Favorite Tumbling Media...?
- Thread starter kenjuudo
- Start date
(((Echo)))
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Old Man Land, AB
Corncob and Lyman Tuffnut in ~3:1 ratio. Keeps the dusts down and off the brass but still polishes. Its fine in pistol cases but its a ##### in .223 
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Add used cut up dryer sheets for even more dust control.
(E)
. Add used cut up dryer sheets for even more dust control.
(E)
- Location
- North of Toronto and South Carolina
Use your walnut media. Take a used fabric softener sheet--I'm serious. Cut it into smallish strips and add it to your media and brass.
When the brass is done, you'll find clean brass, no dust, and black-with-grime fabric softner sheets (which, of course, you throw into the garbage).
If you want a polish on your brass, add a bit--a small squirt-- of auto or metal polish--maybe half way through your cleaning. Nu Finish seems to work best for me.
When the brass is done, you'll find clean brass, no dust, and black-with-grime fabric softner sheets (which, of course, you throw into the garbage).
If you want a polish on your brass, add a bit--a small squirt-- of auto or metal polish--maybe half way through your cleaning. Nu Finish seems to work best for me.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Dogleg said:
I'm just getting into the case cleaning & polishing aspect of reloading. Recently, through RCBS, I purchased one of their demo models, a Sidewinder Case Tumbler. At that time I also ordered a two of their 5lb packages of their Formula 1 Walnut Shell Dry Medium, $15.95/package plus shipping. So, for future reference, does anyone know of a good reasonable source of supply for walnut shell polishing medium?
Johnn Peterson said:
Get blasting media (crushed walnut) in 50lb bags at a media blasting supply house. Just look in the yellow pages for someone in your area.
I add the lyman polish goop, and it keeps the dusting down, but the static is still there. I'll be giving the dryer sheets a try.
I like the industrial walnut shells from Acklands, can't remember the specific name but it's cheap.
I use 1 tbsp of Brasso polish in the tumbler and let it mix for an hour or so before I throw in the brass.
Although I haven't done it personally a friend told me to remove the brass first or it just turns into a gummy mess.
On another note, Rockchucker on the board here picked up some RCBS or Lyman tumbling media locally (very expensive) and we went down to his reloading room and found out his cat had #### in his media.......I laughed my ass off. He wasn't too impressed but the cat is still alive and healthy.
Pickles
I use 1 tbsp of Brasso polish in the tumbler and let it mix for an hour or so before I throw in the brass.
Although I haven't done it personally a friend told me to remove the brass first or it just turns into a gummy mess.
On another note, Rockchucker on the board here picked up some RCBS or Lyman tumbling media locally (very expensive) and we went down to his reloading room and found out his cat had #### in his media.......I laughed my ass off. He wasn't too impressed but the cat is still alive and healthy.
Pickles
Thanks everyone... tons of good info...!!! I think I'm gonna try the dryer sheets with the walnut... nothing like spring fresh scented brass...
I have tried corn cob in the past, put even the small stuff seemed to get caught in the brass quite often and after breaking a decaping pin I switched to the walnut... soon to be spring fresh scented walnut that is...
Just a quick note about polishes with ammonia in them like brasso... do a quick google search for the following...
"stress corrosion cracking ammonia brass"
and you'll see that there might be better choices of polishing agent that will prolong the life of your brass... in short, ammonia makes brass "brittle" increasing it's susceptability to cracking under load...
Dave.
I have tried corn cob in the past, put even the small stuff seemed to get caught in the brass quite often and after breaking a decaping pin I switched to the walnut... soon to be spring fresh scented walnut that is...
Just a quick note about polishes with ammonia in them like brasso... do a quick google search for the following...
"stress corrosion cracking ammonia brass"
and you'll see that there might be better choices of polishing agent that will prolong the life of your brass... in short, ammonia makes brass "brittle" increasing it's susceptability to cracking under load...
Dave.
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I have tested every polish there is and I have found the best is PEEK polish. It cuts polishing time by half or more over other polishes and is cheap. I tend not to polish as much now, usually just clean with crushed walnut.
