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Tumbling brass

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 7:47 pm
by Alpha1
I know a lot of people go to the fine end of a whotsit to clean their brass for reloading. Personally cleaning brass is low on my agenda. But there was a discussion about tumbling media and someone recommended me a particular grade of ground walnut media. So I bought some. Its currently tumbling a load of brass I will leave it a couple of hours and check on it.
My old media is the red stuff I believe it could be lyman or I might of added jewelers rouge to it at some point. Any way its been in there a while and it's probably past its sell by date. I actually have no idea how long its been in the tumbler so its years not months.
My first job after emptying the tumbler was to compare the media. The new stuff is definitely smaller grit. I ordered it of flea bay and there is probably enough to fill the tumbler three times. It cost about £15.00.
My next job was to find some dirty cases. The ones I collected are not particularly dirty in my mind but others will beg to differ I am sure. One of the cases has a live primer in it I removed it before starting the tumbler.

Any way this is the red stuff I took out and the new stuff that went and is tumbling away as we speak.
tumbler media 001.jpg
This is the new stuff.
tumbler media 002.jpg
And a close up.
tumbler media 003.jpg

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 7:52 pm
by Alpha1
I thought I would tumble some cases using just the new media first of. Then take it from there I have not added anything to the media. Any way here is an assortment of brass I chucked in.
tumbler media 004.jpg
Several different calibres
tumbler media 005.jpg
Some straight wall and some bottle necked.
tumbler media 006.jpg

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 7:56 pm
by Alpha1
The tumbler it's probably older than most people on the forum but it does for me.
tumbler media 007.jpg
Here it is with the media in it ready to go.
tumbler media 008.jpg
Just need to pop the lid on and plug it in and she is off. She is currently burbling away I will check on her later I thought two hours for starters. So watch this space.
tumbler media 009.jpg
Will it make any difference to my re loading it remains to be seen.
teanews hmm what's next.

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 9:27 pm
by phaedra1106
What grit size did you go for? mine is a lot finer than that.
Tumbler-Media.jpg

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:29 pm
by Alpha1
Yes you are right I think I may have ordered the wrong size. What size is yours.

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 10:41 am
by phaedra1106
From what Rox has said it should be 25/52, I think I got the smaller size, maybe 16/5. I'll see if I can find anything with the size on it, it's really fine like coarse sand.

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:49 am
by Alpha1
I went on line and did my home work I have ordered a few different grades it should be here to morrow then I will resume the trial.

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 3:00 pm
by phaedra1106
Excellent Stuff :)

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 4:39 pm
by johngarnett
I'm using the same tumbler - just works!!

I use reptile cage media - fine enough to not clog the primer hole at all. I don't know the grading but a trip to a pet shop with an empty case may reveal all???!!!

Best reloading upgrade I've done for years!!

JohnG

Re: Tumbling brass

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:48 pm
by Alpha1
I just checked the tracking its due for delivery tomorrow. I have a full week end of shooting so it may be early next week before I can have a play. Actually I am shooting three nights a week now most Sundays and if I was not bothered about being divorced I could shoot four Saturdays in the month.