Cleaning brass, tumbler question - The Firearms Forum

rocklinskier · 01-14-2010, 09:16 AM

How much media do you need to use in a tumbler?

Any rule of thumb? How do you know if you are using too much or too little?

Bought a second hand tumbler, so no specific instructions are included, kinda flying it blind.

BTW, it's actually a vibratory (bowl type) cleaner, not a rotating drum

RandyP · 01-14-2010, 09:30 AM

You know you've used too much by it falling all over your tabletop if you turn it on with the top off. Too little? The brass isn't covered.

Rough guesstimate is 1/2 to 2/3 filling of the bowl? I use a 60/40 mix of corncob and ground walnut (Lizzard Litter from Petsmart) with a capfull of liquid car polish blended in. I also throw in a few cut up used dryer sheets to control the dust.

rocklinskier · 01-14-2010, 09:47 AM

thanks!

Oneida Steve · 01-14-2010, 06:07 PM

I drop in the brass, then fill the bowl almost full with media. My tumbler runs quieter with more media. +1 to throwing in the used dryer sheets.

medalguy · 01-14-2010, 09:06 PM

You might also want to try and find one of those plastic shower caps that will fit over the top of the bowl to help keep most of the dust inside the bowl while it's running. Those things can kick up quite a bit of dust sometimes. You can also put in a couple of capfuls pf mineral spirits to help clean the crud, but only if you run it outside or in some well-ventilated place. Nu-Finish car polish is the best, 1-2 capfuls to polish the brass.

rocklinskier · 01-15-2010, 08:16 AM

Mine doesn't have a vented top, but thanks for the tip.

Will do on the dryer sheet.

Bought some media (lyman) that supposedly doesn't require polish, but may try a little just to see if it makes a diff.

Thanks all.

RandyP · 01-15-2010, 08:23 AM

From the desk of "I'm too cheap to go 'fancy' -lol" -

My Lyman Turbo tumbler came with a highly vented top cover which allowed spill over and dust to go everywhere. My 'frugal' solution was to simply tape over all the slots with clear plastic shipping tape (Duct Tape roll was MIA - lol) and use the lid that way. Works great, costs almost nuthin'.

Over The Hill · 01-19-2010, 02:47 PM

This discussion raises another question for me - another beginner. How often should you replace the media? I'm betting the answer depends on the type of media being used. I am using the green stuff that came with my Lyman 600 but I also plan to experiment with others . I've cleaned four batches of 9MM with 175 to 200 per batch so far.

Oneida Steve · 01-19-2010, 07:16 PM

OTH, I change my media when it stops cleaning my brass after 90 minutes of tumbling. This occurs after roughly 75 loads of brass. I help the media along with dryer sheets and an occasional capful of liquid polish.

Gearheadpyro · 01-19-2010, 07:22 PM

I usually fill my bowl about 2/3 of the way. Only use cob right now, but I'm going to try the walnut soon. I hear it has more of a cleaning effect while cob does more polishing.

As for replacing it, I usually dump it when I notice it stop cleaning as well. It normally take 45-75 minutes to get a load of brass sprakling, when it gets up to 120 minutes or so I dump it. That took almost 5 months last time, but I am picky about keeping my brass clean so the media doesn't get much other than carbon.

01-14-2010, 09:16 AM	#1
rocklinskier V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 295	Cleaning brass, tumbler question How much media do you need to use in a tumbler? Any rule of thumb? How do you know if you are using too much or too little? Bought a second hand tumbler, so no specific instructions are included, kinda flying it blind. BTW, it's actually a vibratory (bowl type) cleaner, not a rotating drum __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free ~Ronald Reagan. --> Last edited by rocklinskier; 01-14-2010 at 09:23 AM..

01-14-2010, 09:30 AM	#2
RandyP V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 430	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question You know you've used too much by it falling all over your tabletop if you turn it on with the top off. Too little? The brass isn't covered. Rough guesstimate is 1/2 to 2/3 filling of the bowl? I use a 60/40 mix of corncob and ground walnut (Lizzard Litter from Petsmart) with a capfull of liquid car polish blended in. I also throw in a few cut up used dryer sheets to control the dust. __________________ Lee Anniversary and Lee Classic 4-Hole Turret, presently reloading .380, 7.62 Nagant (32-20), 9mm and 45ACP Last edited by RandyP; 01-14-2010 at 09:31 AM..

01-14-2010, 09:47 AM	#3
rocklinskier V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 295	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question thanks! __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free ~Ronald Reagan.

01-14-2010, 06:07 PM	#4
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question I drop in the brass, then fill the bowl almost full with media. My tumbler runs quieter with more media. +1 to throwing in the used dryer sheets.

01-14-2010, 09:06 PM	#5
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 585	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question You might also want to try and find one of those plastic shower caps that will fit over the top of the bowl to help keep most of the dust inside the bowl while it's running. Those things can kick up quite a bit of dust sometimes. You can also put in a couple of capfuls pf mineral spirits to help clean the crud, but only if you run it outside or in some well-ventilated place. Nu-Finish car polish is the best, 1-2 capfuls to polish the brass.

01-15-2010, 08:16 AM	#6
rocklinskier V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 295	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question Mine doesn't have a vented top, but thanks for the tip. Will do on the dryer sheet. Bought some media (lyman) that supposedly doesn't require polish, but may try a little just to see if it makes a diff. Thanks all. __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free ~Ronald Reagan.

01-15-2010, 08:23 AM	#7
RandyP V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 430	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question From the desk of "I'm too cheap to go 'fancy' -lol" - My Lyman Turbo tumbler came with a highly vented top cover which allowed spill over and dust to go everywhere. My 'frugal' solution was to simply tape over all the slots with clear plastic shipping tape (Duct Tape roll was MIA - lol) and use the lid that way. Works great, costs almost nuthin'. __________________ Lee Anniversary and Lee Classic 4-Hole Turret, presently reloading .380, 7.62 Nagant (32-20), 9mm and 45ACP Last edited by RandyP; 01-15-2010 at 10:35 AM..

01-19-2010, 02:47 PM	#8
Over The Hill Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 25	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question This discussion raises another question for me - another beginner. How often should you replace the media? I'm betting the answer depends on the type of media being used. I am using the green stuff that came with my Lyman 600 but I also plan to experiment with others . I've cleaned four batches of 9MM with 175 to 200 per batch so far.

01-19-2010, 07:16 PM	#9
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question OTH, I change my media when it stops cleaning my brass after 90 minutes of tumbling. This occurs after roughly 75 loads of brass. I help the media along with dryer sheets and an occasional capful of liquid polish.

01-19-2010, 07:22 PM	#10
Gearheadpyro V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 110	Re: Cleaning brass, tumbler question I usually fill my bowl about 2/3 of the way. Only use cob right now, but I'm going to try the walnut soon. I hear it has more of a cleaning effect while cob does more polishing. As for replacing it, I usually dump it when I notice it stop cleaning as well. It normally take 45-75 minutes to get a load of brass sprakling, when it gets up to 120 minutes or so I dump it. That took almost 5 months last time, but I am picky about keeping my brass clean so the media doesn't get much other than carbon. __________________ www.southernmarksman.com Owner of & Chief Instructor for The Southern Marksman, LLC NRA Life Member, NRA CRSO, Multi-Discipline NRA Certified Instructor