Newb question about tumblers

[hadmanysons]

Question 1: How long do you tumble your brass for, say after normal use?
Question 2: How do you know when you need to change the media?
Question 3: What is the difference between walnut and corn cob media?

 

[Fatelvis]

Question 1) If the brass was just fired and is just a little dirty from soot and has no tarnish marks, I run it about 2-4 hours with Midway's cleaning liquid and corn cob media. If it still isnt shiney, let it run until it is.
Question 2) The media will get progressively darker as it gets dirtier. I change corn cob media when it goes from a light tan to a dark brown. It still cleans when its dirty, but takes longer.
Question 3) Walnut cleans "deeper", and is better for tarnished cases, or very dirty cases, but doesn't produce a high shine like corn cob does. It leaves the brass clean, but has more of a matte finish.
Corn cob media cleans moderately dirty cases just fine, and leaves a brilliant high gloss shine when done.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Q1) 1 1/2 hrs in walnut and Nu Finish
The other two were answered for you.

Dave

 

[medalguy]

If it's really dirty I run it in walnut to clean it, along with a couple of cut-up dryer sheets to trap any dirt and crud. You'd be surprised how much crap you can remove that way. After loading I run it in corncob to polish and remove any lube. I add a capful of NuFinish polish and a capful or so of mineral spirits.

The walnut I can run a long, long time with the dryer sheets and I load a LOT of brass. The corncob I replace about every 3 months or 50 tumbler loads, because of the lube mostly, not dirt.

 

[LiveLife]

For indoor range brass, 20-30 minutes in untreated walnut media gets them clean enough for me to size/deprime them. If I want shiny cases, I tumble them further in treated walnut/corn media for 30 minutes to 1+ hour.

 

[RustyFN]

Question 1: How long do you tumble your brass for, say after normal use?

I tumble mine for 1.5 hours in walnut with 1/2 cap full of Nu Finish car polish and a paper towel tore into around eight pieces. I like mine shiny because it makes it a lot easier to find them in the gravel at the out door range I shoot at.

Question 2: How do you know when you need to change the media?

For me when it starts to take 2 to 2.5 hours to do the same job it only used to take 1.5 hours to do then I change it.

Question 3: What is the difference between walnut and corn cob media?

I haven't used corn yet but I bought a big bag from Grainger and will be trying a walnut/corn mix in the near future. My understanding is with corn the brass will come out more shiny but it takes longer than walnut. That's why I'm going to try the mix.

 

[Walkalong]

I tumble overnight for range brass. For my loaded and fired cases 2 to 4 hours is the norm. It doesn't have to be real shiny, just clean, so 1 hour would be enough 99% of the time.

Walnut cleans faster, and is good for really bad brass. Corncob shines better. I just use corncob now. If a case or two doesn't come clean, it goes in the next batch that gets tumbled, until it does.

I change the media when it gets too dirty to hold more crud. It will be obvious after a while.

 

[HOWARD J]

[/URL][/IMG]

Some day when you have nothing to do--get a steel rod from the hardware store--a little larger than the opening of your shell case--cut the steel down so that it fits inside the case-- install rod in drill press--stick shell case on rod-turn on press & hold a piece of steel wool around case as it spins--it will shine better than gold---
Also great for old cases...............................

 

[ranger335v]

"Question 1: How long do you tumble your brass for, say after normal use?

It's a results type thing, not by the clock. Stop when it looks the way you want. You'll learn very quickly.


"Question 2: How do you know when you need to change the media?"

When it quits working after a reasonable lenght of time. Again, you'll learn quickly. And only use maybe 10% of the added polish you will think is right or you'll clog the media fast.


"Question 3: What is the difference between walnut and corn cob media? "

Precious little really; both work, both do the job. Some guys get so up tight about it they mix the stuff just to make sure they get it right!

 

[hadmanysons]

Thanks for all the responses guys. All very thorough answers.

 

[bullseye308]

Late to the party again.
1. about 2 hours or so with walnut and 1 capful of nufinish.
2. when they don't come clean in 3 hours. You can "revive" it a time or two with 2 capfuls of mineral spirits though.
3. walnut cleans deeper than cob due to it being harder and more abrasive. Cobb polishes it more due to it being "softer".

You can get a light timer to run the tumbler for a pre-set amount of time if you like.
Get one bottle of Nufinish car polish from wallymart and it will last you a lifetime unless you go into the brass cleaning business. You can even use some on your car.
Add a USED dryer sheet cut into 1" squares every 3-5 loads. It will remove lots of dust and other nasties.
Wash your hands after handling tumbling media or anything it has come into contact with. Remember, safety first.
Honestly, the brass only needs to be cleaned. It doesn't have to shine to load. That doesn't mean mine doesn't shine it means that it is a preference. Sure it looks nice, but you can determine how clean you need it.

 

[ljnowell]

I use corn cob and NuFinish. With cases that are just mildly dirty I have been able to tumble for no more than a half hour to get good shiney brass. I usually let it go around two hours though. I once had some grimey brass I tumbled for 10 hours. Wow, it would blind you in the sunlight.

 

[FROGO207]

If my brass is really tarnished or dirty I will dip it in Iosso Case Cleaner first. Rinse well then polish as usual. This step will cut the tumble time by 1/2 most times. I DO like my brass bright and sparkling. I am convinced it shoots 1/2 MOA better.

 

[ljnowell]

If my brass is really tarnished or dirty I will dip it in Iosso Case Cleaner first. Rinse well then polish as usual. This step will cut the tumble time by 1/2 most times. I DO like my brass bright and sparkling. I am convinced it shoots 1/2 MOA better.

I have never used that, but hear from lots of people that do. I might have to try it sometime though, I have a bunch of old 45acp brass that would be good to experiment with.

 

[FROGO207]

Iosso will give you a bright satiny finish not unlike bead blasting will. It will polish out lots quicker than that dark tarnish that is on some brass. Some say that it will shorten the life of the brass. In all the time(8yrs) that I have used it there seems to be no problems with any of my cleaned brass. If you leave it in way too long however it will eat up the brass.

 

[Peter_S]

I had a little left over on a Cabelas gift card and added a bottle of Flitz to my order. It cut my tumbling time in half. I go 2 - 3 hours with walnut from Petsmart.

Granted, I've not used Nufinish, I used to put a little mineral spirit into the walnut, but the smell sucked.