Tumbling media

**Pork Chop** · 07-01-13, 09:52

Another thing, I already had one of those media separator thingys that looks like a litter box with crank handles.

It's awesome for separating pins from brass. Fill with clean water and crank for a few seconds, works great!

**Pork Chop** · 07-01-13, 09:56

Here's some Lake City '57 headstamp grungy surplus brass from my Garand. This was my first batch through the Thumlers.
Before:
Attachment 17203
After:
Attachment 17204

Nuff said.

**Ryno12** · 07-01-13, 10:12

Ok, pardon me for maybe a stupid question but does this over time shorten the life of the brass? Isn't it actually removing minute amounts of metal? Or is it trivial & there's nothing to worry about?

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**Pork Chop** · 07-01-13, 11:09

I'm not qualified to answer that, but any time you shine metal that's how you're doing it, so whether its corn cob & polish or pins & soap is the only question.

That being said, I was able to see peening marks or tiny scratches after tumbling with pins. Whether it shortens service life or not is out of my lane to try and answer.

**markm** · 07-01-13, 11:11

Does not shorten the life of brass.

**Ryno12** · 07-01-13, 11:27

Ok, cool. Thanks dudes. Was just kinda curious if it was slightly overkill & led to premature wear.

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**markm** · 07-01-13, 11:49

The only complaint I've read about is when guys chamfer their necks before tumbling (which makes no sense to me) The sharp edge on the case mouth was apparently getting rouged up.

I trim and all that AFTER cleaning the brass, so not an issue.

**Sticky** · 07-03-13, 20:27

It surely doesn't work the brass as much as shooting it... lol

I agree with chamfering... decap and tumble first, resize, measure and trim and chamfer if needed. I don't see enough damage to the case neck from tumbling to warrant having to deburr every case, only those that I'd trim and likely raise a burr on..

**tommyrott** · 07-15-13, 23:22

i've been trimming my brass before the final polish and have'nt notice the mouth being roughed up but you definately lose the crisp look of fresh trimmed. just did a batch for an upcoming match used the suggestion of a previous post of putting them on a cookie sheet and set in the oven at 150 for a 1/2 hour completely dry but i also live in high desert country so will be diffrent for those in moister areas