Changing Tumbling Media

[oldguyguns]

How do you know when to change your media? When it doesn't work well or when it just gets kinda dirty. Does this vary by type of media? Thanks for input. Am talking about using on variety of pistol ammo (380,9mm,45,44 mag).

 

[SEH0521]

Try cutting used dryer sheets into smaller squares - it helps remove dust and fine particles/dirt from the media while tumbling.
Also using small amounts of mineral spirits and/or Nu-Finish (or name brand tumbling polish) seems to do well extending my media useful life.
But I'm curious as to what others do as well.

 

[rb288]

I use crushed walnut shells.
I have noticed that after a while, the media starts to feel dusty, smooth, not sharp, hard like new.
I usually replace it when it starts to feel like that, usually 6 months to a year, depending on how often I use it.
However, last summer, on a whim, I took some old media, put it in a bucket, and, basically, washed it with a high pressure hose.
Then laid it out and let it dry.
It seems to work, kind of clumpy when it dries until it goes in the shaker, then it breaks up nicely and works fine.
So, will I continue to do that, probably not, it's just alot of work just to save a few bucks, as crushed walnut shells is really pretty cheap.

 

[indyblue]

Use stainless pins, they last virtually forever.

I tumbled these for 1 hour with primers, then deprimed for 1.5 hours with a 9mm casing full of lemishine and 5-6 drops dawn.

 

[SEH0521]

That looks GREAT indyblue. What's your reasoning behind tumbling with primers then without, vs. deprimed once?
This may be something I pursue.

 

[indyblue]

That looks GREAT indyblue. What's your reasoning behind tumbling with primers then without, vs. deprimed once?
This may be something I pursue.

To clean up the brass a little before I put them through the Decapping die. Grit and dirt are not good even for carbide dies.

The liquid I decanted from the first tumble was nasty.

 

[SEH0521]

To clean up the brass a little before I put them through the Decapping die. Grit and dirt are not good even for carbide dies.

The liquid I decanted from the first tumble was nasty.

Makes sense. Thank you.

 

[Milo]

Where does one get stainless pins ?

 

[t-squared]

Search

 

[gregkl]

Try cutting used dryer sheets into smaller squares - it helps remove dust and fine particles/dirt from the media while tumbling.
Also using small amounts of mineral spirits and/or Nu-Finish (or name brand tumbling polish) seems to do well extending my media useful life.
But I'm curious as to what others do as well.

I also use dryer sheets and a polish. Used Flitz brand the first time around. Now I am using NuFinish. I tend to let the tumbler run a long time. Once I have enough rounds to tumble, I'll run it overnight.

As far as changing it, there are too many variables to put a rigid timeline on it. I have run media for years. Actually since I started reloading in 2012, I am on my second batch of media and the first batch came with the used tumbler I bought. But I load one caliber on a single stage so what I tumble in a year, I bet a lot of you folks tumble in a month.

Except I did try the lizard bedding that some say is so great. I tossed it. Way too dusty.

 

[Milo]

Search

Thanks

 

[oldguyguns]

To clean up the brass a little before I put them through the Decapping die. Grit and dirt are not good even for carbide dies.

The liquid I decanted from the first tumble was nasty.

I take out the primers with a hand deprimer while watching TV. Unit works well on 38o up to 44 mag.

 

[indyblue]

That works too. My die set came with a decapping/sizing die so it gets two birds with one stone (die)

 

[Bill2905]

A good sign that your tumbling media needs to be changed is when your clean brass leaves your fingers covered in grayish black grime after a loading session.

 

[brian_a_mcmillen]

Use stainless pins, they last virtually forever.

I tumbled these for 1 hour with primers, then deprimed for 1.5 hours with a 9mm casing full of lemishine and 5-6 drops dawn.
View attachment 129264 View attachment 129265

Those look great!

 

[2A_Tom]

How much SS medium do you need for a medium tumbler.

 

[t-squared]

For reference, THIS I used worked well with a pound of media per drum. The FART comes from the factory with 5 pounds.
Using something in between the 2, I'm thinking 2 to 3 pounds should work.

 

[indyblue]

^^^ yes, what I got. Frankford Tumbler lite w/5lbs of pins.

i just throw them all in there with a couple hundred cases.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Except I did try the lizard bedding that some say is so great. I tossed it. Way too dusty.

I never understood that. I swear people trip over dollars to pick up pennies in this hobby. Ive been doing this for probably 5 years now. Im on only my 3rd jug of Frankford treated media. I just dont get why they think they need to cheap out? Do they think they need to replace it after every tumble? I get its a quarter of the price, but they still need to add polish to the super dusty bedding. A LOT of polish comparitively speaking.


I just buy the treated stuff probably once every couple years and in between refresh it with more Turbo Brite polish periodically.

And +1 for the used dryer sheets. It REALLY helps.

And some say to avoid general metal polish because it contains Ammonia, which weakens brass. Not sure the merit to that, but Its not that expensive to use the purpose built stuff.

 

[gregkl]

people trip over dollars to pick up pennies

Happens so often. Just like cleaning and lubes for firearms. Use what you want but if you are using motor oil because its $3.00 a quart and what I use is $13.00 a pint, so what? I am on my second bottle of lube since I started messing with firearms. That stuff is like the widow's jar; it never runs out!