Once I tried a rotary tumbler, wet, with stainless steel media, I sold my vibratory tumblers and never looked back.

Paul

Kirk,

I started with the ceramic and Dave Maurer's solution.  I liked it fine, but heard enough good about the stainless steel media that I had to try it.  Just compulsive, like most of us are!  I still use both.

The stainless may do a better job on the inside and certainly the primer pockets.  Does it matter?  I can't say for certain.

Although I believe you can use Dave's liquid with the stainless, being cheap I use a bit of Dawn detergent and Lemishine (sp.?) from the kitchen dept.  Unlike with the ceramic where you just cover the media with water, with the SS I fill the tumbler all the way up.  I'm not sure I have it down pat.  Sometimes the cases shine like new and other times are a but dull.  In either event, I know they are clean.  I should experiment more, including run time.

The respective media types require different handling.  The ceramic pieces are larger, and don't fall through fine screens like I use.  For the SS pins I got a really fine screen sieve.  One big advantage is that the SS pins can be picked up with a magnet, so I cover a magnet with a cloth and pick up the strays.

With both types, after a good rinse I take a big towel and dump the cases in it, fold lengthwise, and rock it end to end.  This gets the excess water off them and usually any leftover media falls out.  Finally I dry them on the rods of an old dishwasher tray for glasses.  For me it is less trouble than it may sound like.  Gets cases cleaner than a vibrator and walnut, and does not leave residue.  Less messy, IMO.

Hope this helps.

Paul

Glenn, I still use my vibratory tumbler once in a while. I've been using the corn cob media with Midway brass polish. It does not last forever but it's cheap. It gets dusty and leaves a dusty residue on the cases. I just throw it out and start with new.

I am not sure if Lyman does anything to there media, but I have been useing crushed walnut media that we got in a 50# bag at work for 10-15 yrs. I use it damp with Dillons case polishing. it get black-dirty over time, than I put it in a nylon leg sock and wash it and it's good for another go. Never heard of turning to powder.

I use corncob media in my vibratory.    Scrounge a few USED dryer sheets from the laundry room, and tear into about 2" strips.   Drop a couple into the tumbler.  They will scavenge the dust.  Do NOT do this with a new dryer sheet.  The stuff it's impregnated with will get all over your brass and make a mess.    I've also tried this with bits of paper towel, but the used dryer sheet works better.  

My media gets replaced about once a year - oftener if I'm doing a lot of pistol shooting.  

Just occurred to me: If an acidic polishing compound were used with the walnut shell, would it break down the wood? 

I use walnut media with a little Nu Finish car polish. When the walnut media gets a little dark I put it in a pillow case and wash it in the clothes washer then dry and start all over. I have cleaned thousands of cases this way and have used the same media for quite a while.

I shoot a lot of pistol competition.  I use corncob media with Dillion Polish.  I've cleaned well over 100,000 brass with my vibratory tumbler.  Comes out bright and shiny, but I do run the brass with the primers in since I don't think in pistol, a clean primer pocket is necessary.  After many thousands, the media does start to get dusty, but it is cheap and I just pitch it and start over with new.  Crushed walnut will probably last longer, but brass comes out shinier with the corncob IMHO. 
Phil