What can be used in a Tumbler?

[Kev18]

I have a tumbler and I was wondering what kind of medium I can put in it? I have small bits of corn cobs. Its one I bought at Cabelas a few years ago and the corn came with it...

What else can I put in it? Are some better then others?

Some polish more or more aggressive?

[salpal48]

There are several different media . Basicly all will give the same results
Dry Media : Corncob, Ground walnut shells, Plastic Beads,
Most Loaders will use the first 2
Wet Media , SS pins, Plastic Beads
Pins are The most common
I prefer Dry tumble . I use a Fine Grade walnut not to get it stuck in the primer pockets. To me Thats all I use. . Some loaders Use an additive to make the brass very good shine.
Pin are good also. with the correct combo , pins to water and citric acid . cleans inside and out and some primer pockets.
There is a big choice It's your choice. you make like one or another

[Snow ninja]

My favorite thing to use is ground Walnut shells. Don't buy the stuff from a gun place though, I go to the local pet supply and get Lizard bedding. Same stuff but cheaper. I'm sure there's other things that will get it shinier, but I don't care that much about shiny, I just want clean.

[Stewbaby]

Ditto the pet store lizard walnut bedding. I put it outside to run the first time though so it sheds some of the dust. Add some nufinish for the shine.

...though wet tumbling is best IMO

[mozeppa]

i've even heard of people using spent primers as media.

[Kev18]

I dont care about shine either. I just want clean. Il keep the walnuts in mind.

[Winger Ed.]

i've even heard of people using spent primers as media.

I do that.
I'll wash them to get any Lead dust off, then toss 'em in there instead of buying more
corn cob media as some always gets away.

They work, and ya can't beat the price.

Every once in awhile a couple will try to clog inside a .223.
.30 cal. or bigger, they drop right out.

[pietro]

.


FWIW, I got my fired brass very clean, although not shiny, via washing about 100 at a time in my clothes washing machine, when my Green-Eyed Monster isn't home.



The method I use is to put the brass into a pillowcase, knot the pillowcase mouth, and run a full cycle hot water load of towels with regular detergent & the loaded pillowcase.

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[Daver7]

.


FWIW, I got my fired brass very clean, although not shiny, via washing about 100 at a time in my clothes washing machine, when my Green-Eyed Monster isn't home.



The method I use is to put the brass into a pillowcase, knot the pillowcase mouth, and run a full cycle hot water load of towels with regular detergent & the loaded pillowcase.

.

Dang, you are one brave dude

[Winger Ed.]

.FWIW, I got my fired brass very clean, although not shiny, via washing about 100 at a time in my clothes washing machine, when my Green-Eyed Monster isn't home. .

You're more brave than the guy who ate the first raw oyster.

[brstevns]

I use cheap dry white rice mixed with a little corncob. They come out clean and shiny, but you do get a piece of rice stuck in primer hole once in awhile. No big deal, deprimer pin pushing it on out with no problems.

[Winger Ed.]

I use cheap dry white rice .

I did that once, but only once.

I think the rice might have swelled in the humidity, I'm not exactly sure.

But I do remember how tedious it was digging rice out of a couple hundred 5.56 cases.

Looking back:
I think the rice would be fine for straight wall pistol cases with the spent primers left in them
if the tumbler was full enough that when the cases came up & over the top,
they dumped the rice out and re-filled when they went back around underneath.

I only use corn cob media now, but unprimed rifle cases all get put in a loading tray
upside down so I can check & use a needle to poke that one piece of media out of the flash hole.

[Kenstone]

.


FWIW, I got my fired brass very clean, although not shiny, via washing about 100 at a time in my clothes washing machine, when my Green-Eyed Monster isn't home.



The method I use is to put the brass into a pillowcase, knot the pillowcase mouth, and run a full cycle hot water load of towels with regular detergent & the loaded pillowcase.

.

Not something I'd do or recommend, could contaminate washer/clothes with lead, the pillow case for sure.
I would suggest you stop, especially if you have children whose clothes get washed there.

[ShooterAZ]

I use corn com media. I buy it by the 100lb bag at a sandblasting supply house in Phoenix. When you buy it bulk like this, it's dirt cheap. You can get various grit sizes, I just use the medium.

[Kev18]

Is there stuff that is more aggressive or is it all the same? Why dont people use sand or beads?

[KCSO]

Go to Earl Mays and get lizard bedding...its ground walnut hull and with rouge it makes excellent case polish. Amd it is way cheaper than commercial case media.

[Ramson222]

Is there stuff that is more aggressive or is it all the same? Why dont people use sand or beads?

Sand in a chamber would be a very bad thing.

[Mk42gunner]

I use the Ground English walnut Lizard bedding from a pet store. I read somewhere that English walnut hulls are a bit harder than black walnut hulls, true or not it works well and doesn't clog flash holes too badly. The bags I get are a finer grind than most of the black walnut media I have seen.

I also decap with a Lee die prior to tumbling, then when I resize the case the decapping pin in the die takes care of any stuck media.

Robert

[pietro]

Not something I'd do or recommend, could contaminate washer/clothes with lead, the pillow case for sure.

I would suggest you stop, especially if you have children whose clothes get washed there.

Worry about nothing - I've got it covered...…….

After the cases are clean, the old pillowcase is likewise clean - but I also run the machine again after I'm done with the cases (using detergent)

I've been doing that since the mid-70's, and my 3 kids (now 54, 51 & 48 years old) are just fine.

Thanks for caring, though.

.

[Kenstone]

Is there stuff that is more aggressive or is it all the same? Why dont people use sand or beads?

Too heavy, brass would just sit on top of it.
jmo