Little bit of dust left in cases after tumbling.....

[pre6422hornet]

Okay so I have been reloading for over 15 years now and I really never thought of this. I use corn cob media with the red polishing compound and it is getting on the end of its life cycle I suppose. When I empty the cases of media I do it one at a time by hand letting the case vibrate on the side of the tumbler until it all comes out. Then I tap each case on the bench to ensure all is out.

Well I started cleaning a batch of .308 cases and when I tried to empty them, I noticed a bunch had powdered media caked on the inside of the case that would not come out.. I wonder how long this has been happening? Then I started to wonder the effects of burning, firing this media in my reloads and what that does to the barrel, accuracy, and case life...

These cases were not wet when I put them in the tumbler either.

Anyone have a clue? Maybe I am just overthinking this.

What do you guys do to your cases after tumbing to ensure that all the media is out?

I think I am just gonna change my media out for a non polished type. The red stuff really produces alot of powder where the non polished doesn't...

Pat

 

[Guest]

Pat, I've used the red rouge loaded media for serious cleaning of very dirty brass, but for my use, since my brass don't ever get very dirty, I've just stuck with corn cob and the citrus liquid polish you can buy from any shooting house. I've been using Midway's, but recently ran out, so whomever the next order goes to, I'll use their citrus polish in my corncob. It's likely time for some new corncob, too. I've been told to check with my local feed & seed to see what they can get in terms of corn cob for a potentially better price than the stuff ordered online. We'll see. Anyway, to answer your question, I used it, and still use it for the dirtiest cases, but in reality I like the high polished look I get with corn cob and citrus polish better.

Oh, and don't try to clean those cases with liquid cleaner like Iosso until you get all the red dust off. You will end up with pink swirled cases, and I suspect that won't be to your liking...

 

[hubcap]

In my area the feed store is it. They have big ole bags of either corn cob or walnut. Last time I bought walnut I filled my Dillon 500 full and still had a 5 gal. bucket full as well. I believe I paid 21.00 bucks. I remember the price was a lot less than the local sport shops. I looked at the pet shops around my area which do carry both but the bags were too small and the price not as good.

 

[bullet]

I use corn cob media but have found Cabela's Metallic Cartridge Polish which contains no ammonia to work extremely well. I am very please with this produced and dust from the corn cob media is controlled with out any build up on or in my brass. Also, the polish keeps my brass from getting corrosion spots.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Okay so I have been reloading for over 15 years now and I really never thought of this. I use corn cob media with the red polishing compound and it is getting on the end of its life cycle I suppose. When I empty the cases of media I do it one at a time by hand letting the case vibrate on the side of the tumbler until it all comes out. Then I tap each case on the bench to ensure all is out.

Well I started cleaning a batch of .308 cases and when I tried to empty them, I noticed a bunch had powdered media caked on the inside of the case that would not come out.. I wonder how long this has been happening? Then I started to wonder the effects of burning, firing this media in my reloads and what that does to the barrel, accuracy, and case life...

These cases were not wet when I put them in the tumbler either.

Anyone have a clue? Maybe I am just overthinking this.

What do you guys do to your cases after tumbing to ensure that all the media is out?

I think I am just gonna change my media out for a non polished type. The red stuff really produces alot of powder where the non polished doesn't...

Pat

Pat, I would weigh some new (once fired) cases and and some caked cases to find out how much media you have caked inside? I think than that you can make a decision as to how much of a problem that you have. I would have to believe that if it is a significant amount of caked media (>1.0 grains) that it could effect accuracy somewhat.
Charlie

 

[hubcap]

I would not use the red stuff at all. A case/media seperator is well worth the money. Either Flitz or dillion case polish will not cause media to stick inside the case.

 

[SJB358]

I have been throwing a dryer sheet into the mix when the dust starts to get a little worse. It seems to suck up a good amount of it.

 

[338winmag]

I am going to try that dryer sheet trick. I am not sure if I have ever seen any serious dust but then, maybe I was not looking for it?

Thanks Scotty

 

[bullet]

The type of polish one uses in he tumbler will control the dust and also the corn cob media last longer.

 

[rick smith]

pre6422hornet, there had to be some liquid in your media or in the case for the corn cob to clump inside the cases. The trearted media is dry and does not clump without moisture. Also do not add additional polish in the media with cases at the same time. Put the additive into the media and let it run until all the additive is well consumed by the media or that will clump in the cases.Rick.

 

[pre6422hornet]

pre6422hornet, there had to be some liquid in your media or in the case for the corn cob to clump inside the cases. The trearted media is dry and does not clump without moisture. Also do not add additional polish in the media with cases at the same time. Put the additive into the media and let it run until all the additive is well consumed by the media or that will clump in the cases.Rick.

Rick I don't think there was any moisture at all as these cases were fired back in 2008 and put in sealed coffee containers since then. I did let them sit in the media for a week after I shut off the vibrator, that could have let them cake up as it did get a little hot and humid that week.

Charlie, that is exactly what I was planning on doing as I have some fired cases from last month sitting waiting to be deprimed and resized.

Scotty, that is a good idea with the dryer sheet. I will have to try that next time.

Dubyam, I do use Iosso, but only for my pistol cases... The pink just wouldn't look good on a 45acp case...... or would it???? :grin:

 

[RiverRider]

I use two tumblers, walnut with rouge in the first for cleaning, and very fine corncob w/brass polish in the second one for polishing. If there's any red stuff on the cases when they come out of the first tumbler, the corncob in the second tumbler takes care of it.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have always avoided cleaning fired cases, except to wipe them down and clean primer pockets. My fired cases do not touch the ground anyway and I am just funny about cleaning (tumbling) cases with media. Just one of my quirks, I guess?