Case Cleaning/Tumbling - Time?

[TStorm]

Can you keep cases in a tumbler for too long? If so, what is it? Alt-Is there any marked deteriation to a brass or nickel case in a case tumbler?

 

[Rich219]

I tumble mine for 2hrs and they come out looking like new.

 

[pilot teacher]

I tumble from 1 to 2 1/2 hours, depending how cruddy they are, with a teaspoon of Brasso with corncob media. Have had zero bad effects from the Brasso.

 

[TStorm]

Who cleans for the longest times??? 4+ hours?

 

[CU74]

I toss 'em in, plug in the tumbler and walk away. Sometimes it runs overnight. How can one tumble BRASS for too long in walnut media????

 

[nambu1]

I have 2 tumblers and use walnut and corn cob. If they are really bad, I throw them in the walnut over night and if they are not that bad, I use the corn cob for an hour or two.

 

[Werewolf]

1 to 2 hours gets the brass clean.

If the brass is deprimed prior to cleaning then tumble them overnight - that way there's no need to waste time cleaning primer pockets.

 

[Walkalong]

I will throw a batch of range brass in the tumbler in the morning and let it run all day while I am at work, or throw it in at night and get it out in the morning.

Fairly clean brass I just shot will come clean in a couple of hours easily.

My tumbler's out back in the shed.I have forgotten a batch for days before.

 

[ants]

It's up to you. No damage will occur.

We reloaded for 20 years before some genius started using the gemologist's rock tumbler to clean brass. As long as your brass doesn't contain sand or grit, you don't even need to tumble.

So I tumble anywhere from 45 to 75 minutes, depending upon condition, and they are clean. I truly admire reloaders who like shiny brass, it is a sign of a healthy pride in their hobby. But I don't need shiny cases, so I just get them clean with a brief tumble.

I once picked up dark brown brass that had baked nearly black in the desert sun for a couple years. I tumbled them 4 hours, but they were still black. I tumbled another 18 hours, no change. So I soaked them 3 minutes in Birchwood Casey brass cleaner, then tumbled for 2 hours. They came out shiny and perfect!

The length of time is up to you. No damage will occur. You make your own personal decision and follow through. There is no right or wrong, regardless of how loudly someone shouts it.

 

[Mt Shooter]

I run mine over night/day in walnut. Then load then 2 hours in corn cob w/nu finish. Nice and shiny, I just know shiny ones shoot better.

 

[Shibumi]

"I will throw a batch of range brass in the tumbler in the morning and let it run all day while I am at work, or throw it in at night and get it out in the morning."



Me too...

I also use Brasso and it looks brand-new when done, also with no ill effects.

...even on the dreaded much-fabled voodoo-cursed .40 caliber Glock brass...

 

[RustyFN]

I threw a bunch of 45 brass in and left them overnight. When I took them out the next day they were the size of 9mm. I like my brass shiny because it makes it easier to find them in the gravel at the range. I add Nu Finish car polish to ground walnut and tumble for two hours. They come out looking like new. Also add a used dryer sheet or paper towel cut into 10 or 12 pieces and add that to the tumbler to help keep the media clean.
Rusty

 

[Griz44]

I put a cheap Walmart timer on my tumbler. I set it for 5 hours. I kick it on when I go to bed, I have nice brass in the morning.

 

[mswestfall]

4-8 hours in corn cob here.

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I run mine on an average of six hours.

And....I would NEVER put Brasso in mine.

 

[jhansman]

I just tumbled a mess of once-fired LC .223 I got off Gunbroker, and it was easily the dirtiest brass I've ever bought. A long vinegar soak and 4 hrs. of new walnut with a dryer sheet tossed in did not get it completely clean, and I'll probably have to give a couple of hours in corn cob once it's trimmed and chamfered.

 

[ForneyRider]

2 hours in corn cob with Flitz brass cleaner/polish stuff.

Looks great. Brasso wasn't as clean or nice as the Flitz.

I might get some Nu Finish. 7$ for a big bottle, where a little bottle of Flitz was 6$.

 

[ZeSpectre]

2-3 hours depending on how dirty it looks.
Corncob media that has been conditioned with a good squirt of Meguiar's "Cleaner Wax" (let it mix well before adding brass or it'll clump all up inside the brass).

A quick wipe after tumbling and the brass is SHINY and doesn't take fingerprints from handling. (I've got that evil "red head" body chemistry that tries to etch all metal that I touch INCLUDING brass).

 

[amlevin]

I usually tumble my brass until my wife says "what's that noise in the garage". I then go and strain the brass from the media. Sometimes 2-3 hours, sometimes 6-8 hours. Seems like more than three hours doesn't add much using corncob and Nu-Finish Car Wax

 

[USSR]

Since I tumble 25,000 or more pieces of brass each year, I have found a way to cut down the tumbling time to 1 hour; simply add 1 tablespoon of a scouring powder such as Comet or Ajax to your walnut media.

Don

 

[qajaq59]

Since I tumble 25,000 or more pieces of brass each year, I have found a way to cut down the tumbling time to 1 hour; simply add 1 tablespoon of a scouring powder such as Comet or Ajax to your walnut media.

Could there be any chemicals in those cleaners that might weaken the brass? If not, it sure sounds like a good idea.

 

[amlevin]

Since I tumble 25,000 or more pieces of brass each year, I have found a way to cut down the tumbling time to 1 hour; simply add 1 tablespoon of a scouring powder such as Comet or Ajax to your walnut media.

Could there be any chemicals in those cleaners that might weaken the brass? If not, it sure sounds like a good idea.

Chlorine is usually present in both of these products. This can cause a "patina" to form on the brass if it is subject to any moisture. In short, you may have a lot of shiny, but green, brass if conditions are right. I would recommend a cleaner that does not have any chlorine compounds in it. Perhaps Bon Ami? Read the labels to be sure.