Tumbling - What Media???

sheepherder · 12-06-2013, 09:32 AM

I have a Midway 'vortex' type case cleaner (not really a 'tumbler') and over the years I've tried crushed corn cobs, crushed walnut shells, and glass beads...None seem to get tarnished brass shiny...All they do is clean off the surface dirt...

What do you reloaders use to get nice shiny cases???

I have used Nevr-Dull and shined them individually by hand, but I would rather just chuck them in the 'tumbler' and let it run all night...

John Sabato · 12-06-2013, 10:47 AM

finely crushed walnut shells with powdered jewelers rouge... but I have always used a tumbler not a vibrator type polisher. But I would try it since it can't hurt anything. Rich, with your skills you can easily make a tumbler.

When I last built one I used a large-ish coffee can. Center drilled the bottom and installed a bolt to stick out that was held in a drill chuck installed on a gear reduction unit I salvaged from an old car power window mechanism and powered by a salvaged washing machine motor. Turned about 20 times a minute. The lid was the standard plastic lid that came on the can of coffee. It took years to wear out the lid...but it is easily replaced the next time you empty a coffee can.

I angled the can at abaout 45 degrees to keep the contents in the can during loading and unloading the brass. You can empty it quickly by opening the chuck and pouring it into one of those cat litter boxes that sift their contents ( I would recommend you only use this litter box for this purpose, because if you make it dual purpose and use it for cat litter your brass will smell pretty bad even after only one use!)

Cost: $0.00
Results: Priceless!
Media: useable indefinitely.

DavidJayUden · 12-06-2013, 11:06 AM

Try adding some "Brass-O" to the corn cob or walnut shell media. It certainly does help.
dju

Patronen · 12-06-2013, 11:33 AM

+1 on the jewelers rouge, a friend turned me on to that, but after using it make sure you clean it out from the inside of the cases. I myself gave up tumbling to the point of making brass look factory but more for cleaning it up enough to reload.

sheepherder · 12-06-2013, 11:34 AM

Maybe I'm being unrealistic...Here's a pic of three cartridges...

First is typical before being shot...Second is after 'vibrating' all night with crushed walnut shells...Third is spin-polished with Nevr-Dull...

I don't really expect them to be bright & shiny like the third...But is the second about the best I can expect???

(All are 5.56 military cases formed to 30 Mauser)

sheepherder · 12-06-2013, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

...with your skills you can easily make a tumbler....

Skills: Boundless
Motivation: Zilch
Result: "good enough"

...

...

I'm just looking to make them cleaner...The brown brass tarnish seems resistant to tumbling/vibrating...But is very nice as 'patina'...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patronen

+1 on the jewelers rouge, a friend turned me on to that, but after using it make sure you clean it out from the inside of the cases. I myself gave up tumbling to the point of making brass look factory but more for cleaning it up enough to reload.

Is the rouge liquid or powder??? How do you clean it out of bottleneck cases??? Compressed air???

mrerick · 12-06-2013, 11:54 AM

I also use crushed walnut purchased at PetSmart as reptile cage liner. 20 pounds in a big bag last a long time.

I use a liquid polish in this media as well as a small square of used laundry softener sheet to pick up the dust.

The case in the middle should work fine... Marc

rhuff · 12-06-2013, 03:51 PM

I might suggest that you hold off using Brasso, and like products that contain ammonia. The ammonia reacts with the brass and allows deterioration/weakening. To use it now and then won't be a big problem.

Using crushed walnut shells will clean the brass, but will not polish it. It will have that matte finish. I used to use my old Thumbler Tumbler that I purchased in 1971. I used the walnut shells with jewelers rouge on it. It worked, but was a mess to deal with. I stayed with that setup for years, but was never overly pleased with it.

A few years ago I tried one of the vibrating units with corncob media which I add 1-2 cap fulls of Dillon Brass Polish. It works soooo much faster, and with better results(to me). Put the polish into the media and run the machine SANS the brass for 15-20 minutes to dispense the polish(trust me on this). Then add your brass and usually 2-4 hours will produce beautiful like new brass. I also take a sheet of Bounty paper towel and tear it into 4-5 strips and throw them in. They help keep the media clean and when they get nasty, replace it.

sheepherder · 12-06-2013, 05:44 PM

Thank you for your help, gentlemen!

Attached is a pic of my ~20+ year old Midway 'tumbler'. I suppose it's more accurately a vibrator. When I first got it, instructions were minimal. I filled it, dropped my cases in, and turned it on. It sort of vibrated, but even after leaving it run overnight, the cases were still dirty. By accident, I screwed the lid down tight while it was running, and lo & behold, a vortex action began!!! Media from all sides began flowing into the center, and down. I could see my cases bobbing up & down in the flow!!! Fantastic!!!

So it cleans the cases quite well, but doesn't really leave a matte finish. And it doesn't touch tarnish. So I guess the 2nd case in my pic is as good as it'll get.

I might try the crushed corn cob on another batch tonight, just for comparison.

noylj · 12-06-2013, 06:33 PM

20/40 corn, unless they are muddy and filthy--then, walnut.
Never forget, all you need to do is wipe off the exterior.

wlyon · 12-06-2013, 06:40 PM

Rich
I have a vibrator tumbler like yours. I use a product from Lyman " Turbo Tumbler Media." They make it in a couple types depending on what you want for a finish. Have always had excellent results. Brass comes out like new and more importantly the inside is clean. Bill

kzullick · 12-06-2013, 10:08 PM

I use corn cobs with a healthy squirt of Blue Magic metal polish. Works great and never had an issue.

Patronen · 12-06-2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Skills: Boundless
Motivation: Zilch
Result: "good enough"

...

...

I'm just looking to make them cleaner...The brown brass tarnish seems resistant to tumbling/vibrating...But is very nice as 'patina'...

Is the rouge liquid or powder??? How do you clean it out of bottleneck cases??? Compressed air???

A friend of mine gave me a few shavings off a small block, it is reddish in color. How to clean it out? That's why I really don't use it. 9mm which is primarily what I had used it on isn't so bad but is time consuming to clean it out. I have used one of those .38/9mm cloth type cleaning rod attachments. Bottle neck rifle cases especially something like a .223 would probably be a PITA. I haven't tried to do that yet. If there is a better way than to wipe it out from each case like using air I would like to know?

sheepherder · 12-06-2013, 10:51 PM

I'm 'cleaning' a batch tonight with crushed corn cobs; tomorrow I'll try a batch with glass beads and then do a side-by-side comparison to see which looks best...Hopefully, pics will show which works best in my vibrator/tumbler...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patronen

A friend of mine gave me a few shavings off a small block, it is reddish in color. ...

Here's an example of how my mind works...When I read this, I immediately thought of milling a small block Chevy engine block and saving the shavings...Duh!!!

Patronen · 12-06-2013, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I'm 'cleaning' a batch tonight with crushed corn cobs; tomorrow I'll try a batch with glass beads and then do a side-by-side comparison to see which looks best...Hopefully, pics will show which works best in my vibrator/tumbler...

Here's an example of how my mind works...When I read this, I immediately thought of milling a small block Chevy engine block and saving the shavings...Duh!!!

LOL, I don't know how well that will clean up brass, more like the brass will clean the shavings

sheepherder · 12-07-2013, 12:16 PM

Just got back from my LGS...No powder or primers in stock...He says none have come in for months...Distributors can't get powder or primers...

No new .223 brass either...But he dug out a couple of old boxes of fired brass, and I dug through a big tub of range-pickups, and ended up with 72 cases...

...Which does me no good without primers...

Someone mentioned 'Powder Valley', a site I had never heard of, so I took a look...Everything there is 'Out Of Stock'...Just like everywhere else...

I keep reading that the shortage is over, and that manufacturers are catching up with the demand...But my practical experience says otherwise...

There is a gun show in January; hopefully I can get a couple pounds of powder and a thousand primers then...

rhuff · 12-07-2013, 03:51 PM

A lot of reloaders add NuFinish to their corncob. It is a cleaner/wax designed for autos, and is sold at the local auto assy. shops. It is cheap to purchase, and a little goes a long ways. I purchased some a while back, but have not tried it just yet. Some swear that the wax layer aids in sizing, and also stops/slows the tarnishing of the shiny brass. I can not confirm that info at this time.

sheepherder · 12-07-2013, 11:10 PM

I finished my comparison of brass 'cleaning' in my Midway vibrator...Pic attached...

All three were 'vibrated' for 8 - 10 hours in the indicated media, with no additives.

(The middle case has a shadow near the base...That case has not yet been resized in the .223 Remington sizing die...It's as-fired...The other two have been .223 resized, and measure .372"/.373", while the fired case measures .385"...It expanded .012" from the sized .223 sized case when fired in my Mauser C96...)

They all turned out acceptably clean, but if I had to choose, I'd say the crushed walnut shells got the cases the cleanest...the insides even look cleaner...

ithacaartist · 12-07-2013, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

...There is a gun show in January; hopefully I can get a couple pounds of powder and a thousand primers then...

Rochester?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhuff

A lot of reloaders add NuFinish to their corncob. ... Some swear that the wax layer aids in sizing, and also stops/slows the tarnishing of the shiny brass. I can not confirm that info at this time.

It's a space-age polymer! It is entirely feasible that its residue would help lube and protect; well worth a try.

noylj · 12-08-2013, 01:30 AM

I read people who worry about grit getting into their gun and clean and clean and clean. Then, they turn around and add grit to their media. Seems they may actually be putting grit in their guns.
As long as you are happy, go for it.
Me, 30 minutes in 20/40 corn is all I need and I sure don't think I need a polymer/abrasive on my cases.

12-06-2013, 09:32 AM	#1
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	Tumbling - What Media??? I have a Midway 'vortex' type case cleaner (not really a 'tumbler') and over the years I've tried crushed corn cobs, crushed walnut shells, and glass beads...None seem to get tarnished brass shiny...All they do is clean off the surface dirt... What do you reloaders use to get nice shiny cases??? I have used Nevr-Dull and shined them individually by hand, but I would rather just chuck them in the 'tumbler' and let it run all night... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

12-06-2013, 10:47 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	finely crushed walnut shells with powdered jewelers rouge... but I have always used a tumbler not a vibrator type polisher. But I would try it since it can't hurt anything. Rich, with your skills you can easily make a tumbler. When I last built one I used a large-ish coffee can. Center drilled the bottom and installed a bolt to stick out that was held in a drill chuck installed on a gear reduction unit I salvaged from an old car power window mechanism and powered by a salvaged washing machine motor. Turned about 20 times a minute. The lid was the standard plastic lid that came on the can of coffee. It took years to wear out the lid...but it is easily replaced the next time you empty a coffee can. I angled the can at abaout 45 degrees to keep the contents in the can during loading and unloading the brass. You can empty it quickly by opening the chuck and pouring it into one of those cat litter boxes that sift their contents ( I would recommend you only use this litter box for this purpose, because if you make it dual purpose and use it for cat litter your brass will smell pretty bad even after only one use!) Cost: $0.00 Results: Priceless! Media: useable indefinitely. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-06-2013, 11:33 AM	#4
Patronen User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 312 Thanks: 335 Thanked 93 Times in 70 Posts	+1 on the jewelers rouge, a friend turned me on to that, but after using it make sure you clean it out from the inside of the cases. I myself gave up tumbling to the point of making brass look factory but more for cleaning it up enough to reload. __________________ Dave

12-06-2013, 11:34 AM	#5
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	Maybe I'm being unrealistic...Here's a pic of three cartridges... First is typical before being shot...Second is after 'vibrating' all night with crushed walnut shells...Third is spin-polished with Nevr-Dull... I don't really expect them to be bright & shiny like the third...But is the second about the best I can expect??? (All are 5.56 military cases formed to 30 Mauser) Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

12-06-2013, 11:54 AM	#7
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,370 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	I also use crushed walnut purchased at PetSmart as reptile cage liner. 20 pounds in a big bag last a long time. I use a liquid polish in this media as well as a small square of used laundry softener sheet to pick up the dust. The case in the middle should work fine... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-06-2013, 11:06 AM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Try adding some "Brass-O" to the corn cob or walnut shell media. It certainly does help. dju

12-06-2013, 03:51 PM	#8
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,270 Thanks: 2,686 Thanked 958 Times in 704 Posts	I might suggest that you hold off using Brasso, and like products that contain ammonia. The ammonia reacts with the brass and allows deterioration/weakening. To use it now and then won't be a big problem. Using crushed walnut shells will clean the brass, but will not polish it. It will have that matte finish. I used to use my old Thumbler Tumbler that I purchased in 1971. I used the walnut shells with jewelers rouge on it. It worked, but was a mess to deal with. I stayed with that setup for years, but was never overly pleased with it. A few years ago I tried one of the vibrating units with corncob media which I add 1-2 cap fulls of Dillon Brass Polish. It works soooo much faster, and with better results(to me). Put the polish into the media and run the machine SANS the brass for 15-20 minutes to dispense the polish(trust me on this). Then add your brass and usually 2-4 hours will produce beautiful like new brass. I also take a sheet of Bounty paper towel and tear it into 4-5 strips and throw them in. They help keep the media clean and when they get nasty, replace it.

12-06-2013, 05:44 PM	#9
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	Thank you for your help, gentlemen! Attached is a pic of my ~20+ year old Midway 'tumbler'. I suppose it's more accurately a vibrator. When I first got it, instructions were minimal. I filled it, dropped my cases in, and turned it on. It sort of vibrated, but even after leaving it run overnight, the cases were still dirty. By accident, I screwed the lid down tight while it was running, and lo & behold, a vortex action began!!! Media from all sides began flowing into the center, and down. I could see my cases bobbing up & down in the flow!!! Fantastic!!! So it cleans the cases quite well, but doesn't really leave a matte finish. And it doesn't touch tarnish. So I guess the 2nd case in my pic is as good as it'll get. I might try the crushed corn cob on another batch tonight, just for comparison. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

12-06-2013, 06:33 PM	#10
noylj User Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	20/40 corn, unless they are muddy and filthy--then, walnut. Never forget, all you need to do is wipe off the exterior.

12-06-2013, 06:40 PM	#11
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,614 Thanks: 3,140 Thanked 2,519 Times in 939 Posts	Rich I have a vibrator tumbler like yours. I use a product from Lyman " Turbo Tumbler Media." They make it in a couple types depending on what you want for a finish. Have always had excellent results. Brass comes out like new and more importantly the inside is clean. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

12-06-2013, 10:08 PM	#12
kzullick Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: East Berwick, Pennsylvania Posts: 227 Thanks: 609 Thanked 100 Times in 81 Posts	I use corn cobs with a healthy squirt of Blue Magic metal polish. Works great and never had an issue.

12-07-2013, 12:16 PM	#16
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	Just got back from my LGS...No powder or primers in stock...He says none have come in for months...Distributors can't get powder or primers... No new .223 brass either...But he dug out a couple of old boxes of fired brass, and I dug through a big tub of range-pickups, and ended up with 72 cases... ...Which does me no good without primers... Someone mentioned 'Powder Valley', a site I had never heard of, so I took a look...Everything there is 'Out Of Stock'...Just like everywhere else... I keep reading that the shortage is over, and that manufacturers are catching up with the demand...But my practical experience says otherwise... There is a gun show in January; hopefully I can get a couple pounds of powder and a thousand primers then... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

12-07-2013, 03:51 PM	#17
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,270 Thanks: 2,686 Thanked 958 Times in 704 Posts	A lot of reloaders add NuFinish to their corncob. It is a cleaner/wax designed for autos, and is sold at the local auto assy. shops. It is cheap to purchase, and a little goes a long ways. I purchased some a while back, but have not tried it just yet. Some swear that the wax layer aids in sizing, and also stops/slows the tarnishing of the shiny brass. I can not confirm that info at this time.

12-07-2013, 11:10 PM	#18
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	I finished my comparison of brass 'cleaning' in my Midway vibrator...Pic attached... All three were 'vibrated' for 8 - 10 hours in the indicated media, with no additives. (The middle case has a shadow near the base...That case has not yet been resized in the .223 Remington sizing die...It's as-fired...The other two have been .223 resized, and measure .372"/.373", while the fired case measures .385"...It expanded .012" from the sized .223 sized case when fired in my Mauser C96...) They all turned out acceptably clean, but if I had to choose, I'd say the crushed walnut shells got the cases the cleanest...the insides even look cleaner... Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

12-08-2013, 01:30 AM	#20
noylj User Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	I read people who worry about grit getting into their gun and clean and clean and clean. Then, they turn around and add grit to their media. Seems they may actually be putting grit in their guns. As long as you are happy, go for it. Me, 30 minutes in 20/40 corn is all I need and I sure don't think I need a polymer/abrasive on my cases.