How long do you tumble your brass?
- Thread starter Keeperfaith
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I usually run it for 2 to 3 hours on a timer, more if it needs it after the first run.
Frankly, running a vibratory cleaner for half a day or more is a waste of energy and more importantly puts more age on your motor than need be - they don't last forever. Running it with one load for the amount of time that could be used for 5 or 6 loads doesn't make much sense.
Frankly, running a vibratory cleaner for half a day or more is a waste of energy and more importantly puts more age on your motor than need be - they don't last forever. Running it with one load for the amount of time that could be used for 5 or 6 loads doesn't make much sense.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It's not a waste if it makes my brass look how I want it to. 
788Ham
Member
MtnCrk,
No, tumbling doesn't harden the brass, its just tumbling inside the container, rolling around in there, nothing to "work" it.
I usually let mine run 2 - 3 hours, not trying to remove .0001's off of it!
No, tumbling doesn't harden the brass, its just tumbling inside the container, rolling around in there, nothing to "work" it.
I usually let mine run 2 - 3 hours, not trying to remove .0001's off of it!
Ehtereon11B
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I use corn cob media with a cap of generic brass finish. I run it for 3-4 hours then check the brass to see if it is clean. Run it more if I find something I don't like. I would like to find stainless steel media but haven't found a place that carries it.
NeuseRvrRat
Member
BADUNAME37
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up to about 6 hours.
Shinbone
Member
About 4 hours with corn cob and a little bit of Flitz.
JohnM
Member
Hour or 2, with walnut and a little polish added if I remember.
Don't need a shine, just cleaned up.
Don't need a shine, just cleaned up.
M.Weier
Member
swiftak
Member
several hours. I don't care how bright and shiney it is, I only want the grit and dirt off it.
I ordered mine trough them, I used half walnut, half lizard (same as walnut) litter, a cup of Nu Finish, & a dried sheet for 2 hours.
splattergun
Member
I soak my brass in a solution of water, detergent, salt, and vinegar for about 1/2 hour, shaking it occassionaly. Total 'tumble' time... 2 or 3 minutes.
Comes out plenty clean, just not glittering.
If I want jewelry to show off, I can just use my drill to spin it in a rag with polishing compound. 20 seconds per rd tops. 10 seconds to chuck and 10 to spin. I've found the need to polish only about 2 dozen rounds so far this year.
Comes out plenty clean, just not glittering.
If I want jewelry to show off, I can just use my drill to spin it in a rag with polishing compound. 20 seconds per rd tops. 10 seconds to chuck and 10 to spin. I've found the need to polish only about 2 dozen rounds so far this year.
Anywhere from 2 hours to 24 hours, but usually I just run them all night while I sleep, or all day while I work.
Media links:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=8036208&postcount=7
Media links:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=8036208&postcount=7
Ehtereon11B
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NeuseRvrRat said:
Danke. And I love that movie. I usually buy my reloading supplies local if I can. Saves on shipping costs for bulk/hazmat.
If I ever switch to a supersonic cleaner I can see myself letting brass bathe for 24+ hours. I don't leave my tumbler on too much at one time, hate living in apartments.
Canuc Shooter
Member
Set my timer for 2 hours with corncob, and it's showtime.
Your question on length of tumbling time has been pretty well covered. As to the "golden hue" that forms on cleaned/polished brass, that is something that in my experience, occurs over a period of time after the brass is polished/cleaned and stored. It is not something you can just duplicate in/by the clean/ploish process.
PocketRocket
Member
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- Jul 6, 2012
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I put my decapped brass into my small size Harbor Freight cement mixer and put in hot water and liquid soap (Ajax, Dawn, etc.) and tumble for 30 minutes to get any dirt out. Then I tip the mixer bowl to get the dirty water out and add fresh water to rinse the brass clean. Re-rinse until the drained water looks clear.
Next, the brass goes into a very large glass (Pyrodex?) baking dish and the brass is covered with a 3% solution of citric acid (I got this idea from the NRA book on Handloading). This gets the crud & carbon out and leaves the brass clean with a dull finish. You can stop here and use the brass for reloading after it fully dries.
However, in the matter of brass cases I am obsessive/compulsive so nothing less than a brilliant shine will do. So, it’s back into the cement mixer and this time it’s corn cob media treated with Nu-Finish for 3 hours. YMMV.
BTW, I bought my corn cob media from Graingers -- very nice people, very good prices.
Next, the brass goes into a very large glass (Pyrodex?) baking dish and the brass is covered with a 3% solution of citric acid (I got this idea from the NRA book on Handloading). This gets the crud & carbon out and leaves the brass clean with a dull finish. You can stop here and use the brass for reloading after it fully dries.
However, in the matter of brass cases I am obsessive/compulsive so nothing less than a brilliant shine will do. So, it’s back into the cement mixer and this time it’s corn cob media treated with Nu-Finish for 3 hours. YMMV.
BTW, I bought my corn cob media from Graingers -- very nice people, very good prices.
1SOW
Member
I pre-wash then tumble for 3-3.5 hrs
BigN
Member
3-4 hours seems to get it clean and shiny
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