Using rubbing alcohol in my vibratory tumbler

[ballman6711]

I wanted to try adding rubbing alcohol to my vibratory tumbler based on everything I've read. My normal mix is about 50/50 walnut and corn, with a bit of car wax added in. This time I added a bit of rubbing alcohol, about a teaspoon. I usually run the tumbler about two hours, and did the same for this test.

let’s see the results! and enjoy the aroma of Wax, alcohol, and carbon !!!

And now I have the results.

To be honest, I do see a difference with the alcohol vs. without.

Pros:
1) The brass is a bit shinier, but only just a bit. I had to look at it under a bright light to see the difference.
2) It does feel cleaner. No dust residue on the cases that I can feel. No waxy residue.

Cons:
1) The clear lid on my tumbler had moisture on the inside from the alcohol trying to evaporate, making it difficult to see the motion of the brass inside.
2) It stank when I opened it. Not a bad stink, but a stink. I smoke, and if I can smell it, it's strong.
3) The brass didn't have that waxy/greasy feel that it normally has when removed from the tumbler. This may mean that the brass won't last as long without tarnishing, but that is another topic.

Other notes:
I won't change my media. I don't feel that the rubbing alcohol had any great positive effect. I also don't feel that it had any great negative effect, other than not leaving the car wax on the brass.

Conclusion:
I most likely won't do the rubbing alcohol again. It may have it's benefits, but for my loading practices I don't see a benefit.

If anyone cares, it was 91% rubbing alcohol. Different percentages may perform differently.

chris

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I wanted to try adding rubbing alcohol to my vibratory tumbler based on everything I've read. My normal mix is about 50/50 walnut and corn, with a bit of car wax added in. This time I added a bit of rubbing alcohol, about a teaspoon. I usually run the tumbler about two hours, and did the same for this test.



And now I have the results.

To be honest, I do see a difference with the alcohol vs. without.

Pros:
1) The brass is a bit shinier, but only just a bit. I had to look at it under a bright light to see the difference.
2) It does feel cleaner. No dust residue on the cases that I can feel. No waxy residue.

Cons:
1) The clear lid on my tumbler had moisture on the inside from the alcohol trying to evaporate, making it difficult to see the motion of the brass inside.
2) It stank when I opened it. Not a bad stink, but a stink. I smoke, and if I can smell it, it's strong.
3) The brass didn't have that waxy/greasy feel that it normally has when removed from the tumbler. This may mean that the brass won't last as long without tarnishing, but that is another topic.

Other notes:
I won't change my media. I don't feel that the rubbing alcohol had any great positive effect. I also don't feel that it had any great negative effect, other than not leaving the car wax on the brass.

Conclusion:
I most likely won't do the rubbing alcohol again. It may have it's benefits, but for my loading practices I don't see a benefit.

If anyone cares, it was 91% rubbing alcohol. Different percentages may perform differently.

chris

Good info, thanks!

 

[Mark_Mark]

I wanted to try adding rubbing alcohol to my vibratory tumbler based on everything I've read. My normal mix is about 50/50 walnut and corn, with a bit of car wax added in. This time I added a bit of rubbing alcohol, about a teaspoon. I usually run the tumbler about two hours, and did the same for this test.



And now I have the results.

To be honest, I do see a difference with the alcohol vs. without.

Pros:
1) The brass is a bit shinier, but only just a bit. I had to look at it under a bright light to see the difference.
2) It does feel cleaner. No dust residue on the cases that I can feel. No waxy residue.

Cons:
1) The clear lid on my tumbler had moisture on the inside from the alcohol trying to evaporate, making it difficult to see the motion of the brass inside.
2) It stank when I opened it. Not a bad stink, but a stink. I smoke, and if I can smell it, it's strong.
3) The brass didn't have that waxy/greasy feel that it normally has when removed from the tumbler. This may mean that the brass won't last as long without tarnishing, but that is another topic.

Other notes:
I won't change my media. I don't feel that the rubbing alcohol had any great positive effect. I also don't feel that it had any great negative effect, other than not leaving the car wax on the brass.

Conclusion:
I most likely won't do the rubbing alcohol again. It may have it's benefits, but for my loading practices I don't see a benefit.

If anyone cares, it was 91% rubbing alcohol. Different percentages may perform differently.

chris

Teaspoon! lol I literally use a stiff pour. I also tumble outside incase my tumbler nukes! Try tumbling outside, no cigarettes, and a very stiff pour!

If not all good! good write up!

 

[FROGO207]

I do this with about a quarter cup of mineral spirits and pour it in as the media is moving. Let it run 10 min before adding brass. It seems to keep the media usable for a longer time befor needing to change it.

 

[RKRCPA]

I've been using straight walnut shell media for going on 40 years now and have never felt a need to add anything. What am I missing?

 

[Mark_Mark]

I've been using straight walnut shell media for going on 40 years now and have never felt a need to add anything. What am I missing?

an amazing smell of smoky alcohol and carbon

 

[ballman6711]

I've been using straight walnut shell media for going on 40 years now and have never felt a need to add anything. What am I missing?

I started with corncob media and polish made for brass (no ammonia). Once I learned to put the polish in and let it run for awhile before adding brass, it worked well. But it took a few hours. Ran out of polish and started using a liquid car wax that I had on hand.

When I changed my media for the first time, I switched over to walnut and wax. Cut my time in half but didn't shine the brass as much.

My next change was to try walnut and corncob mixed (about 50/50) with wax. Most of my brass is clean and shiny in about an hour, but I usually let it run for about two hours to make sure it's all shiny.

The polish (and now the wax) puts a bit of a film on the brass, which has two purposes. It helps prevent tarnish and it lubes the cases making them run a bit smoother through the press. I still lube all my brass before sizing although carbide dies could be used without the lube.

Try it for yourself if you want, and use what works best for you.

chris

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I use mineral spirits and mothers chrome polish. It's cheaper than new finish per ounce.

 

[lightman]

I'm another that adds mineral spirits. Have never tried alcohol. I pour a couple of cap full into the media as evenly as I can, add a couple cap full of automotive polish and run for 15 minutes or so or long enough to mix it. I can't tell much if any difference in the brass but there is less dust.

When ever I run out of mineral spirits I'll probably go back to using a dryer sheet. I mostly wet tumble now days and only dry tumble to remove case lube. I use corncob as a media.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I use fine ground corn cob and Nu Finish car wax. I have brass that has been stored for 20 years and they are still shinny. That's what RKRCPA is missing

 

[mdi]

Just a thought; alcohol and mineral spirits are solvents. They will thin, liquify, break down wax, grease, etc. But the thinned gunk stays in the media. Where/how would that affect dirty media? Encapsule it to keep it "suspended" in the media and away from brass? Jes thinkin' out loud...

I use auto wax just for the thin waxy film remaining mainly for tarnish protection and maybe a little lubrication.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Used dryer sheets help with the gunk.

 

[ballman6711]

Used dryer sheets help with the gunk.

And the dust. I do all the laundry here and usually forget to use dryer sheets. So if I don't have them it's all on me!

chris

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Used dryer sheets help with the gunk.

Color Catchers work well too.

 

[ballman6711]

Color Catchers work well too.

What is a "color catcher"? Forgive my ignorance but I've never heard that term.

chris

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

What is a "color catcher"? Forgive my ignorance but I've never heard that term.

chris

It a brand name. They’re washer sheets that attract dies to prevent bleeding of color in the wash. You know, wash red socks with white socks and you end up with pink socks.

 

[ballman6711]

Thank you for the info.

You know, wash red socks with white socks and you end up with pink socks.

Yes, I know. Except in my case I washed red handkerchiefs with white underwear. I learned how to do laundry in my early teens. I will say gym class was a little tough sometimes in high school, we didn't have enough money to buy me any new white underwear.

Let's just say if you're gonna' be dumb you gotta be tough!

chris

 

[Mark_Mark]

Thank you for the info.



Yes, I know. Except in my case I washed red handkerchiefs with white underwear. I learned how to do laundry in my early teens. I will say gym class was a little tough sometimes in high school, we didn't have enough money to buy me any new white underwear.

Let's just say if you're gonna' be dumb you gotta be tough!

chris

Sound like a Bud Light moment! lol

 

[ballman6711]

Sound like a Bud Light moment! lol

LOL!!! But no, just no.

I had to stand up and face off against four of them, the biggest was nicknamed moose! And he was one big dude, especially since I was only about 135# at the time. They laughed a bit, but none of them wanted to try me. I had a bit of a reputation for standing up for myself, even though I sometimes took a few licks.

Anyway, lets keep it on topic so we don't get it closed, unless that's what everyone wants.

chris

 

[Mark_Mark]

Back on topic! I have aircraft paint stripper. Wonder what that would do to cleaning brass!!!!

 

[DanK3Pos]

Sound like a Bud Light moment! lol

Speaking of beer, you could probably use it in a wet tumbler. Has a fairly high acidic level. Bud Light, specifically, is 4.33. Cheaper than LemiShine? I don't know. Certainly more sticky.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Speaking of beer, you could probably use it in a wet tumbler. Has a fairly high acidic level. Bud Light, specifically, is 4.33. Cheaper than LemiShine? I don't know. Certainly more sticky.

Now your talking!!!!! Wet tumble with A gallon if rubbing alcohol!

 

[ballman6711]

Back on topic! I have aircraft paint stripper. Wonder what that would do to cleaning brass!!!!

Try it and see. Wear gloves when handling, LOL!

Speaking of beer, you could probably use it in a wet tumbler. Has a fairly high acidic level. Bud Light, specifically, is 4.33. Cheaper than LemiShine? I don't know. Certainly more sticky.

Wouldn't waste a beer tumbling brass. And I drink Budweiser, not Bud Lite.

Might be an interesting experiment though, just not MY experiment.

chris

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Back on topic! I have aircraft paint stripper. Wonder what that would do to cleaning brass!!!!

It’s probably 90% methyl ethyl ketone. Don’t worry about the brass, worry about your liver.

 

[Mark_Mark]

It’s probably 90% methyl ethyl ketone. Don’t worry about the brass, worry about your liver.

WOW! that toxic