Has anyone tried ceramic tumbling media?

[LiveLife]

Thinking about trying it. Are they any good and what problems/issues have you experienced?

Websites promise better cleaning than traditional media (walnut/corn) and even inside the cases.

http://bulletheads.com/ceramic_polishing_media

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...=froogle&cm_pla=1230101&cm_ite=0024108215403a

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,5179.html


Update: Should have done it before starting this thread :banghead:

I did a forum search for ceramic tumbling media and found many previous threads on the topic: http://www.thehighroad.org/search.php?searchid=6972150

- It is a WET tumbling process that requires drying - no problem here in sunny California
- Good for removing tarnish/stain that walnut/corn media can't remove
- Cleans inside the cases better than walnut/corn (not that matters to me as long as it won't affect performance)
- Ceramic media is durable and don't require replacement like walnut/corn (although I heard some people cleaning walnut in water and reusing them after drying)

I normally clean my brass using walnut before sizing/depriming and polish with corn (if the shine is required) and hand prime cases. Maybe I can use ceramic to clean cases that don't come clean with walnut.

 

[Samgotit]

I tried Raytech Microbrite™ Porcelain Balls. They didn't work very well. It was a mess to use. I'm a saner man now that I've switched back to corn cob.

.

 

[bullseye308]

I get mine looking like new with walnut. You have to ask yourself just how clean do you need them? If mine were any brighter I'd have to load with sunglasses.

 

[Dave P]

Porcelain Balls, eh??

Bubba sez you can use BB's, as a cheap alternative to steel bearings. Just in case you want to complicate your life.

 

[Dannix]

If you are going to go wet, stainless is the way to go.

Here's some links. Not a member there, but hopefully it will help you.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1118564
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1521604

 

[Jim Watson]

I use Dave Maurer's ceramic media to wet tumble black powder brass. It does a great job but is a good deal of extra work. So I stay with nuthull for smokeless cases.

 

[Otto]

Maybe I can use ceramic to clean cases that don't come clean with walnut.

Not unless you possess a rotary tumbler, vibratory tumblers won't work with wet cleaning.

 

[LiveLife]

Thanks for the responses!

For my reloads I shoot regularly, cleaning with walnut media is good enough for me - brass just needs to be clean, not shiny.

For long-term storage of extra brass in 5 gallon buckets, I use brass cleaner/polish from MidwayUSA with corn media - seems to keep them from getting corroded/tarnished - I used to vacuum pack them with rice for long-term storage before, but 5 gallon buckets with lids take less room.

While cleaning out the garage recently, I found some old unsorted/unprocessed brass at the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket tarnished that would not come clean with walnut.

So that's why I was looking at the ceramic media.

Someone suggested in one of the older threads to try Nu-Finish. Anyone tried Nu-Finish to get old tarnish off?

 

[ChuckB]

A friend uses ceramic, and has polished some of my brass for me. First, they aren't any better looking than those that I ran through walnut. Second, you must be certain that there aren't any pieces left in a case.
One bit of ceramic + brass case = broken decapping pin. Not a pleasant feeling or sound!

Chuck

 

[LiveLife]

Thanks ChuckB,

BTW, did he use the wet method using water and ceramic media or use them dry?

Also, I understand that cases must be completely dry before reloading when using wet ceramic media.

I think I will try walnut media and NuFinish car polish before moving on to other media.

 

[bullseye308]

There is a recipe floating around that a lot of us have used. It has been around for a long time and worked well, but now there is some concern about one of the components. I do not at this moment recall which.
1C. water
1C. white vinegar
1Tbsp salt
1Tbsp laundry soap
Ssoak brass and agitate every 2-3 min for about 30 min then rinse in clean water and let dry. Tumble in walnut with 1 capful of Nu-Finish for about 2 hours. Wear shades and appreciate the shine.

I do that with all my range pickups or any that are tarnished and have had no problems as of yet. I only shoot 14k-15k rounds a year, mostly 9mm, and I only use 1500 pieces of brass. Most of my brass has been loaded around 14 times so far and the only cases I have lost are cases I have lost at the range.

 

[LiveLife]

So is it the liquid solution that chemically removes the tarnish? How about the Nu-Finish? Does it help with removing the tarnish or is it being used as polish only?

TIA

 

[pogo123]

3mm ceramic beads? At work we use 3mm alumina (ceramic) beads as air dryer dessicant. We dispose of three 55 gallon barrels every 3 months. I'll have to give the method a try. Nothing beats free polishing media.

 

[rondog]

I tried the 3mm beads (spheres, they're called), and it sucked. Big waste of time and money, lots of extra work. Best results I've ever had are with 20/40 corncob from Graingers, with a little NuFinish car polish in it.

 

[Idaho_Elk_Huntr]

Im using the new stainless steel stuff. Best I have ever used.

 

[Roccobro]

Idaho- how much longer is your cleaning routine compared to dry walnut/corn cob? Not the time it takes for the brass to clean, but the free time you spend getting them ready before and after so they can be reloaded?

Justin

 

[1SOW]

Bullseye308: It works very well for my pistol brass too.

Some are saying too much or too long in the white vinegar can remove copper.

I've never had anything but good results from that combo. I deprime next then tumble in corncob. The corncob doesn't get near as much crud and lasts longer.

I read the formula came from an old NRA publication about reloading .45acp.

 

[bullseye308]

1SOW, that is what I have head as well. If you do leave it in too long you will see some start turning pink. I think that is a bad sign if they stay in any longer. Any that start to turn pink are immediately removed and flushed with clean water. They all tumble clean and I have had no problems with any brass failing. I have had cases that were half black/dark brown found at the range that cleaned up and looked new with this method. After that the walnut & Nu-inish took care of the rest.

I load nothing hot. Maybe if someone was loading top end loads it might have an effect, maybe not. I don't know.

 

[LiveLife]

bullseye308, thanks for the recipe - looks like that will do the trick for my tarnished brass.

 

[bullseye308]

It works, just no more than about 30 min at a time. You could maybe cut the vinegar in haly and go a little longer if need be. Just don't forget to agitate them every few min, it helps clean them.

 

[LiveLife]

Thanks bullseye308, I will use a timer to help me keep track.