The Verdict on Ceramic-style Tumbling Media

[RC20]

Ahem.....

God created walnut shells for a reason.

I do fine with it. I am not setup to do the wet method and don't think it makes that much difference for my end to want to make it work.

Just kind of looking for a bit faster but keep the dry.

It would seem a mix of Walnut/Corncob and a little more aggressive abrasive might.

Always thinking of ways to improve things, many of which don't work!

 

[ShootistPRS]

I had to replace my old Thumbler's Rotary tumbler due to age and wear - it's over 40 years old and been used and abused. I got the new Frankford Arsenal Platinum series rotary tumbler. It comes with a soap and stainless pins but I just use my walnut media in it. It works well with dry media and it holds 3 times the brass that my old one did. I don't have to rinse or shake pins out of brass and I don't have to wait for brass to dry. I picked it up, new in box, for a song and I think it will last the next 40 years just fine.

 

[Master Blaster]

Ceramic is too aggressive for brass. But then I just use corncob and a little polish and mineral spirits. I would be concerned stray grit from the media will scratch your dies

 

[mikld]

My base tumbling media is corn cob blast media (blast media is better quality and size controlled than pet poop stuff). I occasionally add a bit of Turtle wax and I have my resin media/cob media mix for hard to clean brass. If I "need" glossy shiny brass, I just leave the tumbler running a bit longer...

 

[robhic]

Ceramic is too aggressive for brass. But then I just use corncob and a little polish and mineral spirits. I would be concerned stray grit from the media will scratch your dies

I think his will be kind of a specialty use. The "stones" I got are very rounded and smooth. They were used in a lapidary tumbler for gems and stones (I guess for jewelry?). These things are about 3/4" long and 1/4" round. Like a big pill capsule. And yes, they are really worn smooth!

I'm trying to think how to utilize them. I guess I should probably try some expendable brass and the stones by themselves. Then if the cases don't come out all beat up I'll have something to go on.

Then possibly putting some of the ceramics in with the corn/walnut media mix and see how that works. I'm not worried about stray grit because these things are very, very smooth so I don't think (hope?) they'll chip from brass. They were used to tumble rocks!

So this is an ongoing experiment and any more ideas/tips are welcome.

 

[LBussy]

It comes with a soap and stainless pins but I just use my walnut media in it. It works well with dry media and it holds 3 times the brass that my old one did. I don't have to rinse or shake pins out of brass and I don't have to wait for brass to dry.

Those who have not used SS pins may not understand the process. I did some 5.56 shells a few weeks ago and I think everyone would agree this may be one of the tougher shells to clean of media, excepting maybe the .17 Hornet. All I did was tumble the shells in the separator while rinsing. I did that three times but no more pins came out after two. You'd need to do something similar no matter what media you use.

So, no shaking out individual cases.

Yes you do need to wait for brass to dry, but it's a rhythm like anything else. You leave those out to dry while you go do something else. Since you have the pins you should try it once. Don't forget the LemiShine ... 1/4 tsp per batch.

 

[Unclenick]

…and, a lot cheaper than lemishine, which is mainly a form of citric acid, is just to buy citric acid. 10 lbs for $25, postage paid. The old Frankford Arsenal cleaning formula is 5% citric acid by weight (about 1C of powder with water added to make a gallon), but that's a lot stronger and faster than the way you are using it and is not going to give the pins much time to work. Half an hour at that strength is enough. If you have a bulk purchase for a group of handloaders, 50 lbs is $82 from that same source, which is the lowest price I've found for that quantity. If you have Amazon Prime, you can get 10 lb down to $22.50. It's a lifetime supply at your usage rate.

 

[LBussy]

You can get bulk citric acid at most local health stores too. While compared to those prices, LemiShine is expensive, at 1/4 tsp per gallon (roughly) a canister of it lasts a REALLY long time. I think I have had this canister since I started reloading.

 

[F. Guffey]

For those that do not understand

Those who have not used SS pins may not understand the process.

I suggest they start with pins and no acid, after a round of tumbling with pins and no acid I believe the reloader should take a test that would determine what they learned.

And then? There are other questions that could be asked.

F. Guffey

 

[mikld]

To add to Mr Guffy's post; try with just water and pins. You'll prolly be surprised at how the brass turns out...