Tumbling Pistol Brass

[Craigwood]

I went to Petsmart as I stocked up for my boy's dog food. Others have suggested using crushed walnut that is used for the bottom of bird cages. I picked a 5 llb bag. And I had noticed a 1 pound box of crushed clam shells. And I was wondering.....hmmmm.

I filled my vibratory tumbler with the walnut and than added some of the crushed clam shell. It could be my imagination but after a one hour shake, they look good! Thought I would pass this on.

[Boots]

I saw that too... but didn't buy any in fear that my brass might be allergic to sea food.

Kidding aside, that makes sense, especially if the shells are harder than the walnut medium.

[Craigwood]

I saw that too... but didn't buy any in fear that my brass might be allergic to sea food.

Kidding aside, that makes sense, especially if the shells are harder than the walnut medium.

Yea! I used half the box. Didnt want to use all in fear it would be too much on the brass. But in just half the time and seems it has more scrubbing action too.

[EL_NinO619]

I use Corn Cob media because walnut leaves a residue. Use corn cob media about a cap of NuFinish let tumble for 5 min to mix NUFinish around. Cut a dryer sheet into squares or strips and run for awhile. The brass will be shinny like a mirror and the dryer sheets make your media last for ever, plus cut down on dust.

[PoofNoEyebrows]

I would think using clam shell would have the possibility of actually scratching the brass. Don't know if I would use it.

[bootcamp]

el nino is right, i hate walnut because it leaves a red tinge. It's all about the corn cob.

[Cowboy T]

So, first run 'em through walnut to get 'em clean of any gunk, then run 'em through corn cob w/ NuFinish or Wicked. Result: new-looking brass.

[bootcamp]

So, first run 'em through walnut to get 'em clean of any gunk, then run 'em through corn cob w/ NuFinish or Wicked. Result: new-looking brass.

Why? So it takes double the time? Corn cob with a little polish is just fine unless you want golden shower bright morning pee looking brass. But if you need to tumble thousands and thousands of different calibers. Corn cob, polish and about 1-2hr intervals are fine.

[HighLander51]

I run them overnight in walnut media with a teaspoon of mineral oil added, then the next night in corn media with a teaspoon of liquid car polish added.

[Munk]

I went to Petsmart as I stocked up for my boy's dog food. Others have suggested using crushed walnut that is used for the bottom of bird cages. I picked a 5 llb bag. And I had noticed a 1 pound box of crushed clam shells. And I was wondering.....hmmmm.

I filled my vibratory tumbler with the walnut and than added some of the crushed clam shell. It could be my imagination but after a one hour shake, they look good! Thought I would pass this on.

I had a rock tumbler for a while that reccommended using crushed clam as polishing medium... i think for brass I'd only use it on the DAMN dirty stuff. Clam shell is incredibly abrasive.

For now I'm using cobb with some polish, and it's doing what I need it to do.

[SixPointEight]

el nino is right, i hate walnut because it leaves a red tinge. It's all about the corn cob.

Is this the residue you're talking about with walnut media?

The two on the right were cleaned in walnut media, though they've been stored for a couple months. The two on the left were just polished with #0000 steel wool because I thought the cases looked a little dirty. I might have to pick up some corn cob if it'll get rid of that.

[Mrskylinetou]

I use walnut and nu finish, makes it litteraly look bran new. Doesn't get stains off but there are shiny and smooth. I run for four hours or all night but I'm loading thousands of each round so I don't got time for three steps. Works perfect so far

[Enter_the_Dragon]

Took the advice of another Calgunner. Mixed a little bit of mineral spirit with NuFinish ran for about 2 hours and then 30 mins in corb cob media (no additives).

[Flyin Brian]

Is this the residue you're talking about with walnut media?

The two on the right were cleaned in walnut media, though they've been stored for a couple months. The two on the left were just polished with #0000 steel wool because I thought the cases looked a little dirty. I might have to pick up some corn cob if it'll get rid of that.

I believe he is talking about a red powdery residue from using the treated walnut shell media. It is dyed red and the dust coats the inside of the brass pretty heavily, and it gets some on the outside too. I use the dryer sheet method with my walnut media and it keeps the dust manageable, but I recently bought some corn cob and will try that too.

[rero360]

Thumbler rotary tumbler model B, 5 pounds stainless steel media, one gallon of hot water, squirt of dove liquid dish soap and a 45ACP case full of lemishine, add deprimed brass for a total weight of 15 pounds (approx. 130 pieces of .308) tumble for 4 hours, drain, rinse. dry. Your brass, no matter how dirty before, will be completely clean inside and out including the primer pocket, it will look like it just came off the factory floor.