tumbler

oldbear1950 · July 9, 2022, 02:32 PM

what do ya'll add to your corn cob media in tumbler to really clean and polish your brass? Mine sorta comes clean most of the time, but not really shinny

BobCat45 · July 9, 2022, 05:16 PM

Used the stuff Midway sells and it was very good. Tried Nu-Finish car polish and it was good. Then I tried Flitz https://www.flitz.com/tumbler-media-additive/ and even though it is really expensive, I am hooked.

A bottle lasts a long time and the brass comes out very clean and shiny, and very easy to find in the grass.

Steve in PA · July 9, 2022, 09:06 PM

Crushed walnut (lizard litter from the pet store) is a much better cleaner. I’ve used both, but prefer crushed walnut.

Either way, I add some Iosso liquid case polish to both.

Shadow9mm · July 9, 2022, 10:46 PM

I wet tumble now, but i did dry tumble for a while.

I did not like corn cob, it got stuck in the flash holes and took too long to clean the brass, had much better luck with walnut.

with both corn cob and walnut I had good luck with nu-finish car wax. its has a mild polish in in, and keeps the brass from tarnishing.

std7mag · July 10, 2022, 05:27 AM

I just use plain walnut media. Nothing added.

totaldla · July 10, 2022, 08:55 AM

When I used corn cobb, I used Nu Finish car polish and denatured alcohol. The polish went in as pretreatment (run at least 30 min) and the alcohol was used before each batch to collect the dust to the sides of the bowl.

Now I use Harbor Freight blast media, same pretreatment and used dryer sheets. The blast media doesn't plug up 223 cases.

**Unclenick** · July 10, 2022, 09:14 AM

You can make up a thin paste of odorless mineral spirits and diatomaceous earth (same mild abrasive used in toothpaste and as a cereal filler). A four-pound bag of food-grade stuff is $10 and will last you a lifetime. Add a few tablespoons to new media and test the effectiveness and adjust if needed, then replenish with a teaspoonful as needed.

hikingman · July 10, 2022, 11:49 AM

Mix corn cob and walnut media with at least 2/3 corn cob in there to 1/3 or less walnut. For the shine, eyeball approx. one teaspoon of Nu-Finish, it works great since switching recently from Flitz.

Key to this process is not loading brass to the top. You get shiny brass for about an hour per load if its not crammed in. Remove the brass after, and load more in the tumbler with the same corn cob and walnut as the last batch. Give the brass room to tumble!

RC20 · July 10, 2022, 04:49 PM

It may be your machine.

I have the Vibratory Tumbler (Ultra Vibe) vs a rolling tumbler

jetinteriorguy · July 11, 2022, 06:12 AM

The only thing I even use my tumbler for anymore is a final shine with Nufinish in crushed walnut. Otherwise I just wet tumble with Dawn and citric acid, no stainless pins. I leave the pins out because I like the carbon inside the necks, no need for neck lubing then.

ed308 · July 12, 2022, 08:34 PM

Crushed walnut (Lizard litter) with a little paint thinner and Nufinish. Works good.

Shadow9mm · July 12, 2022, 09:10 PM

I stopped using the pins. Way too much hasle, and they were harder to size. Gotta run em 2hrs now instead of 1, but they come out just as clean

Unique · July 13, 2022, 01:29 AM

Same as ed308

jetinteriorguy · July 13, 2022, 04:59 AM

I only run mine for an hour, I’ve found some brass doesn’t like the citric acid so well and turns pink if left too long. I only use a pinch of citric, it’s powerful stuff. I use a pretty concentrated solution to soak rust off small parts, works like magic. It usually only takes a couple hours to clean of fairly heavy rust.

308Loader · July 13, 2022, 05:43 PM

+1 for the Harbor Freight walnut. I use the #12. They do have the #24, haven't tried it yet. One box has lasted me a few years. More cost effective than reloading branded walnut. As far as I can tell it is the same thing unless we are talking about the one with Jewlers rust added. I have tried lizard litter in the past, found it to be too dusty for me.

+1 for the mineral spirits. Add some to the media when it starts to take longer to clean than normal. Ran a batch last week with this and was amazed with the results. Dare I say better than the F.A.R.T wet tumble as far as shine (primer pockets excluded).

Just my 2 cents.

July 9, 2022, 09:06 PM	#3
Steve in PA Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Northeastern PA Posts: 756	Crushed walnut (lizard litter from the pet store) is a much better cleaner. I’ve used both, but prefer crushed walnut. Either way, I add some Iosso liquid case polish to both. __________________ Steve

July 9, 2022, 10:46 PM	#4
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,969	I wet tumble now, but i did dry tumble for a while. I did not like corn cob, it got stuck in the flash holes and took too long to clean the brass, had much better luck with walnut. with both corn cob and walnut I had good luck with nu-finish car wax. its has a mild polish in in, and keeps the brass from tarnishing. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

July 10, 2022, 05:27 AM	#5
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	I just use plain walnut media. Nothing added. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

July 10, 2022, 08:55 AM	#6
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 1,291	When I used corn cobb, I used Nu Finish car polish and denatured alcohol. The polish went in as pretreatment (run at least 30 min) and the alcohol was used before each batch to collect the dust to the sides of the bowl. Now I use Harbor Freight blast media, same pretreatment and used dryer sheets. The blast media doesn't plug up 223 cases. __________________ Lee Auto Bench Prime Castor Oil Case Lube

July 10, 2022, 09:14 AM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	You can make up a thin paste of odorless mineral spirits and diatomaceous earth (same mild abrasive used in toothpaste and as a cereal filler). A four-pound bag of food-grade stuff is $10 and will last you a lifetime. Add a few tablespoons to new media and test the effectiveness and adjust if needed, then replenish with a teaspoonful as needed. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 9, 2022, 02:32 PM	#1
oldbear1950 Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2022 Posts: 205	tumbler what do ya'll add to your corn cob media in tumbler to really clean and polish your brass? Mine sorta comes clean most of the time, but not really shinny

July 9, 2022, 05:16 PM	#2
BobCat45 Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: East Bernard, TX Posts: 523	Used the stuff Midway sells and it was very good. Tried Nu-Finish car polish and it was good. Then I tried Flitz https://www.flitz.com/tumbler-media-additive/ and even though it is really expensive, I am hooked. A bottle lasts a long time and the brass comes out very clean and shiny, and very easy to find in the grass.

July 10, 2022, 11:49 AM	#8
hikingman Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 301	Mix corn cob and walnut media with at least 2/3 corn cob in there to 1/3 or less walnut. For the shine, eyeball approx. one teaspoon of Nu-Finish, it works great since switching recently from Flitz. Key to this process is not loading brass to the top. You get shiny brass for about an hour per load if its not crammed in. Remove the brass after, and load more in the tumbler with the same corn cob and walnut as the last batch. Give the brass room to tumble! __________________ NRA Life Member Last edited by hikingman; July 10, 2022 at 11:57 AM.

July 10, 2022, 04:49 PM	#9
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	It may be your machine. I have the Vibratory Tumbler (Ultra Vibe) vs a rolling tumbler __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

July 11, 2022, 06:12 AM	#10
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,172	The only thing I even use my tumbler for anymore is a final shine with Nufinish in crushed walnut. Otherwise I just wet tumble with Dawn and citric acid, no stainless pins. I leave the pins out because I like the carbon inside the necks, no need for neck lubing then.

July 12, 2022, 08:34 PM	#11
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	Crushed walnut (Lizard litter) with a little paint thinner and Nufinish. Works good.

July 12, 2022, 09:10 PM	#12
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,969	I stopped using the pins. Way too much hasle, and they were harder to size. Gotta run em 2hrs now instead of 1, but they come out just as clean __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

July 13, 2022, 01:29 AM	#13
Unique Member Join Date: May 22, 2017 Location: Central Texas Posts: 67	Same as ed308

July 13, 2022, 04:59 AM	#14
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,172	I only run mine for an hour, I’ve found some brass doesn’t like the citric acid so well and turns pink if left too long. I only use a pinch of citric, it’s powerful stuff. I use a pretty concentrated solution to soak rust off small parts, works like magic. It usually only takes a couple hours to clean of fairly heavy rust.

July 13, 2022, 05:43 PM	#15
308Loader Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 639	+1 for the Harbor Freight walnut. I use the #12. They do have the #24, haven't tried it yet. One box has lasted me a few years. More cost effective than reloading branded walnut. As far as I can tell it is the same thing unless we are talking about the one with Jewlers rust added. I have tried lizard litter in the past, found it to be too dusty for me. +1 for the mineral spirits. Add some to the media when it starts to take longer to clean than normal. Ran a batch last week with this and was amazed with the results. Dare I say better than the F.A.R.T wet tumble as far as shine (primer pockets excluded). Just my 2 cents. __________________ Just a dude with stuff.