Cleaning brass: need advices

Z

Zaitsev

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Hey guy,

I'm just getting into reloading and today, I bought an Hornady vibrator thumbler, and when it came to using it, I had many questions that have crossed my mind:

1) How many times can you use the same media?
2) How long do you let your brass in the thumbler before it is clean?
3) What product do you use as a brass cleaner?
4) I use Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Brass Polish as my brass cleaner, what are your thoughts about this product(should I switch to something else?) and how much brass cleaner should I had to my media to clean arround 500 brass of 9mm?
5) Once your brass comes out of the thumbler, is your brass ready to reload or do you have to do something else to clean it?
6) Do you have to clean the thumbler sometimes?

If you have any tips, advices or usefull infos, please let me know.

Thanks for all,
JP.
 
Last edited:
1. Until the brass doesn't come out clean after (2.) an hour or two. Some tumblers will hold all 500 of your 9mm's, but it depends on the size of the one you have. It should tell you how many of assorted cartridges in the book/manual that comes with it. A tumbler that will clean 500 9mm at once will be a great big thing though.
3. The tumbling media, be that corn cobs or walnut shells cleans the brass. No need for any (3. & 4.) polish.
5. Yep. If you do put polish in, you may have to wipe it off first. Do not run your cases through the dies with polish on them.
6. Doesn't hurt. The media will get full of carbon dust. You can wipe that out with a J cloth or other lint free rag.
When the media gets really dirty and needs replacing, you can buy a great big bag of it in a per supply shop. Crushed corn cobs and/or walnut shells are sold as small pet bedding. An 18 or so kilo bag runs less than $20. That'll go a long way.
 
1) How many times can you use the same media?
Lots. Mine gets used until it no longer cleans to my standards in a decent amount of time.

2) How long do you let your brass in the thumbler before it is clean?
Anywhere from 1 hour to forgetting about it and leaving it in over-night :redface: . It was really clean!

3) What product do you use as a brass cleaner?
A 4:1 mix of corn cob and Lymans Tuffnut for my media. Toss in a capful of Nu-Polish car wax every now and then. Cut up used dryer sheets to keep the dust under control.

4) I use Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Brass Polish as my brass cleaner, what are your thoughts about this product(should I switch to something else?) and how much brass cleaner should I had to my media to clean arround 500 brass of 9mm?
I don't use this, no idea.

5) Once your brass comes out of the thumbler, is your brass ready to reload or do you have to do something else to clean it?
Shake out the media and she's ready to load.

6) Do you have to clean the thumbler sometimes?
Yes. Gunk builds up. A little time with soap and water and she's good to go.

(E) :cool:
 
Zaitsev said:
Hey guy,

I'm just getting into reloading and today, I bought an Hornady vibrator thumbler, and when it came to using it, I had many questions that have crossed my mind:

1) How many times can you use the same media?
2) How long do you let your brass in the thumbler before it is clean?
3) What product do you use as a brass cleaner?
4) I use Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Brass Polish as my brass cleaner, what are your thoughts about this product(should I switch to something else?) and how much brass cleaner should I had to my media to clean arround 500 brass of 9mm?
5) Once your brass comes out of the thumbler, is your brass ready to reload or do you have to do something else to clean it?
6) Do you have to clean the thumbler sometimes?

If you have any tips, advices or usefull infos, please let me know.

Thanks for all,
JP.
Click to expand...

1. I use the media until it takes 4 hours to get the brass clean. I also use a used dryer sheet every time I tumble.

2. See #1.

3. I use a 50/50 mix of Lyman Traeted Corn Cob and corn blast.

4. Can't answer, don't use these products.

5. Ready to reload.

6. I tend to give a wipe of the bowl at media change time.
 
It all depends. I reuse the media until it no longer cleans even with adding brass cleaner.

I don't time how long it takes. I just fill my tuumbler before going to bed and unplug it in the morning. Or plug it in before going to work and unplug it when I get back.

To refresh the stuff I just give it a shot of that Lyman stuff and run it for about 1/2 hour to mix it up.

For additional cleaning it depends on what I'm doing with the brass. If I'm going to reload it right away, I don't do anything. If it's for the bucket for future use, I push the media out of the primer hole and give it a quick wash with dishwashing soap in a plastic bucket, dry and put them in the 5gal bucket for use later.
 
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