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Thread: Tumbling Media

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    28th September 2016
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    Tumbling Media

    I have a huge bag of corn cob blasting media. I use it in my tumbler for brass. Problem is that it takes forever to get brass clean and it is never shiney and pretty.
    My old LGS used to put something in the media to make it really work fast and make cases pretty.
    Seems like it was aluminum oxide and some kind of wax. I can't remember. Any one know what it is and where to buy it?
    The cob gets dirty fast. One time I threw some dirty cob out on the driveway. That night it rained. That next morning the cob looked brand new and clean. So I always wondered if I wished the cob in a bowl then stuck it in the oven to dry it, could it be reused?
    What say ye?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    28th January 2005
    Location
    South Texas
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    Always used walnut hulls my self. Always got good results.
    " I'm your huckelberry".

  3. #3
    Join Date
    2nd June 2004
    Location
    Terra
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    I use corn cob. I finally figured out that an hour isn't long enough, but two hours does a pretty nice job.

    It seems recently more people are shifting to stainless steel pins.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

  4. #4
    Join Date
    8th October 2004
    Location
    S.E. TN.
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    Media is cheap -kind of- at the pet stores. I use walnut, get the dust out, easy enough. Then cut a used dryer sheet in half, dampen both halves with NU FINISH car wax, run for a couple hours gets it [almost] real shinny. But, like Hawkmoon said, the steel pin set up, really gets the shine on. I don`t think I would go to all the trouble of trying to wash media, I like shinny but, not that much.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    28th September 2016
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    You know, I do remember something about dryer sheets. Refresh my memory please.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    8th October 2004
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    S.E. TN.
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    A used dryer sheet cut in half lay it on the media, pour on the brass, let it shake a couple of hours. It will catch some of the dust. Also a good way to apply polish and/or cleaner to the media.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    27th April 2009
    Location
    Byron, GA
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    I have the Frankford Arsenal tumbler system that uses the stainless steel pins and water. I put dish washing liquid and a small amount of white vinegar in the water. No dry media will come close to cleaning brass as well. I punch out the primers and the brass looks new outside and almost new inside. The primer pockets are spotless. As the sizing button is pulled through the neck on a rifle case, the resistance is almost nothing as the inside of the neck is completely clean. No dust and the SS pins last forever. The dirtiest cases clean up to look like new.

    Last edited by doubs43; 19th October 2016 at 10:17.


  8. #8
    Join Date
    28th September 2016
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    How much $ for this?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    27th April 2009
    Location
    Byron, GA
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    Graf & Son has the tumbler with SS media on sale at the moment for $160. Add the magnet - which I strongly recommend - and it's an additional $14. Other than that I have a 5 gallon bucket, a large close weave sieve (from an Oriental food store), dish washing liquid, white vinegar and a couple of baking pans.

    Put the de-primed cases in the tub, add the SS pins then the water plus DW liquid and vinegar. Seal and tumble for 3-4 hours. You'll quickly learn how long is best. I then place the strainer in place and drain the soapy water. A couple of flushes will get rid of the suds. Be careful not to lose the pins. Once the water is clear, place the strainer over the bucket and dump the water and pins. Repeat until no more suds or pins come out. Lift out the strainer, drain the water and dump the pins into the bucket where they can dry for later use. Dump the cases into a baking pan and either set them up or dry them in a pile. I put them in the oven at 250 degrees for about 20 minutes and then shut off the oven but allow the cases to stay until I know they're dry. Then they're ready for sizing, priming and loading.

    It may sound involved but it's really not. Once you have your "system" down, you'll spend less than 1/2 hour for the whole procedure except for de-priming, tumbling and drying time. Take care of the pins and you'll never buy media again.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    18th September 2016
    Location
    Log Cabin City,Texas
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    I run a home made tumbler, uses a 5 lb. round plastic coffee container. Corn cob media, Flitz brass cleaner to charge the media. Then add a couple of teaspoons of mineral spirits when the media seems dry. Not quite as good as stainless pins, but bright and shiny.
    "Sometimes the wolfs are quite and the moon howls"

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