Can a rock polishing tumbler be used for brass?

[Chumlee Bumsnag]

It's not very big but might work on small lots of handgun brass. I'm just curious if anyone has used one for this. I bought my daughter one a few years ago, and she only used it once. It was pricey too.

Thanks
CB

 

[Moparlover]

yes, designed to do it, but kinda small

 

[curtmg]

yes, designed to do it, but kinda small

Location: winnipeg, under the main street bridge

I rollerblade over your house 4 times every day to and from work.

 

[Moparlover]

how's the water level today? having trouble finding a dry bed under the bridges. you must be the guy i honk at all the time,weaving through traffic. kidding. i drive water bus, when the water drops that is

 

[spideysteve]

You bet!! There are quite a few people who use it, including myself.

You need some media, typically stainless steel pins or stainless shot

Here's what I do ... De-prime all brass after shooting, throw ~200 .40 (or 180 .45 or 220 9mm) into the rock tumbler (this will depend on the size of yours I guess) with 5 lbs of SS pins, a couple of teaspoons of TSP (tri sodium phosphate, available at Canadian Tire), fill with hot water and turn it on, then go to work. After work, I rinse everything all off (the water is black and nasty), then put in about 1/2 teaspoon of Lemi Shine, fill with hot water, turn it on for an hour or 2. Rinse again, use my media separator to get pins out of brass, let brass dry overnight on towel.

Is it extra work? Yup, more than some people want. Is the finished result worth it? IMHO, you bet! The brass looks better than new when done. And, not having to reload with cruddy brass is a benefit, everything is nice and clean ...

Here are a couple threads showing the results ....

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=576635&page=2

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=455717

 

[curtmg]

how's the water level today? having trouble finding a dry bed under the bridges. you must be the guy i honk at all the time,weaving through traffic. kidding. i drive water bus, when the water drops that is

Both rivers still flowing north, once the Assiniboine starts going southwest, things get interesting. I drive road bus, regardless of water levels, although people do start to complain when it gets high enough to come in the door, but that hasn't happened for a couple years. Heck, even Kingston row is dry this year, I guess everywhere else got all of the water.

 

[Mobular]

I'm using a 3lb capacity Thumlers rock tumbler for my brass. I fill it about half full with crushed walnut shells and a handful of brass, turn on for a few hours and it's all good!

 

[Chumlee Bumsnag]

Cool! Thanks for the info. I'll give it a whirl.