prairieviper
Member
I always add a couple of dryer sheets and a capful of car polish to walnut media. It works for me.
Brass tumbling question
- Thread starter Racer X
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mmb617
Member
I've never felt the need to add anything to my walnut shells. I don't care if my brass doesn't have a mirror shine as long as it works, and it does.
After I'd tumbled some 10k+ pieces of brass I changed out my media for a fresh batch of walnut shells but can't say I noticed a difference in how it cleaned.
I always thought adding any kind of goop to the media would make it clump. I guess that's not the case but I still don't see a need for it.
After I'd tumbled some 10k+ pieces of brass I changed out my media for a fresh batch of walnut shells but can't say I noticed a difference in how it cleaned.
I always thought adding any kind of goop to the media would make it clump. I guess that's not the case but I still don't see a need for it.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Sounds like a good idea, but I'm saving my dryer sheets for the next toilet paper shortage. Dryer sheets leave a pleasant scent and I am wrinkle-free all day long.
I don’t see what the big deal is about toilet paper shortages. We never ran out during the shortage. You just need a wife and three daughters living with you. They WILL find toilet paper!
Moe Mentum
Member
You won't need toilet paper with a wife and 3 daughters, because you will never get into the bathroom...
Okay that didn't work very well.
Used Mother's liquid Scratch and Swirl Remover, and I poured a little in after starting the process.
Most of it dried and stuck to the center post of my vibratory tumbler, but some of it dried and stuck the walnut granules inside a case or two...
...NEXT!
I use corncob and "Rooster Bright" from Graff's in Mexico MO. It was made for this specific purpose and works well.
Chubbs103
US Veteran
Like a lot of people here, I use a little NuFinish and a piece of USED dryer sheet. I threw a new dyer sheet in one time and it left a terrible residue on the brass.
I moved to crushed walnut media years ago and after about every other load, I pour some Brasso on the top of the media and it dries over a couple days. It is always ready to go just by adding brass.
I went to corn cob media years ago as I found the walnuts were hard enough the finish was slightly "blasted" type finish, where the corn cob leaves a smooth shiny finish. I did use walnut on old grungy range brass that needed crud removed.
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Best advice if you're interest is in clean brass. If you want a high sheen, you'll need to do more. You needn't change media until what you have works no longer or it takes a long time to clean. Media is cheap considering the mileage you get from it. I've used walnut hulls, corn cob and a mixture of the two. End result is the same.
gwpercle
Member
Rooster Lab's - Rooster Bright cartridge case polish .
Treat un-treated media or add as a rejuvenator to media .
Makes brass cases shiny bright and doesn't contain ammonia like Brasso does . You should avoid ammonia containing polishes ...
Gary
Treat un-treated media or add as a rejuvenator to media .
Makes brass cases shiny bright and doesn't contain ammonia like Brasso does . You should avoid ammonia containing polishes ...
Gary
Greenjoytj
Member
I would not use Brasso on my cartridge brass because of the ammonia content. Ammonia on brass just like Sweets 7.62 to remove copper from rifle barrels.
Pick a liquid polish with out the ammonia smell.
Pick a liquid polish with out the ammonia smell.
And you can use a 20% off coupon.
I use a Dillon CV500 vibratory tumbler I bought back in 2000. I use the harbor freight "fine" with Nu Finish car polish pretreatment. Cleans, polishes, and doesn't plug up 223 cases. A tore up dryer sheet does collect the dirt pretty well. You can add some denatured alcohol to the mix and it will collect the dust to the sides of the bowl.
BillBro
Member
A little ISSO metal polish. I think that's what its called.
Boudiepitbull
Member
I've always used Flitz Tumbler Media Additive for brass cases in my tumbler. A little goes a long way...
Case tumbling/cleaning is probably the most talked about but least important part of reloading. If you ask 10 reloaders what they use in their media you are likely to get 12 different "formula" (don't forget to use the ground monkey thigh bones for your media, absolutely necessary!).
I reloaded for 12 years before I got a wobbler. No ruined dies, no scratched chambers as I just wiped each case as I inspected it (my first step for reloading). I soon went to a rotary and tried a dozen different media with a dozen different media "formula" from pet litter to cat litter (Good Mews worked), wood chunks rice, peas/beans, ad infinitum. Some work some don't. I finally settled on corn cob blast media, 14-20 (tried wet tumbling but didn't care for the mess and extra processing and I don't need pristine case IDs or primer pockets).
No additives are "needed" and I won't use any rouge or abrasive as it can become embedded i the brass. The only additive I use is auto polish/wax for the thin film left on the brass to prevent tarnish. Crushed walnut shells used alone will give clean shiny brass, not quite as shiny as corn cob, but will clean the brass very well. For a tarnish resistance, a bit of auto wax will keep your brass shiny...
Case tumbling is 90% cosmetic. New reloaders seem to be lead to believe shiny brass is essential and they must use a complex formula for media, and a bunch of equipment. I have experience that shows the opposite. I have not ruined any dies or damaged any guns; My "brown" handloads are just as accurate, function just as well as my ultra glossy, inside and out, case handloads. My ego doesn't need a boost from pretty handloads and I don't care what the shooter next to me at the range thinks.
I apologize for this rant (I went passed this thread 4 or five times before my grouchy old man came out), but we experienced reloaders sharing our opinions often mislead the new reloader looking in on a forum for basic information.
I reloaded for 12 years before I got a wobbler. No ruined dies, no scratched chambers as I just wiped each case as I inspected it (my first step for reloading). I soon went to a rotary and tried a dozen different media with a dozen different media "formula" from pet litter to cat litter (Good Mews worked), wood chunks rice, peas/beans, ad infinitum. Some work some don't. I finally settled on corn cob blast media, 14-20 (tried wet tumbling but didn't care for the mess and extra processing and I don't need pristine case IDs or primer pockets).
No additives are "needed" and I won't use any rouge or abrasive as it can become embedded i the brass. The only additive I use is auto polish/wax for the thin film left on the brass to prevent tarnish. Crushed walnut shells used alone will give clean shiny brass, not quite as shiny as corn cob, but will clean the brass very well. For a tarnish resistance, a bit of auto wax will keep your brass shiny...
Case tumbling is 90% cosmetic. New reloaders seem to be lead to believe shiny brass is essential and they must use a complex formula for media, and a bunch of equipment. I have experience that shows the opposite. I have not ruined any dies or damaged any guns; My "brown" handloads are just as accurate, function just as well as my ultra glossy, inside and out, case handloads. My ego doesn't need a boost from pretty handloads and I don't care what the shooter next to me at the range thinks.
I apologize for this rant (I went passed this thread 4 or five times before my grouchy old man came out), but we experienced reloaders sharing our opinions often mislead the new reloader looking in on a forum for basic information.
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