tumblers and media

[mrmiskin]

couple of questions firstly tumbling cases, should all cases be tumbled before reloading? what does this do that just wiping down with a cleaner wont? what is the best tumbler out there on the market. i have read that there is some media that causes the cases to wear i believe that it has mica in it. i have seen some that is just crushed walnut hulls. i just reload for the family and i am not into it on a large scale. thanks.

[skeet]

Tumbling really isn't necessary. The main thing it does is clean the cases...making them pretty again. Surely wiping the case clean and cleaning primer pockets at least occassionally is all that is necessay. Be advised in some instances cases can lengthen so you have to keep an eye out for that. In a bunch of stuff I just bought from a fellow was more than a gallon of stuff called Iosso case cleaner. I gotta try it soon. Anybody know anything about that stuff. As far as case tumblers or whatever I have a couple of Dillons and a Lyman ...the Dillons are far better..made and in working...JMHO

[Jack]

There are some tumblers and supplies on the market that are made for rock polishing rather than case tumbling. The media you put in a tumbler for rock polishing will have abrasives that can cause wear on cases-not good.
Any tumbler made by a reloading company like RCBS, Lyman, Midway, Dillon, etc is designed for case polishing, and so is the media they sell for them- perfectly safe to use. Tumbler media used for case cleaning is generally either corncob or walnut shells.
That said, tumbling cases isn't mandatory. It does keep your cases clean so that they don't drag crud into your dies, firearm chamber, etc, and makes any case defect easier to spot.
I've seen the Iosso liquid stuff advertised but I've never used it.

[skb2706]

the best, bar none, Thumlers Tumblers which indeed can be used to polish just about anything. Put the media of choice in and let er rip. It will out last all the others.

Vibratory tumblers are like tires, batteries, DVD players....only a couple of companies actually make them. The name plates change but the product doesn't.


I will add this.....it is the one major piece of handloading equip. I could easily do without and most often I do any more.

[Rapier]

Interesting this,

Ok, Losso is a product that was developed to clean water department meters. It will clean dirty brass like magic, only thing is that you have the draining and washing with water and drying after. Water stops the chemical reaction. Leave brass to long and it turns orange. But, according to the mfg., Losso is the only liquid cleaner that is specificly made to use before you tumble or vibrate your brass. It does work and it does work well. I have the kit under my bench. Put brass in fishnet bag, dip in small bucket of Losso, drain in bucket, empty back into container, fill with water, wash brass, drain, dry over night, tumble.

Tumblers tumbler; Double container, rubber drums lay on side and rolls on two rods, polisher for rock polishing. Great for liquid cleaning of brass using copper coated BBs and Dawn DWD. Too small for dry media and high volumes of brass. When I sold mine after 10 years, it was still working like new. Tough machine.

Vibrators, Lyman / RCBS / Dillon / Midway, etc; Same thing just different colors and stickers. Not as long lasting as Tumblers Tumbler but bigger for large amounts of brass to be cleaned with dry media only.

Dillion case cleaner; Smells just like liquid Turtle Wax, wonder why? Yeh, well......

Liquid car polish; Ok, but seems to clog up walnut hulls reducing life of media by about 25%.

Turtle Wax; what took you so long. Use it with any dry media, just a pinch....between the top and bowl.

Corn Cob; OK, a smoother shine, but does not last long, works best with brass kept clean, only buy it if walnut not available.

Walnut Hulls; Pretty much the base line for media, buy it treated and add to it.

Pecan hulls; Huh, you gotta be kidding, nope just about the same as walnut and everywhere in the south. Add Turtle Wax.

Liquid or powdered Jewlers Ruge; White, red or otherwise, what a mess, like powdered dye all over everything.

Abrasives; no, no, no sand, steel, aluminum, etc

From a survey of 1,000 shooters. Most folks who do not clean their brass or inspect their brass see no need to do anything but load and shoot. Those who clean and inspect brass at every outing are also folks who are picky about their loads. Most winners of orginized matches clean their brass on a regular basis. Some champion shooters never clean their brass as long as it will fit into the chamber.

Sorry for the elongated post, I bet you can't guess that I wrote an article about brass cleaning, cleaning products, whys, wharefors, etc, can you.....

Oh, the major benifit to cleaning your brass is not to get grit into the gun OR dies, but as a secondary benifit you also remove any product from the surface that might damage the brass itself. Have you ever seen what grass fertalizer does to range brass?

If you are a match shooter with hundreds of rounds per month burned, get a big vibrator. If you go to the range a few times a year and shoot 50 or less rounds at a time, get a Tumblers Tumbler or a small vibrator. I have a medium Lyman and a big Dillion. I have worn out a couple of the small vibrators, when over loaded the motors burn out.
Ed

[Joe Boleo]

Can clean a lot of brass in short period of time. The only problem I have encountered is when tumbling 9mm and .45 ACP cases. Some 9s get stuck inside the .45s. Not a big deal. I use an RCBS tumbler and really like it. I bought it in 1989 and when it died a few years ago, RCBS gave me a new one back at no charge.

Wiping cases depends on what they are wiped with. The continued use of some products like Brasso will weaken and can damage brass. Hope this helps. Take care...
Joe