When to tumble

Lazy D · January 28, 2007, 01:05 PM

#1
I've heard guys say to tumble your brass before you decap and resize. Then some say to tumble after. I guess the reasoning is to remove any debris so you don't scratch your dies. Some say it keeps media out of the flash hole.

#2 Has anyone used the liquid cleaner from midway?

**Shane Tuttle** · January 28, 2007, 01:22 PM

Lazy D,
I tumble before I size. I just like clean brass before I shove 'em in my expensive dies. There are huge differences of opinion on tumbling and I am just one of them that like to have clean brass. It also keeps the media out of the flash hole, just as you said.

I use Midway's brass polisher for these reasons.
1. no ammonia
2. no petroleum distillates
3. neutral PH
4. It's really easy to use. Just put the instructed amount in the corn media. Don't use too much. Also, be sure to shake it THOUROUGHLY before dispensing.
5. It lasts a long time before you have to add more to the media. (A little goes a long way.)
6. The price is right. No need to try to come up with a homemade concoction.

I really like the stuff, if you don't get that vibe.

Rimrod · January 28, 2007, 03:51 PM

I tumble first also for the same reason as tuttle8. I don't think it keeps media out of the flash hole though because there is nothing to stop it. However the decapper pin pushes it out so you don't have to worry about it.

**Shane Tuttle** · January 28, 2007, 04:03 PM

Actually, I misstated. What I meant was the primer pocketdoesn't get media in it, not the flash hole. Sorry about that.

dodgestdshift · January 28, 2007, 04:06 PM

I use the RCBS universal decapping die to remove the old primer. Then I tumble. I remove any stuck media in the flash hole with a bent paper clip. Then I resize. If I had to use resizing lube, I wipe it off, and then back in the tumbler for a few minutes to get the rest of the lube off the case.

cheygriz · January 28, 2007, 04:33 PM

I tumble in warm water and liquid tide before sizing. If I'm using bottleneck rifle cases that require lubrication, I wash again after sizing.

**Shane Tuttle** · January 28, 2007, 04:45 PM

cheygriz,
Why warm water and tide? Cost? Works better for you? Just curious.

High up in the Rockies? Don't tell me...I might get REALLY jealous.

**44 AMP** · January 28, 2007, 05:51 PM

I tumble before, and after resizing. You don't have to, I just do it that way because it is easier for me. I tumble before to remove grit and crud, and after to remove lube and polish. I do this even with pistol cases using carbide dies. Not needed, just what I like to do.

Lazy D · January 28, 2007, 08:31 PM

Thanks for all the replies. Lots of good info.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=623467

If you've used this, how well does it work?

**Shane Tuttle** · January 28, 2007, 08:46 PM

I haven't used it, but even if it did, one of the comments on the product reviews states that it cleans about 1000rds. for every quart. Doesn't seem to go a long way.
Product #472108, on Midway is the brass polish I highly recommend.
Have a good one.

**Shane Tuttle** · January 28, 2007, 08:49 PM

Al Suh of Beaverton, OR says it best in the product review.

cpaspr · January 28, 2007, 09:51 PM

I tumble to clean the brass before resizing. Usually about 2-3 hours with plain media, then an hour or so with treated corncob media to polish and shine. The shine's not necessary, just looks nicer.

After they go through the carbide sizer/decapper die, I see no reason to tumble them again, as they're probably as clean as they're going to get.

Trapper L · January 28, 2007, 10:55 PM

I tumble with liquid cleaners before sizing and after. I probably am in the minority here as I may not see the brass for months or years from the time I size it to load it. I sit on several million rounds of brass- I know, it's a sickness but my brother and I shoot a lot, like 3000 rounds just this weekend. I never use any walnut or corn media with any polishing compound. That junk isn't going in any of my guns and you would have to clean the abrasive off of the brass anyway or at least for my guns. Once you have competed in TNT rifle matches, no abrasive of any kind is even allowed on the bench with the components. For just a common shooter, it probably wouldn't matter which one you use or the sequence of the tumbling. Do what makes you feel good.

cheygriz · January 28, 2007, 11:06 PM

tuttle8,

I use a Thumler's model "B" rotary tumbler most of the time. I also have a Lyman vibratory that I use very little.

When I was in the commercial reloading business, we used concrete mixers to "wash" the brass instead of "polishing" to get it clean.

Now, I wash (tumble) for about 15-20 minutes in the warm water and Tide, then rinse thoroughly in hot water. I spread them on a large cookie sheet or two, and dry in a 180 degree oven for an hour.

For bottleneck cases, I spray lube with Dillon Lube, load on the 650, and then tumble the loaded rounds in corncobs to remove the lube.

JoeHatley · January 29, 2007, 12:49 PM

I don't use it, but here is some info about Iosso from Real Guns.

www.realguns.com/archives/072.htm

I normally de-cap with a universal die then tumble. I leave the de-capping pin in my sizing die, so any stuck media gets popped out.

Good Luck....

Joe

amamnn · January 29, 2007, 08:26 PM

Tumble before you decap--why add a step? Avoid any liquids in the tumbler, a couple dashes of bon ami or any other scouring powder in your walnut media will polish your brass just fine.

cheygriz · January 30, 2007, 12:58 AM

Avois any liquids in a vibratory tumbler. Soapy water works just fine in a rotary tumbler.

**Shane Tuttle** · February 1, 2007, 10:47 PM

Thanks for the info, Cheygriz.

TrapperL,
You may or may not be in the minority here, but your opinion is valued.(At least by me, FWIW).

January 28, 2007, 04:06 PM	#5
dodgestdshift Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2002 Location: Marilla, N.Y. (outside Buffalo N.Y.) Posts: 113	I use the RCBS universal decapping die to remove the old primer. Then I tumble. I remove any stuck media in the flash hole with a bent paper clip. Then I resize. If I had to use resizing lube, I wipe it off, and then back in the tumbler for a few minutes to get the rest of the lube off the case. __________________ The shortest distance between two politicians is through your wallet. Don N.

January 28, 2007, 04:33 PM	#6
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,232	I tumble in warm water and liquid tide before sizing. If I'm using bottleneck rifle cases that require lubrication, I wash again after sizing. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

January 28, 2007, 04:45 PM	#7
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Blue Grass, IA Posts: 8,209	cheygriz, Why warm water and tide? Cost? Works better for you? Just curious. High up in the Rockies? Don't tell me...I might get REALLY jealous. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

January 28, 2007, 05:51 PM	#8
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 8,966	Before and after I tumble before, and after resizing. You don't have to, I just do it that way because it is easier for me. I tumble before to remove grit and crud, and after to remove lube and polish. I do this even with pistol cases using carbide dies. Not needed, just what I like to do. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 28, 2007, 08:31 PM	#9
Lazy D Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Indian Territory Posts: 192	Has anyone used the Iosso case cleaner Thanks for all the replies. Lots of good info. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=623467 If you've used this, how well does it work? __________________ "Fast is Fine but accuracy is final.".....Wyatt Earp.

January 28, 2007, 01:05 PM	#1
Lazy D Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Indian Territory Posts: 192	When to tumble #1 I've heard guys say to tumble your brass before you decap and resize. Then some say to tumble after. I guess the reasoning is to remove any debris so you don't scratch your dies. Some say it keeps media out of the flash hole. #2 Has anyone used the liquid cleaner from midway? __________________ "Fast is Fine but accuracy is final.".....Wyatt Earp.

January 28, 2007, 01:22 PM	#2
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Blue Grass, IA Posts: 8,209	Lazy D, I tumble before I size. I just like clean brass before I shove 'em in my expensive dies. There are huge differences of opinion on tumbling and I am just one of them that like to have clean brass. It also keeps the media out of the flash hole, just as you said. I use Midway's brass polisher for these reasons. 1. no ammonia 2. no petroleum distillates 3. neutral PH 4. It's really easy to use. Just put the instructed amount in the corn media. Don't use too much. Also, be sure to shake it THOUROUGHLY before dispensing. 5. It lasts a long time before you have to add more to the media. (A little goes a long way.) 6. The price is right. No need to try to come up with a homemade concoction. I really like the stuff, if you don't get that vibe. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

January 28, 2007, 03:51 PM	#3
Rimrod Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Behind enemy lines Posts: 1,310	I tumble first also for the same reason as tuttle8. I don't think it keeps media out of the flash hole though because there is nothing to stop it. However the decapper pin pushes it out so you don't have to worry about it.

January 28, 2007, 04:03 PM	#4
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Blue Grass, IA Posts: 8,209	Actually, I misstated. What I meant was the primer pocketdoesn't get media in it, not the flash hole. Sorry about that. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

January 28, 2007, 08:46 PM	#10
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Blue Grass, IA Posts: 8,209	I haven't used it, but even if it did, one of the comments on the product reviews states that it cleans about 1000rds. for every quart. Doesn't seem to go a long way. Product #472108, on Midway is the brass polish I highly recommend. Have a good one. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

January 28, 2007, 08:49 PM	#11
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Blue Grass, IA Posts: 8,209	Al Suh of Beaverton, OR says it best in the product review. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

January 28, 2007, 09:51 PM	#12
cpaspr Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 304	I tumble to clean the brass before resizing. Usually about 2-3 hours with plain media, then an hour or so with treated corncob media to polish and shine. The shine's not necessary, just looks nicer. After they go through the carbide sizer/decapper die, I see no reason to tumble them again, as they're probably as clean as they're going to get.

January 28, 2007, 10:55 PM	#13
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	I tumble with liquid cleaners before sizing and after. I probably am in the minority here as I may not see the brass for months or years from the time I size it to load it. I sit on several million rounds of brass- I know, it's a sickness but my brother and I shoot a lot, like 3000 rounds just this weekend. I never use any walnut or corn media with any polishing compound. That junk isn't going in any of my guns and you would have to clean the abrasive off of the brass anyway or at least for my guns. Once you have competed in TNT rifle matches, no abrasive of any kind is even allowed on the bench with the components. For just a common shooter, it probably wouldn't matter which one you use or the sequence of the tumbling. Do what makes you feel good.

January 28, 2007, 11:06 PM	#14
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,232	tuttle8, I use a Thumler's model "B" rotary tumbler most of the time. I also have a Lyman vibratory that I use very little. When I was in the commercial reloading business, we used concrete mixers to "wash" the brass instead of "polishing" to get it clean. Now, I wash (tumble) for about 15-20 minutes in the warm water and Tide, then rinse thoroughly in hot water. I spread them on a large cookie sheet or two, and dry in a 180 degree oven for an hour. For bottleneck cases, I spray lube with Dillon Lube, load on the 650, and then tumble the loaded rounds in corncobs to remove the lube. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

January 29, 2007, 12:49 PM	#15
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	I don't use it, but here is some info about Iosso from Real Guns. www.realguns.com/archives/072.htm I normally de-cap with a universal die then tumble. I leave the de-capping pin in my sizing die, so any stuck media gets popped out. Good Luck.... Joe __________________ Go NRA

January 29, 2007, 08:26 PM	#16
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	Tumble before you decap--why add a step? Avoid any liquids in the tumbler, a couple dashes of bon ami or any other scouring powder in your walnut media will polish your brass just fine. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

January 30, 2007, 12:58 AM	#17
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,232	Avois any liquids in a vibratory tumbler. Soapy water works just fine in a rotary tumbler. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

February 1, 2007, 10:47 PM	#18
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Blue Grass, IA Posts: 8,209	Thanks for the info, Cheygriz. TrapperL, You may or may not be in the minority here, but your opinion is valued.(At least by me, FWIW). __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting