Tumbler question

gotguns? · March 8, 2009, 05:30 PM

I just bought my new tumbler and some walnut shells, fill up half way with walnut and dump 50 .38 special cases in. Tumble for two hours and the outside is shiney but the insides arent. Is this normal, or should I tumble longer?

butta9999 · March 8, 2009, 05:36 PM

The inside does not really become shiny no matter how long you leave it on. I usually tumble my brass over night. If the brass is quite discoloured i leave on for two days.

If it only took 2 hours to make you brass shiny it must be near new already. After tumbling over night you will see an improve on the inside of the case.

PCJim · March 8, 2009, 09:46 PM

The purpose of tumbling brass is to clean the outsides so that you 1) do not scratch your dies when sizing the case, 2) do not scratch your rifle's chamber when shooting your reloads, and 3) personal pride in a finished product. The tumbling action does very little for the inside of the case, not that it really matters since only the outside of the case will be working against your dies and chamber.

Tex S · March 8, 2009, 10:02 PM

Dont sweat the inside. Make sure the outside is clean and grit free.

butta9999 · March 9, 2009, 02:57 AM

I also found by cleaning tarnished brass i was able to find hair line cracks mainly in the necks of some .223 brass. If i had not tumbled them i would have not found the defects.

Jkwas · March 9, 2009, 11:31 AM

So if I wipe down my cases and inspect them, I don't need to tumble? I ask because I'm thinking of getting a tumbler, but mostly to clean out the insides. I wipe my cases down and inspect them one by one for cracking or splitting. I would do this even if I tumbled them. I don't care what they look like as long as they function. Just asking.

Sixer · March 9, 2009, 12:14 PM

Forget about the inside of the cases... a tumbler won't really help out much with anything but the outside.

From my understanding, the inside of the case doesn't need to be clean... just free of any foreign objects.

IF you still feel the need to clean the inside, I would try soaking your brass in a solution of water, vinegar, salt, and soap. But again, I don't think it's necessary and it will just take up alot of time that you could be using to make ammo!

Russ5924 · March 9, 2009, 12:51 PM

I normally let mine run about 3 to 4 hours but I use a 50/50 mix of Walnut and Corncob. The Walnut shells clean and the corncob polishes them. Works for me I like my brass to look good, nothing worse is showing up at the range with half cleaned brass

dmickey · March 9, 2009, 11:23 PM

If you insist on having the inside of your cases clean, try buying an ultrasonic cleaner. However, in my opinion it is a waste of money. Cases come out clean but not real shiny.

ryalred · March 10, 2009, 04:46 PM

The inside of the case does not become shiny, or at least I've never been able to get them shiny.

rclark · March 10, 2009, 06:24 PM

I tumble my brass for a couple of hours, sometimes more depending. Usually a couple of hours is plenty. Then wipe each down before resizing. Gives me a change to check the brass. Note that tumbling is 'NOT' mandatory -- just make sure the outside of the case is free from grit that would harm your resizing die.

As for the inside. Don't bother to clean. Never see it when loaded anyway

. No harm either to leave it 'dusty'.

I always clean the primer pocket before setting a primer, but I understand that this isn't really necessary either.

James R. Burke · March 15, 2009, 08:26 AM

They are all right forget about the inside. I like the outside to look new, and clean the primer pockets for the obvious reasons.

March 8, 2009, 05:30 PM	#1
gotguns? Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2008 Location: Oakland City IN Posts: 136	Tumbler question I just bought my new tumbler and some walnut shells, fill up half way with walnut and dump 50 .38 special cases in. Tumble for two hours and the outside is shiney but the insides arent. Is this normal, or should I tumble longer? __________________ "And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. ... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -Thomas Jefferson

March 8, 2009, 05:36 PM	#2
butta9999 Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2008 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 692	The inside does not really become shiny no matter how long you leave it on. I usually tumble my brass over night. If the brass is quite discoloured i leave on for two days. If it only took 2 hours to make you brass shiny it must be near new already. After tumbling over night you will see an improve on the inside of the case. __________________ Knowledge is Power!

March 9, 2009, 02:57 AM	#5
butta9999 Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2008 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 692	I also found by cleaning tarnished brass i was able to find hair line cracks mainly in the necks of some .223 brass. If i had not tumbled them i would have not found the defects. __________________ Knowledge is Power!

March 9, 2009, 11:31 AM	#6
Jkwas Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Mouth of the Rat, Florida Posts: 1,778	So if I wipe down my cases and inspect them, I don't need to tumble? I ask because I'm thinking of getting a tumbler, but mostly to clean out the insides. I wipe my cases down and inspect them one by one for cracking or splitting. I would do this even if I tumbled them. I don't care what they look like as long as they function. Just asking. __________________ I grew up in New Jersey, but later moved to Florida and made a complete recovery. Keltec: The BIC lighter of handguns http://jkwasblog.blogspot.com/

March 9, 2009, 12:14 PM	#7
Sixer Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,891	Forget about the inside of the cases... a tumbler won't really help out much with anything but the outside. From my understanding, the inside of the case doesn't need to be clean... just free of any foreign objects. IF you still feel the need to clean the inside, I would try soaking your brass in a solution of water, vinegar, salt, and soap. But again, I don't think it's necessary and it will just take up alot of time that you could be using to make ammo! __________________ Hopp Custom Leather <------ click for HOLSTER awesomeness!! -There is no theory of evolution... Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

March 8, 2009, 09:46 PM	#3
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	The purpose of tumbling brass is to clean the outsides so that you 1) do not scratch your dies when sizing the case, 2) do not scratch your rifle's chamber when shooting your reloads, and 3) personal pride in a finished product. The tumbling action does very little for the inside of the case, not that it really matters since only the outside of the case will be working against your dies and chamber.

March 8, 2009, 10:02 PM	#4
Tex S Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TEXAS Posts: 909	Dont sweat the inside. Make sure the outside is clean and grit free.

March 9, 2009, 12:51 PM	#8
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	I normally let mine run about 3 to 4 hours but I use a 50/50 mix of Walnut and Corncob. The Walnut shells clean and the corncob polishes them. Works for me I like my brass to look good, nothing worse is showing up at the range with half cleaned brass __________________ Russ5924

March 9, 2009, 11:23 PM	#9
dmickey Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Posts: 124	If you insist on having the inside of your cases clean, try buying an ultrasonic cleaner. However, in my opinion it is a waste of money. Cases come out clean but not real shiny.

March 10, 2009, 04:46 PM	#10
ryalred Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Location: SE Oklahoma Posts: 491	The inside of the case does not become shiny, or at least I've never been able to get them shiny. __________________ ryalred rifle & muzzleloader -- exhilarating bowhunting -- obsession reloading -- addicted

March 10, 2009, 06:24 PM	#11
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,622	I tumble my brass for a couple of hours, sometimes more depending. Usually a couple of hours is plenty. Then wipe each down before resizing. Gives me a change to check the brass. Note that tumbling is 'NOT' mandatory -- just make sure the outside of the case is free from grit that would harm your resizing die. As for the inside. Don't bother to clean. Never see it when loaded anyway . No harm either to leave it 'dusty'. I always clean the primer pocket before setting a primer, but I understand that this isn't really necessary either.

March 15, 2009, 08:26 AM	#12
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	They are all right forget about the inside. I like the outside to look new, and clean the primer pockets for the obvious reasons.