Dry tumbling with Walnut shells

[BT8850]

As I am gathering parts and compontents to start reloading, I've decided to try the wet tumbling/stainless steel pin method so I built a tumbler drum from 6 inch pvc and have a barrel turner to spin it. While waiting for the Pins to get here I got anxious and bought some walnut shells from the pet store to try the thing out running it with dry media.

The drum is 6inch od pvc x 24inch long with two trips attached to inside to agitate, cap on one end, 6inch to 4inch reducer on the other with a rubber temporary cap to seal it. I'm sure some of you have seen identical designs online. My barrel turner is heavy duty, the guy I bought it from said it was used to spin barrels full of spray on truck bed liner so it can spin some weight. Motor is a chain drive Dayton 1/4hp 4.6amp rolling 40rpm. I figured this should be adequate speed, maybe a tad slow.

My question is this; when you guys use the vibratory bowl type cleaners with walnut shells, what's the ratio of walnut shells to brass? Also how long do you run it? Any suggestions to improve with walnut? I used coffee jugs to try and measure a ratio, filled one up all the way with walnut, and another jug up 2/3 way up with cases. Gave me ~550 mixed 10mm,40sw,.357 and 25 or so rifle cases and when both were poured in tumbler barrel it filled it up about 1/3 of the way. I ran my set up for 3.5hrs and The handgun brass I put in it cleaned up pretty good so far but it has not done much for the rifle cases, Pic attached.

I know this is not the traditional method of using walnut shells but I figured tumblers will tumble and clean no matter whats in it so why not?

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[BT8850]

Pic of drum and turner set up.

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[gandog56]

Walnut cleans faster than corn cob, but corn cob puts on a higher luster shine.

But I use a wet rotary tumbler with stainless steel media to get them sparkling clean! I mean look at these, especially the primer cups.

[BT8850]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't really know how long it would take, figured it'd be a while with the dry media. Maybe I need more walnut in the mix to increase the efficiency? Faster turning?

Those cases look fantastic! You're right, the way they cleans the insides and primer pockets is top notch. I cannot wait for my pins. I'm just hoping 5lb will be enough considering the volume of my drum. What size drum do you use and what ratio water/pins/cases? Also, how fast does yours roll? Most I see are the 1gallon water (8lb) 5lbs pins 2lbs or so brass with a dash of the lemishine and dish soap, usually fills up most tumblers, run between 40-60rpm I believe.

[The_Shadow]

I use corn cob in a vibrating tumbler, I add about a tablespoon of charcoal lighter fluid to the media, prior to placing the brass, let it run a while to evenly distribute.  Then add the brass and a few (8 - 10) cut 1" squares of Blue Scott Shop towel.

The lighter fluid helps cut the crud, the pieces of towel gathers up the fine dust.  Media stays cleaner longer.

Some badly tarnished brass doesn't may not come totally clean no matter what!

[BEEMER!]

I use walnut first on badly tarnished brass.  I give them 1 to 3 hours and then put them in corncob to finish up.

I use a little of Midway's polish and add some small squares for Dryer Sheets.  It takes the static out of the corn cob and collects dirt.

[BT8850]

Shadow I remember you saying about the lighter fluid, I got a little excited and forgot to give it a try! I can see how it would probably put a hurtin on some tarnish. I'd like to see that .50 case get clean, I'm not sure where its from but It was given to me by my grandfather so its hard to tell, know it' s old. I also now see why you guys use the dryer sheets/shop towels, i never realized how much of a dusty mess the stuff can be! How long does Walnut media usually last anyhow? 

I like the idea of the polish BEEMER!, Think if I tossed in a tiny bit of some paste car wax or couple strands of Never dull it would have the same effect?

[The_Shadow]

I quit using the dryer sheets, one that wasn't used, got mixed in and really fouled things up, causing the media and debris to stick to some of the brass casings.

The polish is nice, but can clog the media a little bit.  Polish is great for those long term storage rounds!

[BEEMER!]

I put the polish on the dryer towels and "mush" it in with my fingers.  Then I add them one at a time and let them go for about 5 minutes until the corn cob gets to rolling good before putting in the brass.

I have not used anything else besides the Midway polish so I do not know.  Brasso has ammonia in it so don't use it.

[gandog56]

Shadow I remember you saying about the lighter fluid, I got a little excited and forgot to give it a try! I can see how it would probably put a hurtin on some tarnish.

Once again, wet rotary with stainless steel. Here's some before after pick of some badly tarnished stuff it did.

Before


After

[DenStinett]

I like your home brewed Tumbler there BT

I've been using Walnut to clean and Corn to polish for ever
Works well enough
I can go wet if I'd like
Here's my set-up:

[Geeman]

I use ultrasonic (cheapo Harbor Freight one) and the fluid is one cup white vinegar, four cups hot water, and a drizzle of dawn dishwashing soap.  It isn't as shiny as your results, but that's just fine by me.

Greg

[BT8850]

I put the polish on the dryer towels and "mush" it in with my fingers.  Then I add them one at a time and let them go for about 5 minutes until the corn cob gets to rolling good before putting in the brass.

I have not used anything else besides the Midway polish so I do not know.  Brasso has ammonia in it so don't use it.

Alright, thanks for the heads up, I'll have to give this a try, i'm a bit of a shine junky 

Once again, wet rotary with stainless steel. Here's some before after pick of some badly tarnished stuff it did.

Before


After

You have to stop i'm getting super antsy for my pins looking at these pics LOL once again those look fantastic! It's pretty impressive what the pins can do. What size tumbler/what rpm do you run?

I like your home brewed Tumbler there BT

I've been using Walnut to clean and Corn to polish for ever
Works well enough
I can go wet if I'd like
Here's my set-up:

Thanks! I bought the barrel turner off of a guy on craigslist for 100 bucks and have about 30 in the drum and 15 for the walnut, probably another 45 or so for pins. Its a little salty but for ~200 I have a set up that will hopefully wet tumble ~900-1000 10mm cases at a time. Do I need it? Not really but why not  Yours looks like a pretty sweet set up, a fellow home brewer! I like that it's a bench top unit. I'm thinking I'm going to modify mine to more easily store, it's taking up floor space and its also not level to the drum walks. What motor and RPM do you run with your walnut/corn cob?

I use ultrasonic (cheapo Harbor Freight one) and the fluid is one cup white vinegar, four cups hot water, and a drizzle of dawn dishwashing soap.  It isn't as shiny as your results, but that's just fine by me.

Greg

Hey man if it works it works!!

[BT8850]

Also, on a side note. I stopped after work yesterday and picked up a container to put my unused bag of media into. Got home all excited to be organized and cleaned up, rushed up stairs to get the tumbler rolling and put the fresh media away. Attached is a picture of what I found, as well as the culprit. Moral of the story, don't zip tie closed your 90% full bag of walnut shells and leave it in a room where your dog can push the door open! I was able to salvage most of it, the shopvac got the rest

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[DenStinett]

Yours looks like a pretty sweet set up, a fellow home brewer! I like that it's a bench top unit. I'm thinking I'm going to modify mine to more easily store, it's taking up floor space and its also not level to the drum walks. What motor and RPM do you run with your walnut/corn cob?

Thank you
Could tell you the motor, the whole thing is surplus parts
All I know is, it's a Pump Motor
I could count the RPMs but have never even thought about it
Yeah, If this one get a little off Bubble, the Cans walk too