tumbling media

[jraney]

can anybody tell me if there is any other type of media that could do a better job than the corn cob and walnut. i have only used the corn cob and i would really like the cases to be cleaner also how long do i tumble with the same media,& how long do i tumble the cases for, i usually just tumble for about 30min and call that good should i tumble longer?

J

 

[dogdude]

jraney, i would tumble longer. mine go 2-3 hours. i don't take them out till i test the inside with an allen wrench or what's handy to see if there smooth on the inside, pretty on the outside doesn't always count,keep tumblin!! dogdude

 

[TheSnake]

I would go 4 hours before I was somewhat happy. I have switched to ultrasonic and I am not quite fully happy. I would try the Stainless Steel rods if the tumblers weren't so expensive. Looks like they work very well from what I have seen posted. I want "like new" clean but that is just a fault of mine even though I know its not necessary.

 

[necchi]

Yup, streach that time out. Mine goes in walnut for 3-4 hours. But I'm using a rotary tumbler

 

[TonyR]

I am getting set up to try the stainless steel medium. At first, I just want to clean the dirt off the outside of the cases enough that I won't damage my resizing die. Will the stainless medium be enough by itself to do just that or will I have to add potions and/or soapy water? I'd like to keep the cases dry at this stage. They will go into the ultrasound later for a thorough cleaning.
Thanks

 

[5spd]

Nothing but walnut media for the 30 yrs + Ive been loading and always 2-3 hrs depending on how bad the cases are. I have my 4 tumblers on timers so I just fill and leave.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Straight corn cobb over night. (no additives) Comes out looking like new! That's in a "tumbeler", not a vibrator.
Load it up and check on it in the morning.
As far as Stainless Steel media, soapy water will suspend the crud and it comes off with a fresh rince.
Don't use the SS media "all the time". Maybe every 4th or 5th firing. Works better that way and doesn't effect the brass as much like if you were to use it all the time.
The SS media will leave a dull finish. Corn cobb after the SS will bring back the shine. Work intensive but the finished product is worth the extra effort.

 

[brxbrad]

I decided to try Lyman Brand Toughnut Media. I am impressed. I can tumble a hundred cases in about 1hr and it looks like they had been tumbling all night. There is two types, one with rouge and one without. I went with the rouge. I have noticed no change from corncobb other than the time it takes to get the job done. http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000157631333
Good Stuff

 

[NorCalMikie]

For me, straight corn cobb cleans best.(No rouge)
And the corn cobb cleans better that walnut media.
I have noticed that the Stainless Steel media will wear on the brass. Not much but it does wear. That's why I don't use it at every cleaning.
I ran a batch of .308 with my BR cases to make up a full load. When I drained off the water/soap mix out of the tumbler drum I saw "gold dust" (brass particles) at the edge of the drum??
Don't use it at every cleaning.

 

[amamnn]

Straight walnut no polish, no gunk just a shot of Bon Ami once in a while and you have clean brass and the media lasts virtually forever--the time to leave it in for is going to depend upon how dirty it is and how many cases --all it needs to be is clean pretty brass does not shrink groups

 

[kapac]

I used to use media but no longer. I have been using hot water, a little dish soap and some vinegar. I simmer for 20-30min strain then lay em all on a towel wipe off most of the water and fire up the aircompressor. I then blow them inside and out and use a primer pocket tool on a cordless drill.

No peening, due to the tumbler, no dusty brass just nice clean brass!!

 

[in2deep]

With the stainless media the brass comes out looking shinier than new if you do it right and has no negative effects on the brass with repeated use. After 2 hours it's done and if you want to dry the brass faster (since it came out of the soapy water) just rinse in denatured alcohol for a second (you can reuse the alcohol over and over) and it dries fast. Start to finish is very fast.
For the folks that say it makes the brass look dull that can happen if you leave it going much more than a couple hours for some reason as it happened to mine last time when I forgot it was running like 5 hours.....but it still was pretty darn clean just not that mirror-look. Heck sometimes if I am in a rush I just tumble for 20 minutes and they come out almost shiney new looking but the extra time is needed to get the primer pockets completely clean (but not necessary). It will spoil you.

 

[people]

I use the stainless steel pins now. No more than 1 or 2 hrs get brass looking like new. Unless they are muddy. Then a quick 10 min tumble to get the mud off. Change the water with new stuff and then polish as normal. If you keep the dirt in there your brass will come out frosted.

 

[Cigarcop]

I've considered using Stainless but the tumblers really don't hold much brass from what I've read. For the guys that are using it how many cases are you doing at a time?

 

[NorCalMikie]

I'am using the Thumler's tumbler. 15 pound drum.
(Big sucker )
200+ .308 cases with a few extras thrown in with no problems. Initial $$ outlay may hurt but I've had mine going on 20 years. Still going strong. Couple of belt replacements inbetween then and now but that's it. Well worth the investment.

 

[Killshot]

I use crushed walnut (Zilla brand lizard bedding from PetCo) in a vibratory tumbler for a 2hrs, decap and resize then they go into the rotary tumbler with stainless steel media, one gallon of H20, a dash of liquid soap and a .40 caseful of Lemishine®.

The SS media is fantastic. Cases look like new inside and out including the primer pockets. The Lemishine® keeps the cases from taking on a dull finish. The water comes out black from the carbon inside the cases.

Really not that spendy, $50 for the media and $170 for the big Thumlers model B high-Speed. Lasts forever.

 

[debubba]

Two words lizard bedding. I t is crushed wallnut shell git is cheaper than media. Ibelieve it to work better because the fines are not sifted away.god luck and happy shooting.

 

[TonyR]

I use crushed walnut (Zilla brand lizard bedding from PetCo) in a vibratory tumbler for a 2hrs, decap and resize then they go into the rotary tumbler with stainless steel media, one gallon of H20, a dash of liquid soap and a .40 caseful of Lemishine®.

The SS media is fantastic. Cases look like new inside and out including the primer pockets. The Lemishine® keeps the cases from taking on a dull finish. The water comes out black from the carbon inside the cases.

Really not that spendy, $50 for the media and $170 for the big Thumlers model B high-Speed. Lasts forever.

Trying the walnut shells as we speak. The lizard bedding was not in stock but they sell a crushed walnut shell litter to put in the bottom of bird cages.

Put it in the tumbler dry with 60 284 Shehane cases and the Magic Marker numbers are off the outside in a half an hour. Pretty effective. Now to anneal them then resize them then some more time in the tumbler with either the walnut shells or the stainless when it arrives.

Thanks for the suggestions. looks like this is going to do what I want.

 

[BBTC48]

Lizard bedding ?!?!? Who knew ?? Always used corn cob which usually took 2 hours or more. Tried a bag of walnut next and thought it did an OK job too. Are there different brand / qualities ?? I'll pass the big pets stores today on the way to pick up my soldier from college. I'm trying some right away !! Thanks.

 

[Skeeter]

I've been using the Walnut bedding for years and it works good. However to make it work even better I purchase the cheapest liquid car wax I can find at walmart and pour some of that in the media every dozen uses. In between that I use drier anti static sheets cut into 3 equal strips and put them in the tumbler with my brass. The drier sheets capture all the media dust and you would be amazed at how much longer the media lasts. Toss out the sheets after each use... I also use them in my media separator and put long strips in my powder thrower bottles as well.

My longest stretch was almost a year, tumbling about 100 cases a week with original media in the tumbler using the method I outlined above.

Also, I tumble my cases at least 6 hours for way better than new results.