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Tumbler and Media recommendations #5723011 04/30/15 03:56 AM
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Gone to Texas Offline OP
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To clean my brass I usually just use steel wool. However, I have about 200 pieces of brass that I need to clean and I do not feel like doing all of them 1 by 1.

I don't need anything very expensive, $75 would probably be my max unless a more expensive one is really that much better. Any recommendations on which tumble to get? Also, how often do I have to change the media?

Thanks!

Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5723022 04/30/15 04:06 AM
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A simple vibrating tumbler works well. I like walnut. Corn cob is good; it's faster, but if you leave it in too long, it can turn your brass from a nice shine to a dull, matte finish.


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5723245 04/30/15 12:49 PM
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I got my tumbler from harbor freight. It was right at $60 out the door. It works really good. I am using some corn cob media that I picked up from Walmart. It is for the bottom of bird cages and small animals like that. For larger rifle and pistol cases it works fine. But smaller rifle cases it's horrible. I ran a bunch of 5.56 cases and the media filled up in the cases and was a pain to get out because of the small case opening.

Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5723332 04/30/15 01:36 PM
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I got my vibrating tumbler fro Harbor Freight also, so far still running. I use "lizard cage" walnut shells that I picked up at my pet store. Cheap and last for a long time.


Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5723354 04/30/15 01:47 PM
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I have also used the pet store walnut media. The problems with using this is 2 things. The walnut is generally larger in size, and the perfect size to clog up the flash holes. (I also use this to clean off the lube instead of wiping it off) It is also a lower quality and is very dusty, and does not clean as good.


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5723396 04/30/15 02:10 PM
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while on the topic of tumblers and media...

Do ya'll use any additives for polishing? I've heard Flitz is good. But more importantly, is it worth it?

Also, how many times do you use a batch of media before trowing it out?


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5723462 04/30/15 02:57 PM
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I like to add a polishing compound as it helps shine up the brass. I use the media til it gets too dirty to clean well and then throw it out.


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5724107 04/30/15 09:59 PM
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I just bought earlier this month a RCBS tumbler that was +/- $100 bux everywhere, but on sale for $75 at Natchez & ordered a bottle of another co's Walnut w/rouge in it, shipped, and the whole thing came out ToMyDoor for $108 as I recall...and RCBS has a $10 Bux Back Rebate right now thru ummm the end of June - ck on that end date though - on purchase's over $50.

The RCBS tumbler will hold 180 '06 cases it sez in the 'structions, with a 2 year warranty. Quiet too and does not shake so bad it "walks" off the table either.

All the corncob and now walnut media I've used over the years gets into the primer pocket. My old RCBS Sidewinder was no better than this vibrator about that...but the new vibrator seems to work faster than the Sidewinder did...mebbe the new media helps too...duoh!
Ron


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5724265 04/30/15 11:53 PM
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You'd be better of going with stainless media and a thumbler's rock tumbler.


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5724403 05/01/15 01:55 AM
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I like tumbling with stainless media, process the brass, and then polish it.

Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5724467 05/01/15 02:28 AM
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Can't do the Thumblers and SS Media in the OP's stated budget of $100..I tried with a lot more budget than the OP as that was I intended to get and got real mixed reviews of the tumbler as well...look at Amazon and read the Reviews.
Ron


It is TIME for Term Limits, cause Politicians are like childrens diapers and for the same reasons...Robin Williams

"These are the times that try men's soul's"...Thomas Paine

"Those who fail to learn from History are doomed to repeat it" ....Santayana
Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5724495 05/01/15 02:49 AM
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SOT of DALLAS - 40 LB. BAG OF CORN COB, 14-20 size = ~$20.00

BRASSO is Good.

Small bottle of TURTLE WAX at Wal-Mart is good. DO NOT use in Plaastic Vibratory Polisher. It will eat the plastic.

Mother's carnuba wax is good too.

Harbor Freight Vibratory Polishers are good. Or the cheap cement mixer works well.


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5724571 05/01/15 04:16 AM
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So y'all deprime your brass before you tumble?

Do you use a universal deprimer?

Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5724630 05/01/15 07:57 AM
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With straight wall pistol I will deprime before tumbling by running the decapping stem out, so that the die does not size the case. Bottleneck rifle gets tumbled before anything else is done to it, and again after sizing/decapping to remove the lube.
I tumble first to clean any dirt that might scratch the dies.
I have heard good things about the universal deprimer but have never used one.

Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Wildphilhickup] #5724749 05/01/15 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: Wildphilhickup

SOT of DALLAS - 40 LB. BAG OF CORN COB, 14-20 size = ~$20.00

BRASSO is Good.

Small bottle of TURTLE WAX at Wal-Mart is good. DO NOT use in Plaastic Vibratory Polisher. It will eat the plastic.

Mother's carnuba wax is good too.

Harbor Freight Vibratory Polishers are good. Or the cheap cement mixer works well.


Brasso has ammonia in it. Bad for your brass. For media use 40 grit corn cob found by the bag at local blasting media distributor. Split a bag with a buddy, media for life. Cheap too. I remember 14 bucks a bag.

Start saving for thumbler's rock tumbler and ss media. I started like you but didn't like the corn cob filling my primer pocket and it takes a really long time to get brass clean. The ss media does not fill primer pockets, it cleans it and polishes the flash holes too. Main thing is how good it cleans and how quickly it gets it done. From nasty range pickup brass to perfectly fine shiny brass in 4 hours.


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5724808 05/01/15 01:17 PM
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Got a ?? for Ya'll. When you decide to buy a tumbler, what volume of brass do you plan on running thru it...per week, per month annually??

Or do ya'll demand that your brass be factory fresh looking and willing to pay for that, with only 1000 cleanings projected for a total annual usage.

I'd be willing to bet that the bolt action HUNTING rifle shooters among us could get by with a 1000 or less cleanings per year...and/or not be willing to invest the money in a Thumler's & SS media....even though that combo seems to give the best Factory Fresh cleaning we all desire.

I know that "back in the day" when a RCBS Sidwinder was the best thing on the market, and vibrators were just a short term piece of junk for the most part. I split the cost, at that time, of $250 + Tax with a nearby long time buddy & fellow hunting lease member I had taught to reload for his family's Hunting rifles & 'tween the 2 of us we wore out a couple MEC single stage shotgun loaders. I had 3 of 'em set up & running at the time tuned for 3 different loads, glad now, I didn't get into the progressive Dillon I wanted ... today a Sidewinder's cost is north of $400+ and not only be cost prohibitive to me @ way under a K's per year usage's but a take up too much space in my current, for the last 10 years, tiny work space here at the lake, when before I had taken up 200+sq ft of an oversized 2 550'sq ft car garage & my partner's house had a AC'd 8x12 shop & tool room seperate from his garage he'd dedicated to reloading.

Just some thoughts on what's involved & the cost of things, based on where I've been in years past.

FWIW...my ole partner started shooting store bought ammo 15+ years ago & spends less than $100 bux a year on ammo and kills as many deer these days as he did in those days. I bought everything he had left over 5-6 years ago just to get it out of his storage spaces for cents on the dollar, when he priced it out to me.
Ron


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5731439 05/06/15 03:04 PM
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I have 2 vibratory tumblers that are collecting dust right now. I may have turned one of them on once in the last 2 years.

Since my switch to SSTL, I haven't looked back. Got my Thumbler's Model B off of Craigslist for $100, and paid $50 for the pins delivered to the house. It takes 3 hours for a batch of the absolute worst looking brass you have ever seen to come out looking like virgin brass you buy at the store (actually a little better).

Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5731784 05/06/15 06:32 PM
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This looks interesting!

[video:youtube]XNhLF2_J8pI[/video]


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5732954 05/07/15 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: Gone to Texas
So y'all deprime your brass before you tumble?

Do you use a universal deprimer?


I use a universal de-primer and tumble with walnut media and use flitz polish and have had nothing but good results, just go VERY sparingly when you add the Flitz, I use about a teaspoon and can tumble 200 .270win cases(50 at a time) before I have to add more.

FYI - If you add a fabric softener sheet (the white synthetic fiber kind you throw in the dryer with your clothes), it helps absorb dust and dirt that comes off the cases. An old timer told me about this trick years ago and it seems to work like a charm.

Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5733848 05/08/15 12:32 AM
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I always run case thru univ. decapper first. No dirty brass thru resizing die. SS media tumbler is the best, a little Dawn and a little lemmey shine and you have like new brass. No residue inside case, clean primer pocket. I have not used my vibratory tumbler in so long.


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5734601 05/08/15 02:26 PM
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Quote:
So y'all deprime your brass before you tumble?

Do you use a universal deprimer?


Yep, use a LEE universal decapping die and deprime all brass prior to tumbling. I have gotten to where I deprime on the LNL because it is insanely fast, and the primers are directed into an empty whiskey bottle until it's full. I still have to clean th press aferwords most of the time, but it is minimal.

Then I tumble in SSTL media with my citric acid and ArmorAll Wash-N-Wax. Brass comes out clean inside and out, clean primer pockets, shiny and the wash-n-was leaves a thin wax coating that protects it from corrosion and helps keep it slippery.

From there, normal reloading - rifle brass gets a shot of Dillon case lube, then loaded. Pistol brass gets a shot of One Shot, then loaded. I always spray finished rounds down with some non CFC brake parts cleaner and tumble them in an old towel for a minute to get any excess lube off. Works like a champ.

Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5735864 05/09/15 01:47 PM
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*So with stainless steel pins;

How do you separate the pins from the brass?

How do you dry your brass?

Any water stains?


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Wildphilhickup] #5736877 05/10/15 02:58 AM
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Originally Posted By: Wildphilhickup

*So with stainless steel pins;

How do you separate the pins from the brass?

How do you dry your brass?

Any water stains?



I use a $35 tumbler from harbor freight, $35 worth of stainless pins, a little water and a teaspoon of lemi shine. Just pour the pins out of the brass onto a towel after finishing and make sure none got stuck in the glad hole. Very easy. Then put your brass in the oven at 175 for about 30 minutes to dry. No water stains it looks great. They even clean the primer pockets and flash holes to look better than new

Last edited by caddokiller; 05/10/15 02:59 AM.

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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: Gone to Texas] #5737629 05/10/15 07:13 PM
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How many can you clean at a time?

How long you think it would take to clean 10,000 45 ACP?


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Re: Tumbler and Media recommendations [Re: caddokiller] #5737637 05/10/15 07:20 PM
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Media separator.

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