Cleaning brass
- Thread starter Pat C
- Start date
I also use a vibratory tumbler with either walnut or corn cob media and towards the end of cleaning I add a little NuFinish car polish. The brass comes out fine from case head to case mouth. I never saw any difference.
Do your case necks start out with more dirt or powder burn carbon on them? Should that be the case I would tumble longer but if the cases start equal head to mouth then should come out equal head to mouth.
Ron
Do your case necks start out with more dirt or powder burn carbon on them? Should that be the case I would tumble longer but if the cases start equal head to mouth then should come out equal head to mouth.
Ron
It is not like media has a shelf life, it is good forever if you don't clean much brass. Rule of thumb is when your brass no longer cleans up well after a few hours it is time to toss the media. Crushed walnut is better for more abrasive jobs where as corn cob is a light cleaner and lends itself well to polishing. People buy media in pet stores as it is a popular pet bedding, just make sure you get the right grit size. Anyway it is good till you wear it out, there is npo shelf life. I am using some media I bought 20 plus years ago.
Sitting here looking at some brass. If the brass has annealed necks with the annealing process discoloration showing, as in military brass or higher end Lapua brass the neck discoloration will remain. Would that be what you are seeing or is it just dirty?
Ron
Sitting here looking at some brass. If the brass has annealed necks with the annealing process discoloration showing, as in military brass or higher end Lapua brass the neck discoloration will remain. Would that be what you are seeing or is it just dirty?
Ron
Even with Nu Finish and new media, the necks on the rifle cases never get shiny clean.
After 20 years, I suspect buying some new stuff from the pet store for a few bucks might be in order, Just like your house's HVAC filter - you CAN clean it a few times, but eventually it just gets too dirty to do any good. If you tumble a lot and frequently, you might want to change it more often - like every few months..............
After 20 years, I suspect buying some new stuff from the pet store for a few bucks might be in order, Just like your house's HVAC filter - you CAN clean it a few times, but eventually it just gets too dirty to do any good. If you tumble a lot and frequently, you might want to change it more often - like every few months..............
Pat C
If your looking for your brass to look like new. I used corn & walnut in tumbling for 25+ years. Switched to wet tumbling with Stainless Steel Pins, inside & out ,even primer pockets. Never liked the idea of water in a case. There is no carbon left inside the case, l have found media stuck in the the case, no dust. Look into wet tumbling.
If your looking for your brass to look like new. I used corn & walnut in tumbling for 25+ years. Switched to wet tumbling with Stainless Steel Pins, inside & out ,even primer pockets. Never liked the idea of water in a case. There is no carbon left inside the case, l have found media stuck in the the case, no dust. Look into wet tumbling.
firewrench044
New member
You can deprime first with media tumbling but there is no advantage
When wet tumbling depriming first does clean primer pockets
and eliminates that operation
Do you use an additive with your walnut media ?
Years ago when I was media tumbling I always added a cleaner
polisher to the media
( I also stopped using walnut because it left a dull finish
on the brass, corn cob will polish better and with the additive
will clean just as well )
When wet tumbling depriming first does clean primer pockets
and eliminates that operation
Do you use an additive with your walnut media ?
Years ago when I was media tumbling I always added a cleaner
polisher to the media
( I also stopped using walnut because it left a dull finish
on the brass, corn cob will polish better and with the additive
will clean just as well )
JeepHammer
Moderator
Your media is done when there is more dust than kernels...
When it takes two days of rattling to get clean cases...
When it takes two days of rattling to get clean cases...
For the most part the brass I start with is relatively clean so I resize my brass which includes removing the spent primer and then tumble to further clean and then inspect the brass making sure primer pockets and cases are free of any media. Then I prime, charge and seat my bullets.
Ron
The Walnut media will break down and become dusty with frequent use. Some folks will cut clothes dryer softening sheets into small squares to collect the resultant dust. However, fresh media is not dusty, so I just change mine when it gets dusty and for go the fooling around with softening sheets.
Pat C
In wet tumbling the primer is removed first without sizing the case. I use a universal recapping die, can be used with any case, its a hollow die with a decapping post & pin. Didn't like the thought of water getting into the spent primer if left in. When removed first the primer pockets come out spotless. I use two tumblers 1 from Harbor Freight it's a smaller unit for 30 cases of rifle or 50 of pistol. The second is larger the Tumbler ll for larger amounts.
In wet tumbling the primer is removed first without sizing the case. I use a universal recapping die, can be used with any case, its a hollow die with a decapping post & pin. Didn't like the thought of water getting into the spent primer if left in. When removed first the primer pockets come out spotless. I use two tumblers 1 from Harbor Freight it's a smaller unit for 30 cases of rifle or 50 of pistol. The second is larger the Tumbler ll for larger amounts.
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Nevmavrick
New member
I clean after sizing in media, usually corn cob, as it absorbs better. I use RCBS water-soluble lube. Later, like 6-8 months later, I pour the media into a pillowcase(dedicated) stir it around with some water, then hang it from a limb in the back yard (we have a lot of wind here) to let it dry.
Because I buy my media in 50# bags (I share, too) sometimes I just throw it away after 6-12 months.
When I wet clean, which is mostly when I dig up enough corroded, black cases, I tumble for about 3 hours, then, after pulling pins and water from the container, I throw the cases into a vibrator for an hour or so to dry them inside and out.
I pour the media/cases into a 5-gallon bucket via a plastic collander(dedicated)and place the cases on on a bath-towel (dedicated) to inspect flash-holes and separate by brand/caliber. Many times some pins will turn up in the media, so I can ignore them and recycle, or pull them out with a magnet.
You may notice I have more than a few dedicated tools. I was taught well by the SWMBO before she passed, so it seemed like a good idea to continue.
I used to reload so I could shoot more...now, I shoot so I can reload, lol.
Have fun,
Gene
Because I buy my media in 50# bags (I share, too) sometimes I just throw it away after 6-12 months.
When I wet clean, which is mostly when I dig up enough corroded, black cases, I tumble for about 3 hours, then, after pulling pins and water from the container, I throw the cases into a vibrator for an hour or so to dry them inside and out.
I pour the media/cases into a 5-gallon bucket via a plastic collander(dedicated)and place the cases on on a bath-towel (dedicated) to inspect flash-holes and separate by brand/caliber. Many times some pins will turn up in the media, so I can ignore them and recycle, or pull them out with a magnet.
You may notice I have more than a few dedicated tools. I was taught well by the SWMBO before she passed, so it seemed like a good idea to continue.
I used to reload so I could shoot more...now, I shoot so I can reload, lol.
Have fun,
Gene
I have been using walnut shell media that came with my vibra-tek... unit for more than thirty years. I found that I can wash it and rince well and it will be like new. I noticed that you can gum it up by adding the wrong stuff to it. Stay away from petroleum products.
Perhaps some day I will buy a pin tumbler but I find that punching the primers out and washing the cases once in a wild works best for the hole case.
Perhaps some day I will buy a pin tumbler but I find that punching the primers out and washing the cases once in a wild works best for the hole case.
Stats Shooter
New member
I have a stainless steel pin Lyman Tumbler. The Tumbler was around $180 from Midwayusa. It will do about 500 .223 cases, 1000 pistol cases, or about 200 .300 win mag cases in 3 hours.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/rotarytumbler.php
It comes with a bag of pins.
Here are the advantages
A: The pins last a long long time...I don't know how long because I have not worn them out yet after 10k rounds or so
B: It is very quiet for a tumbler. If i turn it on and close the door I cannot really hear it.
C: There is no vibration on a table so it stays put
D: No dust
E: It cleans the ENTIRE case, inside, outside, primer pocket, and neck and the cases look brand new.
F: It cleans fast, from disgustingly dirty old range brass to brand new looking in 3 hours...maybe less if the drum isn't full
G: You don't need any special cleaning solution...just a couple squirts of dawn dishsoap and a tsp of lemmie shine.
Here are the disadvantages.
A: Cleanup is a bit of a pain. It comes with a strainer but you have to run water down each flashhole to make sure all the pins washout.(which they will)
B: you have to wait a day or so to do any further processing to allow the cases to dry.
C: You must immediately rinse each case after tumbling or it will discolor. Using distilled water helps but you need to rinse and wipe before laying them out on something to dry.
After That, when I prime and load the cases, I wear latex gloves and the brass and bullets look like they were loaded professionally.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/rotarytumbler.php
It comes with a bag of pins.
Here are the advantages
A: The pins last a long long time...I don't know how long because I have not worn them out yet after 10k rounds or so
B: It is very quiet for a tumbler. If i turn it on and close the door I cannot really hear it.
C: There is no vibration on a table so it stays put
D: No dust
E: It cleans the ENTIRE case, inside, outside, primer pocket, and neck and the cases look brand new.
F: It cleans fast, from disgustingly dirty old range brass to brand new looking in 3 hours...maybe less if the drum isn't full
G: You don't need any special cleaning solution...just a couple squirts of dawn dishsoap and a tsp of lemmie shine.
Here are the disadvantages.
A: Cleanup is a bit of a pain. It comes with a strainer but you have to run water down each flashhole to make sure all the pins washout.(which they will)
B: you have to wait a day or so to do any further processing to allow the cases to dry.
C: You must immediately rinse each case after tumbling or it will discolor. Using distilled water helps but you need to rinse and wipe before laying them out on something to dry.
After That, when I prime and load the cases, I wear latex gloves and the brass and bullets look like they were loaded professionally.
Yup. I put them in the oven on a piece of foil on the lowest setting to dry them out afterwards.
"...cases never get shiny clean..." Cases don't need to be shiney. Just clean. You're probably seeing the result of lighting a really hot fire in an enclosed space.
"...I share, too..." Sharing is communism. snicker.
"...to allow the cases to dry..." Air drying isn't reliable. If the house where you are is humid, they won't dry. 15 minutes on a cookie sheet in the oven set on warm is 100% reliable. Don't touch the cases for another 15 minutes though.
"...I share, too..." Sharing is communism. snicker.
"...to allow the cases to dry..." Air drying isn't reliable. If the house where you are is humid, they won't dry. 15 minutes on a cookie sheet in the oven set on warm is 100% reliable. Don't touch the cases for another 15 minutes though.