case tumbler

[Nowata]

Bought a used tumbler, complete with used media. I put in 50 .357, once fired, with no lube, and 50 .44, well used, with lube. After 2hrs. in the tumbler, The .357 cases were clean, with barely any dust. Most of the .44 cases are crusted with a black sooty coating. ( I hope I can get it off- will try Iosso cleaner). What gives? Time for new media?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Sounds like that media is shot. Do yourself a favor and go down to the super pet store and buy some crushed wallnut shell or some crushed corncob media (used for animal beding) or both and replace the media in the tumbler. Some case polish will help the media work for longer. I replace a little bit of the media which I mix up 50/50 every so often when it starts getting dirty or not cleaning so good.

 

[Nowata]

Thanks for prompt reply, I have zero experience with tumblers. Frankly, I am the only person I know that reloads(10yrs. for me), so my question answer access is thru sites such as this(some questions kinda elementary). My motto:ask before doing, 'cause this stuff blows up!

 

[Ale-8(1)]

In my experience the walnut shells are more agressive in cleaning up older brass than the cob media. I don't add any other stuff to the media.

Not a good idea to use anything that contains ammonia, it's hard on brass.

JMHO

 

[joker12]

I have used a tumbler for years with good results. The suggestion to replace the media is a good one. I have found that walnut media is faster, but if you want nice bright cases use corncobs with a capfull of dillon polish. It takes a little longer but you'll like the results. Good luck!

 

[Sal1950]

Case cleaning on the cheap.
Walnut media from the pet store.
Nu Finish Once a Year car polish, about 2 tablespoons full.
Sal

 

[jbntx]

Case cleaning on the cheap.
Walnut media from the pet store.
Nu Finish Once a Year car polish, about 2 tablespoons full.
Sal

I agree!

 

[lpspinner]

I agree on the NuFinish for doing it on the cheap, but as for media...

Corncob from here for cheap

http://www.drillspot.com/products/499763/econoline_526020g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

 

[Sal1950]

A couple hints JMHO.

Tumble till clean before depriming.
Some guys think it's better to deprime first and they get cleaned primer pockets, this is just begging to have a flash hole clogged with media and a squib load.

Spent the $ for a good media separator.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/176956/rcbs-rotary-case-and-media-separator
Fully enclosed so you don't breath the lead contaminated dust and gets the cases fully separated from the media.

Sal

 

[desertrat]

I know its an extra step that many wouldn't do, but I always wash my fired brass in a simple green solution, rinse well, then leave out to air dry overnight before placing in the tumbler. That way the media is more effective for a longer period of time.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

JMHO.

Tumble till clean before depriming.
Some guys think it's better to deprime first and they get cleaned primer pockets, this is just begging to have a flash hole clogged with media and a squib load.

I deprime before tumbling so the primer pockets get a little cleaning. When you rezize there's no primer dust in your die and the decapping pin knocks out any remaining residue in the flash holes. Do a quick visual check to be sure.

Absolutely JMHO and YMMV.

 

[Rat76]

Best price I've found on walnut media is Harbor Freight.

Works just fine.

 

[Mobuck]

I agree that walnut shell is better than corn cobs. You mentioned " 50 .44, well used, with lube. " so that may have been part of your issue. The 'lube' obviously attracted gunk rather than being 'cleaned'.
Overused media may tend to just clump onto lubed brass rather than actually cleaning it.
Somewhere in the distant past, I purchased a 30 gallon drum of walnut hull media and haven't used it up yet.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I deprime before tumbling so the primer pockets get a little cleaning. When you rezize there's no primer dust in your die and the decapping pin knocks out any remaining residue in the flash holes. Do a quick visual check to be sure.

Odd for you to reply to a 13 year old topic.

I don't care if the primer pockets get clean because they're rarely very dirty since they were fired with a primer in place. And I rarely ever use dry media tumbling because 1/3 of the cases get media stuck in the flash holes when there are no primers and that media I have to remove manually with a pick or run the brass back through the de-prime stage all over again. Wet tumble with NO stainless media using Dawn and Lemi-Shine in a $50 Harbor Freight rock tumbler then oven or sun dry.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Odd for you to notice.

I've been doing it as described for over fifty years and have very rarely (hardly ever) seen media clogging the flash holes. YMMV

Also I use carbide dies so I never have any lube contamination.

 

[WV460hunter]

I have trouble with media in the flash holes. I always clean primer pockets . But I have recently decided to start leaving primers in cause I am tired of media in the holes. JMHO

 

[WV460hunter]

Odd for you to reply to a 13 year old topic.

I don't care if the primer pockets get clean because they're rarely very dirty since they were fired with a primer in place. And I rarely ever use dry media tumbling because 1/3 of the cases get media stuck in the flash holes when there are no primers and that media I have to remove manually with a pick or run the brass back through the de-prime stage all over again. Wet tumble with NO stainless media using Dawn and Lemi-Shine in a $50 Harbor Freight rock tumbler then oven or sun dry.

Do you rinse before drying ?

 

[KingSnake]

When dry tumbling, put a used dryer sheet in the media. It will collect crud and increase the life of your media.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Do you rinse before drying ?

Hot water in the sink. This time of year I just put them in a bucket in the bed of my truck and the sun and wind from driving dries them.

 

[peachhead]

I never had much luck using walnut. It is way too dusty. I'll stick with corn cob.

 

[Rich/KY]

Walnut hulls come in different granulations, not sure which size is which, but the ones I'm using are small enough to pass through the flash hole so rarely see any get stuck. I also add two or three capfuls of mineral spirits and several pieces of cut up used dryer sheets to catch dust. My pistol dies are carbide but when doing rifle brass I lay it out on an old T shirt and hit it with some brake clean get the worst of the lube off before tumbling.

 

[Justice B. Swift]

TIP: Had an old reloading buddy shared this with me years ago. When your media starts to get dirty toss a dryer sheet in with a small load of brass. The dryer sheet will attract much of the dirt and "refresh" your media, extending its life. Bonus: makes your brass smell nice! LOL

 

[GasGuzzler]

TIP: Had an old reloading buddy shared this with me years ago. When your media starts to get dirty toss a dryer sheet in with a small load of brass. The dryer sheet will attract much of the dirt and "refresh" your media, extending its life. Bonus: makes your brass smell nice! LOL

That is in nearly every post made by those who use dry media.

 

[Blackhawk Convertable]

Make sure it is a USED dryer sheet and not a new one. Otherwise, your brass will end up a dirty gunky mess.

 

[TheTexasRAT]

Make sure it is a USED dryer sheet and not a new one. Otherwise, your brass will end up a dirty gunky mess.

I won't ask how you know.

 

[Joey]

I buy corn cob media by the 40# sack at local Grainger's. They have several grits available, I use fine, does the job very well.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Walnut hulls come in different granulations, not sure which size is which, but the ones I'm using are small enough to pass through the flash hole so rarely see any get stuck.

^^^ This is my experience, too. ^^^