Question: SS media in Vibratory tumbler?

[Melnibonean]

Got into a conversation about tumbling brass with some shooters here in California and got to thinking......can I use SS media in my tumbler instead of corn cob/walnut? Would it work, or does it absolutely need water?

Anyone try this?

 

[LUTNIT]

I think a couple people have posted here on CGN that they tried SS pins in a normal vibratory tumbler and where wondering why their brass came out almost as dirty as it went in.
I'm not sure if it's so much that it needs water or whether it needs water AND the spinning tumbler instead of a vibratory tumbler.
In the tumbler normally used with SS pins everything inside moves a lot more and a lot faster than in a vibratory tumbler. That is probably a good part of the equation.

 

[Shooter ----/]

Too heavy for the vibratory type to move effectively. The SS pins will just lay on the bottom and the brass will lay on the top. No real cleaning action.