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Questions concerning new tumbler / media set up
- Thread starter DMY
- Start date
I have used an UltraVibe 45 for many moons.
I find that when the cases do not appear to "move" properly, just add more media.
Generally I use treated walnut first, then when all case prep is complete and the brass is ready to load, I tumble again in corncob. This removes the case lube and any dust from the walnut.
When the tumbler is used to its maximum capacity, I use approximately 20 lbs of media.
I just did 1500 9 mm cases a few weeks ago, and they were polished within 4 hours in one batch.
I find that when the cases do not appear to "move" properly, just add more media.
Generally I use treated walnut first, then when all case prep is complete and the brass is ready to load, I tumble again in corncob. This removes the case lube and any dust from the walnut.
When the tumbler is used to its maximum capacity, I use approximately 20 lbs of media.
I just did 1500 9 mm cases a few weeks ago, and they were polished within 4 hours in one batch.
condor bravo
New member
DMY:
Re: your 4th observation. Yes be sure that the NuFinish clumps are well broken up before returning the cases to the tumbler. The clumps and cases do not go well together when tumbling but probably you picked that up in a previous post. And keep in mind the strips of Fabric Softener dryer sheets to pick up the dust residue that will accumulate. Add cut up strips every two or three tumblings or so. Replenish some NuFinish when it seems that it is taking too much time for polishing to satisfaction. With my tumbling of mostly rifle cases, not more than 100 at a time, replenishment is every 10 to 12 tumblings, but that may be overdoing it some.
Dufus' Ultra-Vibe 45 (above) has to be exceptional; I use the smaller 18. Those are available from Tru Square Products.
Re: your 4th observation. Yes be sure that the NuFinish clumps are well broken up before returning the cases to the tumbler. The clumps and cases do not go well together when tumbling but probably you picked that up in a previous post. And keep in mind the strips of Fabric Softener dryer sheets to pick up the dust residue that will accumulate. Add cut up strips every two or three tumblings or so. Replenish some NuFinish when it seems that it is taking too much time for polishing to satisfaction. With my tumbling of mostly rifle cases, not more than 100 at a time, replenishment is every 10 to 12 tumblings, but that may be overdoing it some.
Dufus' Ultra-Vibe 45 (above) has to be exceptional; I use the smaller 18. Those are available from Tru Square Products.
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I don't particularly like corn cobs since it seems to turn to dust quickly.
Walnut hulls clean better and last longer. My opinion of the "pet bedding" products for case tumbling is not printable and that's all I can say about that. If you can't afford actual tumbling media, trim some costs elsewhere.
Walnut hulls clean better and last longer. My opinion of the "pet bedding" products for case tumbling is not printable and that's all I can say about that. If you can't afford actual tumbling media, trim some costs elsewhere.
4runnerman
New member
Mobuck- You don't like the Zilla Bedding?. Can you say why. I sell brass on the side here. I usually am tumbeling brass 7 days a week. I have been doing this for about 5 years now. All I use is Zilla, I add some NU-Finish and let it rip. Most weeks I will tumble about 2000 cases a week in the summer Months. I have had many of my customers e mail me back and ask me --How do you get the cases so clean and shinny.
There is nothing wrong with buying media, other than I can get 20lbs of Zilla for the price of maybe 7 or 10 lbs of store stuff. ( to me that is a lot of money, considering I am going through 20lbs a month) The biggest benefit I find is Zilla is smaller and seems to work faster. Being it is smaller it never gets stuck in flash hole. I tumble a lot of 6BR cases. Regular media plugs the flash hole all the time, creating one more step for me. Never have that problem with zilla. When I pull my brass out , it is as shinney as the pic above in every way other then inside.
There is nothing wrong with buying media, other than I can get 20lbs of Zilla for the price of maybe 7 or 10 lbs of store stuff. ( to me that is a lot of money, considering I am going through 20lbs a month) The biggest benefit I find is Zilla is smaller and seems to work faster. Being it is smaller it never gets stuck in flash hole. I tumble a lot of 6BR cases. Regular media plugs the flash hole all the time, creating one more step for me. Never have that problem with zilla. When I pull my brass out , it is as shinney as the pic above in every way other then inside.
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Additional observations
Thanks for the additional posts. Again, it is very helpful. I bought some Nu-Finish car polish and re-ran loads 2 & 3. They were definitely more shiny, but still not sparkling like my old rotary tumbler. I believe the vibratory tumbler is supposed to be faster, but running the vibrating tumbler for 3.5 hours did not achieve the same results as 7 hours in the rotary. I might try running the vibrating tumbler for 7 hours to see what happens. I also noticed that when I ran the smaller load, the cases pretty much stayed submersed. When closely examining some cases, they had small superficial scratches on them. My guess is that the scratches come from hitting the center metal post which secures the lid because I hear a little metal on metal sound occasionally. I covered it with a plastic straw, but the metal nut at the bottom is still exposed. It may be my imagination, but it also seems that adding Nu-Finish also reduced the amount of dust on the cases. So far, after running and re-running the first few loads, I have to say that the vibrating and rotary tumblers both have pros and cons. I plan to try the Zilla next. Thanks for the suggestion 4runnerman.
Thanks for the additional posts. Again, it is very helpful. I bought some Nu-Finish car polish and re-ran loads 2 & 3. They were definitely more shiny, but still not sparkling like my old rotary tumbler. I believe the vibratory tumbler is supposed to be faster, but running the vibrating tumbler for 3.5 hours did not achieve the same results as 7 hours in the rotary. I might try running the vibrating tumbler for 7 hours to see what happens. I also noticed that when I ran the smaller load, the cases pretty much stayed submersed. When closely examining some cases, they had small superficial scratches on them. My guess is that the scratches come from hitting the center metal post which secures the lid because I hear a little metal on metal sound occasionally. I covered it with a plastic straw, but the metal nut at the bottom is still exposed. It may be my imagination, but it also seems that adding Nu-Finish also reduced the amount of dust on the cases. So far, after running and re-running the first few loads, I have to say that the vibrating and rotary tumblers both have pros and cons. I plan to try the Zilla next. Thanks for the suggestion 4runnerman.
final observation
Okay, I am convinced that the vibrating tumbler is probably as good as my former (R.I.P.) rotary tumbler. Achieved "sparkling" with my vibrating tumbler with corn cobb and Nu-Finish polish (not wax) after tumbling for 3.5 - 4 hours. There are also far fewer particles stuck in the flash holes. Some of the case interiors were also clean (approximately 10% - 20%) compared to zero in my rotary. Haven't tried Zilla, walnut, lizard litter, Brasso, dryer sheets or anything else yet. I did not notice much, if any dust when I dumped the cases. There was some dust attached to the bottom of the bowl which I suspect was held in place by static. I'll wait for the corn cobb to stop doing its magic before trying other media. Again, thank you all for your responses and suggestions. I continue to be impressed with the amount and level of expertise by various members.
Okay, I am convinced that the vibrating tumbler is probably as good as my former (R.I.P.) rotary tumbler. Achieved "sparkling" with my vibrating tumbler with corn cobb and Nu-Finish polish (not wax) after tumbling for 3.5 - 4 hours. There are also far fewer particles stuck in the flash holes. Some of the case interiors were also clean (approximately 10% - 20%) compared to zero in my rotary. Haven't tried Zilla, walnut, lizard litter, Brasso, dryer sheets or anything else yet. I did not notice much, if any dust when I dumped the cases. There was some dust attached to the bottom of the bowl which I suspect was held in place by static. I'll wait for the corn cobb to stop doing its magic before trying other media. Again, thank you all for your responses and suggestions. I continue to be impressed with the amount and level of expertise by various members.