Am I doing something wrong? (tumbling)

[Lee Q. Loader]

I use a vibratory bowl tumbler, Berry's name on it. I keep getting this heavy black ring in the bowl on the outside edge. It's kind of hard to clean off and seems to inhibit good tumbling after it develops.

I use Hornady corn cob media and a little bit of Berry's polish. (I realize there are better and cheaper options for media and polish so I would appreciate suggestions on that too.)

 

[Steve in PA]

It's normal. I have two Lyman tumblers and use crushed walnut (lizard litter) with some Iosso case polish added to cut down on dust. Doesn't hinder the cleaning of my brass.

 

[CKweigand]

Yes something is wrong, very wrong. It’s dry and not wet! just kidding, totally normal try putting a dryer sheet in with the media might help collect the grime.

 

[edwardware]

Both my tumblers have the same ring. I believe it to be composed of a mixture of dryer sheet and powder fouling. I've never really tried to remove it. . .

. . . and seems to inhibit good tumbling after it develops.

I would be interested to know what exactly you've observed. I haven't noticed the ring having any effect whatsoever.

 

[Gary Wells]

Nu-Finish auto polish is much better and less pricey that those sold by the ammo reloaders components.
The cleaning process is helped considerably by placing as many cases as possible as the more cases that are in there the more heat is developed. Same theory as washing dishes in hot water. I generally clean about 600 cases at a time in the small Dillon bowl.

 

[berettaprofessor]

It’s a ring of dust, debris and lubricant/polish. It will clean off with mineral spirits when it gets too ugly to stand any longer.

 

[Gary Wells]

The small Dillon bowl is removable and I remove it and wash it in the sink with liquid Palmolive & hot water. Dry good & reinstall. Adding dryer sheets might cut down on the dust portion of the ring.

 

[Eddietruett]

I use corn cob media with a couple of capfuls of Turtle Wax chrome polish. Sometimes with a half a dryer sheet and sometimes not and I've never developed the type ring you guys are speaking of.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I have the stupid question...Is the brass coming out clean and shinny? If it is, don't worry about it. Just wipe it out when you get around to cleaning out the bowl.

 

[RandyP]

My 'recipe' has been 50/50 corncob and lizard litter (crushed walnut shell), a couple cut up used dryer sheets and every third load maybe a teaspoon or two of NuFinish.

I keep my tumbler attached to a cheapo Harbor Freight light timer - set it and forget it. I discard the dryer sheets and replace with fresh used ones every load.

 

[Walkalong]

Too much polish.