Corn cob media question

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Longboat

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I grabbed a tumbler yesterday and am using corn cob media to clean my brass up. I'm just wondering what guys do after that process, as far as rinsing, or washing, or not caring and just loading them up. Is the dust that may get inside cases a problem?

Thanks!
 
I used a vibratory tumbler with corn cob media for years.

Years of getting half cleaned cases and scraping the primer pockets, and poking pieces of corn cob out of the flash holes.

About 3 years ago I got a Frankfort Arsenal rotary wet tumbler with stainless steel pins.

Now, after a universal decapp, I get squeaky clean brass that is ready to process and load.

Sometimes I throw the clean cases in the old vibratory machine with a bit of sizing wax to shine them up - but only for special occasions.


Stewbud
 
Cases are spotless with mirror finish. I have no issue with any chunks in flash homes or anything. No pieces in the case. My question is about residual dust that may or may not be in the case. Is it an issue? Not that there's even that much dust in the bowl. The dust may even just be what was cleaned off the cases...
 
Dust is not an issue.

When the corn cob supply runs out, drop by Princess Auto and buy a 50 pound bag of their fine ground walnut shells. It is so fine it does not get into flash holes. About $30.
 
I use soft case neck brushes the inside diameter of the case and brush out any brass chips, media or dust inside the cases.

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Ganderite said:
Dust is not an issue.

When the corn cob supply runs out, drop by Princess Auto and buy a 50 pound bag of their fine ground walnut shells. It is so fine it does not get into flash holes. About $30.
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What he said..... I use to use corn cob media which wasn't a problem in the bigger calibre pieces but was awful in my 223 brass. the media would pack inside the cases and when trying to decap I'd sometimes break a pin.

I guess I should have decapped and then tumbled but lots of my brass were range finds and filthy dirty and I didn't want to run through the dies like that.
 
It's not a huge issue just double check and make sure your flash hole are clear. I've ran into that before, however, I do it's more static related than anything. I like to hit my cases with a couple of blasts of compressed air (used computer duster) to knock any heavy dust off the case. I eventually switched to a wet cleaning process (first ultra sonic, now stainless pins.)
 
I use corn cob media, and throw in two pieces if used dryer sheets (cut). Also drop a few squirts of brass polisher.

I tumble with spent primers still intact, and tumble as much as i can to remove media. I would get a few specs still but mot much.

I have the frankford arsenal tumbler.
 
Thanks guys. I did run a case neck brush in and out of some. Nothing significant really came out. A few TINY specs over several cases. How many times will you normally run cob media? What tells you it time to toss it? I've heard walnut gets super dusty but have no experience with it to really say...
 
Yes I guess that can be the difference in media plugging things up-is what brass you are doing. It's all 30 and 6.5 cal brass. So guess that's why I don't see any issues with anything sticking. I may upgrade at some point for brass cleaning equipment. I'm not frugal lol. Thanks to everybody.
 
And media is still a very good way to clean brass. I just found my obsession with clean inside and out brass was better sated by stainless pins. Water spots drive me crazy and I need to really figure out a better drying technique. Experimenting with my mixture at this moment. Good luck!
 
I only started reloading a few weeks ago so I'm good with the cobs for now haha. I see Hornady has a case dryer. Wether it works or not I don't know. May still leave spots..
 
buji88 said:
And media is still a very good way to clean brass. I just found my obsession with clean inside and out brass was better sated by stainless pins. Water spots drive me crazy and I need to really figure out a better drying technique. !
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A very small amount of LemiShine (from CTC) will soften the water - and ensures that you don't get spots.

This makes lots of suds too, so less dishwashing liquid is required.
 
Rinse brass and pins with new water immediately after draining the dirty water, for 5 minutes or so, and repeat twice more.
I change the water, back to tumbler for 5 minutes, drain, and repeat.

I've used corncob and walnut, good for when you have to leave it on for a long time, but find the pins and Lemi Shine leave the house cleaner and is faster, so long as the drum doesn't leak. :)
Still use corn corb and walnut on occasion.

Too long with Lemi Shine darkens in the same water the brass.
 
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Corn cob works best kind mind you it takes a little longer if it's range pick up or tarnished / filthy brass.
I clean, resize / deprime then toss them in again for 10 minutes to get the sizing lube off before loading. Brass is nice and shiny (I always add a dab of Dillon case cleaner each tumble cycle).

It will only stick in the flash holes / primer pockets if it is not fine enough: common of the pet bedding walnut media sold in pet stores. You can order it as fine as beach sand if you want it.
Will it clean the inside of the case / primer pockets as well as wet tumbling / stainless pins? No but you don't have to wait for your brass to dry either.
 
I tumble my brass before I size it in order to keep my dies cleaner. Once they go through the tumbler I just empty the cases and throw them in a towel and roll them around to get rid of the dust and then they are trimmed to length before priming and then loading.
 
When i was using the corn cob media. i used to cut a used dryer sheet into strips and throw a few strips in. It helped to control the dust. Now i use the stainless pins
 
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