DMF38
Member
How much lead is in used tumbler media? Are there any other toxins in it? I always strain out the media in a ventilated area, but I wonder how dangerous it is to be exposed to the stuff?
Tumbling dangers?
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plexreticle
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- Oct 8, 2006
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Unless you eat it you wont have any problems. Wash your hands after handling it and you'll be fine.
Pumpkinheaver
Member
As stated above, wash after handleing the stuff and try not to breath the dust you'll be OK.
Sunray
Member
The media is crush corn cobs or walnut shells. No lead. Any toxins will be in the dust left in the tumbler. Very likely no lead there either. It's powder residue.
The Bushmaster
Member
Oh I LOVE these guys DMF38...I really do...Do as they have advised and you will live to be a hundred...Unless an airplane lands on you.
snuffy
Member
Yes there's lead present. The primer compound is composed of lead styphonate. The inside of any case,(except the non-toxic loads), has some of the primer residue on them, and if you deprime before tumbling, the residue is exposed to the tumbling media.
Don't breath the dust, of course wash your hands after handling ANY tumbling media or the brass itself. As far as that goes, hand washing is recommended after any reloading session.
AmbulanceDriver
Member
As a personal preference
I rather do my tumbling outside whenever possible. Some people state that there is no danger, etc. But other tests (can't remember by whom) have shown that the dust from tumbling sets a lead dust detector (?) to screaming. So I do my tumbling outside, separate out my brass, transfer the media back to its ziploc bag, then take everything back inside. Again, this is a personal preference, as I'd rather minimize my exposure to lead dust.
Found the post:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2764479&postcount=12
I rather do my tumbling outside whenever possible. Some people state that there is no danger, etc. But other tests (can't remember by whom) have shown that the dust from tumbling sets a lead dust detector (?) to screaming. So I do my tumbling outside, separate out my brass, transfer the media back to its ziploc bag, then take everything back inside. Again, this is a personal preference, as I'd rather minimize my exposure to lead dust.
Found the post:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2764479&postcount=12
Last edited:
The Bushmaster
Member
Certainly...If you put the damned detector right in the media.... My tumbler is in my shop under the house. Everything else is in my Gun Room. There isn't enough lead in the air when tumbling with the cover on and very little escapes into the room when you open the tumbler after turning it off (I don't even bother to do that). This lead problem has been a paranoid discussion on every web site I have ever visited. Sure lead isn't good for you, but you would have to injest a whole lot of media to have any effect on an adult (we have already developed all the brain power we will ever develope. It's the kids you really have to worry about. They are still developing. I have spent over 45 years dealing with lead in the occupation that I have chosen. Heavy Diesel (The Big ones) and I'm still O K. Yup...I'm O K. Really...I'm O K.
Like it has been explained above...WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU PUT THEM INTO YOUR MOUTH...And if you plan to eat, wash them then too. Just how many times has your Mother told you that in the first place...:banghead:
Like it has been explained above...WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU PUT THEM INTO YOUR MOUTH...And if you plan to eat, wash them then too. Just how many times has your Mother told you that in the first place...:banghead:
OP
OP
DMF38
Member
Thanks for the advice everyone. I've been tumbling on my back porch, and straining the media there too (with the windows open). From now on when I'm done tumbling, I think I'll strain the media outside.
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