media for tumbling

Re: media for tumbling

If you are using a rotary tumbler (Like a Thumlers Tumbler). I started using Stainless Steel media. It last forever and does one hell of a job cleaning. 3-4 hours of tumbling with warm water, Joy or Dawn dish soap will get the looking clean as new! I deprime all my brass prior to tumbling and after they are done there is not carbon inside the pocket, case body, or outside anywhere. I only use corn cob with a little non-ammonia based cleaner added to it to clean off sizing lube!

Picture of stainless media!

media1.jpg


Some 40 S&W brass dumped into my separator!

media2.jpg


Cleaned 40 S&W Brass

media3.jpg


Tumbler and Media In action! I made a Clear Lexan Lid so I can see my progress!

DSCI0005-2.jpg


After I have them all cleaned I toss them onto a towel and dry them off as much as I can. Then they go into my home made brass drying box! It's a 800rnd 5.56 M27 linked ammo can with a 67watt Light bulb, and a axial fan to keep the air flow. I also have several holes drilled into the lid and a couple below where the fan is. leave them in over night and they are dry as a bone the next morning.

Picture of the drying box.

DSCI0001-5.jpg


I will not use any other method! Its quick, Extremely clean, and no corn cob or walnut stuck in the primer pockets or flash holes.

Terry
 
Re: media for tumbling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joe-n-TX</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use Lizard litter from Petco. It's fine walnut. </div></div>

Switched to that about 6 months a go and wish I did earlier. Doesn't get stuck in the flash holes as much as stuff that's made for the purpose, go figure.

I drop used fabric softener sheets in with the brass and that absorbs alot of the dust.......
 
Re: media for tumbling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I drop used fabric softener sheets in with the brass and that absorbs alot of the dust....... </div></div>

Good tip on the dryer sheets; Im going to give that a try...
 
Re: media for tumbling

"I use Lizard litter from Petco. It's fine walnut... Doesn't get stuck in the flash holes as much as stuff that's made for the purpose"

Actually, nothing is made for the purpose. All ground cob and nut is produced by firms that make it for any purpose, blasting is the largest consumer. All others simply purchase quanities from the producers in the grade they perfer and package it for resale.

I have found that an inexpensive fine grit blasting cob media does a great job and also doesn't clog holes. And it lasts so long I'm not sure how long it lasts, I would have to make myself a note when I load new stuff and I don't do that!

Polish is polish (unless it has ammonia in it). The least expensive is as good as the most expensive. I've been using cheap auto polish, Nu-Finish, for years with fine results. Most people seem to use too much polish and that makes for a lot of media dust which need not be.
 
Re: media for tumbling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: suasponte</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you are using a rotary tumbler (Like a Thumlers Tumbler). I started using Stainless Steel media. It last forever and does one hell of a job cleaning. 3-4 hours of tumbling with warm water, Joy or Dawn dish soap will get the looking clean as new! I deprime all my brass prior to tumbling and after they are done there is not carbon inside the pocket, case body, or outside anywhere. I only use corn cob with a little non-ammonia based cleaner added to it to clean off sizing lube!

Picture of stainless media!

media1.jpg


Some 40 S&W brass dumped into my separator!

media2.jpg


Cleaned 40 S&W Brass

media3.jpg


Tumbler and Media In action! I made a Clear Lexan Lid so I can see my progress!

DSCI0005-2.jpg


After I have them all cleaned I toss them onto a towel and dry them off as much as I can. Then they go into my home made brass drying box! It's a 800rnd 5.56 M27 linked ammo can with a 67watt Light bulb, and a axial fan to keep the air flow. I also have several holes drilled into the lid and a couple below where the fan is. leave them in over night and they are dry as a bone the next morning.

Picture of the drying box.

DSCI0001-5.jpg


I will not use any other method! Its quick, Extremely clean, and no corn cob or walnut stuck in the primer pockets or flash holes.

Terry </div></div>

and this method works on bottle necked cases?
 
Re: media for tumbling

Walnut, that is .010 to .015 in size. No stuck media and a little brass cleaner to
get them shiny. The stuff I have now is about 9 years old and I just washed it about
2000 cases ago. It lasts for a long long time. But I ultrasonic clean most of my rifle
brass and only tumble after its all prepped to load. Same with 45acp I compete with.
All the rest of the pistol gets tumbled only.
 
Re: media for tumbling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bill Stoffels</div><div class="ubbcode-body">where can you order the stainless media?
Bill</div></div>

I'd like to know, too.
 
Re: media for tumbling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wwbrown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use corn grit from a sand blasing supply store as it is dirt cheap. They also have walnut hulls but have never used them.

</div></div>

bingo.........................i have done the walnut too !
 
Re: media for tumbling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GSPKurt</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bill Stoffels</div><div class="ubbcode-body">where can you order the stainless media?
Bill</div></div>

I'd like to know, too.</div></div>

PM Sent
 
Re: media for tumbling

Gents, I got some corn cob from the pet place today but its way too big. My .223 cases are stuffed full of the shit now.

How fine does it need to be? What should I be looking for perzactly?
 
Re: media for tumbling

I had walnut media since I started back in 2000, same stuff, always worked well but wiping the cases off after just got to the point I didnt bother tumbling anymore since about 2007, forward to now.

I still dont reload much right now due to being in the box, and when I go home I dont mess with it too much dont want to spend much time away from my girls since I only get 2 weeks. Anyway while I was home the time before last I thought I would try the ISSO, it worked fair but still not great. And last time I was home I was raiding the reloading section of Cabela's and noticed the ceramic stuff. BTW, I found Nosler brass to be cheaper than the Win brass for 300WM and 308 win. $35/50 for nosler and the win was marked $37/50. was able to get 5 boxes of each since it looked freshly stocked.

Back to the Ceramic. 1st attempt was a failure which was due to me being a man and thinking directions are for dummies. Appearently you need to put the ceramic in the tumbler alone and let it run for 24 hours. it was nice and shiney when it went in, now its a duller color. tumbler had trouble with the whole 1 gallon bucket but when i started piddling with it I had 100 308 cases, and about 1/3-1/2 the bucket of media in there and a water/cleaner solution. Cases came out looking as new and were clean inside and out. no need to wipe anything just racked them up and sat them outside for about 15-20 mins to let them dry.

I only messed with it for that much, put it outside to let it dry out and back in the bucket it went.

BTW at first some were stuck in the cases, but I put them back in the tumbler and turned it on, took a few seconds and the pieces came right out.
 
Re: media for tumbling

Switch to the Stainless steel media. You'll never look back works just as good if not better than my ultrasonic cleaner. Plus you get to set it and forget it. Don't have to keep an eye on it and change out the liquid till its done tumbling. Then throw the next batch in and hot water and dish soap is all you need.
 
Re: media for tumbling

Yes I did. Thanks once again. Never realized how much time I wasted with other methods. I will never go back to my old ways. Only other thing I would like to try is maybe throwing some of the other types of stainless media in with it. But I can't see it getting much better.
 
Re: media for tumbling

I have had some PM's asking me how I seperate the SS media from my cases! Thus, I have made some Video of how I do it! Hope it helps!

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Re: media for tumbling

By the time you get enough of the Stainless media into the tumbler you will have exceeded its capacity!

The rotatory action with soap, warm water, and dish soap is the ticket to getting them clean as new. I have tried every method out there and the stainless media in a rotatory tumbler is the best I have found!

Terry
 
Re: media for tumbling

What size drill bit again did you use to put holes the 4th video? I'm hating it. I cant get some tumbling done right now. My cheap plexiglass top I made broke. Getting a Lexan one made.
 
Re: media for tumbling

I forget the exact diameter I used! I do know that I calipered the media and drilled the holes just under that measurement to keep them from falling out the bottom of the separator!

Here is the dimiensions for the Thumler's Lid! This will help you get it made right!

lexanlid.jpg


If you need it I can email the PDf file of the dwg I made! Let me know!

Terry
 
Re: media for tumbling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrb572</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> My cheap plexiglass top I made broke. Getting a Lexan one made. </div></div>

I still use the rubber seal and steel lid provided with it! If your not in a hurry and letting it run overnight then no need for the clear lid!

My one lid looks like smoked glass now from the media wearing on it! LOL!

Terry
 
Re: media for tumbling

My Frankford Arsenal tumbler crapped out after 3 years. I went to Harbor Freight today to get one of their tumblers- looks just like the FA unit. While I was there, I saw ground glass media, thought I'd try it. Bad idea. Cases look like hell. Lesson learned. Back to walnut.
 
Re: media for tumbling

I guess its harder than I think. I guess there busy. But hopefully they will get it done this week. But I'm having two made there $20.00 a pice no holes. They wanted five dollars for each hole. I can do that.
 
Re: media for tumbling

Did you buy the big one or the little one! I bought the small one to tumble the lube off my cases after sizing! Get the replacement warranty for it and needless to say I have burned out two in a year! They do not like me at Harbor freight! LOL!

Terry
 
Re: media for tumbling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrb572</div><div class="ubbcode-body">They wanted five dollars for each hole. I can do that. </div></div>

$5 a hole!! Holy shit! So, they are only cutting you two round 9" peices of Lexan and taking that long!!! Damn!

What thickness!

Terry