Tumbler basics

A couple to 8 hours is usually enough. As some media gets dirty it doesnt clean as quick or as well.

They don't have to be shiny to reload. Many people just wipe them off or wash them to reload. And tumblers have only been around for a quarter of the time people have been reloading and they were able to do it without them in all those "early" years.

The new wet stainless media tumbling trend is nice, but don't let anyone convince you that you will wreck your dies or can't make reloads without it.
 
Tumbling is a 'nice-to' event. As hk33a1 notes, you can get it clean enough to function perfectly well with just a rag. One benefit is that it makes it easier to see splits and cracks.

There's a wide range of media. I started out with the fancy $$$ stuff but have switched to - of all things - powdered walnut shells sold in pet stores for lizard cages. It shines OK (not brilliant, but OK), is much cheaper and (big thing) is fine enough that it doesn't clog flash holes.
 
I use corn cob media, like pet bedding crap from a pet store. Put a few pieces of torn up dryer sheets in there to keep the dust down. You can also add a few drops of a car polish like "Nu-Finish".

One thing to keep in mind, this is one part of reloading that can REALLY get you into contact with a lot of lead. Wash well after digging through your medium. Had I know this when I bought my new tumbler a couple of years ago I would maybe have spend a little more and got a liquid washer.
 
ilikeoldguns said:
how do i tell when the used shells are clean enough?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

When they look like this...

9mmbrass.jpg
 
.. "Lizard Litter" from the Pet Store, or better still, a 50lb sack of Walnut shell Polishing Media from Princess Auto. ( Cheapest by far, but not always convenient. ) ... As previously mentioned, a little Auto Polishing liquid added to the mix helps with a shine, as does a Little Brasso. Add slowly, as the Tumbler is running, and very little at a time ! ..... There is a plastic Sieve, somewhat like an old time Gold Panning Dish, that allows the Media through but traps the Brass for easier hand sorting ! ... Cleaning is done when YOU think it's clean enough, or when it will clean and shine no more ! ....... David K
 
The first question which must be answered is what type of tumbler?

Vibratory or Rotary?

For a vibratory tumbler walnut to clean and corncob to polish.
I use my vibratory with corncob for a final quick polish after I load my ammo.
WARNING!!! Vibratory Tumbler manufacturers don't recommend tumbling live rounds but there are many threads on this subject.

I use a rotary Thumler Model B for all my brass cleaning needs.
For a rotary tumbler such as the Thumler Model B wet tumbler there are 2 types of media.
Stainless Steel Pins which are good for both straight walled cartridges and bottleneck cartridges alike.
Ceramic media in either angle cut cylinders or round balls for straight walled cartridges only.
Ceramic cleans quicker but leaves flash holes less than perfect and gets stuck when used in bottleneck cartridges.
There are many advantages to a wet tumbler.
Lower cost over time since Stainless Steel media will last a lifetime.
No dust due to tumbling in water.
Cleaner brass.
 
I use a vibratory tumbler and thank you all for the responses!

I figured it would be something like the walnut/corncob thing! I saw the stuff in the gun shops and it seemed pretty expensive for what it was.
 
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