Can you use walnut shell or corn cob (dry) in a rotary tumbler?

[merlynski]

Anybody ever use walnut shell or corn cob media (dry) in a rotary tumbler?
My vibrator tumbler motor has become notoriously unreliable and I was wondering about getting another drum for my National Metallic wet pin tumbler instead of buying another unreliable vibrator.
I have lots of walnut shell, one dead, and one almost dead vibratory tumbler.

So, have you?, and how did it work for you?


P.S. Any body have a not being used / extra National Metallic drum?

 

[Ru4real]

Yes, you can.

I’ve tried all of the methods, vibratory, rotary, ultrasonic, wet methods, dry methods.

I have a bunch of reasons for my current method, but mostly because it’s fast, no messy clean up, no drying time.

For about the past 5 years, and currently, I use a rotary tumbler, dry, SS pins, a cup of red walnut shells infused with polish, brass and a 5 second shot of lemon Pledge. An hour later the brass is done. The SS pins knock off the crud, the Pledge leaves a film protectant to prevent tarnishing for years, the walnut shells polish the brass brightly and soaks up the crud.

The mix proportions are important for success. Too much shells cushion the SS pins and prevent them from doing their jobs, so to speak. About once a year the walnut is “used up” and needs to be replaced.

When the brass is done in an hour, it’s done. No oven or air drying. No mess. No red brass.

 

[merlynski]

I really like the wet pin tumble method, it works really well for dirty brass, but it does have a labor and time overhead.
Since I started (recently) acquiring/using/loading larger lots of 1xF 40S&W brass, and wet tumbling it, then bulge busting and sizing I have lots of case lube from the G-Rx die (non-carbide) on the cases. a short trip through the vibrator (with walnut) cleans up the lube, and a quick trip through the media separator finishes the job.
But the vibrator is dying, which is part of the reason I bought the rotary tumbler.
45ACP is sized with a carbide die, no lube cleanup needed, the wet pin tumble is good enough.
I just started loading both of those recently.
I am reluctant to buy another short lived vibrator.

 

[cfullgraf]

My first case cleaning tumbler was a Thumler's Rock tumbler, circa 1980. Fill with cases and dry tumbling media and let it run.

If I remember, the rotary works better at about a 75% fill level or so.

 

[FROGO207]

When I purchased my used Thumlers a long time ago at a LGS it came with a drum 1/2 full of rice and prepped 223 brass. I have since used SS media and do a wet clean but the brass will get clean with rice or other dry media. It does take longer with anything other than the SS pins though.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The short answer is, Yes, you can use that media in a rotary tumbler.

 

[mdi]

I have been using dry media in a rotary tumbler for a few decades. After a lot of experimenting I settled on corn cob blast media, 14-20. Occasionally I'll put a dollop of auto wax in it which helps retarding tarnish. I have tried a rotary, a wobbler, wet and dry, but settled on blast media (blast media is better quality controlled, size and hardness and is designed for cleaning metal. Pet litter is for holding/collecting pee). I use amn el cheepo HF dual drum tumbler with custom drums the most...