I collect my brass and my father in law reloads it for me. . .

 

I'd like to at least clean it for him first.

 

So, I purchased a RCBS vibratory tumbler, as well as corn cob media & a hand sifter thing with the crank arm. Here are my questions...

 

1. Just dump it in and let it go?

2. How long does it have to run for, or just until its clean?

3. Will the corn cob media polish the brass as well or do I need an additional additive?

4. Leave the primers in while tumbling right? They get removed after cleaning? I don't have a press so I can't remove them anyway.

do not put in more than reccomended

2 hrs

add polish and dryer sheets cut up in 2 in sq

leave in primers

wow dryer sheets? Cool...will do....I'll order up the polish...2 hours it is. Thanks Tim.

Do any stores carry the polish locally?

yeah, and dont run it in a nice bedroom, it gets dusty.

Why primers in. I always take them out so the pockets get cleaned.

Why primers in. I always take them out so the pockets get cleaned.

 

the cleaning media gets stuck in the pockets.

Right, that is what I was told also.

be sure the polish you get is ammonia free, ammonia will break down the brass quickly and cause the case to crack.

Chad, a little Nu-Finish works well for polish.

Chad, a little Nu-Finish works well for polish.

Yes, nu finish is good stuff and the dryer sheets(Used) cuts down on the dust.

I would think you could just use a polish from the car wash.

I like the dryer sheets too and when the weather is good, I put my vibrator outside the garage so the wind blows the dust away.

bry@n, everyone knows there is no wax in the car wash, they just put in those colored lamps to make you think something is happening and charge you for the "extras", hahahahaha

 

(Sorry Chad, could not resist! It drives Tamaric crazy when I say that! :banana-dance: )

I dunno.....seems all you guys like vibrators. Who has the pink vibrator?

I dunno.....seems all you guys like vibrators. Who has the pink vibrator?

matt

lmao John I'll bet they go nuts when you say that!!!! People say that all the time and its so frustrating....when they are not joking like you of course lol.

 

My reply is yes, the blue, yellow and pink foam smothering your car from top to bottom is fake, its not really there. :roll:

 

 

Thanks for the tips gentlemen, I will pick up some nu-finish today. How much should I add? Add it right to the media?

 

Great idea with the dryer sheets.

Matt!

Yes, he knows I am just kidding, I have been "behind the lines" and saw how they work. Just a little Nu-Finish , maybe a little less than 1/4 cap, and it is best to add it to the media first, let it shake a minute and then add the brass.

Ok, very good info John, thanks!

 

 

PS....hahaha!!!

 

So, I got my stuff in the mail today, and I'm cleaning brass as we speak.

 

Its pretty cool. How do you get dust with the lid on? I didn't have any dryer sheets and I wanted to give it a shot for a few minutes. I just screwed the lid on and there is no dust at all...? Maybe I'm doing something wrong? How much media should be in the bowl? I have it about 3/4 of the way full. It has been running for about an hour now, brass looks much cleaner. I did not pick up the nu-finish either, I didn't have a chance to pick it up today.

 

The outside of the shell is nice and clean, but the inside still has some black crud all the way at the bottom near the primer, will that eventually come out?

wait till you sift it. =)

lol...oh okay.

 

I got one of those covered hand crank tumbler things to sift...looks like there is a decent seal on it, we shall see.

i think i need one of those....

 

or get an ion cleaner.... water soooo much less messier than crushed media.

My first batch is sifted and clean. Dull, but clean. I polished it with a towel just to see and it was shiny. I guess the polish really makes a difference. I had no dust at all while sifting. I went slow, all came right out. With the exception of some residue inside the bowl, there was no mess at all.

 

Because I'm reusing the media, do I need to add the polish to every batch, or just add it to the media once?

Not at every batch, maybe every three or four batches? And when you (or your father-in-law) knock out the primers and re-size it, it will be much shinier too.

cool....sounds good John. Thanks again!

I think chad is on his way to building brass cleaning stations..

Hmmmmmm I think you are on to something Tony! lol

you could also be the official brass picker upper guy.