New Tumbler Question???

PoorRichRichard · August 21, 2011, 11:17 PM

My father-in-law (his name is Art) just gave me an old Berry's tumbler for cleaning my brass, and I have a few questions about it. It seems pretty solid, and I hope it's worth using. Please view the attached pictures and my questions below.

Art told me I would need to add about a cup of water to the rock media when cleaning each batch of brass. I'm not sure why I'm supposed to add the water and I'm curious as to why I should.

Questions:
-Am I just better off throwing away the rocks and using Lyman media in order to clean my brass?

-Will the Lyman media work with this particular tumbler?

-If I keep the rocks for cleaning, how many cases can I clean per batch? I will be cleaning 9mm and .45 ACP cases.

-Do these rocks wear out over time?

-If I am able to use the Lyman media for cleaning, how many cases can I clean per batch? Again for cleaning 9mm and .45 ACP cases.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated as I have over 1000 cases of 9mm and .45 ACP ready to clean.

TXGunNut · August 22, 2011, 12:45 AM

-Am I just better off throwing away the rocks and using Lyman media in order to clean my brass? -PRR

Never seen them before. Worth a try, I guess. Can always toss them and use walnut or corncob.

-If I keep the rocks for cleaning, how many cases can I clean per batch? I will be cleaning 9mm and .45 ACP cases. -PRR

Rule of thumb for any vibratory cleaner, any media, is to add cases slowly with cleaner running until action starts to slow down.

Shootest · August 22, 2011, 08:24 AM

I have used the rocks in a tumbler at work to deburr parts, it may be tough on brass, but I would try it and see. Check often for excessive brass wear. The water lubricates the rocks to tumble better, will not work well without it. We add a little dish soap, helps keep parts clean. Rocks do wear out but it takes a long time, maybe never with brass.
Walnut or corncob will work in anything that vibrates.

Berry's MfG · August 22, 2011, 10:52 AM

The 400 cleaner wasn't designed to be used with a wet media or polishing stones. Many people use it for that but the design was for use with corn cob or walnut media. With cob or walnut you will get much better action with the media and will clean much quicker.

serf 'rett · August 22, 2011, 10:57 AM

Is the media actually rock? Could it be ceramic media?

Link to Berry's tumbler:

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14...0_Tumbler.aspx

I noticed they stated dry media only. You can contact Berry's and see if they will send you the information for their tumbler.

Looks like Jay beat me to the draw.

Berry's MfG · August 22, 2011, 11:02 AM

I might know someone

TXGunNut · August 22, 2011, 08:45 PM

Do tell, Jay. Do tell.

I was curious about the rocks too. Wondered if it was a Berry's product as well.

Berry's MfG · August 23, 2011, 09:13 AM

No, we don't sell anything but the corn and walnut. We've tried using our 400 tumbler to de-bur small parts from the machine shop using ceramic balls and stones but gave up in the end.

engineermike · August 23, 2011, 10:45 AM

NO, NO, NO, I'm not gonna say it....

PoorRichRichard · August 23, 2011, 12:06 PM

Jay, what media do you recommend for cleaning 45s and 9mm with this particular tumbler?

Berry's MfG · August 23, 2011, 12:52 PM

I only use corn cob media and clean the brass every time I shoot so it really never gets tarnished. There are a lot of good polishes out there you can add to the corn cob, just stay away from any polish that contains ammonia. Ammonia is the key ingredient for many of the copper bore cleaners and it will damage your brass, basically it makes it brittle. I've not used any of the pre-treated media like the Lyman product, but I'm sure it works. Dillon, Cabela's, Midsouth and Berry's polish are all very much the same product and work very well.

PoorRichRichard · August 23, 2011, 10:39 PM

Thank you Jay.

August 21, 2011, 11:17 PM	#1
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 269	New Tumbler Question??? My father-in-law (his name is Art) just gave me an old Berry's tumbler for cleaning my brass, and I have a few questions about it. It seems pretty solid, and I hope it's worth using. Please view the attached pictures and my questions below. Art told me I would need to add about a cup of water to the rock media when cleaning each batch of brass. I'm not sure why I'm supposed to add the water and I'm curious as to why I should. Questions: -Am I just better off throwing away the rocks and using Lyman media in order to clean my brass? -Will the Lyman media work with this particular tumbler? -If I keep the rocks for cleaning, how many cases can I clean per batch? I will be cleaning 9mm and .45 ACP cases. -Do these rocks wear out over time? -If I am able to use the Lyman media for cleaning, how many cases can I clean per batch? Again for cleaning 9mm and .45 ACP cases. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated as I have over 1000 cases of 9mm and .45 ACP ready to clean.

August 22, 2011, 10:57 AM	#5
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Is the media actually rock? Could it be ceramic media? Link to Berry's tumbler: http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14...0_Tumbler.aspx I noticed they stated dry media only. You can contact Berry's and see if they will send you the information for their tumbler. Looks like Jay beat me to the draw. Last edited by serf 'rett; August 22, 2011 at 11:05 AM.

August 22, 2011, 12:45 AM	#2
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	-Am I just better off throwing away the rocks and using Lyman media in order to clean my brass? -PRR Never seen them before. Worth a try, I guess. Can always toss them and use walnut or corncob. -If I keep the rocks for cleaning, how many cases can I clean per batch? I will be cleaning 9mm and .45 ACP cases. -PRR Rule of thumb for any vibratory cleaner, any media, is to add cases slowly with cleaner running until action starts to slow down.

August 22, 2011, 08:24 AM	#3
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	I have used the rocks in a tumbler at work to deburr parts, it may be tough on brass, but I would try it and see. Check often for excessive brass wear. The water lubricates the rocks to tumble better, will not work well without it. We add a little dish soap, helps keep parts clean. Rocks do wear out but it takes a long time, maybe never with brass. Walnut or corncob will work in anything that vibrates.

August 22, 2011, 10:52 AM	#4
Berry's MfG Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2010 Location: St. George, UT Posts: 122	The 400 cleaner wasn't designed to be used with a wet media or polishing stones. Many people use it for that but the design was for use with corn cob or walnut media. With cob or walnut you will get much better action with the media and will clean much quicker.

August 22, 2011, 11:02 AM	#6
Berry's MfG Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2010 Location: St. George, UT Posts: 122	I might know someone

August 22, 2011, 08:45 PM	#7
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Do tell, Jay. Do tell. I was curious about the rocks too. Wondered if it was a Berry's product as well.

August 23, 2011, 09:13 AM	#8
Berry's MfG Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2010 Location: St. George, UT Posts: 122	No, we don't sell anything but the corn and walnut. We've tried using our 400 tumbler to de-bur small parts from the machine shop using ceramic balls and stones but gave up in the end.

August 23, 2011, 10:45 AM	#9
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	NO, NO, NO, I'm not gonna say it....

August 23, 2011, 12:06 PM	#10
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 269	Jay, what media do you recommend for cleaning 45s and 9mm with this particular tumbler?

August 23, 2011, 12:52 PM	#11
Berry's MfG Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2010 Location: St. George, UT Posts: 122	I only use corn cob media and clean the brass every time I shoot so it really never gets tarnished. There are a lot of good polishes out there you can add to the corn cob, just stay away from any polish that contains ammonia. Ammonia is the key ingredient for many of the copper bore cleaners and it will damage your brass, basically it makes it brittle. I've not used any of the pre-treated media like the Lyman product, but I'm sure it works. Dillon, Cabela's, Midsouth and Berry's polish are all very much the same product and work very well.

August 23, 2011, 10:39 PM	#12
PoorRichRichard Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2011 Location: San Berdoo Posts: 269	Thank you Jay.