This is why I don't like Walnut Tumbling Media
- Thread starter Dixiedog1
- Start date
billt
New member
Originally Posted By: TURBO6046In the future I may look into the stainless media, it looks interesting but I'm curious about how long it takes....I've heard estimates ranging from 1 hr to 6 hrs.
The .223 range pickup rounds I posted were tumbled for 12 hours in Stainless Steel Media, hot tap water with "Dawn" dish washing liquid detergent, and a product called "Lemi-Shine" that is avaliable in grocery stores in the dishwasher detergent section. What determines the amount of time is the RPM of the motor you have in the Thumlers Tumbler. Mine is an older model that has a 1,500 RPM motor. The newer models now have a 3,000 RPM motor that cuts the necessary tumbling time in half.
The range pick up brass I tumbled was horrible. Most of it was filthy, and exposed to the elements to the point of being black. So I gave it the maximum time to perform it's job. I probably could have gotten away with less time. I'll experiment with that as I go. If I get a small mixer with a greater agitation capability I will perhaps be able to reduce the time further.
I'm a bit anal about having nice looking brass so for me it's worth it. The thing is you have to tumble to remove the resizing lubricant anyway if you reload in large amounts, because it would take forever to hand wipe each case individually. So it really doesn't take much more time and effort to make really nice looking brass. I don't like reloads that look like reloads. As always your mileage may vary. Bill T.
The .223 range pickup rounds I posted were tumbled for 12 hours in Stainless Steel Media, hot tap water with "Dawn" dish washing liquid detergent, and a product called "Lemi-Shine" that is avaliable in grocery stores in the dishwasher detergent section. What determines the amount of time is the RPM of the motor you have in the Thumlers Tumbler. Mine is an older model that has a 1,500 RPM motor. The newer models now have a 3,000 RPM motor that cuts the necessary tumbling time in half.
The range pick up brass I tumbled was horrible. Most of it was filthy, and exposed to the elements to the point of being black. So I gave it the maximum time to perform it's job. I probably could have gotten away with less time. I'll experiment with that as I go. If I get a small mixer with a greater agitation capability I will perhaps be able to reduce the time further.
I'm a bit anal about having nice looking brass so for me it's worth it. The thing is you have to tumble to remove the resizing lubricant anyway if you reload in large amounts, because it would take forever to hand wipe each case individually. So it really doesn't take much more time and effort to make really nice looking brass. I don't like reloads that look like reloads. As always your mileage may vary. Bill T.
bigwheeler
New member
Originally Posted By: Bigdog2Sounds a bit like making a "mountain out of a mole hill". I haven't read anything here that tells me of any real advantage to any of this, other than "it looks better". Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a case that shines as much as the next guy, but at what point are we just killing time.
It has to be clean and free from oxidation so why not have it shiny in the
process. Oxidized brass has the same hardness as iron. I don't want it in
my chambers.
It has to be clean and free from oxidation so why not have it shiny in the
process. Oxidized brass has the same hardness as iron. I don't want it in
my chambers.
