How long to tumble? - The Firearms Forum

sped · 04-06-2003, 08:46 PM

Hi all.
I just purchased a Lyman 1200 Turbo tumbler and it came with some corn cob media. I added some Lyman Turbo Charge to it and have been cleaning some spent brass for a couple of hours.

How long should I let it run?

How do I get it "shiny" like the reloads I have purchased at the gun shows?

How full should I keep the bowl with media?

How should I store the media after I've used it?

And finally....

How many times can I re-use the media before I replace it.

I hope that's not too many questions. Thanks for all your help.

04-06-2003, 10:11 PM

Hi sped, welcome to TFF and the reloading forum.

I'm no expert on tumblers, just recently got a Frankford Arsenal tumbler myself.

I just add media and tumble until they look shiney enough for my taste and let it go at that. Usually a couple or three hours is all it takes.

I have a little invention I've used for the last 15 years its an old zerox machine electric motor that turns pretty fast RPMS, no way of clocking it, and put it in a little metal sheet frame I made. On the spinning shaft I mounted a small 1/4 inch chuck that holds different caliber mandrels to spin my cartridge brass while holding some 3M crokus pads to spin them bright and shiney in seconds.

But this is a bit labor intensive but does a better job as it far out does the media tumbler as to the end result.

Gunguy

04-07-2003, 10:09 PM

Have had a Lyman 1200 tumbler for years - found the length of tumbling is predicated by how fresh your media is, how many cases are dumped in, the type of case (pistol/rifle), how full the bowl is and finally - what you desire as far as clean.

Usually, a fresh batch of media with a moderate amount of cases (about half capacity) will take about 4 hours to get a mostly shiny case. after tumbling, I use a large strainer spoon swiped from the wife's utinsel drawer to sift the cases and then just leave the media in the bowl until next usage. My bowl has a drain plug on the bottom whereas the media could be drained into a seperate container, but that is very messy, so I just use the strainer spoon.

The amount of tumbling and the number of cases cleaned will determine the longivity of the media. When you find it takes a lot longer to get the desired results, recharge the media and keep using. In time, the cob media will turn to almost dust with usage and you can replace with new.

I use a mixture of 50/50 corn cob - crushed walnut hulls with a little recharge compound. This has lasted me for several years before having to replace. Of course, I don't tumble cases with every firing, either.

sped · 04-08-2003, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate the help.

Marlin · 06-22-2003, 02:38 PM

Welcome to TFF, Sped.

Hope you will visit often and post often with our congenial and most informative group.

Cow Caregiver · 06-30-2003, 07:51 AM

Cement mixer works well. Commercial loader who showed me that trick used 6 of them at a time.

rayra · 07-10-2003, 03:21 PM

I'm using a medium-sezied tumbler. More full the better, media & brass.
Same comment about how fresh the media is affecting tumbling time. Usually 1-3hrs as well.
Sometimes remember t use Dillon's case polishing compound, as well.
I just leave the media sealed in the tumbler.
And I use a large plastic collander, which I've used a drill on to open up the bottom'most holes to 1/4".
Dumping the tumbler into this, over tarp or newspapers, a little 'gold panning' action, and pistol brass is sifted pronto.
Rifle brass takes grabbing by handfuls and pouring out.
Someday I'll get around to buying a seperator.

04-06-2003, 08:46 PM	#1
sped Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Willis, Tx Posts: 2	How long to tumble? Hi all. I just purchased a Lyman 1200 Turbo tumbler and it came with some corn cob media. I added some Lyman Turbo Charge to it and have been cleaning some spent brass for a couple of hours. How long should I let it run? How do I get it "shiny" like the reloads I have purchased at the gun shows? How full should I keep the bowl with media? How should I store the media after I've used it? And finally.... How many times can I re-use the media before I replace it. I hope that's not too many questions. Thanks for all your help. __________________ SpEd --> Last edited by sped; 04-07-2003 at 02:24 PM..

04-08-2003, 05:45 PM	#4
sped Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Willis, Tx Posts: 2	Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate the help. __________________ SpEd

06-22-2003, 02:38 PM	#5
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	Welcome to TFF, Sped. Hope you will visit often and post often with our congenial and most informative group. __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

06-30-2003, 07:51 AM	#6
Cow Caregiver V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 136	Tumblers Cement mixer works well. Commercial loader who showed me that trick used 6 of them at a time. __________________ Freedom comes dear. Don't let anybody steal yours....

07-10-2003, 03:21 PM	#7
rayra Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: PRK Posts: 595	I'm using a medium-sezied tumbler. More full the better, media & brass. Same comment about how fresh the media is affecting tumbling time. Usually 1-3hrs as well. Sometimes remember t use Dillon's case polishing compound, as well. I just leave the media sealed in the tumbler. And I use a large plastic collander, which I've used a drill on to open up the bottom'most holes to 1/4". Dumping the tumbler into this, over tarp or newspapers, a little 'gold panning' action, and pistol brass is sifted pronto. Rifle brass takes grabbing by handfuls and pouring out. Someday I'll get around to buying a seperator. __________________ The Friend of My Enemy is My Enemy

04-06-2003, 10:11 PM	#2
Gunguy Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Hi sped, welcome to TFF and the reloading forum. I'm no expert on tumblers, just recently got a Frankford Arsenal tumbler myself. I just add media and tumble until they look shiney enough for my taste and let it go at that. Usually a couple or three hours is all it takes. I have a little invention I've used for the last 15 years its an old zerox machine electric motor that turns pretty fast RPMS, no way of clocking it, and put it in a little metal sheet frame I made. On the spinning shaft I mounted a small 1/4 inch chuck that holds different caliber mandrels to spin my cartridge brass while holding some 3M crokus pads to spin them bright and shiney in seconds. But this is a bit labor intensive but does a better job as it far out does the media tumbler as to the end result. Gunguy

04-07-2003, 10:09 PM	#3
Guest Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Have had a Lyman 1200 tumbler for years - found the length of tumbling is predicated by how fresh your media is, how many cases are dumped in, the type of case (pistol/rifle), how full the bowl is and finally - what you desire as far as clean. Usually, a fresh batch of media with a moderate amount of cases (about half capacity) will take about 4 hours to get a mostly shiny case. after tumbling, I use a large strainer spoon swiped from the wife's utinsel drawer to sift the cases and then just leave the media in the bowl until next usage. My bowl has a drain plug on the bottom whereas the media could be drained into a seperate container, but that is very messy, so I just use the strainer spoon. The amount of tumbling and the number of cases cleaned will determine the longivity of the media. When you find it takes a lot longer to get the desired results, recharge the media and keep using. In time, the cob media will turn to almost dust with usage and you can replace with new. I use a mixture of 50/50 corn cob - crushed walnut hulls with a little recharge compound. This has lasted me for several years before having to replace. Of course, I don't tumble cases with every firing, either.