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View Full Version : How long does your tumbling media last?

nitesite
12-21-2008, 08:49 PM
The last time I had to dump my old media, I bought a jug of Lyman Green corn cob in November 2006. As I type this, there is still almost half a jug of it left .

I have no idea about the count, but I know I've tumbled thousands and thousands of rifle and pistol cases from that half-jug. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say over 10,000 cases.

I been using Nu-Finish and dryer sheets erry time, and mineral sprits about every tenth time. This green corn cob still works so well that I'm not ready to throw the present stuff out and refill with new media.
MakeMineaP99
12-21-2008, 08:55 PM
I can't say I keep a count, either in terms of cases or time. I replace when the old stuff doesn't shine the cases up anymore.
nitesite
12-21-2008, 08:57 PM
Dan,

Still sleeping in late most mornings? I hope you are!
MakeMineaP99
12-21-2008, 08:59 PM
Yeah, I didn't get up until just after 10 this morning. I'm living it large. I even drank some red wine last night.
ept000
12-21-2008, 09:48 PM
I wash my brass before I tumble it. I only tumble for the final shine and the slippery effect from the Nu Finish, so now my cob seems to be lasting forever.
Glock G20
12-22-2008, 08:16 AM
I dumped mine saturday morn. I should of dumped it a long time ago. I added some nufinish & spirits and thru in about 200 .223 cases. came out 3 hrs later and the stuff reminded me of wet clumping cat littler :bad: (UGG). Opened up the bag of remaining FA cob media and saw how nice & tan/yellow it was compared to my grey crap.. forgot how long i've been using it but needles to say LONG TIME. decided to toss the walnut too. figured now is a good time to refresh both tumblers..
layusn1
12-22-2008, 02:52 PM
If it takes more than about 3 hours to clean and shine the brass I usually replace it. No sense in wasting good electricity and wear and tear on the tumbler over $3 worth of media.
nitesite
12-22-2008, 10:43 PM
Opened up the bag of remaining FA cob media and saw how nice & tan/yellow it was compared to my grey crap..

A used drier sheet cut into 1x1-inch squares (and added with your brass after the Nu-Finish has worked in) attracts most of that gray crap into them and keeps your media looking new for a much longer period of time. After each tumbling session your cut-up sheet will be a dozen little squares that are almost black. Just toss them out, and cut up another when you do the next batch.
Charly
12-23-2008, 02:58 AM
I ve been using mine since the first days about 2 years ago and still good to go.
Brass is shinning in abt 2 hrs tumbling.
Not changing it yet.
Boge
12-23-2008, 03:50 AM
Mine lasts forever. I use ceramic media in a Lortone lapidary tumbler. ;)
Glock G20
12-23-2008, 06:05 AM
A used drier sheet cut into 1x1-inch squares (and added with your brass after the Nu-Finish has worked in) attracts most of that gray crap into them and keeps your media looking new for a much longer period of time. After each tumbling session your cut-up sheet will be a dozen little squares that are almost black. Just toss them out, and cut up another when you do the next batch.

I use them sheets too. I also cut up 1/4 of a new sheet which keeps the tumbler clean inside and eliminates any static electricity... Problem was some of the brass batches I had tossed in a while back should of had a bath first thus the media absorbed too much dirt. dryer sheets were nearly black but the media was too far gone. all is good now. :smilewinkgrin:
MONTEGOD7SS
12-23-2008, 09:16 AM
Mine lasts forever. I use ceramic media in a Lortone lapidary tumbler. ;)

What model Lortone do you use? I would love to have the QT12 single 12lb drum model, but $185 for a tumbler is a little steep. If you spread it out of the lifetime of reloading I suspect it would be easy to justify especially using ceramic media that will last virtually forever.
Boge
12-24-2008, 11:57 AM
Yep. I have the QT12. Bought it for $135 a few years back on the Internet and LOVE it!!! I use Dollar Store lemon juice, about 1/3 of a bottle, mixed w/ hot water (enough to make a slurry) for cleaning cases fired with blackpowder and man do they shine when done after a few hours. For smokeless cases I make a slurry using.............get this......Dollar Store generic Cherry Kool Aid!! The citric & ascorbic acid cleans great!! Wash & sort. PRESTO!! :yesnod:
MONTEGOD7SS
12-24-2008, 11:59 AM
What size and shape of cermaic media do you use? I have found it in cylinders, spheres, squares, stars, and other odds shapes in all sizes.
Boge
12-31-2008, 02:25 AM
What size and shape of cermaic media do you use? I have found it in cylinders, spheres, squares, stars, and other odds shapes in all sizes.


http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,107.html
MONTEGOD7SS
12-31-2008, 08:58 AM
What different calibers do you use that for? From their description it looks like it is too big for anything other than large (ie blackpowder) cartridges. I would like to get something that could replace cob and walnut and do any cartridge out there. Got any ideas?

Also, do you think a standard tumbler would work with these? I can't see why not as long as you get the same motion as cob and walnut, but want to make sure.
Boge
12-31-2008, 11:41 AM
What different calibers do you use that for? From their description it looks like it is too big for anything other than large (ie blackpowder) cartridges. I would like to get something that could replace cob and walnut and do any cartridge out there. Got any ideas?

Also, do you think a standard tumbler would work with these? I can't see why not as long as you get the same motion as cob and walnut, but want to make sure.


For smaller cases use the 3mm round balls, however the balls do NOT clean as well as they are round (obviously).

https://www.sageoutfitters.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=68003


Do NOT use a regular tumbler as the weight of the slurry is too great & may burn up the motor as well as possibly leak water into it.
yammerschooner
12-31-2008, 12:01 PM
It lasts longer than I have ever used it because I switch it out more often than I need to. Bulk media keeps me from needing to consider cost, so I can switch as the fancy takes me.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2MVR4

As always, use in conjunction with nu-finish car polish and used dryer sheets.
MONTEGOD7SS
12-31-2008, 04:18 PM
For smaller cases use the 3mm round balls, however the balls do NOT clean as well as they are round (obviously).

https://www.sageoutfitters.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=68003


Do NOT use a regular tumbler as the weight of the slurry is too great & may burn up the motor as well as possibly leak water into it.

I would come up with some homemade contraption based off a 5gal bucket. That way it would be designed to hold fluid, and if it ever did wear out I'd just be out another free bucket.