Brass cleaning with vibrator

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rog8732

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Using walnut shell media, (in vibrator, not tumbler) how many cycles do you normally get before dumping and starting with fresh media ?

I use the cap full of the supplied liquid, that supposedly "renews" the stuff, but does it ?

I also took the hint / advice of a range friend and run a used fabric softer cloth for the last 15 minutes of cleaning. It does come out blackened, so it may be helping clean and shine.

Thanks
 
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The used fabric softener in the media gives the powder residue something to stick to so it doesn't accumulate as fast in your tumbler.

I get a LOT of brass clean in a single fill of walnut shell with added polishing compound. Not sure of the number of cases cleaned (many ten-thousands).

I switched to lizard bedding a while back and have no intention of switching back to tumbler media. It gets dark pretty pretty quick (1k cases or so) once the polish is worked through but if I stay up on the dryer sheets it's not too dusty.

I also use automotive car polish, not the "case tumbler specific" stuff. You have to be careful on this as some polishes have chemicals that will etch brass. A basic liquid polishing compound like One Shot or similar works well and I do have to add more polish from time to time.

Just my $0.02 but that's what works well for me
 
I'm going to try the dryer sheets! I get 3 full loads of use out of my tumbler. Whatever that constitutes.
 
Corn cob media shines better than Walnut. Walnut is more for really dirty brass.

You do not need a USED dryer sheet. A piece of blue (heavy)paper towel or a cotton rag with some liquid car wax or mineral spirits will work just as well.

Just do not use a FEW dryer sheet it will gun up your brass.

As far as how long the media lasts it all depends on how many pieces you put in and how dirty they are.

Media is so cheap it is worth changing it frequently it also works better and faster,The edges of the media get worn and "dull"

Forget the guys that claim they have the same media for years, it is a false sense of economy. Maybe they turn their underwear inside out to get longer wearing before washing:D;)
You save what?? Less that .50 cents??
 
I get two full batches out of a tumbler full of media. It becomes too dirty to work effectively after that. Will probably clean more, but at the sake of the tumbler running longer and longer. It is cheap enough to buy, and can clean about 4,000 cases with a $3 bag corn bedding from Walmart.

Glad this thread wasn't what I thought the title was saying.
 
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Yup... I switched over to corn cob media after my first run of walnut and discovering how it generates the dust film from the shells breaking down.

Once you switch away from walnut media, you'll never look back.
 
OK, for probably over 100 posts on this. Buy your corn media from Zoro it is $31 for 40 lbs plus $5 delivery, Free shipping if you buy over $50. 20/40 grit

Value Brand Blast Media, Corn Cob, 20 to 40 Grit 526040G-40 | Zoro.com

If you want walnut, go to Harbor Freight junk and buy 20 lbs or whatever it is.

The corn pet bedding is to coarse and the Zilla Walnut is too expensive. Anything in a pet store is expensive,

I have two bags of the corn (different grit) which will last me for several lifetimes,plus the walnut from Harbor Junk.

If you change your media and add some form of polish it will be as clean and shiny as it needs to be and you will not need to go through the hassle of wet tumbling, SS pins, magnets drying and buying a expensive set up, but if you insist on surgically clean brass go for it.;)
 
I found with corn cob media, I could get about 25 cycles before it no longer cleaned, and that is with adding polish and dryer sheets. If I was cleaning rifle cases after sizing with case lube, about half that. That said, I would imagine that walnut would last longer due to it's being harder.

Cleaning the residue out of the bowl will also extend media life.
 
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Depends on how dirty the brass is, but my tumbler runs almost every week 4-5hrs. I add a 1/2cap of nu-finish every 3-4 cycles & a use dryer sheet every cycle. I swap media out when it takes longer than 4hr to get the clean I want. That is about once a year.
 
I use ground walnut media impregnated with Jeweler's Rouge. I can't say how long it lasts because I keep using it until my hands get filthy from separating the brass from the media. I'm guessing close to a thousand rounds, if not more.

It will depend on how dirty your brass is, how large the cases are, and how many cases you clean at one time.
 
I switched from corn corn to crushed walnut and never looked back. I add some Iosso came polish to cut down on the dust. Ever spent an evening cleaning corn cob media out of .223 cases? I have, not fun.

I can't tell you how long the walnut will last, but when it gets too dirty, I'll change it. How long is that? Well, when my normal run time doesn't result in clean cases.
 
I've used walnut media with jewelers rouge for years. I bought a pint of jewelers rouge forty years ago and haven't run out. I tried corn cob media, but didn't last. I replace the walnut media about once a year. I did have to do an emergency replacement when the cat discovered that the walnut media made good litter.
 
What criteria do you use to determine when the brass is clean? If you want to polish your brass then that is an entirely different matter.
 
I bought a box of ?Hornady?or some mfgs actual cleaning media a couple years ago. IIRC it is mostly med. coarse walnut shell they have you add a bit of powdered ?ceramic? dust.

Yes it does make a mess unless you have a lid on your vibrating turbo cleaner. So far I'm impressed.

The only cases I care to clean with the ultra sonic gizmo, is the Black Powder stuff. Works great there.
 
My 2 Cents!

Look I have read these posts and I thought that I would add some thoughts. First over the 50 years that I have reloaded I have gone from the old Timbler Tumblers to the more modern type. Over the years I have used walnut and corn cob. They both do a great job. I have bought polish to add and used them dry. I guess that I am one of the pie in the sky guys as I usually use either media for many cycles. One trick I have learned is to not use case lube that is greasy. I use one shot or something like it. If the media gets oily I throw in a couple of paper towels. I have bought parrot cage corn cob. It all works but some of the walnut seems to be the perfect size to plug the flash hole.

Most any media will work. Heck some use cat litter. Any mag wheel polish without ammonia will work as an additive. Try them all. If you choose to buy media every couple of months well have at it! If you want the media to last try the paper towels as they get greasy in no time. Good Luck!
 
Lizard bedding (walnut). Nothing else needed . . . no dryer sheets, no additives. Maybe because all my tumbling needs to do is remove firing residues. Lasts a lonnnnnng time.

Don't see any tumbler dust to speak of - maybe because it is lizard bedding? I'm no Zoologist, but dusty bedding might be bad for lizards :)
 
In addition to all the practical advise provided; allow me to add another idea. In an effort to contain the dust that still came through the gridded cover on my Lyman Turbo Pro 1200 vibrator, I made a lid out of a Frisbee style flying saucer purchased at Dollar Tree. With a hole drilled in the center- it fits perfectly.
 
I must have the same style Lyman 1200 Turbo with slotted lid. I put mine outside to run. It gets covered in dust after running, so I take my air compressor and blow it off with the lid on, and it cleans it off really well--just don't forget to wear a mask.
 
novalty said:
I must have the same style Lyman 1200 Turbo with slotted lid. I put mine outside to run. It gets covered in dust after running, so I take my air compressor and blow it off with the lid on, and it cleans it off really well--just don't forget to wear a mask.
Click to expand...

Or, just put a rag or an old T-shirt over it.
 
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