Lyman walnut media dust??

mister308

mister308

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Hey guys, following the instructions from the Lyman reloading manual, it says to tumble the brass then decap/size.

I'm using the Lyman walnut media and it's leaving red dust on the inside walls of my cases and it's turning my sizing die red... I'm a newbie but I have a feeling that this isn't good. Is this something to worry about? Solutions to this?
 
That red is jewellers rouge which is a polishing compound. It probably wont damage the dies but I still don't like it. I used the red Lyman media once and then stopped because of it. I had to tumble the brass again in the green corn cob media to get rid of it. Since then I just use the green corn cob cut 50/50 with untreated walnut media from a pet store (greatly extends the life of the media before it wears out but still polishes just as well). The green does not come off of the corn cob media so your brass comes out clean.

You can probably wipe it off of the cases if you want. It's a very fine polishing compound that was traditionally used for jewellery as well as glass lenses so I can't see it damaging your dies but it's still a mess. I'd just tumble the brass again in the green corn cob if you can find some. Untreated crushed walnut from a pet store (lizard and bird bedding) will take it off but doesn't work very well alone for tumbling dirty brass.
 
LUTNIT said:
That red is jewellers rouge which is a polishing compound. It probably wont damage the dies but I still don't like it. I used the red Lyman media once and then stopped because of it. I had to tumble the brass again in the green corn cob media to get rid of it. Since then I just use the green corn cob cut 50/50 with untreated walnut media from a pet store (greatly extends the life of the media before it wears out but still polishes just as well). The green does not come off of the corn cob media so your brass comes out clean.

You can probably wipe it off of the cases if you want. It's a very fine polishing compound that was traditionally used for jewellery as well as glass lenses so I can't see it damaging your dies but it's still a mess. I'd just tumble the brass again in the green corn cob if you can find some. Untreated crushed walnut from a pet store (lizard and bird bedding) will take it off but doesn't work very well alone for tumbling dirty brass.
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pretty consistent with what else i've read. walnut media also gets stuck in the primer pocket before i decap which leads me to believe it might damage the decapping pin. would you recommend decapping and sizing before tumbling? or is it just preference?
 
It's mostly preference. I usually tumble before decapping but sometimes do decap first. I tumble after FL sizing to get the lube off and usually get media (regardless of type) in the flash hole and sometimes in the primer pocket. It pops out with only a little force and I've never broken or bent a decapping pin because of it.

I pretty much always tumble before sizing, at least a little. I've had two .308Win dies get scratched up inside from grit on the cases so would tumble to get any grit or sand off. I've since switched to Imperial/Redding sizing wax which is rubbed on with the fingers so I can feel any grit on there so it's mostly habit I guess.
 
LUTNIT said:
It's mostly preference. I usually tumble before decapping but sometimes do decap first. I tumble after FL sizing to get the lube off and usually get media (regardless of type) in the flash hole and sometimes in the primer pocket. It pops out with only a little force and I've never broken or bent a decapping pin because of it.

I pretty much always tumble before sizing, at least a little. I've had two .308Win dies get scratched up inside from grit on the cases so would tumble to get any grit or sand off. I've since switched to Imperial/Redding sizing wax which is rubbed on with the fingers so I can feel any grit on there so it's mostly habit I guess.
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good stuff, that's relieving. would you happen to know if the walnut dust on the inside case-walls has any adverse effect on powder burning? or is that a bunch of theoretical/hypothetical mumbo-jumbo
 
Jewellers rouge is a specific type of iron oxide and shouldn't contaminate the powder.

I was wondering how long it would take before someone mentioned SS tumbling.
 
I switched to lizard bedding (crushed walnut) and brasso after using the lyman treated media. I didn't like the red dust getting all over my fingers and tools more than anything.
With either lube I was using (sizing wax or lee lube) I found I had to be careful about media making its way into the sizing die, it would build up in the shoulders of the die and start putting deformations in the cases.
I always tumbled before and after sizing, and had to inspect each primer pocket for media before proceeding, usually packed full of media.
Are you shooting a bolt action? if so, have a look at just neck-sizing the brass, no lube required.

and yes i have switched to stainless steel, but only for pistol so far.
 
I always decap before tumbling, beware of using polishes such as "brasso" due to the chemical make up of such polishes. Any polish that has high ammonia concentrations will have adverse effects on brass over time. I use "Nufinish", it has a great polishing effect and it leaves a subtle layer behind that keeps the brass from tarnishing while in storage. Another benefit is the remnants of the polish have no effect on the powder or other loading components in an assembled cartridge. I have introduced cut up used drier sheets into my walnut media and these pieces "absorb" the dust and minimize the residue on the casings. I also brush the cases out before resizing and I have not had issues with my dies getting contaminated from the dust. I found using lanolin reduced with alcohol a fantastic case lube for resizing, the residue is minimal and it's good for your skin lol.
 
Lyman walnut media costs more than small pet bedding from a discount pet supply shop. Using the pet bedding will make your red dust go away too.
Walnut media will never bother a steel pin.
No polish of any kind is necessary. Brass needs to be clean, not shiney.
Brasso has ammonia in it. Ammonia eats brass.
 
From the Lyman FAQs

Q: What media do you recommend for cleaning cases?
A: Treated corncob is recommended for normal use, the Tufnut is recommended for extremely fouled cases as it is more abrasive. Please note that the Tufnut may leave a rouge residue on the cases. This will not cause any harm to the gun or cases.
 
I always take a used dryer sheet, cut it into 1 inch strips and add to the tumbler. It will trap all the fine media dust, brass particles, etc. Replace every few tumblings. Works excellent!
 
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