Tumbling Media
#2
RE: Tumbling Media
I use both, together. I use a 50/50 mix of the fine walnut bedding and the fine corn cob bedding, both of which can be found at you local Petco (or similar pet store). The walnut is usually found by the bird stuff and the corncob is usually either in the same place or by the small animal stuff. The media that you can get at the pet store is MUCH cheaper than the same product at your shooting supply store, and works just as well. After mixing it in another container (I use an empty cat little jug to mix and store the media), I put an appropriate amount in my tumbler and add a couple tablespoons of Iosso Brass Polish and let the tumbler run empty for 30-60 minutes to mix and dry the polish with the media.
I started out using the Lyman green treated corncob media, but found that that stuff took up to 24 hours of tumbling to fully clean and polish even moderately dirty cases, and it is very expensive. The life expectancy was also very short. After three or four tumbling sessions it's be black as coal and would not longer polish the brass to my satisfaction. The 50/50 walnut/corncob media I use lasts through at least 10 cleaning sessions, costs half as much, and polished twice as fast. If I am tumbling fired cases that never hit the ground, they can be clean and polished to a very bright shine in less than 3-4 hours. Dirtier cases require at most 6 hours to be sparkling clean and shinier than new.
Mike
I started out using the Lyman green treated corncob media, but found that that stuff took up to 24 hours of tumbling to fully clean and polish even moderately dirty cases, and it is very expensive. The life expectancy was also very short. After three or four tumbling sessions it's be black as coal and would not longer polish the brass to my satisfaction. The 50/50 walnut/corncob media I use lasts through at least 10 cleaning sessions, costs half as much, and polished twice as fast. If I am tumbling fired cases that never hit the ground, they can be clean and polished to a very bright shine in less than 3-4 hours. Dirtier cases require at most 6 hours to be sparkling clean and shinier than new.
Mike
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Wild Turkey Capitol of the World......Missouri
Posts: 1,027
RE: Tumbling Media
I have always used corn cob treated with either Midway brass polish or Iosso brass polish. A few hours in the tumbler and the brass comes out looking better than new!
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NW Ohio , 5 min from Ottawa National / Magee Marsh
Posts: 2,051
RE: Tumbling Media
I am cheap ,I use untreated corn cob pet bedding 1/8" size .
It takes a little longer and the brass is never as bright.
BUT a 50 lb bag at the local pet store is the same price as 1 package of treated Lyman stuff.
I set a timer to run the tumbler 2-3 hrs while I am at work
It takes a little longer and the brass is never as bright.
BUT a 50 lb bag at the local pet store is the same price as 1 package of treated Lyman stuff.
I set a timer to run the tumbler 2-3 hrs while I am at work
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location:
Posts: 75
RE: Tumbling Media
It seems to me that the walnut does a better job with very dirty cases, maybe it is more abrasive. and the corncob gives a finer smoother polish. I usually run fired cases through a quick ( 1 hour ) polish with the walnut before depriming in order to take off any big chunks then follow with corncob for 3-4 hours to remove case lube and polish the brass to a new finish. I also use lyman recharger with my corncob media.
maybe labor intensive, but I like to set it up to run while i'm gone. Don't care for the noise. The idea of a timer is a good one.
My brass seems to dull after being reloaded. Is this corrision due to handling? Or am I letting them sit on the shelf for to long (unfortunately true). Does anyone know of a product that "seals" the finished product to keep that "new" look? I take a lot of pride in this and would like shiny shells at the range and dog towns instead of dull.
maybe labor intensive, but I like to set it up to run while i'm gone. Don't care for the noise. The idea of a timer is a good one.
My brass seems to dull after being reloaded. Is this corrision due to handling? Or am I letting them sit on the shelf for to long (unfortunately true). Does anyone know of a product that "seals" the finished product to keep that "new" look? I take a lot of pride in this and would like shiny shells at the range and dog towns instead of dull.
#8
RE: Tumbling Media
My brass seems to dull after being reloaded. Is this corrision due to handling? Or am I letting them sit on the shelf for to long (unfortunately true). Does anyone know of a product that "seals" the finished product to keep that "new" look? I take a lot of pride in this and would like shiny shells at the range and dog towns instead of dull.
Mike
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Tumbling Media
My brass seems to dull after being reloaded. Is this corrision due to handling?