Tumbling?

[A.M.]

Hey everyone--

Just wondering if I can get some advice on tumbling brass in my vibratory tumbler. I've done a lot of googling but I can't find anything conclusive.

I have Frankford Arsenal Tumbler and I am using walnut media.

I want to know how much media to put in and how much brass (223). They say it holds up to 350 pieces?

Thanks!

[morrow]

FF to about 4 minutes on the video below. That guy has a pretty good media to case ratio. Fill it up about that full with media (3/4 of the way or more) then put the cases in.

Did your tumbler come with polish? If not get some Nu-Finish from the store or autoparts store. Add a table spoon or so of the polish into the media WITHOUT cases. Run the tumbler for 15 minutes or so to mix in the polish, and then put in the cases. If you add polish while the cases are in the media it can get stuck inside some of the cases.

350 might be on the high side for your Frankford Arsenal tumbler. Start with a few handfuls. With it running it should be a similar ratio to that guy's tumbler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyea40cnVWE

[EL_NinO619]

NuFinish and dryer sheets with corn cob, use instructions above.

[TKM]

This is one of the few parts of reloading where it is safe to experiment. Load a couple of hundred cases in there and turn on the tumbler. Pour media in until you get a nice rolling action where you can see everything moving around and it doesn't spill over the sides.

What size media are you using? If you are using any kind of auto polish make sure that you let the stuff mix really well before you toss in the brass, you don't want clumps.

223 cases are really good at getting chunks stuck inside and driving you nuts trying to get them out. Corn cob will cause profanity on an epic scale.

[A.M.]

Hey man--

I'm using the walnut media for lizards from petco!

I just feel like my media/brass isn't tumbling like that hornady video... could it just be my tumbler's design?

[the86d]

My frankford doesn't always roll nicely depending on how much brass, and how much media... I just start adding media until it rolls better than before the media.

[checkenbach]

When I was using walnut shell media in my RCBS tumbler, the most I would put in it was two double handfuls of brass with a cupfull of NewFinish and used dryer sheets as described above.
I have since moved on to a Thumlers tumbler with S.S. media, much better in every way.

[rsrocket1]

I would keep the # of brass pieces down to about 200 pistol rounds. The more you put in, the longer it takes and the less efficient the cleaning gets. Ditto on the cut up used dryer sheets. I don't use anything else because any polish/mineral spirits/additive only aids in trapping the soot to the surface of the walnut and makes it turn black sooner.

Shiny is nice, but it doesn't make the bullets fly any straighter and I'd rather have my media last much longer.

Of course $17/50# isn't bad, but every $ saved means more $ for shooting.

[stilly]

I am trying rice in my Thumler tumbler.


I heard it was cool. Where do you get 50 lbs of media for $17? CL?

BTW, I normally use SS but I have some different formulas to test out today.

[Spyguy]

Can SS media be used in a vibratory tumbler?

[___M|9||___]

no just in a wet tumbler ^^^^^

[___M|9||___]

no just in a wet tumbler ^^^^^

[GeoffLinder]

Load a couple of hundred cases in there and turn on the tumbler. Pour media in until you get a nice rolling action where you can see everything moving around and it doesn't spill over the sides.

^^^ This

Load cases first, then add media to get correct action. Once you separate the cases from the media, pour the media back into tumbler and see how full it is. Now you know how much media to add in the future when you change to fresh media.

Separate cases from media by pouring through a mesh or large strainer that will hold cases back but allow media to go through into a large box.

I use a Dillon media separator system myself :-)

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/23662/catid/8/CM_2000_Case_Media_Separator

[ptroxx]

I get my corn cob media from the feed supply for 7.00

[bootcamp]

I've had the Frankford and it's downright sucks. Absolutely horrible tumbler. I'm serious. If you want a decent entry level tumbler get a Lyman Turbo 1200 or something. Good rolling action and you can leave it on for as long as you like. I've left mine on for 48hrs before. (forgot)

I've recently upgraded to a small cement mixer.

You want MOTION and that Frankfort doesn't give that. Junk!