I just did my first batch of 9 mm, and the separator was flawless, and I did not need the top half of the separator. I had an extra 5 gallon nylon mesh paint filter (elastic around the opening).

Here is what I did: (1) put 2 gallons of warm water (filtered water from the kitchen) with 2 x 1/4 teaspoon of Lemi-Shine in the bottom of the separator, (2) put the basket in the 5 gallon paint filter, (3) put the pins and brass in basket, locked the top and bottom of the basket together, and pulled the open end of the filter to the top of the basket, (4) put the filter-basket combo in the bottom half of the separator, (5) held the filter opening together across the top of the basket, and (6) rocked the basket back-and-forth about 20 degrees in each direction (no full rotations). Results: 100% of the pins were in the paint filter - that means none of the pins were in the bottom half of the separator.

I held the paint filter over the tumbler canister, turned the filter inside-out, and only 3 pins fell on the ground. I then drained the 2 gallons of water from the bottom of the separator, threw a wash cloth in the basket and locked the basket, put the basket with the brass and wash cloth in the bottom half of the separator, and did full rotations in the waterless bottom half of the separator. Took out the wash cloth and did the same with a second wash cloth, which became only partially wet. Not a single pin was in any of the 9mm cases - but remember 9mm are straight-wall cases. For my first try at cleaning brass cases by any method, I could not ask for more. Again, I never used the top of the separator.

I started wet tumbling almost two years ago, using a colander from Wal Mart and a bucket. The second thing I started doing was picking pins up off the floor. When I started this project, nobody warned me they bounce so well. A magnet is a must. When I found STM had one on sale, within driving distance (I can save shipping) of my delivery area I had to try one. And I'm here to tell you I am NOT disappointed. First load of 45 acp with the lid on, came out alone, second load I left the lid off and turned the drum slow to watch, and not one pin hit the floor. The only thing I can think of to make this a better product would be to make it out of stainless steel. (I am definitely NOT a fan of plastic) Admittedly, I haven't experienced any other products "Hands on". But after shopping around and reading the reviews of other products, I can say I haven't encounter any of the problems and gripes I read about. Get yourself a separator, a magnet and don't look back.

I am a 1000 yd i.b.s. shooter and have tried it all. this is one product a reloader can't afford to be without. The sonic cleaners can't hold a candle to this product. IT FLAT WORKS!!
Let me tell you about how they value there customers- i bought my s.s. media when they first came out several yrs ago but had a problem with the pins sticking in necks and flash holes. I heard they changed the size of the pins to fix this. When I contacted them they sent me the new media with out any cost. How much better does it get. Thanks STM for all you do for the shooting community. SWAMPTHANG

I had ordered a thumler model b from cabelas. I then came across the stm web site. That being said I went and ordered media and the media separator. the media separator is awesome. It is designed to be used with wet media. I unload and back up running in about ten minutes. currently doing about a thousand cases a day, just dinkin around. If your going use ss media do yourself a favor and spend $30.00 bucks and get this separator I promise you will be glad you did. The thumler or the rebel 17 are well worth the money. Wish I had made the move to ss media long ago. Great products, great service. Will be back for more. Thanks stm Steve

EXCELLENT PRODUCT WORKS LIKE MAGIC . HAD SOME MISSING PARTS IN THE CASE SEPARATOR E-MAILED THEM GOT THE PARTS IN THREE DAYS. WISH ALL THE BUSINESS WHERE LIKE THESE GUYS. THANKS PAT