Case cleaning media

Boone · 10-14-2009, 07:48 PM

Hey guys, I would just like to know which tunbling media U guys prefer, and if there are any special tricks. I still use an old Thumlers tumbler and it does a good job with crushed walnut media. But it creates a lot of dust that sticks to the cases inside and out. I have some corn cob media that I am using now, but it takes a really long time to polish the cases. Any comments or tips would be appreciated.

billy · 10-14-2009, 07:52 PM

tumble with walnut
then tumble with cob

tmanbuckhunter · 10-14-2009, 07:59 PM

I usually tumble my cases for 3 hours in treated corn cob media spiked with vinegar boone. After 3 hours in my little lyman 600 pop top the cases come out like 24K gold and almost look nickel plated but it still doesn't get them spotless. I agree with billy, tumble with treated walnut to clean the cases, then go to corn cob to polish. That's what I might start doing. Just make sure you have separate containers to keep track of whats what.

Boone · 10-14-2009, 08:04 PM

I poured some case cleaner in it this time to see if it would help. I'll let u know how that does.

telkev · 10-14-2009, 08:05 PM

Just stick a dryer sheet in with the media and brass. All the dust and powder residue will stick to it and then you just toss it, and replace it with another one.

toolman · 10-14-2009, 08:07 PM

Squirt a little NuFinish or TurtleWax polishing compound in with your walnut. It polishes the cases really well and helps keep the dust down, as does the dryer sheet trick.

tmanbuckhunter · 10-14-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolman

Squirt a little NuFinish or TurtleWax polishing compound in with your walnut. It polishes the cases really well and helps keep the dust down, as does the dryer sheet trick.

What type of turtlewax exactly? I got all sorts of turtle wax around the house for all sorts of different purposes.

toolman · 10-14-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmanbuckhunter

What type of turtlewax exactly? I got all sorts of turtle wax around the house for all sorts of different purposes.

Turtle Wax - Premium Polishing Compound

res45 · 10-14-2009, 08:41 PM

The liquid type,start out with a couple tablespoons full mix it up and let it run about 10 minutes better less than to much at once,add brass. Use used dryer sheet cut up into several long strips about 2" wide and put several in at a time.

tmanbuckhunter · 10-14-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolman

Turtle Wax - Premium Polishing Compound

Going to the autoparts store next monday!

toolman · 10-14-2009, 08:51 PM

The NuFinish mixes easier because it's not as thick, but I love the way the TW works. I've cleaned up range rejects up in a couple of hours using fine-crushed walnut and the TW compound.

Mooseman684 · 10-14-2009, 08:59 PM

DO not use any products with ammonia or Vinegar in it as it will attack the brass and weaken it...I use Dillon liquid polish on ground corn cob Hamster bedding from Walmart and it only takes a couple hours to polish most brass unless it is really weathered.

big boomer · 10-14-2009, 09:06 PM

I do like Billy I tumble with walnut and then with cob to remove the residue I have 2 tumblers set up

toolman · 10-14-2009, 09:07 PM

^+1 on the no ammonia, it's evil when mixed with brass containing hot, high-pressure gasses!

Boone · 10-15-2009, 08:56 PM

Thanks guys for all the info, I'll certainly give them a try.

Boone · 10-16-2009, 08:00 PM

Hey guys. I used a little bit of everones info to create my own little case cleaning cleaning media mix. I mixed equal parts of corn cob and crushed walnot media in the tumbler and poured a tablespoon or so of Turtle wax liquid car polish into it. No dust, and the cases come out bright and shiny in a couple of hours. Thanks to all U who responded.

nathangdad · 10-16-2009, 08:09 PM

I've got an additional ingredient for you.
Enjoy some pecans then toss the shell into the tumbler.
Pecan shells of various sizes really to work.

Best wishes.

Boone · 11-05-2009, 09:51 PM

Thanks nathan I will try that.

DaTeacha · 11-06-2009, 11:41 AM

I used crushed walnut and jewelers rouge for a few hours last night in a tumbler designed for polishing rocks -- one of the horizontal rolling action types. The 44 mag cases are nice and clean after about 3 hours. I'll switch to some cob media and run it again tonight to see if I can get that polished gold shine to them. I just hope all that bling doesn't scare the deer away later this month.

mikld · 11-06-2009, 01:23 PM

I tumble with walnut only, no additives, no solvent, nuttin' sept walnut. I get a semi-shiny satin finish to my cases.

Maybe this should be made a stickie?

10-14-2009, 07:48 PM	#1
Boone Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 221	Case cleaning media Hey guys, I would just like to know which tunbling media U guys prefer, and if there are any special tricks. I still use an old Thumlers tumbler and it does a good job with crushed walnut media. But it creates a lot of dust that sticks to the cases inside and out. I have some corn cob media that I am using now, but it takes a really long time to polish the cases. Any comments or tips would be appreciated.

10-14-2009, 07:52 PM	#2
billy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 20,491 Blog Entries: 161	tumble with walnut then tumble with cob __________________ ANGRY SMART AND SOBER

10-14-2009, 07:59 PM	#3
tmanbuckhunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas, USSA Posts: 554 Blog Entries: 1	I usually tumble my cases for 3 hours in treated corn cob media spiked with vinegar boone. After 3 hours in my little lyman 600 pop top the cases come out like 24K gold and almost look nickel plated but it still doesn't get them spotless. I agree with billy, tumble with treated walnut to clean the cases, then go to corn cob to polish. That's what I might start doing. Just make sure you have separate containers to keep track of whats what. __________________ I like milsurps.

10-14-2009, 08:04 PM	#4
Boone Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 221	Birchwood casey case cleaner I poured some case cleaner in it this time to see if it would help. I'll let u know how that does.

10-14-2009, 08:05 PM	#5
telkev Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SW MS Posts: 461	Just stick a dryer sheet in with the media and brass. All the dust and powder residue will stick to it and then you just toss it, and replace it with another one. __________________ One hole groups are as easy as pulling the trigger, until you pull it the second time.

10-14-2009, 08:07 PM	#6
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 7,371 Blog Entries: 25	Squirt a little NuFinish or TurtleWax polishing compound in with your walnut. It polishes the cases really well and helps keep the dust down, as does the dryer sheet trick. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

10-14-2009, 08:41 PM	#9
res45 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NC Posts: 618	The liquid type,start out with a couple tablespoons full mix it up and let it run about 10 minutes better less than to much at once,add brass. Use used dryer sheet cut up into several long strips about 2" wide and put several in at a time. __________________ Yugo/Chinese SKS / Mosin M44 / Sav. 99 300 Sav. / Ruger BH 357/9mm convertible / PA-63 9 x 18 etc.

10-14-2009, 08:51 PM	#11
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 7,371 Blog Entries: 25	The NuFinish mixes easier because it's not as thick, but I love the way the TW works. I've cleaned up range rejects up in a couple of hours using fine-crushed walnut and the TW compound. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac! Last edited by toolman; 10-14-2009 at 09:05 PM.

10-14-2009, 08:59 PM	#12
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness. Unit 13 Posts: 12,781	DO not use any products with ammonia or Vinegar in it as it will attack the brass and weaken it...I use Dillon liquid polish on ground corn cob Hamster bedding from Walmart and it only takes a couple hours to polish most brass unless it is really weathered. __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

10-14-2009, 09:06 PM	#13
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 2,618	I do like Billy I tumble with walnut and then with cob to remove the residue I have 2 tumblers set up

10-14-2009, 09:07 PM	#14
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 7,371 Blog Entries: 25	^+1 on the no ammonia, it's evil when mixed with brass containing hot, high-pressure gasses! __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

10-15-2009, 08:56 PM	#15
Boone Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 221	Thanks guys for all the info, I'll certainly give them a try.

10-16-2009, 08:00 PM	#16
Boone Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 221	New media mix Hey guys. I used a little bit of everones info to create my own little case cleaning cleaning media mix. I mixed equal parts of corn cob and crushed walnot media in the tumbler and poured a tablespoon or so of Turtle wax liquid car polish into it. No dust, and the cases come out bright and shiny in a couple of hours. Thanks to all U who responded.

10-16-2009, 08:09 PM	#17
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6,056	Hi I've got an additional ingredient for you. Enjoy some pecans then toss the shell into the tumbler. Pecan shells of various sizes really to work. Best wishes.

11-05-2009, 09:51 PM	#18
Boone Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 221	Thanks nathan I will try that.

11-06-2009, 11:41 AM	#19
DaTeacha Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: near Funk, Ohio Posts: 3,889	I used crushed walnut and jewelers rouge for a few hours last night in a tumbler designed for polishing rocks -- one of the horizontal rolling action types. The 44 mag cases are nice and clean after about 3 hours. I'll switch to some cob media and run it again tonight to see if I can get that polished gold shine to them. I just hope all that bling doesn't scare the deer away later this month. __________________ Teach NRA -- If you're reading this, you should be a member. United, We Stand.

11-06-2009, 01:23 PM	#20
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 172	I tumble with walnut only, no additives, no solvent, nuttin' sept walnut. I get a semi-shiny satin finish to my cases. Maybe this should be made a stickie? __________________ Casings hold sausage, Cases hold gunpowder and bullets