slopoke
Member
Got a tumbler yesterday,no instructions came with it.Was wondering , how do I know when the corn cob cleaner needs to be changed?
Tumbler question
- Thread starter slopoke
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retiredsgt
Member
Tumbler ?
Take a good look at the new media. After a while, it will be quite obvious.
Take a good look at the new media. After a while, it will be quite obvious.
Papakeith
Member
I'm basically in the same boat as you. I figure it will need changing when it no longer cleans and shines my brass in a "normal" amount of time.
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Tumbling Media
Corn cobs are soft and as a commercial reloader using a cement mixer I used the cobs ONLY to make my loaded ammo look pretty by taking off any bullet lube and stuff from my loading dies. That is with the help of a shot of kerosene that leaves a protective coating on the bullets and brass to keep them from oxidixing in storage. There was not enough Kerosene to affect the primers. I have ammo I will be shooting today that was loaded 25 years ago and it looks like new.
Now to clean and make brass look as new and since clean brass prolongs the life of my reloading equipment I used walnut or Apricot pit hulls to tumble clean and renew the appearance of the brass BEFORE LOADING with the assistance of a shot of ordinary paint thinner or Mineral Spirits.
That is All that is needed and the makers of additives to the tumbling media laugh all the way to the bank!
Now this is the frame of reference of a commercial reloader of millions of rounds of ammo.
Individuals who wish their ammo to look like mirrors are entitled to their own opinions and the expense of the stuff used to obtain the mirror shine.
Corn cobs are soft and as a commercial reloader using a cement mixer I used the cobs ONLY to make my loaded ammo look pretty by taking off any bullet lube and stuff from my loading dies. That is with the help of a shot of kerosene that leaves a protective coating on the bullets and brass to keep them from oxidixing in storage. There was not enough Kerosene to affect the primers. I have ammo I will be shooting today that was loaded 25 years ago and it looks like new.
Now to clean and make brass look as new and since clean brass prolongs the life of my reloading equipment I used walnut or Apricot pit hulls to tumble clean and renew the appearance of the brass BEFORE LOADING with the assistance of a shot of ordinary paint thinner or Mineral Spirits.
That is All that is needed and the makers of additives to the tumbling media laugh all the way to the bank!
Now this is the frame of reference of a commercial reloader of millions of rounds of ammo.
Individuals who wish their ammo to look like mirrors are entitled to their own opinions and the expense of the stuff used to obtain the mirror shine.
Matt Dillon
Member
I also find it helpful to tear up used dryer fabric softener sheets into 3X3" squares and place several in my tumbler. They will pick up the lead and powder residue in short order, and you can remove them and extend the life of your media.
Coltdriver
Member
Hey Paul
When you tumble your brass do you find that the edge of the case opening gets a little dinged up??
When you tumble your brass do you find that the edge of the case opening gets a little dinged up??
Sunray
Member
Papakeith nailed it. Then go to a pet supply place and buy a big bag of it for less than $10. If you buy from a gun store you're paying for more for a name.
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Dinged Case Mouths
Dinged Case Mouths come from having too much brass for the amount of tumbling media used. I use about a third of the tumbler full of brass then fill it up walnut hulls , pour a shot of paint thinner on top of the media put the lid on the 15 pound tumbler and tumble. The weight is a weight of rocks as all tumblers originally were for kids and rock jewelers to tumble rocks and the best prices and brands can be found at rock shops. The best brand is a quiet solid rubber barrel Lortone brand. I sold hundreds of them.
I used a single barrel Lortone, a three barrel WW and a cement mixer for GI brass. Paint thinner and kerosene and a window screen to sift out the dirt is all I used for millions of rounds.
Paul Jones
Dinged Case Mouths come from having too much brass for the amount of tumbling media used. I use about a third of the tumbler full of brass then fill it up walnut hulls , pour a shot of paint thinner on top of the media put the lid on the 15 pound tumbler and tumble. The weight is a weight of rocks as all tumblers originally were for kids and rock jewelers to tumble rocks and the best prices and brands can be found at rock shops. The best brand is a quiet solid rubber barrel Lortone brand. I sold hundreds of them.
I used a single barrel Lortone, a three barrel WW and a cement mixer for GI brass. Paint thinner and kerosene and a window screen to sift out the dirt is all I used for millions of rounds.
Paul Jones
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Black Dust Forming
I have a 3/8ths inch wire screen bought from a metal parts polishing business that I sort my brass from my cement mixer through and when any black dust forms I place the screen over a trash can with a trash sack inside and place a sheet of aluminum window screen over my metal screen and pour my media into it while agitating carefully to not raise any lead containing dust and sift the lead contaminated Black Dust out for disposal. I use kitchen paper towels to wipe out my equipment. I dispose of the towels, dust and the worn out media carefully.
it is not worth my time and money to use any additives to my media as a commercial reloader other than paint thinner and kerosene as cost is a major factor in any business and my ammunition looked clean and shiny.
Fitz
I have a 3/8ths inch wire screen bought from a metal parts polishing business that I sort my brass from my cement mixer through and when any black dust forms I place the screen over a trash can with a trash sack inside and place a sheet of aluminum window screen over my metal screen and pour my media into it while agitating carefully to not raise any lead containing dust and sift the lead contaminated Black Dust out for disposal. I use kitchen paper towels to wipe out my equipment. I dispose of the towels, dust and the worn out media carefully.
it is not worth my time and money to use any additives to my media as a commercial reloader other than paint thinner and kerosene as cost is a major factor in any business and my ammunition looked clean and shiny.
Fitz
thumler
I use a thumler tumbler model T. I can put about 50 243 cases in it at a time. Tumble for about 2 hours with a tad of Flitz metal polish and walnut shell media. Works for me, I would like a larger tumbler but got it cheap so I cant complain. It has worked for many years for me and shows no signs of quitting. You can pick them up on ebay for $50ish sometimes, less for a used one I think. I dont really go for sparkling new looking cases, I think its better to under tumble them than over tumble personally.
I use a thumler tumbler model T. I can put about 50 243 cases in it at a time. Tumble for about 2 hours with a tad of Flitz metal polish and walnut shell media. Works for me, I would like a larger tumbler but got it cheap so I cant complain. It has worked for many years for me and shows no signs of quitting. You can pick them up on ebay for $50ish sometimes, less for a used one I think. I dont really go for sparkling new looking cases, I think its better to under tumble them than over tumble personally.
TamThompson
Member
Karl Rehn of KR Training was kind enough to show me reloading, and I noticed that his brand-new corncob media was straw-colored and his brand-new crushed walnut shell media was pale brown. The media he had in the trash was gray. I guess that's one way to tell--if the media has turned gray.
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Rock Polishing Grit
The Rock Shops in Rural or Touristy Areas or even Toys R Us whoever sells the rock tumblers have the packets of various grits for the rocks. I have used the finest grit on some brass for a minute or two and it does work but you have to get it all off and out and if in too long you have the traditional "Sand Blasted' Surface. And you sure do not want of the grit in your reloading room, tools or guns.
The Rock Shops in Rural or Touristy Areas or even Toys R Us whoever sells the rock tumblers have the packets of various grits for the rocks. I have used the finest grit on some brass for a minute or two and it does work but you have to get it all off and out and if in too long you have the traditional "Sand Blasted' Surface. And you sure do not want of the grit in your reloading room, tools or guns.
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