Media for Tumbling Brass

[Bl0407]

So I’ve been using the Hornady corn media for tumbling. What is everyone using. I also have a wet tumbler that I use SS media. But for my post resizing I was going to put them back in the dry media. Suggestions on media and I would welcome process suggestions..

Thanks

 

[Steel head]

Crushed walnut at the pet store.
Cheap.

 

[FLIGHT762]

"Zilla" Lizard litter @ the pet store.

 

[spife7980]

I got some of this, I havent used it much but it appears to polish them up as well as anything in vibratory media and the 40 grit is small enough that it doesn't clog the flash holes. Its real dusty right out of the bag but a dryer sheet in the lyman 1200 on the initial cycle collects 90% of that dust it seems.

35 bucks for a 40 lb bag will last me an awfully long time.

Corn Cob Blast Media, 425 to 1000 Nominal Dia. Micron Range, 40 lb. Bag

Blast Media, Corn Cob, 20 to 40 Grit

www.grainger.com

 

[Ryridesmotox]

I use walnut shell off Amazon. And a cap of nufinish car polish when I put in a new batch of media

Kaytee Walnut Bedding and Litter Pad for Pets, 25-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQMLO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AYoqDbFAYSQ3C

 

[47guy]

Amazon.com : Russkoe Pole Buckwheat Groats, 53 oz (Pack of 2) : Gateway

Amazon.com : Russkoe Pole Buckwheat Groats, 53 oz (Pack of 2) : Gateway

www.amazon.com

 

[Carlos Danger]

My most recent concoction is the Russian collusion buckwheat, corn cob, stainless pins, and a jiz load worth of Mothers Syntek car wax.

 

[MangoFett]

I second the lizard litter stuff. I don't remember the brand because my gf who is a vet tech brings it home for me but it's very small and it cleans the primer pockets well and doesn't get stuck in the flash holes of my spr brass, also seems lower dust content.

I add in some powdered rcbs polish as well.

 

[Doom]

Ditto!

 

[Jrb572]

White rice works well also. Super cheap at Sams Club

 

[Ryridesmotox]

Another thing that helps with dust are dryer sheets. I just take a few out of the dried clothes so I dont waste new ones. Not that they are expensive or anything. And it leaves your brass smelling mountain fresh

 

[308pirate]

Throw the stainless pins away and wet tumble the brass by itself in hot water/dish soap/lemishine for 30 min both before and after resizing.

 

[Bl0407]

Throw the stainless pins away and wet tumble the brass by itself in hot water/dish soap/lemishine for 30 min both before and after resizing.

I thought the ss pins helped to clean the pockets out. Is that not the case? I do use dish soap and lemishine as well.

Thanks

 

[hlee]

I use lizard litter also. Very small and doesn't clog up the flash holes like the purpose built stuff. I think it also does a better job, is cheaper, and doesn't get as dirty as quickly. But,y experience on one point is opposite that from above. It's dusty as fuck. Not at first, but it seems to continually get dustier as I use it.

 

[308pirate]

I thought the ss pins helped to clean the pockets out. Is that not the case? I do use dish soap and lemishine as well.

Thanks

Maybe they do, I don't know cause I've never bothered with the hassle of dealing with them. But I don't consider a perfectly clean primer pocket to be a requirement, never seen evidence that it helps. Every few firings I'll run the uniformer into the primer pocket.

 

[260284]

I use Brass Juice without pins every 4 or 5 firings. I use the green Lyman media after annealing and re-sizing to get the lube off. It isn't as dusty as plain corn or walnut.

 

[308pirate]

I use Brass Juice without pins every 4 or 5 firings. I use the green Lyman media after annealing and re-sizing to get the lube off. It isn't as dusty as plain corn or walnut.

I might go back to a vibe tumbler and media for taking off sizing lube. Should speed things up compared to a wet wash/bake cycle.

 

[47guy]

i wet tumbled for 7+yrs...switched to dry and will never wet tumble again.....not because it caused problems with my loads but because it cuts about an hour off my time prepping brass.

 

[308pirate]

i wet tumbled for 7+yrs...switched to dry and will never wet tumble again.....not because it caused problems with my loads but because it cuts about an hour off my time prepping brass.

My brass is sparkling clean after a 30 min wet tumble. I should check 15 min in to see if it's already clean enough. In any event, tumbling (wet or dry) is a hands-off operation. It could take a whole day and I'm still free to do other things because the machine runs with or without me.

 

[rangerlong]

I thought the ss pins helped to clean the pockets out. Is that not the case? I do use dish soap and lemishine as well.

Thanks

The pocket cleaning is not consistent across all cases for me. Some get very clean, some are still very dirty.
One time I forgot to put the pins in, and there wasn’t much difference. I’ve still been using them because I have them, but I could probably stop and still be happy.

 

[47guy]

My brass is sparkling clean after a 30 min wet tumble. I should check 15 min in to see if it's already clean enough. In any event, tumbling (wet or dry) is a hands-off operation. It could take a whole day and I'm still free to do other things because the machine runs with or without me.

your right but at the same time i can tumble,prep and load right away im not waiting for brass to dry for me thats a bonus...i work 12hrs a day so any little way to save time at the bench is huge to me.
as far as shiny brass goes....30mins in the groats and my brass is shiny as well...im part Puerto Rican so if my brass wasnt shiny id be back wet tumbling LOL!!

 

[canezach]

I wet tumble, but I also use stainless "chips" from Southern Shine Media. They're quite a bit smaller than pins, so nothing gets stuck in flash holes, primer pockets, case mouths, etc. I've been using them for a few years and I have yet to have a chip get stuck in the brass.

 

[Feesh]

How often are you changing media? Are there any signs of time to change? Currently using Lyman Turbo media in a Vibratory tumbler and it's getting old - recently had a few buddies get into reloading (on my gear) and the volume of cases has tripled.