User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 6:21:22 PM EDT
[#1]
Once you see that the same amount of time is not cleaning the cases. . The corn cob I used before walnut lasted for a ton of batches and took a long time before degrading. The walnut I now use I expect to last a lot longer.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 6:33:45 PM EDT
[#2]
Why are you not wet tumbling?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 7:03:49 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Why are you not wet tumbling? Someday soon when school districts stentva concern we’ll live in a larger house and I’ll have an outbuilding or attached garage. But for now, I need to work with what I have. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 7:16:08 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
To clean my brass I dryntumble with plain walnut media plus a little Nu Finish and mineral spirits. How many loads of brass should I run through before tossing the media and stating a new batch? I have heard about but have not actually tried adding mineral spirits to the medium... what can you tell me about it? How do you do it - how much, how often?... Quoted:
Why are you not wet tumbling? 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 8:05:14 PM EDT
[#5]
I use a small amount to thin out the Nu Finish. I’ve heard it helps clean the brass, but I haven’t done any scientific comparison.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 8:14:26 PM EDT
[#6]
When the media becomes discolored is a pretty good sign it's lost effectiveness. May be ten loads of brass or twice that many depending on several factors.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 9:39:11 PM EDT
[#7]
I usually throw the dryer sheet in with the mix when I tumble. With lost media, I will top off with more polish and walnut, so I really never change my media. I do clean inside the bowl when the tumbler is empty, I use the big lyman with the bottom plug.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 10:04:00 PM EDT
[#8]
If you notice that your media isn't giving you the results you're used to getting, it's time to change the media.
Walnut media is really good at scrubbing brass, getting gunk and soot off pretty quickly. It does this because the crushed walnut shell bits have tiny sharp edges that do the scrubbing. Walnut will "wear out" in time - sometimes quickly, depending on the size of the grit. On the other hand, corn cob media is great for polishing brass. It is essentially soft, flat chunks that rub the brass during tumbling. Corn cob doesn't wear out as much as it gets dirty. I've seen folks talking about how after a while adding their favorite additive just doesn't cut it anymore. That's because they're adding it to dirty media. Dirty media just can't polish, no matter what you add to it. I use plain corn cob to tumble sizing lube off of my cases. For this job, the stuff lasts a good long while. But I use walnut to clean steel cases (no wet tumbling for those guys!), and the combination of fine grit and filthy powder leavings wears the stuff out in a hurry. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/20/2018 10:35:46 PM EDT
[#9]
At 3000-5000rds per year, replace what's in the bowl every 6 months.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 12:37:16 AM EDT
[#10]
There is no round count. How dirty cases are varies.
You change media when it quits cleaning, whenever that is. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 8:47:43 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
There is no round count. How dirty cases are varies. You change media when it quits cleaning, whenever that is. So watch your run time needed to get the cases clean, how dirty your media is, and you will know when it/s time to change it. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 9:08:42 AM EDT
[#12]
I've not changed out my walnut in years. But I also wet tumble before I throw it in, so the brass is clean already. I'm not really using it as a cleaner but as a sponge to suck up the water (I wet tumble with the primers in. Seems to be dependent on your water chemistry if you can get away with that or not.) I have added to the walnut as I spill, so it's not all years old. I'd say 75% is.
But even when I throw in a few cases that didn't fit in the wet tumbler that I want to resize, it still does a good enough job for resizing. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 9:36:27 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Ditto with this, but will add that I do a quick water wash of the cases in the sink using a strainer before the cases hit the tumbler instead. This gets the dirt type crap off the cases, so such does not make it's way to the tumbler media instead. Cases still damp are put directly into the media, once the added Odorless mineral sprint and Nu shine before each batch has had a chance to mix in to the media. So watch your run time needed to get the cases clean, how dirty your media is, and you will know when it/s time to change it. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
There is no round count. How dirty cases are varies. You change media when it quits cleaning, whenever that is. So watch your run time needed to get the cases clean, how dirty your media is, and you will know when it/s time to change it. No sense in letting walnut scrape away a bunch of the crud that comes off with almost zero effort in water. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 10:11:38 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I think I'm going to start doing a hot water or maybe even hot soapy water wash of my cases prior to dry tumbling. I've noticed tossing some cases into hot, soapy water and giving them a few shakes while they sit for 15 minutes then a rinse gets them much cleaner than I started. No sense in letting walnut scrape away a bunch of the crud that comes off with almost zero effort in water. With my water, I use a 45 ACP case of Lemishine per 1 gallon of water. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 11:01:05 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A small amount of Lemishine will be beneficial to your pre wash. With my water, I use a 45 ACP case of Lemishine per 1 gallon of water. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted: I think I'm going to start doing a hot water or maybe even hot soapy water wash of my cases prior to dry tumbling. I've noticed tossing some cases into hot, soapy water and giving them a few shakes while they sit for 15 minutes then a rinse gets them much cleaner than I started. No sense in letting walnut scrape away a bunch of the crud that comes off with almost zero effort in water. With my water, I use a 45 ACP case of Lemishine per 1 gallon of water. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 1:02:08 PM EDT
[#16]
The only time any of my cases see vinegar, is when they were loaded with pyrodex black powder. Hence the hot water and vinegar 20 min soak it to neutralize the pyrodex corrosive chemicals. As for real black powder, then hot water and hydrogen peroxide to remove those black powder salts before they get a chance to start corroding the cases.
Hence with smokeless powder fired cases, its Citric Acid (active ingredient in Lemishine) that you want to use as a cleaning boost agent, not vinegar instead. As for going this far to pre clean smoke powder fired brass, I just do the water rinse to get the dirt/gravel out/off the cases, so it does not contaminant my media instead. Hence media is cheap enough (10qt bag of Zilla desert mix is only about $10), and can't see spending twice the time and money to pre-clean the brass to a almost perfect level, before media tumbling it in the end isntead. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 1:29:48 PM EDT
[#17]
I have actually washed my walnut to like new. Throw into nylon,
wash with hot soapy water, dry on cookie sheets. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 3:48:51 PM EDT
[#18]
My cases are wet tumbled to clean after firing. I have started to dry tumble in corn cob to remove the lube. Adding the dryer sheet has made a big improvement. The corn cob still looks brand new.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 4:25:02 PM EDT
[#19]
I’ll add I always add a couple of 1/4ths of a dryer sheet to my tumbler. Those pieces come out black.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/21/2018 10:57:07 PM EDT
[#20]
Trick to cleaning brass quickly with media tumbling, is oderless Mineral sprints.
Before you add the brass to the media, add a shot of mineral spirits to lightly dampen the media ever so slightly, and about a tea spoon of more Nushine, then let the media tumbler for a few mins until all the car turd clumps have tumbled back to fine grains/ the media if flowing cleaning again, then add the brass. The Mineral sprints will evaporate out of the media in first 30 mins (and what pulls the fouling from the cases very quickly) and then dry media with the Nushine kicks in to gleam the cases afterwards. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2018 12:55:12 AM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
To clean my brass I dry tumble with plain walnut media plus a little Nu Finish and mineral spirits. How many loads of brass should I run through before tossing the media and stating a new batch? Walnut media will eventually "wear out" as the edges of the cracked shells become rounded and smooth. Also, since I wash (not tumble) cases in a rather stout citric acid solution, I don't get around to tumbling until after the case has been lubricated, resized, trimmed, chamfered, deburred and the primper crimp reamed (if one was present), so that the tumbling operation is aimed at removing the resizing lubricant along with any remaining brass trimmings. I typically start a load tumbling before I go to bed and then dump it into the separator when I get up the next morning, so my brass is getting 7 to 9 hours of tumbling. Before I retired, I would start a second batch tumbling during the day when I was at work so it likewise to 7 to 9 hours of tumbling. Is that longer than needed? Probably. But there's no real harm in tumbling for that long. As long as the brass comes out clean? I change my media when I no longer like the shine it is producing. It is entirely a judgement call on my part. I typically tumble 100 to 200 cases (usually 223 or 9mm) at a time. If you figure, say 100 cases a day, for six months, then my experience would be to change the media about every 15-20,000 rounds. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2018 12:57:44 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have actually washed my walnut to like new. Throw into nylon, wash with hot soapy water, dry on cookie sheets. But since 20 lbs of media lasts me for about a year and a new box of media costs about $15, I'll continue to swap media out periodically. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2018 1:04:10 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'll try that. I tried a solution wash yesterday with water/vinegar/salt/detergent, Also, for all the same reasons you want to keep salt away from aluminum, you want to keep salt away from brass. Yes, it does provide the electrical gradient to help the copper in the brass "let go of" oxygen molecules and thus return from a tarnished to shiny state, but the polar, covalent bond in salt makes it particularly difficult to remove from the cases and it will, in time, promote oxidation when no longer in a reducing solution. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2018 9:02:39 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
...but the polar, |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2018 9:34:44 AM EDT
[#25]
Quoted:
The only time any of my cases see vinegar, is when they were loaded with pyrodex black powder. Hence the hot water and vinegar 20 min soak it to neutralize the pyrodex corrosive chemicals. As for real black powder, then hot water and hydrogen peroxide to remove those black powder salts before they get a chance to start corroding the cases. Hence with smokeless powder fired cases, its Citric Acid (active ingredient in Lemishine) that you want to use as a cleaning boost agent, not vinegar instead. As for going this far to pre clean smoke powder fired brass, I just do the water rinse to get the dirt/gravel out/off the cases, so it does not contaminant my media instead. Hence media is cheap enough (10qt bag of Zilla desert mix is only about $10), and can't see spending twice the time and money to pre-clean the brass to a almost perfect level, before media tumbling it in the end isntead. Quoted: For this purpose, acetic acid is less desirable than citric acid. Also, for all the same reasons you want to keep salt away from aluminum, you want to keep salt away from brass. Yes, it does provide the electrical gradient to help the copper in the brass "let go of" oxygen molecules and thus return from a tarnished to shiny state, but the polar, covalent bond in salt makes it particularly difficult to remove from the cases and it will, in time, promote oxidation when no longer in a reducing solution. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2018 9:45:49 AM EDT
[#26]
I use a tea spoon of brasso to my walnut media.
Brass comes out like new. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2018 10:19:17 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I use a tea spoon of brasso to my walnut media. Brass comes out like new. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2018 12:54:51 AM EDT
[#28]
Yep, hence the whole idea here is we are trying to clean the brass, without making the brass more brittle isntead.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2018 4:38:29 PM EDT
[#29]
I just changed my walnut after 2 years.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/24/2018 3:14:58 AM EDT
[#30]
Haven't changed the walnut in over 20 yrs. Just mix in some new when it gets low and add some nufinish or brass cleaner to increase its ability to shine the brass.
I always wash the cases in a bucket before tumbling which helps keep the media fairly clean. I must admit the walnut tumbler hasn't been used as much since getting the FART around 5 years ago. It does get used to take case lube off brass and add a nice shine that's more resistant to tarnishing from adding the car wax. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/24/2018 12:03:46 PM EDT
[#31]
I usually use two tumbler bowls but have a third on sitting around.
One for clean up and the other for lube removal both using walnut. When the clean up takes about 50% more time than new media I dump it out and put the lube removal walnut into the clean up tumbler. Add a little bit of rouge in wax (one swipe on a grater) Put new media in the lube removal tumbler. Repeat as required based on clean up time required. I have some corn cob in the third tumbler bowl if I want better looking cases since it absorbs more lube than walnut. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/25/2018 12:42:01 PM EDT
[#32]
[cheapskate Derek] when it no loner gives a nice polish, use it for another 6 months, then replace
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2018 1:25:53 PM EDT
[#33]
After awhile, "recharging" media with Nu Finish or other polish no longer works and brass takes longer to clean. That's when I toss media.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2018 7:05:55 PM EDT
[#34]
As stated before, I get much better life from my media if I presoak/wash. Hot water, a couple drops dawn , maybe a dash Simple Green. Agitate the cases, rinse, shake them off in an old colander, dry in oven at 200 for an hour.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2018 4:14:25 PM EDT
[#35]
Walnut lasts almost forever if it is not adulterated with additives. I toss it when the pieces grind down and absorb so much crud and carbon that it is no longer effective.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/31/2018 3:07:02 PM EDT
[#36]
How many licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop. The world may never know.
Motor |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/1/2018 3:55:46 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted:
To clean my brass I dryntumble with plain walnut media plus a little Nu Finish and mineral spirits. How many loads of brass should I run through before tossing the media and stating a new batch? 5? 10? As long as the brass comes out clean? I don't really have s feel for it, and currently I think I've been going about 10 loads of brass. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/1/2018 3:57:58 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If you stop putting that crap in it, and use a polish meant for dry tumbling you will get years out of it before it needs to be replaced. |
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
