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Thread: Thumler question

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy jcw1970's Avatar
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    Thumler question

    What do you guys use to shine up your brass using your thumler? I'm just using walnut pieces. Cleans them but they look really dull. I always used turbo brite with my walnut in my Lyman but I think that would be kinda messy with the thumler.

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master


    stubshaft's Avatar
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    I used to use some Brasso poured in while it was running with walnut media. I let it dry out some, then dumped the brass in.
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

    Men who don't understand women fall into two categories: bachelors and husbands!

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master

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    NuFinish. Put a little in an let it run a few minutes before adding the brass. I switched to walnut because it's really cheap at harbor freight. It does not shine them as well as corn media does.


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  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    LUBEDUDE's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dragon813gt View Post
    NuFinish. Put a little in an let it run a few minutes before adding the brass. I switched to walnut because it's really cheap at harbor freight. It does not shine them as well as corn media does.


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    +1

    or sometimes I add jewelers rouge instead to the walnut.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by LUBEDUDE View Post
    +1

    or sometimes I add jewelers rouge instead to the walnut.

    Started off using jeweler's rouge but switched to Isso polish because that red residue gets into every nook and cranny and built up over time, especially case rims.

    Winelover
    Last edited by winelover; 03-07-2012 at 08:14 AM. Reason: grammer

  6. #6
    Boolit Master

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    I use corn cob media with nu finish car polish to get a high luster finish.
    Walnut media is a corser media and will clean faseter but will not be as bright as corn cob media
    I would not recomend brasso metal polish as it will weaken the brass because of whats in the formula . although it will clean the brass.
    IF you need inexpensive media give them a try!
    WWW.drillspot.com/products/52...bs blast media

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

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    Brasso will weaken your brass over time. Liquid car polish works good but mostly I just use fine corn cob with nothing added.

    Larry

  8. #8
    Boolit Mold
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    cleaning brass

    Brasso has ammonia in it And ammonia is not really good on brass.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy longranger's Avatar
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    Stainless steel,junked every other kind of media gave away my vibratory cleaner.S.S. has done every thing from .32 Colt short to 45-90 with beautiful results.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master Sonnypie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jcw1970 View Post
    What do you guys use to shine up your brass using your thumler? I'm just using walnut pieces. Cleans them but they look really dull. I always used turbo brite with my walnut in my Lyman but I think that would be kinda messy with the thumler.
    Are you talking about a Thumblers Tumbler?
    Or a Tumbler like a vibratory tumbler?

    Because it makes a difference which type you mean.

    The stand by vibratory tumblers work great with corn cob or ground walnut shell media. Adding stuff, in my experiance, did not do much to help what the natural media could do given enough time working.

    If you mean a Thumbler's Tumbler, they work fantastic with cut wire Stainless Steel media.
    Lookie here: STM

    Or see my results:
    God Bless America!

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  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy jcw1970's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sonnypie View Post
    Are you talking about a Thumblers Tumbler?
    Or a Tumbler like a vibratory tumbler?

    Because it makes a difference which type you mean.

    The stand by vibratory tumblers work great with corn cob or ground walnut shell media. Adding stuff, in my experiance, did not do much to help what the natural media could do given enough time working.

    If you mean a Thumbler's Tumbler, they work fantastic with cut wire Stainless Steel media.
    Lookie here: STM

    Or see my results:
    yeah. i don't want to mess with water and the expense of buying ss rods. I do mean a thumler.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

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    If you already have a Thumler, you have the expensive part. 5 lbs of SS will run you 35-40 bucks, and you'll never buy media again.

    As for the mess- it's about the same as dumping dry media in a separator and back into the tumbler. No big deal, and you don't have all the dust to deal with. Any mess wipes up with a rag when you use wet media.

    If you don't try it, you are really missing out IMHO.

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master


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    I've had and use a Thumbler since the mid '70s and a vibrating cleaner since '91. I've tested a lot of different media in them over the years and find long stemed el cheapo rice to be the best. It cleans fine by itself but the addition of some Midway case cleaner makes it even quicker. Let the media run for 40+ minutes after adding the cleaner before putting the brass in or it will gob up inside the cases.

    The cases will come out bright and shiney as in the above photo's. The rice turns black after a while and looks like mouse turds on the floor and can upset the wife. I get it in large bags real cheap at the local asian market. Tried everything else but keep coming back to rice.

    I use pitch free sawdust in the Thumber to remove case lube after sizing. takes 15 - 30 minutes and then I tumble the cases, after seperating from sawdust, in a large bath towel to remove dust. I also "Thumble" loaded cases in the sawdust that are lubed after loading in the Dillon 550B for the same 15 - 30 minutes for nice clean and shiney ammo. Works for me.

    Larry Gibson

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

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    tumbler

    you know what Ron White says

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    LUBEDUDE's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by winelover View Post
    Started off using jeweler's rouge but switched to Isso polish because that red residue gets into every nook and cranny and built up over time, especially case rims.

    Winelover

    Yeah, that's why I switch back and forth. After a while, I get tired of rouge all over my shell plates and shell holders.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    Rice might be my next media for 45 acp cases.
    For rifle and 9mm, I think it might get stuck inside the cases ??

  17. #17
    Boolit Master Sonnypie's Avatar
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    Brings to mind the old adage...
    You can lead a horse to water,
    But you can't make him drink.
    God Bless America!

    Sittin here watchin the world go round and round...
    Much like a turd in a flushing toilet.

    Shoot for the eyes.
    If they are crawlin away, shoot for the key hole.

    NRA Life Member
    CRPA Life Member

    Magnificent!
    The basic flaw with Science is man.

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