowledge and hope it is informative!
Make your personal safety a priority:
- Practice proper gun safety. Always make sure before the firearm hits your bench that it is unloaded and safe to be handled.
- Wear the proper safety equipment. The main one would be safety glasses (decent ones) since parts are often under spring tension and you may work with high RPM tools. Other honorable mentions would be latex gloves or a respirator when working with potentially harmful solvents and oils. Also hearing protection when working with loud machinery or test-firing firearms.
- Modifications, alterations, and customizations will void your firearm’s warranty 9.5 times out of 10. Please take that into consideration before attempting any at-home gunsmithing.
- If you are unsure about proper safety practices, disassembly procedures, or warranty standards, stop, put down the tools, and consult a competent gunsmith.
Brief Overview: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator is one of few media separation tools that Frankford Arsenal offers. It is the Platinum Series of the bunch which in terms of their offerings usually means that this is the best. They also offer a Quick-N-EZ separator which uses the same spherical cage this one does but is paired with a five-gallon bucket.
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator is a smart and well-made design. It utilizes a spherical cage that would act as a sifter. The cage can be rotated aiding in all loose media trapped in casings to shake loose. One of the tubs has a built-in drain for any liquids used while wet tumbling but it also has netting to prevent any stainless pins from being lost. The sifting cage has a rubber latch to prevent the cage from opening.
I Broke It: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator
Okay, so the heading is a bit misleading. I make it a point to be open and transparent about my experience with this stuff and this one ended up being a victim of my impatience. I read the manual and assembled the separator because it does come relatively disassembled. Once I had it all together, I attempted to open the rubber latch to open the spherical cage and I ended up breaking off a chunk of plastic.
This small stick of plastic is meant to prevent the rubber latch from falling off of the spherical sifter. By pulling outwards (admittedly rather impatiently) the plastic snapped. Fortunately, this does not affect the function of this tool beyond the latch being removable while the sifter is open. Otherwise, while it is in the closed and locked position, the rubber latch holds itself in via friction and spring tension.
I have no recommendation on how to improve this nor do I know if it is something that actually does need to be improved. It felt cheapish at that moment but I also was not very gentle with it. Hard to say but there you go, full disclosure.
Specifications and Highlights: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator’s current MSRP sits at $59.99. I think this is plenty fair for what you get in its flexibility between wet and dry tumbling media. I can see myself using it for more than just separating wet and dry tumbling media. Usually, when I pick up brass at the range for example there are all kinds of rocks, sand, and even 22 shells caught inside larger shell casings. The aggressive method of sifting knocks the stuff loose pretty well.
- Ideal For Both Wet And Dry Cleaning Processes
- Perforated Sifter Allows Media To Fall Through While Retaining Cleaned Brass
- Includes Two Sifting Handles For Ambidextrous Use
- Rugged Rubber Latch Keeps Sifter Closed Even With Heavy Loads Of Brass And Media
- Spill Proof Tub Fully Captures Water, Dry Media And Stainless Steep Pins
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator is perfect for separating the stainless steel pins from your brass after rotary tumbling.
Closing Thoughts: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator
In conclusion, I think this wet/dry media separator is a handy tool. It’s a little bulky and can be unwieldy if you are moving it around on the fly. The tub(s) construction seems to be of quality stock. The spherical cage is a great idea although it does feel like it was meant for something else. My guess is it was made for the cheaper Quick-N-EZ separator before this one. The design of the hinge and locking system could be simplified to prevent breakage by apes like me. Overall, I like it very much and would be lost without it while working with the Rotary Tumbler Lite. Excellent quality of life tool even if it could use some re-engineering on some small aspects.
As always, thank you for reading TFB! Be safe out there, have fun while shooting, and we will see you next time for the TFB Armorer’s Bench brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal! Also, let us know what you think in the comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
Caldwell Pro Range Glasses, Clear
The Caldwell® Pro Range Glasses feature a stylish wrap-around design and are a great choice for all shooters. They feature an adjustable nose piece and temples for all day comfort. The scratch resistant lens meets ANSI Z87.1 standards and offers 99.9% UV protection.
Frankford Arsenal® Rotary Case Tumbler Lite
The Frankford Arsenal® Rotary Case Tumbler Lite is the compact version of the Platinum Series Rotary Tumbler. This tumbler can hold up to 300 pieces of .223 brass. The Rotary Tumbler Lite is especially great for reloading specialty cartridges and lower volume. One of the best features is its maintenance free, direct drive electric motor. The leak proof cap is clear to allow you to check up on the tumbling action while keeping your reloading area clean and dry. Frankford Arsenal®’s proprietary Rotary Tumbler Lite delivers unmatched accuracy at the bench and in the field.
Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator is perfect for separating the stainless steel pins from your brass after rotary tumbling.
Wheeler Universal Bench Block
Made of non-marring urethane, the Universal Pistol Bench Block is perfect for use on M1911 pistols as well as other firearms such as 10/22s.
STAINLESS STEEL TUMBLING MEDIA
The Magnetic Stainless Steel Tumbling Pins are designed to clean brass cases giving a “like new” look. Unlike other media like corn cob or walnut, stainless steel doesn’t create dust and also cleans the inside of cases, primer pockets, and flash holes. Stainless steel also doesn’t damage brass and lasts for multiple uses.
Tipton POWER SWABS – PISTOL CLEANING KIT, 500 COUNT
Tipton’s new Power Swabs are an essential part of your cleaning kit. They’re disposable, fast, and easy to use, plus they provide no-mess cleaning with all your favorite solvents and oils. They also fit lands and grooves better than a patch for maximum cleaning.