Can you over tumble

Ghuqu2 · May 9th, 2008, 01:25 PM

I have just purchased a vibratory cleaner and wonder can you over clean? If I put cases in for a few hours they look OK, but overnight they sparkle. Am I damaging anything or weakening the cases?

Thanks

HotGuns · May 9th, 2008, 01:46 PM

Nope.

The only way'll you'll damage the brass is by using ammonia based cleaners, which weaken the brass...or if you let it run for say...two years, eventually your brass will disappear.

pgrass101 · May 9th, 2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotGuns

Nope.

The only way'll you'll damage the brass is by using ammonia based cleaners, which weaken the brass...or if you let it run for say...two years, eventually your brass will disappear.

I don't even know if two years will do it.

As HotGuns says, tumble away

cvhoss · May 9th, 2008, 01:57 PM

I believe you can. My reloading setup used to be in my basement. Once, I had put a bunch of nickel plated 45 Colt cases into a tumbler with walnut media and proceeded to forget it was running for two days. When I removed the cases, they looked like CCI Blazer aluminum cases. Completely dull. It was obvious that the tumbling had damaged the nickel plating. I doubt that corn cob media (softer than walnut) would do the same thing, but it seams reasonable to assume that excessive tumbling could slightly damage a case. Whether this could actually lead to a failure, I don't know. The damaged nickel plated cases showed no difference in usable life compared to undamaged cases so it could be that the damage was purely cosmetic. Ultimately, I see no reason to tumble cases to the point of polishing to jewelry quality. I'm only interested in removing any dirt, crud or powder fouling which may be detrimental to the functioning of the firearm. Any excessive tumbling after that only reduces the life of your media.

Hoss

Sharp · May 9th, 2008, 02:16 PM

I haven't seen it first hand, but I have read on another forum about someone over tumbling. IIRC he left it on for a really long time.

gg12 · May 9th, 2008, 03:09 PM

Hoss wrote:

Quote:

Ultimately, I see no reason to tumble cases to the point of polishing to jewelry quality. I'm only interested in removing any dirt, crud or powder fouling which may be detrimental to the functioning of the firearm. Any excessive tumbling after that only reduces the life of your media.

And just how long does this take on average in corn cob media with brass that is not filthy to the naked eye?

cvhoss · May 9th, 2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gg12

Hoss wrote:

And just how long does this take on average in corn cob media with brass that is not filthy to the naked eye?

Unfortunately, there's no easy answer to that. Condition of your media, number of cases in the tumbler, make of tumbler, initial condition of the brass, etc. all come into play. I've rarely found it necessary to tumble more than 3-4 hours but it really boils down to "tumble until clean". If that's 30 minutes or 10 hours depends on your particular situation.

Hoss

Redneck Repairs · May 9th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Can you over tumble YES its an abrasive process . Is it likely you will ? NO it is not likely you will tumble long enough to thin brass to an unsafe demention . Ill say that expecially with a vegetable medium such as corn cob or nut hulls ( wallnut is common , i save pecan . ) . Like water can wear the grand canyon soft media such as nutt hulls can wear brass . So on summation if you figure 12 hrs to vibro clean brass , and you dont check it untill the next day dont worry about it . If you leave it vibrate for a month , well then mic it and sell most of it for scrap brass lol ( dont forget to burn down and sell your media too as the missing brass went somewhere ) .

LastManOut · May 9th, 2008, 07:58 PM

I usually plug my tumbler into a plug-in-the-wall timer, like used for lights. Set it for 8 hours, overnight. Works for me.

ronbo · May 18th, 2008, 10:36 AM

I like corncob media for tumbling, I squirt some liquid pre wax cleaner turtle wax or meguires brand on some small cotton old t-shirt material, does not clump the media.

Picture is of the rotary tumbler I made from plans in the American Rifleman magazine in the mid 70's. Was made from plywood, two junked clothes dryer pulleys and a scrapped furnace blower motor, cleans brass in a hurry.

May 9th, 2008, 01:25 PM	#1
Ghuqu2 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 188	Can you over tumble I have just purchased a vibratory cleaner and wonder can you over clean? If I put cases in for a few hours they look OK, but overnight they sparkle. Am I damaging anything or weakening the cases? Thanks __________________ "The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us." Patrick Henry 1775 Vegetarian: Indian for inept hunter.

May 9th, 2008, 01:46 PM	#2
HotGuns VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,973	Nope. The only way'll you'll damage the brass is by using ammonia based cleaners, which weaken the brass...or if you let it run for say...two years, eventually your brass will disappear. __________________ ARKANSAS CHL Instructor "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."also known as, "The Golden Rule". Live by it and practice it...and do your small part to make the world a better place to live ...

May 9th, 2008, 01:57 PM	#4
cvhoss Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 500	I believe you can. My reloading setup used to be in my basement. Once, I had put a bunch of nickel plated 45 Colt cases into a tumbler with walnut media and proceeded to forget it was running for two days. When I removed the cases, they looked like CCI Blazer aluminum cases. Completely dull. It was obvious that the tumbling had damaged the nickel plating. I doubt that corn cob media (softer than walnut) would do the same thing, but it seams reasonable to assume that excessive tumbling could slightly damage a case. Whether this could actually lead to a failure, I don't know. The damaged nickel plated cases showed no difference in usable life compared to undamaged cases so it could be that the damage was purely cosmetic. Ultimately, I see no reason to tumble cases to the point of polishing to jewelry quality. I'm only interested in removing any dirt, crud or powder fouling which may be detrimental to the functioning of the firearm. Any excessive tumbling after that only reduces the life of your media. Hoss __________________ I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I always was Kahr PM-9 / Sig P-245 / Para NiteHawg / Walther PPK / Beretta Tomcat / Ruger LCP BDA 380 / Taurus 85 / Kel-Tec PF-9 / Am. Derringer 357 / Sig Sauer 239 SAS / Walther PPS .40 NRA Life Member My Web Site

May 9th, 2008, 04:08 PM	#8
Redneck Repairs VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 4,912	Can you over tumble YES its an abrasive process . Is it likely you will ? NO it is not likely you will tumble long enough to thin brass to an unsafe demention . Ill say that expecially with a vegetable medium such as corn cob or nut hulls ( wallnut is common , i save pecan . ) . Like water can wear the grand canyon soft media such as nutt hulls can wear brass . So on summation if you figure 12 hrs to vibro clean brass , and you dont check it untill the next day dont worry about it . If you leave it vibrate for a month , well then mic it and sell most of it for scrap brass lol ( dont forget to burn down and sell your media too as the missing brass went somewhere ) . __________________ Make sure you get full value out of today , Do something worthwhile, because what you do today will cost you one day off the rest of your life . We only begin to understand folks after we stop and think . Criminals are looking for victims, not opponents.

May 18th, 2008, 10:36 AM	#10
ronbo Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: MN Posts: 30	tumbler I like corncob media for tumbling, I squirt some liquid pre wax cleaner turtle wax or meguires brand on some small cotton old t-shirt material, does not clump the media. Picture is of the rotary tumbler I made from plans in the American Rifleman magazine in the mid 70's. Was made from plywood, two junked clothes dryer pulleys and a scrapped furnace blower motor, cleans brass in a hurry.

May 9th, 2008, 02:16 PM	#5
Sharp Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: FL Posts: 66	I haven't seen it first hand, but I have read on another forum about someone over tumbling. IIRC he left it on for a really long time.

May 9th, 2008, 07:58 PM	#9
LastManOut Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 396	I usually plug my tumbler into a plug-in-the-wall timer, like used for lights. Set it for 8 hours, overnight. Works for me.

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