Malarky112 Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Just curious if it’s possible to tumble brass so long it makes it unsafe or unusable? I’m mainly talking dry tumble with walnut but curious about any other methods too. Example, you start your tumbler then forget and let it go for 24 hours? 3 days? Leave for vacation and come back 2 weeks later? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 yes but it takes a while and will vary with the media and the tumbler (rotary vs vibratory) and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPD7119 Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Never left mine running for two weeks but definitely have overnight by accident. No issues that I could see with the brass. It was very shiney though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdude Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 4 hours ago, Guy Neill said: yes but it takes a while and will vary with the media and the tumbler (rotary vs vibratory) and such. What happens to the brass when over-tumbled? What makes it unsafe or unusable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m700 Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 As well work harden brass. Much worse for rifle. You could anneal the rifle brass. I think the bigger tragedy may be the possible burnt up motor. Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nso123 Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 I have forgotten mine for a couple of hours before and it tumbled the brass to a dull finish. Everything still worked fine, but I did just leave the brass after shooting it instead of picking it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Many, many years ago while touring RCBS, they showed an area where tumblers were tested - to the extreme. They did not show me the cases, but said that they were destroyed. Since it is an abrasive process, I expect there was wear through the case wall, along with rounding or elimination of the rim. I don't recall the exact time they said, but I think it was months rather than a couple of weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postal Bob Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Have over tumbled overnight. The only problem I encounter is that the inside of the case is so clean, it drags on the powder funnel on my Dillon press. There needs to be some lubricant, be it case lube or carbon residue, on the inside so it doesn't drag on the powder funnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Polish the powder funnel ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stick Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 I wonder how long it would take to over polish brass? I've left dirty brass in the tumbler for hours and I've never had an issue. I even tumble loaded rounds after I load them since I use case lube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 had a midway tumbler,, with walnut,, put brass in turned on,, Got deployed,,, 6 months later was still running,, brass was nice and shiny,,, every thing in garage was coated with walnut dust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m700 Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 had a midway tumbler,, with walnut,, put brass in turned on,, Got deployed,,, 6 months later was still running,, brass was nice and shiny,,, every thing in garage was coated with walnut dust.They didn't warn you you were going? This may be the funniest thing I've read in a while.Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 was RDF, ( rapid deployment force) was a big joke, load us on C 5's fly around,,, come home,,, well one time we didnt come home. didnt know I was going to war till Platoon Sargent started passing out live ammo on plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m700 Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 O that's not funny. I was thinking of it from the point of view of the brass. Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malarky112 Posted November 2, 2019 Author Share Posted November 2, 2019 1 hour ago, Joe4d said: had a midway tumbler,, with walnut,, put brass in turned on,, Got deployed,,, 6 months later was still running,, brass was nice and shiny,,, every thing in garage was coated with walnut dust. Damn dude I was talking hypothetical but this is as real as it gets! Did you load and use the brass? And thanks for your service! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 dont recall there being an issue with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigedp51 Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 (edited) I have never had a problem letting cases tumble overnight or longer in a vibratory tumbler with walnut media. But if wet tumbling with stainless steel media and tumbling too long you will get case mouth peening. Below on the left a .243 case wet tumbled overnight, it had been trimmed and deburred and the case mouth is now badly peened. The case on the right is right out of the factory bag and shows the effect of factory tumbling. Below a .44 Special case that was wet tumbled for less than one hour. And you can see the effects of the cases hitting the case mouth and the dents. After this I bought a sonic cleaner, no dust, no media stuck in the primer pockets and no case mouth peening. Edited November 2, 2019 by bigedp51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
looking4reloadingdeals Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 I wonder how long it would take to over polish brass? I've left dirty brass in the tumbler for hours and I've never had an issue. I even tumble loaded rounds after I load them since I use case lube. Stick, I use case lube as well but I process brass, then tumble to remove lube, then load after that. I had some rifle brass that I didn’t get all of the lube out of the inside before and I had powder sticking to the case walls. Is this not a problem with pistol cases?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stick Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 4 hours ago, looking4reloadingdeals said: Stick, I use case lube as well but I process brass, then tumble to remove lube, then load after that. I had some rifle brass that I didn’t get all of the lube out of the inside before and I had powder sticking to the case walls. Is this not a problem with pistol cases? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk How are you lubing the cases? I spray the lube into a large bag, wait a few seconds, then add the cases to the bag. I do the same with rifle. I've never had that problem. How much lube are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregJ Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 I use a timer for my tumbler, usually 90 min. Allows me to turn it on when I go to bed, go to work, etc, never have to worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMP Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 I've wet tumbled dirty outdoor pickup brass for hours with Brass Juice, or detergent and a couple Vitamin C tablets(ascorbic acid). Normally do 90 min. No pins, so no hard/soft metal interaction. No problems with major peening. Any sharp case edges are smooth as expected. I would think using a true expander plug, with a step dia., and not just a basic flare would clean any peening off the ID of the rim anyway. I'm loading .358 coated bullets in 9mm with no issues, can't see a ring from the crimp on pulled bullets. When I did more precision rifle reloads (.22-.250) I trimmed/reamed cases after cleaning so wouldn't matter much anyway. I also have a large Branson ultrasonic cleaner with heated tub I use for other things, like motorcycle engine parts, but the throughput compared to the FART is much less, and it's more of a hassle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
920webb Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 I never had any problems I forgot and I left the tumbler on over night . It just came out really shiny . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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