I have recentaly purchased a Lynman Turbo Tumbler and I was wondering if anyone could give me some info about it. I have just used it with the media provided but there were a few things I didn't like. Firstly the cases all came out with dull coating on them. This did wipe off but I was wondering if this was normal. The media was also hard to get out of primer pocket. Any info at all would be a help. Thanks

There are two basic media, corn cob and walnut hull. The walnut hull does a good job of cleaning dirty cases and the finish is duller than with corn cob media. The corn cob media cleans and polishes. There are various additives that you can add to the media. I use mostly corn cob and have found it cleans and polishes the brass to a nearly new look. In reallity this is a personal thing and brass does not to look like new. Instead the primary reason to tumble brass is to clean the residue off.

The film on the brass you are talking about is more than likely because of the treated media that came with the tumbler. This can be easily wiped off with a rag. I don't use the treated media as I do not want anything on the inner walls of the brass. The primer pockets always have some media in them when you are through polishing and I use a sizing die with decaping pin extended to clear them. The die is easy to hold on to. I use it on every piece of brass to insure the pockets are clear.

In Art Alpins, Any Shot You Want, he recommends that you tumble with hot water and dish washing detergant for 30 minutes. Then tumble for a few second with with water to rinse. Now tumble in white vinegar solution for a few seconds. Then repeat to tumbling with water. As he says it doesn't leave shinny brass but you get rid of the residue.

Steve

------------------
Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

[This message has been edited by Santala (edited 07-16-2001).]

I use the walnut shell stuff. Usually I like to have 2 batches of the stuff. In the first batch a couple tablespoons of liquid Turtle wax cleans/polishes the cases as soon as I get home.... then size the cases and put in the second batch for and hour or so. Works for me.

I use walnut shell only. I add some Dillon or Lyman polish and let it run for ~2 hours. I buy walnut shell at pet supply stores for a lot less money than most reloading stores.

Thanks for your help fellas. I'll give your ideas a go.

Use clean untreated media to get the residue off. Just tumble the batch for a few minuets in the second batch of media.
You have to poke the bits out of the flash holes. Sorry.
I like to treat my media with jewler's rouge. Just buy a stick and dissolve some in acetone or similar. Drizzle it slowly into the tumbler and let it mix before you put the brass in. Never use anything that contains ammonia. Brasso does. Ammonia will weaken the brass.