Cleaning brass in walnut media

[inkd]

I use the Dillon corn cob since it seems to be the finest ground media I can find and it doesn't stick on the primer holes if I de-prime before tumbling.

I use Flitz and Frankford Arsenal liquid polish and have had good luck with both.

 

[Teflon]

I think it is accepted that walnut does a better job of cleaning and corn cob does a better job of polishing.

I have done 1/2 and 1/2 and it works fine. Just need to change it out when it get dirty.

How do you decide when it's dirty enough it needs changed? And this is open to anyone who wants to weigh in on this one, not just Topher....

My walnut media is pretty old, and I've done several thousand rounds with it, but it's never been changed. Still seems to get the job done.

 

[hodgepodge]

How do you decide when it's dirty enough it needs changed? And this is open to anyone who wants to weigh in on this one, not just Topher....

My walnut media is pretty old, and I've done several thousand rounds with it, but it's never been changed. Still seems to get the job done.

When it stops getting the job done. Mine was grey and leaving deposits when I finally changed it. Night and day!

 

[Pinecone]

The same here.

Also, I will take the old media and put it in a plastic bag. and then load fresh media. If the cleaning is a LOT faster, I toss the old. If it is only marginally better, I will go back to the old media.

And you can recharge the media. I use Dillon Polish. Add a capful or two to old media and it starts working better again.

But there is a point where it doesn't help.

 

[Sticky]

How do you all keep the media/polish out of the primer pocket.

Wet tumble with SS pins.. lol

For that reason alone, I am not going back to dry with walnut, the pins do a much better job and for me, at least, the process is way faster.. Less time in the tumbler, no dealing with primer pockets at all (cleaning or removing media that got stuck in the flash hole) and cleaner brass when I'm done..

 

[wiseguy813]

Wet tumble with SS pins.. lol

For that reason alone, I am not going back to dry with walnut, the pins do a much better job and for me, at least, the process is way faster.. Less time in the tumbler, no dealing with primer pockets at all (cleaning or removing media that got stuck in the flash hole) and cleaner brass when I'm done..

I agree. Although I get 2 pins stuck in the primer hole but the most I've had in a batch was 4 cases that needed to be cleared. 3 hours in the tumbler and 10 minutes to separate (which gives me hands on view on every case) and process is done

Sent from somewhere

 

[Hickory]

Double Action Rotary Sifter

I use fine corn cob media and Nu Finish (when I remember to add it). I bought the media at the Harrisburg show and it is very fine. Cleans brass with a fine luster perhaps not as bright as some shown on this thread.
My "tumblers" (gotta come up with a better term since mostly what we are describing is a vibrator) don't have the media exchange feature so I bought a cheap Double Action Rotary Sifter from MidSouth for $20. Now that sure saves time! No more banging each case; just dump media and brass into the sifter, crank the handle a few times and it is done. I still inspect each case before loading but that is SOP.
BTW, the sifter is all plastic so rubbing a dryer sheet inside the body of the case prevents the media from sticking to it.
I did try rice and was not impressed especially after it packed several cases and was difficult to remove.

 

[chale127]

I use walnut shells from harbor freight and flitz case polish and it typically comes out new looking

 

[jpo183]

I finally got to tumble some brass using a real tumbler instead of the dryer

Here is the before and after shots. The after shot still has the dust of the walnut media on it. I tumbled for about 2 hours then tumbled for another hour with some Nu Finish car polish. I rinsed with some soapy water afterwards. I also got yelled at for using the wife's colander.

 

[DocSavage]

I finally got to tumble some brass using a real tumbler instead of the dryer Here is the before and after shots. The after shot still has the dust of the walnut media on it. I tumbled for about 2 hours then tumbled for another hour with some Nu Finish car polish. I rinsed with some soapy water afterwards. I also got yelled at for using the wife's colander.

In every .233/5.56 case there's a 300BLK case waiting to get out...

Doc

 

[Pinecone]

Wet tumble with SS pins.. lol

For that reason alone, I am not going back to dry with walnut, the pins do a much better job and for me, at least, the process is way faster.. Less time in the tumbler, no dealing with primer pockets at all (cleaning or removing media that got stuck in the flash hole) and cleaner brass when I'm done..

But then you have to deal with drying the cases.

For cleaning, I am in corn cob media for 15 - 20 minutes. 2 minutes to separate the media and cases. And I am done and loading.

 

[Sticky]

But then you have to deal with drying the cases.

For cleaning, I am in corn cob media for 15 - 20 minutes. 2 minutes to separate the media and cases. And I am done and loading.

True, but... I am always ahead of my needs for brass, so when I am working brass, it's for future use, not right now, so the time factor isn't an issue fo rme.. pop em on a cookied sheet, 2 beers later they are done and ready to put away..

I also tumble them for a few hours to get em shiny and the primer pockets cleaned. I know you don't have to, but I do anyway.. lol

 

[Pinecone]

If you have the time, and like really shining brass. It is the way to go.

But I don't care about super shiny.

And I may process several thousand cases at a time.

 

[ultraplanet]

But then you have to deal with drying the cases.

For cleaning, I am in corn cob media for 15 - 20 minutes. 2 minutes to separate the media and cases. And I am done and loading.

Mine gets about half an hour in straight corn cob. I was beginning to think I was crazy.