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Tumbling with shot peening media

skog

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Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 14, 2009
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Rhodes, MI
I have access to shot peening media from work. Anybody ever tumble with this? Seems like it would not leave the residue dust the "organic" media leaves.

Good idea or bad?
 
Re: Tumbling with shot peening media

We use fine shot media for blasting castings, I thought about putting it in the tumbler and giving it a go. IDK if it will make a mat finish on the brass of shine it up. Worth a try on some old brass I guess.
 
Re: Tumbling with shot peening media

I'd think it would have to be pretty small media to work in the primer pockets of your brass. I'd be interested to see if it works well with traditional vibratory tumbling. If you are gonna wet tumble like the stainless steel media pins, I'd just recommend going with the pins, because it's got a proven track record. I really think the next evolution of brass cleaning is going ot be some sort of a dry process, that will work with traditional vibratory tumblers and seperators.


Good luck, let us know how it goes.
 
Re: Tumbling with shot peening media

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fish301</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I really think the next evolution of brass cleaning is going ot be some sort of a dry process, that will work with traditional vibratory tumblers and seperators.
</div></div>

Me too, I keep looking for some very small ceramic type ball media that will do the same work in half the time required by cob or walnut.
 
Re: Tumbling with shot peening media

Well since nobody has said terrible idea I am going to give this a go. Will post me results next week.
 
Re: Tumbling with shot peening media

I believe it is carbon steel but I was going to run it dry.
 
I tried. It was a horrible failure. It was way to heavy for my homemade tumbler. Burned the bearing and caught the wood frame on fire.
 
Sorry to hear that man! I keep hoping that a new media will come to light that will work with traitional tumblers & seperators--perhaps some small ceramic media as another posted previously. At any rate, appreciate your intel and effort, glad the fire didn't seem to get out of hand.
 
The reason the "cut wire shot" aka Stainless Steel Pins, works so well is that they are light and can work into the corners of the primer pocket. Any "round" shot won't be as effective.

If your goal is to save money from the traditional $45 cost of the ss pins sold as a "reloading supply" then check out this site:

http://pelletsllc.com/

Give them a call for price. Their C/S person knows exactly what you need and prices are more in the $3/lb range. 5# easily fits in a small USPS flat rate box for around $5 in shipping.