Post by: Rob on March 04, 2017, 07:32:00 PM
I am using Lyman turbo tumbler media right now.
What are other folks using? I hear some folks use walnut she'll cat litter. Anyone do that? What brand?
Post by: uplandhunter870 on March 04, 2017, 07:36:58 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 05, 2017, 10:17:01 AM
Or try a universal de capping die to clean the flash holes after tumbling. Or clean before resizing
Post by: heronblu on March 05, 2017, 10:44:11 AM
Post by: huntandjeep on March 05, 2017, 11:04:57 AM
Walnut shells with some polishing compound mixed in. They are very easy to dump out. Once I do a preliminary dump I put all the casings in a colander and blow them off quickly with compressed air before resizing to get rid of any errant shell bits.:yeah:
Post by: yorketransport on March 05, 2017, 11:22:50 AM
Or try a universal de capping die to clean the flash holes after tumbling. Or clean before resizing
This is what I would do. I just throw my brass in the tumbler when I get home from shooting and then decap everything before running it through the sizing dies.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 05, 2017, 12:23:30 PM
Post by: Rob on March 05, 2017, 07:43:27 PM
Any brand of walnut that folks use?
I have not heard of stainless media. Need to check that out!
Post by: Magnum_Willys on March 05, 2017, 07:49:44 PM
https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Series-Rotary-Tumbler-7L/dp/B00HTN4R6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488772126&sr=8-1&keywords=STAINLESS+TUMBLER+RELOADING (https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Series-Rotary-Tumbler-7L/dp/B00HTN4R6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488772126&sr=8-1&keywords=STAINLESS+TUMBLER+RELOADING)
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 05, 2017, 08:01:41 PM
Post by: Rob on March 05, 2017, 08:25:12 PM
How do you dry the brass inside and out after you remove it? Seems messy...
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 05, 2017, 08:47:28 PM
These are wet tumblers, right?drying the brass hasn't been an issue for me.
How do you dry the brass inside and out after you remove it? Seems messy...
I tumble
Then sort the brass from the media, then I run it through the annealing machine which dries a lot of the water. Or I just set it out on a towel and it dries fairly quickly.
In the summer set it in the sun.
Some guys use food dehydrators to dry it faster.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 05, 2017, 08:55:27 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on March 05, 2017, 08:55:36 PM
Go stainless man. Your brass will literally look brand new. It's simply amazing. No more cleaning primer pockets either. You literally couldn't pay me to go back to a regularge case tumbler.
Post by: sumpnz on March 05, 2017, 09:06:32 PM
I prefer to tumble after resizing so any case lube gets cleaned off.
Post by: Rob on March 06, 2017, 08:10:01 AM
It is the second tumble that causes me issues.
I have been using a similar process of poking a hand held de-capping tool through the flash hole after tumbling, but 80% of my brass is clogged so that takes quite a while. using a decapping die and running them through the press is faster, I am looking for an even faster method.
I like the idea of using a rotary tumbler with stainless. That may be an upcoming upgrade.
Thanks everyone
Post by: JJD on March 07, 2017, 05:53:36 AM
Or try a universal de capping die to clean the flash holes after tumbling. Or clean before resizing
This is what I would do. I just throw my brass in the tumbler when I get home from shooting and then decap everything before running it through the sizing dies.
Exactly, the tumbling media does not clean the primer pocket anyway. Tumble, decap, clean primer pocket with cleaning tool(rifle), resize. Most guys I know who reload pistol with progressive presses don't bother with primer pockets at all. I have not used one but I'd be willing to bet that an ultrasonic cleaner would be the ticket if having squeaky clean primer pockets is your goal.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 07, 2017, 07:41:23 AM
stainless media cleans primer pockets to new lookingOr try a universal de capping die to clean the flash holes after tumbling. Or clean before resizing
This is what I would do. I just throw my brass in the tumbler when I get home from shooting and then decap everything before running it through the sizing dies.
Exactly, the tumbling media does not clean the primer pocket anyway. Tumble, decap, clean primer pocket with cleaning tool(rifle), resize. Most guys I know who reload pistol with progressive presses don't bother with primer pockets at all. I have not used one but I'd be willing to bet that an ultrasonic cleaner would be the ticket if having squeaky clean primer pockets is your goal.
Post by: HighlandLofts on March 08, 2017, 06:49:19 PM
I picked up the small 3 or 4 piece pick set from Harbor Freight for about $4 and use the one with the straight pick on it, looks like a small ice pick to clean the primer pockets.
I deprime my brass before tumbling.
I did buy a Hornady Sonic Cleaner and a Frankfurt Arsenal Stainless Media Tumbler but am waiting for the sun to come back before I start using them. I will be taking a piece of 2x10 or 2x12, mark a grid pattern in it about every 3/4s inch maybe 1 inch and screw in treated deck screw so in can put the brass on the screw and let nature take it's coarse out in the sun on the picnic table.
I'll see what the average brass count is and make my drying rack accordingly.
I did buy some Lyman Corn Cob Media, but haven't tried it yet. Maybe next time.
Post by: hunting4sanity on March 08, 2017, 07:31:01 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on March 10, 2017, 07:08:31 PM
Also does any one use the ceramic media available at Harbor Freight?
Post by: JJD on March 13, 2017, 10:42:19 AM
stainless media cleans primer pockets to new lookingOr try a universal de capping die to clean the flash holes after tumbling. Or clean before resizing
This is what I would do. I just throw my brass in the tumbler when I get home from shooting and then decap everything before running it through the sizing dies.
Exactly, the tumbling media does not clean the primer pocket anyway. Tumble, decap, clean primer pocket with cleaning tool(rifle), resize. Most guys I know who reload pistol with progressive presses don't bother with primer pockets at all. I have not used one but I'd be willing to bet that an ultrasonic cleaner would be the ticket if having squeaky clean primer pockets is your goal.
SS cleaning media does not work in a Vibrating cleaner.
Post by: AWS on March 15, 2017, 08:39:02 AM
Post by: CP on March 15, 2017, 09:33:56 AM
Post by: Magnum_Willys on March 16, 2017, 01:32:27 PM
Post by: jrebel on March 16, 2017, 01:47:49 PM
Just ran first batch with pins. Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of. Two hours was probably too long ? Will try one hour next time and also try without pins.
Did you put dawn and lem shine in the water with the pins. I ran my first two batches yesterday and they look new....very shiny. I have a post going with pics if you want to take a look.
Post by: coop2424 on March 16, 2017, 02:20:51 PM
Just ran first batch with pins. Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of. Two hours was probably too long ? Will try one hour next time and also try without pins.
I have ran some longer than 3 hours so time shouldn't be the issue.. Should come out very shiny.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi606.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ftt143%2Fcoop2424%2F43D1B9A5-F7E4-4DF7-A4DA-80DAD1D0F182.jpg&hash=50201e870a37e51af8f9079dfa3f01dc11c77976) (http://s606.photobucket.com/user/coop2424/media/43D1B9A5-F7E4-4DF7-A4DA-80DAD1D0F182.jpg.html)
Post by: Magnum_Willys on March 16, 2017, 02:23:52 PM
Just ran first batch with pins. Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of. Two hours was probably too long ? Will try one hour next time and also try without pins.
Did you put dawn and lem shine in the water with the pins. I ran my first two batches yesterday and they look new....very shiny. I have a post going with pics if you want to take a look.
I did . They look fine just surface not as smooth as I expected ?
Post by: Magnum_Willys on March 16, 2017, 02:25:50 PM
Post by: jrebel on March 16, 2017, 02:41:55 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on March 16, 2017, 03:31:18 PM
Just ran first batch with pins. Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of. Two hours was probably too long ? Will try one hour next time and also try without pins.
I had brass come out "textured" like that. It happened when the lid to the rock tumbler opened up and spilled 80% of the media out. Be very careful resizing those, they really grab at the die.
Post by: Jonathan_S on March 16, 2017, 03:34:29 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 16, 2017, 04:42:50 PM
thats weird. Was the tumbler full of water?Just ran first batch with pins. Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of. Two hours was probably too long ? Will try one hour next time and also try without pins.
Did you put dawn and lem shine in the water with the pins. I ran my first two batches yesterday and they look new....very shiny. I have a post going with pics if you want to take a look.
I did . They look fine just surface not as smooth as I expected ?
Post by: Magnum_Willys on March 16, 2017, 07:41:37 PM
Based on that I'd guess you don't have enough mediaIDK ? Used full bag that came with tumbler. They sized fine and shot fine. Full of water, added Dawn and Lemishine. Going to try some other brass. Don't want to scuff my new Lapua brass that much.
Going to see what Nutshell media with rouge does to them :-)
Post by: Jonathan_S on March 16, 2017, 07:46:43 PM
Based on that I'd guess you don't have enough mediaIDK ? Used full bag that came with tumbler. They sized fine and shot fine. Full of water, added Dawn and Lemishine. Going to try some other brass. Don't want to scuff my new Lapua brass that much.
Going to see what Nutshell media with rouge does to them :-)
:tup: that texture will gradually wear off
Post by: CP on March 17, 2017, 06:57:02 PM
Post by: jjness11 on April 04, 2017, 09:05:51 AM
Post by: lamrith on April 04, 2017, 12:03:05 PM
I JUST made the switch to SS media 2 weeks ago, WOW, so much better overall. It does take a little more hands on time, but the results are much better, both the clean factor as well as the separating factor. The SS media is heavier and just seems to separate better. It can cost a little bit to get into, I didn't do it for a LONG time until I stumbled on a used Thumler for $60. $10 new gasket, $6 belt and $6 plastic knobs and it is running like a champ! I have put probably 4k worth of pistol rounds thru it in just over a week and half. There is a Co on FB that sells a granular SS media, I tried it and found it is a pita to work with as it is so small and light that it tends to flow with water. It also sticks to hands, tumbler etc and can be tough to keep where you want it. I am borrowing a 5# batch large(.062"x.500") SS pin media from buddy below, finding it is much easier to work with, drops clear of brass well and does not stick to everything. I think sort of a std size is more of .047"*.500" Runtime can vary depending on tumbler used. My Thumler is an old one for rock polishing, so runs at 1/2 speed, thus I run it 2x as long, that works well though as I just set it up to run overnight, empty and reload in morning and run a batch while I am at work. Then repeat in the evening and run overnight.
A Friend of mine from over on Waguns.org put this video together, covers SS tumbling pretty well. I follow the same routine and find it takes about 10-15min for me to do the process of switching a batch over to the dehydrator and then starting the next batch in the tumbler.