Case tumbling question

[Hogxtz]

I am using an RCBS vibratory case tumbler with walnut shells. It seems that after just a couple of loads of cases they don't get poliched very well, even after 4 hours of tumbling. Does the walnut shell media wear out this fast? And is there anything I can add to the media to help the cases clean and polish better?

[joelogic]

Yea switch to corn. Walnut is regarded as a faster cleaner but does not polish nearly as well as corn.

[Josh3239]

You could try a different media or add some sort of polish to the media. All that stuff is sold on Midway USA

[cdrxls]

most people use walnut to clean and crushed corn cob to polish. 2-3 hrs walnut and 1-2 hrs corn cob with polish, i prefer NU-finish. can't believe how shiny they get.

also you can get crushed corn-cob at feed shops for about $15/25lbs bags.

[5hundo]

I use this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=541305

Unlike the treated walnut, it doesn't leave a residue. You can pull the cases right out of the tumbler and start priming. It works well all by itself and lasts a while too...

[RGraphics]

just go to your local Petco or Walmart and get this. I ve been using it for a while.

http://www.petco.com/product/106730/Natural-Corn-Cobs-with-the-PureLite-Process-Bird-and-Small-Animal-Litter-or-Bedding.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

[ocabj]

I use untreated bulk walnut shell from a local bird supply store, and only walnut shell.

I add a dash of Nu-Finish and a dash of mineral spirits into the media. Tumble with no brass to mix it up for about 15 min. Add brass and a dryer sheet. Let run for a few hours.

[five.five-six]

^ that's perdy

[jacques]

I use untreated bulk walnut shell from a local bird supply store, and only walnut shell.

I add a dash of Nu-Finish and a dash of mineral spirits into the media. Tumble with no brass to mix it up for about 15 min. Add brass and a dryer sheet. Let run for a few hours.

I use the Nu-finish, but haven't tried it with a dash of mineral spirits. I will have to try that next time.

I get good results with the Nu Finish also.

[Brasspolisher]

I second ocabj's recipe, especially the part about the dryer sheet -- that absorbs the dust that has a lubricating effect on the media and makes it polish much more aggressively for longer. (You probably don't want that dust/carbon/primer residue floating around your shop or your lungs, either...)

I usually cut a whole one up into patch-sized squares; otherwise it can wrap around a case or two and prevent those from getting cleaned.

Oh, one other subtlety: Add your Nu-finish/car wax/secret sauce to the media and tumble for 10 or 15 minutes without brass until the clumps go away -- otherwise you're guaranteed to have a few cases that look clean on the outside but are full of gooey media, and if they get into the press that way your powder measure won't want to be friends with you any more...

[ar15barrels]

Just to be clear, you guys are using USED dryer sheets.
I don't want my brass and media to smell april fresh.

[Brasspolisher]

Just to be clear, you guys are using USED dryer sheets.
I don't want my brass and media to smell april fresh.

Ha, this thread reminded me to stop by Petsmart for some more corncob (in the 'small pet bedding' section) and there's a brand with lavender pellets mixed in... Almost got a bag for the sheer contrariness factor.

[sirgrumps]

I use untreated bulk walnut shell from a local bird supply store, and only walnut shell.

I add a dash of Nu-Finish and a dash of mineral spirits into the media. Tumble with no brass to mix it up for about 15 min. Add brass and a dryer sheet. Let run for a few hours.

Not wanting to sound TOO stupid, a few questions.
How many 223's do you have there?
Mineral spirits, how much?
How much Nu-Finish?
Whose tumbler are you using?
Do you have to worry about that fluid, hurting your tumblers casing material?
And I assume it evaporates away during the process?

[EricClay]

I use the walnut media you find in the lizard section of your pet mart. Its real fine and polishes up the brass nicely.

The cut up strips of dyer sheets work well also.

I add a tablespoon of glass polish once every 20 loads. (type you find at any auto store for windshields). Any car polish probably works.

Eric

[ocabj]

Not wanting to sound TOO stupid, a few questions.
How many 223's do you have there?
Mineral spirits, how much?
How much Nu-Finish?
Whose tumbler are you using?
Do you have to worry about that fluid, hurting your tumblers casing material?
And I assume it evaporates away during the process?

Uhm, not sure how much 223 casings in that photo. Maybe 250-300?

I use about 2-3 tablespoons of mineral spirits. I don't actually measure. I just pour some in. But I'll just say 2-3 tablespoons since that sounds about right.

Maybe 2-3 caps full of Nu-Finish. Again, I don't actually measure, but that sounds like it could be right. I just pour some in.

Again, I let the vibratory clean run with no brass and only media for about 15 minutes to let the Nu-Finish and mineral spirits mix. By that time, it's spread evenly and the media has absorbed it all.