Author Topic: Case Tumbler operation question (Read 1584 times)

Pecos Clyde · « **on:** February 07, 2003, 06:45:34 AM »

Heyya

I received a nice midway case tumbler from Caleath in a trade for some stuff. I wanted to know how full you load it up with the media (corn cobb) and empty cases.

I also bought a dillon media separater and it works fine. But I wanted to know if you still have to turn cases upside down and tap them on the bench top to be sure no media is in the case prior to puttin the case in the press.

Jax Orebetter · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2003, 07:55:16 AM »

Howdy,

I fill mine about 2/3-3/4 full and add the cases. It depends on how big the tumbler is on how many you can put in. I usually just throw the empties in the tumbler when I get home from a match. 150-200 at a time.

Hope this helps. :grin:

DB Leath · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2003, 08:37:44 AM »

Hey Pecos,
That sounds about right. Some people use a polish of some kind. Do not use Brasso...it has amonia in it and some people think it weakens the brass. Midway sells a polish made for it.
Your media seperator should take care of the media. It doesnt hurt to tap the cases out some too.
Some people put the cases back in the tumbler minus the media and send them spinnin for a second or two. That should get the rest out.
Cliff

Jax Orebetter · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2003, 09:21:07 AM »

I used to use one of the pollishing compounds when I first started reloading. I ran out about 3 years ago, and haven't bought any since. My cases still come out clean and I don't get anymore clumps in my media from the pollish.

Flint · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2003, 11:19:12 AM »

Whether you need to tap the cases or clear the flashhole depends on the size of the media particles, and whether or not you deprimed the cases before tumbling. If you reload after tumbling, the decapping pin will clear the flashhole.

Rifled Slug · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2003, 11:13:10 PM »

Howdy ,
I don*t deprime before tumbling . I wash and dry the cases and then tumble . I add a couple teaspoons full of Bon Ami to the Lizard litter I use and let them run . They come out very nice and when you deprime and size it clears the flash hole . ( Lizard Litter = ground walnut shells - bought at a pet shop ) :-)

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2003, 02:27:21 AM »

I, too, put in the dirty cases and let it run. Then I reload them through the Dillon SDB. I've looked in some of the cases as I reload and there may be a small piece of media in the flash home but the resizer die punches it out along with the primer.

Pigeonroost Slim · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2003, 04:28:48 AM »

I am with rifled slug on the benefits of washing the brass before tumbling. Primer dust is a health hazzard and the tumbler dust is a prime exposure source for that. Holy Black or smokieless, I shake/soak my dirty brass in a mild hot water:vineager solution (1 tblsp vineager to gallon water) for two minutes, then repeat soak with hot water and automatic dishwasher type gel for al long as I want and then dry before the tumbling. My media stays clean and the brass polishes quickly without any special agents or such. Worth the trouble to keep the media clean.

prs

Shootin' Carts Jimmy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2003, 11:21:46 AM »

I have only been tumbling for about 2 years. I use corn - it make works better for me than walnut. I fill mine 3/4 with media and put as many cases in as it will hold and still mix em up well.

I also agree that cleaning your brass BEFORE you tumble it is very important. Spent cases and your media will have high concentrations of lead. Tumbling and sifting can put a lot of that dust in the air, making it a health hazard for everyone around. The reason I know this is that my 2 year old son was testing high on the lead scale and we could not figure out why. A pard told me about the tumbling exposure and since I've cleaned up my act, my little boy and everyone else in the family is healthier (lower lead levels in blood tests).

Using a dishwasher is a great way to clean cases before tumbling. My only problem is getting the spent cases to stay on them little wire posts in the dishwasher without fallin off :-D . And the time it took to load the dishwasher was killin me. I had to resort to using a mesh laundry bag. Works real good.

Good luck with that new tumbler!

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2003, 04:04:28 AM »

Other thing on the dishwasher is to sneak in and use it when the Mrs. isn't around to see what's going on

Greybeard · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2003, 02:35:22 PM »

I keep hearing you guys talk about putting all this kinda stuff in the dish washer. Are you REALLY SERIOUS?

?

I can't bellieve you'd really put stuff like that in there and they use it later to wash dishes you are gonna eat off of? Not in this life time for me. I have enough stomach problems without introducing that kinda stuff into my belly.

GB

Shootin' Carts Jimmy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2003, 08:26:58 PM »

The dishwasher works great. There is enough water to rinse it all away.

Think about all the dirty dishes you put in there. Are you worried that some of that stuff is still around the next time you do the dishes? :grin:

Some folks run the dishwasher empty afterwards just to make sure.

Bon Appetite'

Greybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2003, 05:47:06 AM »

What I'm concerned about is the primer lead dust and other caustics and poisons that are in those cases. I'm gonna leave this one to you guys. Ain't nothing but dishes going in my dishwasher.

GB

DB Leath · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2003, 06:02:38 AM »

I have a buddy that takes all of his cases and puts them in soapy water and washes them first. I never figured on the primer dust thing. I always tumbled them in the garage. I inhale so much worse stuff at work I suppose I never worried about it.
DB

Shootin' Carts Jimmy · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2003, 10:22:55 AM »

Now, what I would like to see is somebody come up with a wet tumbler!

You dump in the brass, pour in some water, put in some soap, and put in some waterproof media. Now if someone can figure out what media to use, we would have the best of both worlds. And if we want to get really fancy, we could make it like tumbling dishwasher that cleans and dries too!

What do you guys think? Should I head down to my shop and try to woop something up between fixing chairs and makin carts? (of course, I'll finish Graybeards cart first :lol: !

DB Leath · « **Reply #15 on:** February 13, 2003, 10:35:57 AM »

I was thinking the same thing. Humm let me see Maybe an old icecream freezer and some soapy water. Now what to use for media....
DB

John Traveler · « **Reply #16 on:** February 13, 2003, 12:08:05 PM »

As a matter of fact, they DO make wet media tumblers used in the lapidary, gemstone, and jewelry making industry. They are standard fare in the metal finishing industry for small machine parts.

The tumblers can be vibratory or barrel/drum roller affairs. You charge the tumbler with either stainless steel shot, ceramic pellets, or shaped ceramic media. The ones I've used are 1/2" x 1/8" cylinders with pointed ends, sorta trapazoidal. The media is infinitely re-usable.

You tumble them with a bit of soap or detergent, and water for only a couple of hours to get the brass AMAZINGLY clean.

Shootin' Carts Jimmy · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2003, 04:11:04 PM »

Ok John, you got me all curious now. I thought about using my kids rock tumbler to experiemnt with, but I'm not going to reinvent the wheel.

Where on earth (or mars) do you get one of these contraptions? I like the viratory kind - they make less noise. And where can I get the media? This sounds too good to be true!

John Traveler · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2003, 12:43:50 PM »

"Sounds too good to be true??"

But it IS GOOD and it IS TRUE!

If you live near an industrial center, look up "lapidary" or "industrial polishing" in the yellow pages. Otherwise, do an Internet search using the similar key words. The lapidary stores should have the affordable tumblers and media.

Wet polishing media comes in different sizes and shapes for the specific job. Almost all are either stainless shot, or ceramic pellets with some regular shape to them: cubes, trapasoids, cones, or rods. Apparently the "pointy ends" help to assure complete polishing coverage.

Yes, you CAN use your kids' rock tumbler, but generally, those are sorta small for tumbling a batch of cartridge cases. Be SURE to completely clean and wash out ALL of the abrasive grit before you tumble brass cases. Otherwise, your brass will turn out "frosty".

The tumblers I've bought and used were by some company called ACE or some such. About $40 each some ten years ago. Neoprene-lined lids, wing nut fasteners, and waterproof.

Oh, by the way, did you know that Remington uses "liquid honing" or "vibra-polishing" of it's slab-sided shotgun and rifle receivers for more than 30 years? It's true: check out the blued M1100/M870 receivers.

Shootin' Carts Jimmy · « **Reply #19 on:** February 14, 2003, 01:52:22 PM »

JT - this is awesome info! Thanks! I'm gonna look into this.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 14, 2003, 03:47:26 PM »

JJD give this a try http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod.jhtml?id=0003101&navAction=jump&navCount=0&indexId=&parentId=&parentType=&rid=

Dutch Canyon Red · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2004, 08:33:34 PM »

Shootin' Carts Jimmy,
Here's a whole thread about wet media tumblers and such. There's also a lot of discussion of ceramic media on the Shiloh board and BPCR.net.

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=19802&highlight=ceramic

actually, it's this one but both are good to read:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=21501&highlight=ceramic

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2004, 10:39:31 PM »

One of my pards got into ceramic media tumbling and he just raves constantly about how fabulous the stuff is. Ain't tried it myownself but I reckon it must be ok frum wat I've herd.

Being a dedicated Darksider, alla my brass get's dumped straight into a jug of soapy water at the range, then rinsed several time and air dried when I get home, then into the tumbler once it's dry.

Regarding ammonia in Brasso, a long held fallacy is that it will weaken brass. In actuallity, the ammonia is a carrier for the polishing agents in Brasso and it evaporates so fast that it can't affect yer brass. One would need to put brass in a container of ammonia and leave it submerged in it for a goodly period to have any real affect. (note: Been using the stuff fer twenty years, ain't had a piece of brass fail yet because of it)

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2004, 03:22:52 AM »

The RCBS Sidewinder can do both wet and dry tumbling. Comes with instructions and all.

ÇR

howdy doody · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2004, 05:06:35 AM »

Good or bad I use Brasso in my media. My media is called habit trail bedding that I buy at the pet store. It is basically corn media, but it sells for only $2 for 5 lbs bag. I use it a long time and the only problem it having to make sure I clear it from my cases after retrieving from my vibrating machine. Occasionally I find a bunch of media wedged in the cases. Tapping gets it out easy enough. My brass looks great, considering I shoot BP in it.

Dutch Canyon Red · « **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2004, 08:53:49 AM »

Another source for dry media is your local industrial supply house. They will probably have corn and walnut in several size grades. It will be in a large bag (50 lbs or more). You can get 'chicken scratch' at a feed store. It is ground corn cob but will have some pieces that are too large and some dust in it..... but it sure is cheap.

Duke45 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 01, 2004, 02:57:53 AM »

Folks I been using long grain rice in my vib. tumbler and it works fine and no harmfull dust yo inhale Cheap to ! Duke45

RPbump · « **Reply #27 on:** April 12, 2004, 08:53:41 PM »

Go to www.sagebrushproducts.com for a good price on the Mdl B Thumblers Tumbler. I've had mine for over 25 years with no problems, its the best wet tumbler you can buy. With ceramic media, some baking soda, lime/lemon juice, and water, cases come out looking new inside and out. For BP cartridges its the way to go. Rbump

williamlayton · « **Reply #28 on:** April 17, 2004, 02:23:11 AM »

This thumbler tumbler looks tha way to go. Lordy that makes my fingers tounge tied. Whats tha reciept an how long do you tumble.
Tha price is ok an it sure seems well constructed. I'm thinkin this is a good thing.
Blessings

Holiday · « **Reply #29 on:** April 23, 2004, 01:56:05 PM »

I dump my brass in a container with soapy water at the range, but then, I shoot black powder. After shaking up the bottle at home, I pour the water out and dry my brass before tumbling. I usually do about 100 to 200 at a time.

As to the brasso, I use it and I have been using some of the same .45 Colt brass for over two years. It may weaken it, but I believe it would take a soaking in the stuff. And just for the record, my loads ain't light! I use 35 grains(by volume) of Pyrodex. So, my brass still has some strength left!