How often do you change tumbling media?

[StrutStopper]

Just curious, I have been using walnut reptile bedding in my case tumbler. I'm not sure if I've ever changed the media. I haven't reloaded a ton (a few thousand rounds maybe?) I do notice a lot of dust when I remove my brass, so I always remove brass from the tumbler outdoors. I was planning to change out the media before I do another batch, maybe add some polish and used dryer sheet just to try. I haven't really tried to get my brass super shiny to this point, just a general cleaning. So, before I ramble any more than I already have, how often or how many rounds to you tumble before you change out your media? Is there some tell-tale sign that it's time to change?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I add used dryer sheets into the media to keep it clean and that works well.

Media when new has sharp corners and that's what cleans the brass. When those corners round off from use the media doesn't work well. When the media starts taking a very long time to clean the brass I change it out...

The dust is because you are using reptile bedding instead of media meant for cleaning brass. I do too because of costs. If you add a teaspoon or two of Mineral Spirits to the media it cuts the dust a lot. (each use)

 

[gonoles_1980]

I don't change it that often, I use used dryer sheets to keep it clean. I use the walnut lizard bedding for the first cleaning, then corn media with brass polish for the last cleaning after depriming.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't change it that often, I use used dryer sheets to keep it clean. I use the walnut lizard bedding for the first cleaning, then corn media with brass polish for the last cleaning after depriming.

I only clean the brass once before sizing/depriming. I see no reason to do it twice but you're not alone, there are many that do as you do.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I do it the 2nd time for two reasons. The first is to clean the lube off the cases from when I sized/deprimed and second is to clean the primer hole. It's probably more than needed, but I don't think it hurts. I am getting ready to toss the corn cob media, it's started to seem like it's getting rounded to much and getting heavy from the brass cleaner residual.

 

[Blue68f100]

The only time I change mine is when it starts taking 1+hr to clean over the the base 2hr std run. So if it's taking 3+ hrs to clean I change the media. I use a 50/50 mix of corncob/Walnut Hulls blast media. Using blast media you have less dust, and better cleaning properties. Pet bedding is all the scrap that is left over after all the good is removed. I'm not looking for a high polish, I just want the brass clean. Shooting 10k/yrs I'm able to run 2+ years on blast media. I do add NuFinish car polish and cut up paper shop towels.

 

[joem1945]

If you have a vib tumbler and dust problem, take the tumbler outside, cover off. Run a box fan behind it and turn on the tumbler. Gets rid of most of the dust.

 

[StrutStopper]

Good idea on the fan to cut down on dust. I think I may still have a bag of corn cob media that came with the tumbler. I suppose that might be less dusty. I'm sure I've got a container of mineral spirits I can try too.

 

[ScratchnDent]

I think I may be the only guy left in North America whom does not tumble his brass. I just wash it in a bucket of hot soapy water, rinse, and air dry. Precision rifle rounds may get a little polishing with 0000 steel wool every 2nd or 3rd loading.

 

[cfullgraf]

I change my tumbling media when it does not clean well any more. That is usually when it gets loaded up with case lubricant.

It is probably about once per year and I clean 5000-6000 cases per year using two tumblers.

 

[GBExpat]

The Corn Cob Media that is in my oldest vibratory cleaner has been in there at least 10 years. O'course, I do not use it to remove case lube and I always keep used-dryer-sheet-pieces circulating.

Cases plus loaded ammo, it has probably cleaned more than 5000 but less than 10000 pieces ... and it still appears to be in good shape, so ... not yet.

 

[sauer1911]

I also use walnut media, and it is so friggin hard that it will never wear out.

When it gets so dirty, dark grey to black, and dryer sheets wont help, I take it all, pour it in a Pillow case. NOW be sure to check with your wife before you take the pillow case, cause your gonna ruin it.

So, walnut media in the pillowcase, pillowcase slips into a 5gal bucket. Warm water and a SMALL amount of low suds soap, woolite, laundry etc. stir it up real good lift the pillowcase out of the bucket and let the dirty water and soap drain out. Rinse, repeat, maybe 3-4 times.

with the media still in the draining pillowcase, lay it out flat in the sun. spread the case so it is its rectangle shape and "fluff" the media out to a even layer to dry. lift and shake the case every couple of hours til dry, putting it back on the concrete each time.

Make sure the media is dry before you store, so it doesn't get moldy funky.

I dont mind spending good money on my shooting, I just dont wanna waste it!

be safe

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm all for saving money. I have been called frugal and been called down-right-cheap and I can't deny it but to spend all that time trying to clean worn out media when the price of new media is so low, even I wouldn't do it...

 

[Mike Kerr]

I prefer corn media. It starts out yellow in color. Add Some polish. When it turns gray I add some more polish. When it turns gray-black I change the media. Several hours of tumbling time, I'm sure, but I don't measure it exactly.

You can use the gray black media longer but I usually don't.

regards,

 

[rcmodel]

walnut media, and it is so friggin hard that it will never wear out.

Wrong!

It does wear out when the sharp edges wear off round.

Yes, it will still clean brass.
But it takes twice as long.

So the money you saved cleaning & washing worn out media is wasted on a bigger electric bill.
Running the tumbler twice as long as otherwise would be necessary with fresh sharp media.

rc

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm all for saving money. I have been called frugal and been called down-right-cheap and I can't deny it but to spend all that time trying to clean worn out media when the price of new media is so low, even I wouldn't do it...

Right!

 

[JonB]

I just tumbled a batch of 9mm. A little over an hour and they were clean enough for storage until i get around to them. Media is the green walnut stuff and i havent changed it in years. Depends on usage i guess. And i do the dryer sheet trick every batch. Big reason for me to tumble is it keeps my dies clean (er). I gave up on trying to keep brass shiny for a long time, plus it shoots the same whether shiny or dull.

 

[Toprudder]

I never change my media. But then I wet tumble.

 

[konertjm]

From TopRudder: I never change my media. But then I wet tumble.


+1

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

I use mineral spirits and used dryer sheets as described above. Just be sure if you do the mineral spirits, you don't forget to take the brass out of the tumbler... had a bunch of 9mm brass that got light corrosion after I forgot about it for a month. Never had that happen before I started using the mineral spirits.

My first batch of corn cob media lasted me a year or so, second batch I kept around WAY too long (had to leave the tumbler on for 5 or 6 hours to get clean brass). Now I'm using walnut media, change it when it takes more than an hour or two.

 

[carbine85]

I use Lizard Litter and can't remember the last time changed it. It's been a long time. The last time I was going to change it I ended up using the Lizard Litter to fill one of my bench rest bags.

 

[Rule3]

Wrong!

It does wear out when the sharp edges wear off round.

Yes, it will still clean brass.
But it takes twice as long.

So the money you saved cleaning & washing worn out media is wasted on a bigger electric bill.
Running the tumbler twice as long as otherwise would be necessary with fresh sharp media.

rc

But, but wait! Where is the guy that has been loading for 37 years and never changed his media.?? Or the one who puts it in a bag and washes it in the family clothes washer??

For the OP here is just a partial search of this topic/subject. You should be able to clean brass in 2 hrs or less of tumbling. If not change it. You can see it gets dirty. Buy in bulk and it's almost FREE, 40 lbs of walnut from Harbor Freight.

http://www.thehighroad.org/search.php?searchid=13242757

Can we make media,tumbling, cleaning methods a sticky?????

 

[Paddy]

I just went back to rice again. Much less dust and I don't think it will ever wear out. I put a bit of rouge in with it and tumble a bit. Seems to work great.

 

[GLOOB]

I'm all for saving money. I have been called frugal and been called down-right-cheap and I can't deny it but to spend all that time trying to clean worn out media when the price of new media is so low, even I wouldn't do it...

I'm not too cheap to clean my media. FF to 3:00. Jerry Miculek isn't too cheap, either. Maybe he doesn't know about Drillspot. Or lizard pet bedding. Or maybe he has found out that cleaning media is actually very efficient use of your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5y_dsP3dsM

It is ridiculously fast to clean media. I just put all my media (about a tumbler and a half's worth of corn cob) in a large plastic bag with a few cups of clean water, mash it around a bit, then I twist up the top and squeeze. The water runs out black. Then dump it into a tray and leave in the sun to dry. I only do this maybe a couple times a year. I'll buy more media when I finally run down to only a tumbler full.

It does wear out when the sharp edges wear off round.

I have not found this to be the case, at least with corn cob. It doesn't matter how rounded the media is, the way I use it. The mineral spirits removes the carbon deposits. And the polish shines up the brass.

That said, I don't tumble my brass to make it shiny. I tumble only long enough to dry the brass after washing it in hot, soapy water. That's about 45 min to an hour, typically. It depends on the season and how big and wet the load of brass it. By the time the media and brass is dry to touch, the cases are smooth, clean, and even-looking, but not actually bright yellow like new brass - unless I left the tumbler running while out and about for a few hours. They're basically clean and shiny, but a very slight, even layer of tarnish that formed while they were washed/tumbled will still remain. If I want to load them right away, I will follow that by putting them in the oven for an hour to make sure the primer pockets are dried, thoroughly. Or I leave them in an open top container for a few days before packing them up.

For a time, I just washed and dried in the oven, but that leaves a lot of streaking and uneven, dark tarnish if you don't wash them real thoroughly; I don't wash them real thoroughly. Really tarnished brass looks kinda neat, though. I have a couple of batches of brass for revolvers and bolt actions that hasn't been tumbled in years. They look a little like steel case Russian ammo from a distance.

 

[Rule3]

I'm not too cheap to clean my media. FF to 3:00. Jerry Miculek isn't too cheap, either. Maybe he doesn't know about Drillspot. Or lizard pet bedding. Or maybe he has found out that cleaning media is actually very efficient use of your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5y_dsP3dsM



.

Where is he cleaning media?


Perhaps you missed the part of Jerrys video that he washes and dries the brass, then TUMBLES (polish) then trims and Tumbles again.

Washing .10 cents of media ? Really?