“Gummy” residue on tumbled brass

[CANESFAN]

Got a new Frankford tumbler a couple days ago and put fresh corn cob media in and let it sit in the garage with the lid off and fan running for a few hours to get most of the dust out. Then added the Frankford polish as per instructions and let it run for about another hour. Then, when tumbling my first batch of once fired factory brass it came out real clean but had sticky residue on em. It wipes off with a little effort but WTF??! I have never seen this before. Anyone out there know what this may be?

 

[simonp]

adding any liquid polish or cleaner to dry media produces that kind of result for me, stopped using it and moved to wet tumbling a couple years back in part due to that.

 

[Devildog]

Yep it’s the polish.

 

[Taylorbok]

I've never used the FA polish but I've used the Flitz stuff and it doesn't do that.

 

[salks]

What sizing lube? Had that alot using lanolin.

 

[CANESFAN]

This was straight after decapping. No lube at all. These are factory once fired brass as well.

 

[reelserious]

Just use straight corn cob with no additives

 

[roostercogburn98]

I’ve never had that issue with adding metal polish to my media

 

[XLR308]

I have been using either corn cob or walnut media for 30 years and never needed to add anything.
If you really want treated media it can be purchased that way.

 

[reelserious]

If you are going to continue with that polish you need to run it longer like 10 hours and the residue will be less

 

[CANESFAN]

I’ve never had that issue with adding metal polish to my media

I haven’t either. This is a first for me.

 

[CANESFAN]

After running for about 16 hours with no better results I threw out all the media and did an untreated 50/50 mic of walnut and corn cob. It is slowly removing the residue. I have used NuFinish and Flitz before but never Frankford polish. Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys. Will report outcome later this eve.

 

[reelserious]

Also walnut is shit. Stick to corn cob. Those sharp hard little nuggets work better than the “softer” walnut stuff

 

[XLR308]

Also walnut is shit. Stick to corn cob. Those sharp hard little nuggets work better than the “softer” walnut stuff

Walnut media Is harder and more aggressive than corn cob media.
It will clean faster especially very dirty brass but won't give the same high polish in my experience.

 

[CANESFAN]

Well been about 3-4 hours in the untreated 50/50 mix and here are the results! Much better and what I am used to seeing.

 

[XLR308]

Well been about 3-4 hours in the untreated 50/50 mix and here are the results! Much better and what I am used to seeing. View attachment 8420256View attachment 8420257

Another trick you can use since you mentioned the dust, throw a used dryer sheet in with your brass and media.
It will collect the dust and crud and help keep your media cleaner, then toss it after a cycle.

 

[reelserious]

Walnut media Is harder and more aggressive than corn cob media.
It will clean faster especially very dirty brass but won't give the same high polish in my experience.

The walnut i have gotten from midway has been crap. Maybe there are different lots like with powder. All my corn cob has been great. Hard pieces with kind of sharp edges that work well

 

[XLR308]

The walnut i have gotten from midway has been crap. Maybe there are different lots like with powder. All my corn con has been great. Hard pieces with kind of sharp edges that work well

When i did use it I always used Lyman tuff nut, all I use now is hornady corn cob media.
Some calibers that I only neck sized with a Lee collet I didn't even bother cleaning until they needed full length sized.
I really don't care how shiny my brass is as long as it's clean enough to not scratch my dies with carbon.

 

[JoshPutman]

For walnut media, buy lizard bedding from a pet store. Cheaper, and works great.

I run a 50/50 mix of walnut and corncob, with a squirt of Iosso every couple cycles.

 

[bf2junky]

I have that tumbler and it works great. And the Frankford’s corn cob has minimal dust.

Did you run the tumbler without brass for 5-10 minutes after putting in some polish? I’ve used NuFinish and the Frankford stuff ands never had that result.

I also use the cut up dryer sheet.

 

[Moose]

I have been using either corn cob or walnut media for 30 years and never needed to add anything.
If you really want treated media it can be purchased that way.

I also have ran the walnut media for about 40 years with no problems.

 

[supercorndogs]

Walnut media Is harder and more aggressive than corn cob media.
It will clean faster especially very dirty brass but won't give the same high polish in my experience.

That's what I thought too. I was thinking of adding some walnut to my corn cob to nock the extra gunk off my suppressed ar15 brass. Especially the bigger cases like grendel arc and valk.

 

[XLR308]

I think it would definitely speed up the cleaning time and removed more of the heavy fouling but still have the polishing effects of the corn cob media.
I admit I have never mixed the two but seems like a good idea.
Never bought into the ultrasonic or wet tumble processes.
Leaving a little more carbon in the necks I feel is more beneficial but that's just me.

 

[supercorndogs]

I think it would definitely speed up the cleaning time and removed more of the heavy fouling but still have the polishing effects of the corn cob media.
I admit I have never mixed the two but seems like a good idea.
Never bought into the ultrasonic or wet tumble processes.
Leaving a little more carbon in the necks I feel is more beneficial but that's just me.

I thought about trying the US since I bought one to clean suppressors. I never have though.

I think most of my troubles with corn cob stem from being a cheap ass and not wanting to toss it.

 

[XLR308]

I thought about trying the US since I bought one to clean suppressors. I never have though.

I think most of my troubles with corn cob stem from being a cheap ass and not wanting to toss it.

I'm guilty of that as well, I have an old dirty batch in a ziploc that I saved for removing moly from bullets after I realized I didn't care for it much.

 

[bf2junky]

Wet tumbling much cheaper. Then I use the dry tumbler to get the wax off and give them that pretty shine.

 

[XLR308]

Wet tumbling much cheaper. Then I use the dry tumbler to get the wax off and give them that pretty shine.

Sounds to me like you just doubled the cost or more and went straight back to what is cost effective and is more time proven.
Tell me I'm wrong.

 

[bf2junky]

Sounds to me like you just doubled the cost or more and went straight back to what is cost effective and is more time proven.
Tell me I'm wrong.

Don’t care if you’re right or wrong. It’s my process. As we know in this hobby everyone has their own way of doing things.

 

[XLR308]

Don’t care if you’re right or wrong. It’s my process. As we know in this hobby everyone has their own way of doing things.

I don't care about you process you could use Vagisil to clean brass for all i care if it works for you I'm happy for you but you said it's cheaper.
That is totally not true or accurate advice if you have to add two different processes and two totally different sets of equipment to achieve what can be effectively done with one.
Not giving you shit just stating the obvious.

 

[bf2junky]

I don't care about you process you could use Vagisil to clean brass for all i care if it works for you I'm happy for you but you said it's cheaper.
That is totally not true or accurate advise if you have to add two different processes and two totally different sets of equipment to achieve what can be effectively done with one.
Not giving you shit just stating the obvious.

What I meant was water is cheaper than replacing corn cob.

 

[4O6shootist]

I use a harbor freight jumbo tumbler since I'm typically processing 500x+ pieces. I initially add 2-3 caps of flitz to the media(can also use turtle wax, same shit even smells the same) let the tumble run and hour or two for the polish to evenly work it's way through the media. Add your brass and a few used dryer sheets, and in 2-3 hours my brass looks new. To keep the brass polish consistent I usually add a other cap of flitz after running 2-3 cycles of cleaning.

 

[bfoosh006]

FWIW... I found the design of the "tub" can dramatically speed up the time needed to clean brass.

After my MidwayUSA gave up.. ( after many years of use ) I bought a fancier brand "expecting" it had to be better... it took considerably long time to get the brass clean.

Swapped the tubs, and the new one finally met my expectations. I could easily see the improved "action".

BTW, when you add the "polish" do you let it run for a few minutes.. distributing the polish ? Mine needed some help... I would have to break loose some clumps at the internal ribs, break those up, and run again for a few more minutes.

 

[Doom]

I run Lucas and have used Hornady in the past in Lizard Litter (from Pet Smart) without any issues in a vibratory tumbler without any issues. I suspect the Lucas would work well in corn cob but haven't tried it.

OP, it sounds like you may have added all the polish in one spot as opposed to spreading it out around the media or the instructions recommend too much.

 

[CANESFAN]

I run Lucas and have used Hornady in the past in Lizard Litter (from Pet Smart) without any issues in a vibratory tumbler without any issues. I suspect the Lucas would work well in corn cob but haven't tried it.

OP, it sounds like you may have added all the polish in one spot as opposed to spreading it out around the media or the instructions recommend too much.

Sorry fellas, just now seeing this. I did spread the polish around and break up all the "clumps". Let it ran for one hour like I mentioned in the opening post here. I ended up dumping half the CC and filling the rest of the way with Lizard walnut bedding. Didnt take long for the residue to come off and looks like new now.

I have that tumbler and it works great. And the Frankford’s corn cob has minimal dust.

Did you run the tumbler without brass for 5-10 minutes after putting in some polish? I’ve used NuFinish and the Frankford stuff ands never had that result.

I also use the cut up dryer sheet.

I ran it for an hour after evenly distributing polish and crumbled the clumps up while it was running.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Got a new Frankford tumbler a couple days ago and put fresh corn cob media in and let it sit in the garage with the lid off and fan running for a few hours to get most of the dust out. Then added the Frankford polish as per instructions and let it run for about another hour. Then, when tumbling my first batch of once fired factory brass it came out real clean but had sticky residue on em. It wipes off with a little effort but WTF??! I have never seen this before. Anyone out there know what this may be? View attachment 8420183

Add a couple of tablespoons of mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol to the media and let it run a minute before adding the brass.

 

[CANESFAN]

I read this somewhere else. Didn't try it tho. Removing roughly 50% of the CC and filling with Lizard bedding seemed to have resolved the issue for me. Thanks for the input sirs.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

I used to get that same thing with media and vibratory.

And clumping. And media stuffed in cases.

Went to wet pin tumbling about 10 years ago and never looked back!

I still have vibratory tumbler but mainly use for small delicate brass car parts. Never brass any more.

Cheers.

 

[Haney]

Add a couple of tablespoons of mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol to the media and let it run a minute before adding the brass.

What does that do ?

 

[CANESFAN]

What does that do ?

Cuts the polish down.