Brass not clean after tumbling help

[MT257]

I tossed some brass into the tumbler and I now have a black or brown markings on some of the cases. Does anyone know what might cause this? Worn out media? I read a little about soaking them in lemishine, but what line of lemishine would I need to use. I have attached a pic of the brass with the coloration. The coloration wasn’t there before tumbling.

 

[shmtastic]

What information can you provide about your process? Are you using walnut/corn cob media? If so is it treated? How old is it? What is your tumbler? If stainless, what are you using for a solution? For either of them, what is your time spent tumbling?

SHM

 

[MT257]

Im using RCBS walnut media it has the polishing additive that came with it. Tumbler is one I bought years ago from midway. Media is 3-4 years old. This batch I have probably 8 hours so far. Im guessing the media is worn and dirty.

 

[Laelkhunter]

You have to refresh the polish in the media. It is not permanent. I also buy the pre-treated media, but put about a tablespoon of the liquid polish in the media, let the tumbler run for about 15 minutes, then add the brass. DO NOT USE BRASSO OR ANYTHING WITH AMMONIA !!

 

[Laelkhunter]

Also, I save the old media to tumble the really dirty brass, or brass that I just resized to help remove the sizing lube. I use the newer, cleaner media for final polish. It will last longer than if you tumble the dirty brass in the clean media.

 

[Cahunter805]

Definitely dirty media. I’d buy some new media and the additive also. I like the one from Flitz. Works awesome.

Tumbler Media Additive

Cut tumbling time in half! Remove oxidation, powder residue, fingerprints and other contaminants leaving brass, nickel and other cases bright and shiny.

www.flitz.com

 

[Laelkhunter]

Definitely dirty media. I’d buy some new media and the additive also. I like the one from Flitz. Works awesome.

Tumbler Media Additive

Cut tumbling time in half! Remove oxidation, powder residue, fingerprints and other contaminants leaving brass, nickel and other cases bright and shiny.

www.flitz.com

I use that also.

 

[5 shot group]

I buy my media from harbor freight. I just grab a 50# box of the Walnut sandblasting stuff and use that. It's cheap enough that I have no problem replacing it fairly regularly.

For polish, I use a 32oz bottle of the Frankford Arsenal case polish. Again, it's cheap so I don't mind using as needed.

 

[mtswampfox]

have had cases come out with that on them Had to use rag with solvent to get it off Cleaned the media bowl and started over with fresh media Always blamed case lube but who knows,,,it happens

 

[mtswampfox]

Definitely dirty media. I’d buy some new media and the additive also. I like the one from Flitz. Works awesome.

Tumbler Media Additive

Cut tumbling time in half! Remove oxidation, powder residue, fingerprints and other contaminants leaving brass, nickel and other cases bright and shiny.

www.flitz.com

never heard of this ,,must try if it works as good as the tube stuff,,,,,

 

[deerkiller]

media is not expensive …. walnut shell has walnut oil, I use corncob and have never had any problems whatsoever

 

[HawkCreek]

I agree with everyone else, you need to replace your media.
That being said the biggest improvement to my tumbling has been to make sure there is plenty of brass in the tumbler. I like to make sure it's half or slightly over that full of brass. First put in the media, then I add a cap full of NuFinish car polish, tumble it for a few minutes to let that mix into the media. Then add the brass and within 4 hours I've got nice looking brass. Sometimes I forget it it stays in the tumbler longer and I get better than new looking brass.

 

[MT257]

I changed media out and issue was resolved.

 

[gregory r]

I buy the fine walnut lizard bedding from the pet store, and put a little NuFinish in it. works great.

 

[Marble]

Sometimes my dad will turn the tumbler off and my brass sits in there for a few days. It gets those funky marks on them.

But I also keep my old media and preclean really dirty brass and then put the brass in clean media.

 

[JGRaider]

I buy the fine walnut lizard bedding from the pet store, and put a little NuFinish in it. works great.

I do this as well. It does a very good job, as mentiioned.

 

[Chainsaww]

You mean my 10 year old media isn’t good anymore?
Time to replace mine finally.