Brass Cleaning media - glass?

[merlynski]

Has anybody tried recycled finely crushed bottle glass or glass beads for cleaning brass?
Either is used in blast cabinets, but what about rotary or vibratory tumblers? Wet or dry?

 

[mrawesome22-250]

Not only no, but hell no.

 

[Rule3]

Has anybody tried recycled finely crushed bottle glass or glass beads for cleaning brass?
Either is used in blast cabinets, but what about rotary or vibratory tumblers? Wet or dry?

Why??

Seems the boat has already sailed on what media(s) to use in either form of cleaning.

Folks have tried all kinds of stuff but the preferred medias are it. No rice, sand, or magic beans,

 

[Pottimus]

Yes, I would never do it again. I had some corrosive primed Korean Cartridge, Ball, Caliber.30 M2, that were rather difficult to size, and were getting stuck and breaking pins...More STP (lube) was the answer, not scratch the brass to a dull sheen. They were okay and I am sure I reloaded them...To be fair and accurate I used Harbor Freight, ground glass and a mix of corn cob. It was just a mess + a mess...
~~~~this was before I got my Frankford Arsenal wet pin tumbler, I resist the urge not to tumble EVERY piece of brass...

 

[merlynski]

Why??

Seems the boat has already sailed on what media(s) to use in either form of cleaning.

Folks have tried all kinds of stuff but the preferred medias are it. No rice, sand, or magic beans,

Why? I may be stuck buying a new tumbler soon and am exploring as many options as possible. More information, better decision possible. If I knew already I would not need to ask. I guess my boat is still in the Harbor.

 

[Blue68f100]

I do not recommend using any media that is abrasive to dies. Glass and ceramic residue left behind will cause problems later on. Now if you can make sure you get 100% of it off go for it. If your using was wash & wax it may get embedded in with the wax film.

 

[merlynski]

I do not recommend using any media that is abrasive to dies. Glass and ceramic residue left behind will cause problems later on. Now if you can make sure you get 100% of it off go for it. If your using was wash & wax it may get embedded in with the wax film.

I had the same thought about ceramic media too. Anything that tumbles around breaks down eventually.

 

[ParallelCode]

I think it's hard to beat wet tumbling with pins.

 

[merlynski]

I think it's hard to beat wet tumbling with pins.

I must admit to leaning in that direction . . .

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I'm a walnut shell guy myself. Cheap at the pet store and REALLY hard to mess up by brass or dies/tools with it.

 

[merlynski]

Walnut shell is what I have used so far, but this batch of 40S&W is not cleaning up the way I like. I ran a bunch of 38SPL (brass & nickel) and 9mm that I had washed in citric acid first and it came out gleaming!

 

[FROGO207]

Just like sand blasting using sand or crushed glass will leave silica dust on everything. It is abrasive and not good to breathe in. Ceramic balls or shapes are better but will not get primer pockets cleaned completly. I got the SS pins that were cut at an angle and they work well as well as fast they get the primer pockets, extractor grooves, and head stamps clean as well.

 

[merlynski]

Just like sand blasting using sand or crushed glass will leave silica dust on everything. It is abrasive and not good to breathe in. Ceramic balls or shapes are better but will not get primer pockets cleaned completly. I got the SS pins that were cut at an angle and they work well as well as fast they get the primer pockets, extractor grooves, and head stamps clean as well.

What is your source for pins?

 

[Rule3]

Why? I may be stuck buying a new tumbler soon and am exploring as many options as possible. More information, better decision possible. If I knew already I would not need to ask. I guess my boat is still in the Harbor.

Buy media HERE, For $35 plus $5 to ship you will have enough for the rest of your life. Or go to Harbor Freight and buy walnut med. I thing the corn gives a Better Housekeeping Shine! Or you could pick one of the many other media types!

https://www.zoro.com/zoro-select-bl...-40-grit-crn3-40/i/G2165387/?recommended=true

 

[FROGO207]

This is what I purchased about 10 years ago. Don't know if they still sell to the public anymore though. Still working on my first bag and this was a spare for if I lost a lot of pins.

 

[mdi]

Glass, especially broken shards, is way to aggressive for tumblers or wobblers and will clean quickly, but leave a dull matte finish on the cases.

 

[merlynski]

View attachment 1000170 This is what I purchased about 10 years ago. Don't know if they still sell to the public anymore though. Still working on my first bag and this was a spare for if I lost a lot of pins.

I contacted them, a 2 gallon bucket holds about 50lbs @4.95/lb, plus a $10 'bucket fee', IOW $257.50, plus shipping (not quoted).
Not economical for me.
Midway has a different brand for, 2.5lbs in a plastic bottle, for $19.99 ($8/lb).

Has anybody used a Thumler's Model B? Its a bit pricier, but is all metal construction, including the drum. The Reviews on Midway are highly positive.

 

[Dudedog]

Folks have tried all kinds of stuff but the preferred medias are it. No rice, sand, or magic beans,

Rats,
I was just about ready to say cat urine was just the thing to wet tumble cases that would be loaded with trailboss


Amazon has pins from a couple places
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=steel+pins+for+tumbling&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Unless you have a giant tumbler (cement mixer) you don't need 50lbs of pins.
They do try to escape but otherwise for all practical purposes they last forever.