I put a load of brass (.308 win) into my Lyman 1200 vibratory polisher at about 8:30 last night and for got about it until I was leaving for work at 7:30 this morning. Man, that brass is REALLY shiny. Did I do any damage to it?

What "media???"

Assuming you are using the usual corn cob or walnut hull, probably not. Grab a mike and take some measurements. If you were using a heavy/course grit rock polishing compound and actually removed measureable brass, then I would not be concerned, but if you cannot measure the change, wear sun glasses until the shine dulls. happy holidays (all)...

no problem - i've had really dirty brass that i tumbler for a day and a half to clean it

I've left dirty brass in a tumbler w/ corncob/walnut media for 8-10 hours. I doubt you could hurt the brass if you left it for 8-10 days.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
I've left dirty brass in a tumbler w/ corncob/walnut media for 8-10 hours. I doubt you could hurt the brass if you left it for 8-10 days.

I'm with Fred!
- mike

Only thing hurt will be your electric bill.

I think the media was the standard crushed corn cob media. Kinda green in color. It came with the tumbler. I guess it it treated with something to make it green.

I have not noted any damage to any brass being tumbled into the next day-I take my tumbler over to the power plant and plug er in.

quote:

Originally posted by cwilson:
I think the media was the standard crushed corn cob media. Kinda green in color. It came with the tumbler. I guess it it treated with something to make it green.

If you can't see daylight through the brass anywhere you will be fine

for almost 20 years, I've tumbled brass no less than all night. 10 hours on average. if it does damage, I sure as heck haven't noticed it.

I usually will tumble brass all night in corncob media. Gets real clean - Have no problem with reloads.

The short answer is no. You can tumble the stuff virtually forever, and unless you are using ammonia in the tumbler, or some sort or abrasive that thins the case walls, or tumbling at temperatures that changes the grain structure of the brass, (like 428 F), you will not hurt your brass.

Unless you are deforming the brass, you are not workhardening brass. Shooting and sizing brass workhardens the metal and that in time will cause case failure.

I tumbled some for three days once, by mistake, I forgot about it, Lyman Tumbler and media. No harm. Was super shiny but no problem in use.

I've been reloading for over 30 years. My normal procedure is to tumble AT LEAST over night. Some real dirty cases a couple nights.

I tumbled down a hill once (Hic)

Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate it. I will be loading the extra shiny brass as usual. Thanks

No not unless you are using a very odd media... I have tumbled over night and never had a problem.

I always tumble mine at least a half a day. I have forgotten about it before and left it tumbling for almost two weeks, it came out real pretty. I use corn cob media.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
no problem - i've had really dirty brass that i tumbler for a day and a half to clean it

roger and maybe more

I forgot and left some in the media for a month or so and when I took it out it was covered with little spots, looked like it had chicken pox. I guess it was the chemical in the additive/polish that I added to the media. Frankford Arsenal I think it was. It also took a while to get it out of the inside. Once I did I ended up soaking it in hot soapy water for a while and it all came out okay.

I had some old 357 in a tumbler so long the onlt thing left was the primer pockets.

I normally polish overnight.

I have done many of the same things. About four years ago I bought a mechanical timer that I wired into a recepticle where I plug in the tumbler. Now I simply set the mechanical timer to anywhere from 2 to 12 hours and it turns off automatically. I don't have to trust my tired old brain. It also saves electricity when I happen to forget that it is running.

I'm sure that you did no damage.

I left some 30-06 cases in the tumbler so long one time I had to use them for 7-08 brass.

Wont hurt it