Best Tumbler Media

Braces Airgun Masters
Euan

Euan

Well-Known Member
Hi,

I have been using the Tufnut Lyman media but after using this my brass comes out all stained red dust and i still need to clean inside of the cases before i reload them.

What tumbling media do people use that cleans and shines up your brass and allows you to put the powder straight in afterwards with having to clean the inside of the case out each time?

Cheers
 
The green RCBS factory stuff or anybody's green. I also don't like the Lyman for the same reason as the OP. Also when the RCBS starts to go black-green (like German scwartzgrun wartime shade) it's a visual cue it's time to get a new batch in the tumbler.

View attachment 99225
 
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Lateral said:
I find this also works very well in a vibrating tumbler https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Frankfor...323282833061?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

I bought a wet tumbler, SS pins, etc, and have yet to use it, because it seems like a messy, time consuming job, compared to dry tumbling.
Click to expand...
I made my own wet tumbler and i deffo think its lot easier than vibratory tumbling i use water lemon juice vinegar and fairy tumble for 45min and rinse in boiling water bout 30min 2 dry in there own on a tea towel.
 
How long ya tumble in vibratory then stand clean out flash hole primer pocket shake out case.thats 500 tumbled 308.less than hour.😬😉
 
I always tumble before re-sizing and decapping. That way I never get a bit of the husk or shell left in the flash hole.
 
robus10T said:
How long ya tumble in vibratory then stand clean out flash hole primer pocket shake out case.thats 500 tumbled 308.less than hour.😬😉
Click to expand...

I see lots of comments about media getting stuck in the flash hole, and I guess it depends on the specific media you use. I very rarely have to remove anything, and even if I do, it just blows out.

If the cases get really dirty, I used to use an ultrasonic tank, but then the cases need rinsing, and drying. A tea towel, or kitchen towel will remove moisture from the outside of the cases, but it's time consuming to get the insides dry, so you can actually start reloading.

The bottom line, is there is no "only way" to do something, best, is what suits you, and how much time you have on your hands.
 
Lateral said:
I find this also works very well in a vibrating tumbler https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Frankfor...323282833061?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

I bought a wet tumbler, SS pins, etc, and have yet to use it, because it seems like a messy, time consuming job, compared to dry tumbling.
Click to expand...

if you want very clean shiny cases wet tumbler is the way to go, i made up some cotton bags ( ok the wife sewed them up) once the cases are out of the tumbler and rinsed off i load them into the bags, tie them up and throw them in the tumble dryer with a load of drying they come up fantastic
if you want realy good results there are NO shortcuts
i deprime and size before tumbling that way the cases are spotless primer pockets and all
cheers
Ray
 
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BLUEROLL said:
Great if you never open it and don`t separate the media from your brass !!!!
Click to expand...
I can imagine there would be a lot of dust whizzing around whilst tumbling, I have no way of knowing because I have the lid on it.
I have no magic way of getting the brass out without opening it but once opened using a large table spoon previously drilled with many holes I can easily extract my brass without stirring up dust.
 
Euan said:
Hi,

I have been using the Tufnut Lyman media but after using this my brass comes out all stained red dust and i still need to clean inside of the cases before i reload them.

What tumbling media do people use that cleans and shines up your brass and allows you to put the powder straight in afterwards with having to clean the inside of the case out each time?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Two issues I see from your post and the replies.

One is the amount of actual work or handling involved in a given clean up process. And the other is the inefficient idea that you should just take a single batch of brass through and stand around idle while you wait for the cleaning process to complete before loading it.

Having to clean up by blowing out individual cases after tumbling seems fairly inefficient and laborious.

I use an ultrasonic cleaner which involves relatively little handling, just loading the brass into it, rinsing off when zapped, pouring into a towel and leaving it overnight on a night store heater.

I can be loading or prepping the previous batch while it is being zapped in the U/S and am sleeping while it is drying...no wasted time!

If you are in a hurry and want a fast turn around to load a particular batch of brass then a quick whizz with an Autosol cloth while it is in the drill for trimming and chamfering would perhaps be quicker short term than processing by tumble, rumble or U/S clean.

But then again it is a hobby who says we need to be efficient? Providing you find a way of avoiding the bits which are boring for you all is good!

Alan
 
I use ultrasonic bath, just deprime and put into bath using James Sea green I think, otherwise water with bit of fairy and white vinegar. Normally 2x 480 secs with heat is enough. Rinse in tap water, rinse in distilled water, then onto metal tray. into low oven or on top of log burner, or in winter on top of radiator.

if you want the necks v shiny just use a bit of fine wire wool/scourer when you chamfer the neck.

takes no time at all.

D
 
I regularly see a chap at a range shoot her me, he shoots more Deer than anyone else I've met, so many in fact, I'm surprised there are any left for anyone else. He also shows to all that are interested, his nice shiny brass. If you make the mistake of taking a glance you've been caught good and propper.
You will now get both ears full of the entire process, like it or not you will be told. Seems to me though, after the times I've seen him, he doesn't really shoot much at all. So I can only assume that he spends more time on his main interest in shooting, and that is cleaning his brass.

Each to their own really. If hes he's happy then who are we to question?
 
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