Can you "refresh" old tumbling media?

[ArchAngelCD]

Like the others I cut up a used dryer sheet and let it grab the excess dirt in the media. Those dryer sheets clean up the media quite well.

 

[crawfobj]

Dryer Sheets

Got the dryer sheet idea from some of the posts here. The Mrs. now saves all the used ones for me.

I stumbled on to an interesting result tonight. I had 2 whole sheets in the tumbler, one rolling around in the media, and one with a corner stuck under the lid to see what it would do. This kept it mostly above the media, with only a corner rolling around in the action. Surprisingly, this one was MUCH dirtier than the one that was rolling around with the cases, although both picked up a bunch of crud. The one that was above the media was completely coated black with dust it had collected, which was alot.

The tumbler is running again now with 2 sheets with corners stuck under the lid. Will let you know if this makes a difference.

 

[ironhat]

When my media starts to get a bit tired I add a couple of teaspoons of Bon-Ami or Barkeepers Friend to improve the abrasiveness of the media. I too have noted that the used dryer sheets grab the dusty components of dirty media pretty well. I have read a post or two in the 'helpful tips' thread which mentioned slowly pouring the media from one container to another while outside on a lightly breezy day. One post noted that the same could be accomplished by setting a vac nozzle on the edge of the tumbler while it is running. After cleaning 1K, 5.56 cases recently and using pieces of dryer sheet (I'll be experimenting with your suggestion, crawfobj) I decided to toss two cut up sheets into the media just for cleaning it. I was surprised at how little the sheets picked up as compared to when I first started using them. Of course, the media already had a couple of years of crud in it when I started.

 

[tomj44]

I have refreshed both corncob and walnut tumbling media. Dump the media in a pillow case and tie the end in a knot. Put it in another pillow case and tie the end off. Throw it the washing machine. When done air dry.

 

[crawfobj]

Just a quick update on the dryer sheets. I'm sticking with one stuck under the lid to keep most of it above the media and one floating in the media with the brass. The one above gets FILTHY with the airborne stuff, and the one that gets tumbled picks up plenty of its own that may not get airborne. I haven't seen a benefit to cutting them up so far.

 

[jcwit]

The dryer sheet works to keep the dust down but in my exoerience the sizing lube still contaminates the media.

This is why I slost the brass in a lg coffee can of white gas aka coleman fuel to remove the lube. Set it aside it drys quickly whithin an hour (do this outside), I then tumble the brass to do a final clean and polish.

I have a problem with this as I shoot cast bullets in my 30 cal carbine and not onlyhave the case lube but the sooty residue from the bullet lube on the case.

Remember the dryer sheets help but if you have much lube both bullet & case it will contanamite the media.

 

[jcwit]

Don't try washing the corn cob media in the washing mach. especially if you have young ones at home. The media has lead residue from the lead stefanite in the primer. Not a good thing to have on your cloths, this is a form of lead than can be absorbed thru your mouth, breathing, and skin contact, not good.

Besides corn cob media is so cheap $25.00 for a 40 lb bag at Graingers Ind. Supply why mess around washing it? Why put yourself and loved ones at risk?

 

[jcwit]

Regarding the danger of using white gas/coleman fuel to remove the bullet/case lube its more than a lot safer than filling your mower tank while its still hot.

 

[cinteal]

I can't believe nobody mentioned to the guy 1) don't tumble rifle brass, 2) certainly don't tumble it 8 hours, and 3) don't lube, resize, and deprime the brass before you tumble.

1) banging the cases together while tumbling increases the hardness of case necks and can cause the necks to split prematurley

2) 8 hours? are there any cases left when you open up the tumbler?

3) if you're having problems with lube clogging media, don't put lubed cases in the media . . . problem solved. Plus, depriming then tumbling, now you have to check every flash hole to make sure it's not obstructed. And, though minute I'm sure, I would think you would eventually enlarge the primer pocket. Out of the gun, into the tumbler, then resize, etc.

BTW, I have cleaned media in water and detergent before. It worked. In fact I liked the media better after the water bucket with detergent method. Still not worth the time and hassle.

 

[ironhat]

I pre-clean my cases right after sizing and depriming. I keep a towel draped over my leg and drag the case across my leg a couple of times, not letting the case rotate very much. Most of the lube comes off and there's less to foul the media. As for tumbling rifle cases, I've done it for years and can't say I have seen premature failure of the necks as compared with a friend who, like you, cinteal, worries about work hardening of the necks. To each his own. No flame intended.

 

[cinteal]

LOL, no flame taken. Had to look at where you were from to know that I wasn't the friend you were talking about. One of mine laughs at my convictions, too.

I tumble rifle brass, too, just in small amounts. The stuff I go to the trouble to turn & ream do not see the tumbler, though. And like you said, after a couple of experiences, I do worry about work hardening on my accuracy rounds.

Still, on the resizing before tumbling, why? Clean brass resizes easier, less wear on your dies, and you don't have to worry about clearing the flash hole. You would still use the towel. Maybe you have to clean primer pockets, but on non-accuracy loads, pocket cleaning is debatable and tumbling isn't going to get them clean enough for that purpose anyway.

 

[jcwit]

cinteal: If you would have read my post I stated I clean my brass in solvent before tumbling. You see my problem was solved.
Regarding media in the flash hole. Get media 20/40 grit it flows right thru the flash hole and doesn't get stuck in it.
Regarding tumbling for long periods. I have .223 brass that has been tumbled overnight many, many times and some of it has been reloaded 50 plus times, all this with no split cases.
I've had cases that inadvertly tumbled for over a week and guess what they were still there.
Question, How do you keep your bowl from wearing out?
Regarding wear on my dies all of my pistol dies are carbide, about the next thing up the scale is diamond and I doubt I'm wearing my dies out. If they do it won't be in my lifetime.

 

[cinteal]

jcwit: yeah, I learned about the bowl wearing out the hard way. Cost me a new tumbler and new ground fault breaker. Thing vibrated over to the bathroom sink and turned on the water just as it fell in. It sets on the floor, now.

As to cases being left, that was of course sarcasm. But the wearing of the dies, 1) not all of the die is carbide, none on rifle . . . typically, 2) it will be hard to do now, but when you get new dies (for some other caliber) watch the scratches on the cases increase over time. No they won't wear out, but they do wear. I wish carbide was indestructable as I would never have to buy another router bit.

Flash hole obstuction . . . bridging . . . 2 objects brought together by another . . . maybe 1 40 grit particle won't clog a flash hole, but 2-3 might. It's a good thing you use solvent before tumbling, lube would be murder on 20/40 grit

 

[jcwit]

Yeh cinteal, I stumbled into the 20/40 grit accidentally buy ordering the wrong grit from Graingers Ind. Supply. They offered to exchange it and get the 16/20 grit that most use but I took it anyway and ended up likeing it better.

 

[cinteal]

jcwit: I think you're good with the 20/40. I'm thinking about getting some . . . for pistol brass, of course. More surface area to clean and polish. I was being an a$$#ole on the "murder on 20/40" comment. Text . . . can't be sarcastic when you want to . . . everybody thinks you are when you're not.

 

[jcwit]

Hey we're getting it, you're OK. Go ahead and try it I think you'll like it, I add alittle Nu-Finish, not much maybe a capful. I think alot of folks use to much polish.

 

[SilentArmy]

Cleaning Media

I tumble approximately 10,000 cases each day of various calibers as I sell once fired brass and I have developed a mixture ratio of fine corncob and fine walnut with a commercial polish that cleans fast (about 2 hrs) while polishing to a shine the my customers are blown away by and usually plead for the recipe! I have found that as you use the media, it loads up with dirt/ lead/ polish and eventually starts to break down. When I find that there is particles that static cling to the cases in my media separator, it is time to throw it out! I use the dryer sheet every 4-5 loads to remove some crap from the mix but you can tell when it is time to recycle the whole mess into land fill.

 

[1858rem]

i just get the cheap corn cob in walmart for 4 bucks a big bag....i dont tumble much, mostly fine steel wool for my rifle brass, but when i do i change it often since it cleans so much faster. i keep the old stuff in case i find a better use or run outta new stuff.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Thing vibrated over to the bathroom sink and turned on the water just as it fell in. It sets on the floor, now.

Well Duh! I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there!

Isn't there a rule about leaving an unattended electrical motor running where it can move, fall or 'even turn the water on'?

Hmmm.. Maybe that's why the wife makes me run the vibrating case cleaner in the garage.. Oh, on second thought, she didn't need to tell me. At all.

As for 'cleaning the media', a hand towel with a hole in the center pushed over the shaft of the lockdown nut for the lid, with the towel floated on top, held at the four corners by the lid will pick most of the dust out. Doing this with dryer sheets will clean out your media pretty well.

-Steve

 

[cinteal]

I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there!

Thank you, please tip your waitress . . .

 

[Mini30]

Cinteal, jcwit:

The Grainger grit you are using is their corncob-based blasting media?

 

[jcwit]

Right you are, without looking it up its about $22.00 to $25.00. If you pick it up there's no shipping.
Yes corn cob.

Edit, edit thats for a 40 pound bag by the way. All these things come to me after I post, dam getting old's fun. hehehe

 

[cinteal]

Mini30: I don't own any, but was interested and visited the site. But yes, it is blasting media.

 

[280shooter]

if its corn, u can wash it.I done that a few times.i pour it in a bucket, I use dawn dish soap,cuts the grease,and after your wash it, dont let it soak,rince,and toss it on to news paper.let it dry and use it again,
I now use lizzard litter. its cheap does well too.but I always use a brass polish,as long as its for brass,or cheap car wax or polish,maybe a teaspoon,