Re using walnut media in a shaker with added helpers.

[crackshot258]

I tried an experiment that turns out to work really well. I put a cup of used primers in 3/4 gallon of walnut media then add 2 pieces of rag (like old sweatshirt material) about 2in x 2in with WD40 or some such on them. (You could us old dryer sheets.)The rags pick up the dust great and I have been using this mixture over and over with clean rags each time for about a year. I have not changed the media otherwise and it still works great.

 

[glc24]

I tried an experiment that turns out to work really well. I put a cup of used primers in 3/4 gallon of walnut media then add 2 pieces of rag (like old sweatshirt material) about 2in x 2in with WD40 or some such on them. (You could us old dryer sheets.)The rags pick up the dust great and I have been using this mixture over and over with clean rags each time for about a year. I have not changed the media otherwise and it still works great.

What is the purpose of the primers?

 

[Scooter22]

I would not want WD-40 or any kind of oil or penetrate on cases. It could effect the powder or primer. I've used walnut media available from pet stores with a table spoon or so of NuFinish polish thinned with a little mineral spirits. The MS evaporates away leaning nothing behind. jmho

 

[edwardware]

I put a cup of used primers in. . .

What is the purpose of the primers?

What are you accomplishing?

I'm going to guess you are using the metallic primers to add a bit of aggression to the tumble. . . but they won't clean in the primer pockets which is the only part of case that doesn't already clean up in plain walnut.

Also, WD-40 is the epitome of petroleum contamination you don't want in your powder and new primers.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The primers contain lead so I'm not sure why you would want to add them to the media. I also agree nothing good can come from adding oil to the media.

I use 1/2 & 1/2 crushed walnut shells and corn cob media. I add a cut up used dryer sheet without adding anything to it. That works well for me.

 

[Havok7416]

That sounds like a lead residue nightmare.

 

[hdwhit]

crackshot258 wrote:
I tried an experiment that turns out to work really well. I put a cup of used primers in 3/4 gallon of walnut media then add 2 pieces of rag (like old sweatshirt material) about 2in x 2in with WD40 or some such on them. (You could us old dryer sheets.)The rags pick up the dust great and I have been using this mixture over and over with clean rags each time for about a year. I have not changed the media otherwise and it still works great.

• What were you using before you embarked on this "experiment"?
• What were you trying to accomplish by adding what you did?
• Why did you think it would give you those results?
• Was there any concern about using a solvent (i.e. WD-40) that has a reputation (whether or not deserved) for deactivating primers?

 

[rsrocket1]

Cut up used dryer sheets work just fine for picking up the dust and keeping the media clean. I used to add Nu Finish to the media to make the brass really shine, but it accelerated the media picking up the soot so I no longer do that. Shiny is nice, but clean is good enough and the crushed walnut will last for several 10's of thousand cases.

 

[Rule3]

I tried an experiment that turns out to work really well. I put a cup of used primers in 3/4 gallon of walnut media then add 2 pieces of rag (like old sweatshirt material) about 2in x 2in with WD40 or some such on them. (You could us old dryer sheets.)The rags pick up the dust great and I have been using this mixture over and over with clean rags each time for about a year. I have not changed the media otherwise and it still works great.

Worn out media gets dusty, looses it sharp edges and plan out does not work well.

You will be surprised if you just spend the .50 cents and change to some new media.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I used to do the dryer sheet thing. Dry ones. Nowadays I just let her run with the lid off for a minute or two after a few tumbling sessions. My tumbler lives in the garage, but I open the back door and set it completely outside for this purging.

 

[Schwing]

Long before I saw the light and went to ss pins and wet tumbling (Yes... bias expressed I stopped cheaping out on my media. I used to tumble in the same media over and over again until it was taking hours to polish up my cases. Then I discovered that cheap lizard bedding costs about $1 per hopper. At that point, I started trashing it about every 4-5 loads.

Once again let me let my bias shine through. Forget dry tumbling and get a wet tumbler. I tried my friends one time and have not dry tumbled since.

 

[gifbohane]

Schwing What brand/type of wet tumbler do you use?

 

[FROGO207]

Bet he has some REALLY shiny primers in there though. I got a great deal on a Thumlers rotary tumbler and this is what I use exclusively now. I use the corn cob/Nu Finish to put a finishing polish on my completed ammo.

 

[crackshot258]

Worn out media gets dusty, looses it sharp edges and plan out does not work well.

You will be surprised if you just spend the .50 cents and change to some new media.

I've done it both ways. Same difference. Corn cob is not sharp either but it works fair. The primers in the walnut media seam to beat the crap off the shells and they come out shiny. I only run them for an hour. Good enough for me. I'm not trying for a beauty contest on em, just great and my guns like em.

 

[crackshot258]

What are you accomplishing?

I'm going to guess you are using the metallic primers to add a bit of aggression to the tumble. . . but they won't clean in the primer pockets which is the only part of case that doesn't already clean up in plain walnut.

Also, WD-40 is the epitome of petroleum contamination you don't want in your powder and new primers.

I don't take the primers out before I clean them. They come out in the machine when reloading. They seem to work just fine in all of my guns.

 

[crackshot258]

I would not want WD-40 or any kind of oil or penetrate on cases. It could effect the powder or primer. I've used walnut media available from pet stores with a table spoon or so of NuFinish polish thinned with a little mineral spirits. The MS evaporates away leaning nothing behind. jmho

I don't use enough WD-40 to get on the shells. Just enough to make a 1 1/2" square cloth a little sticky. It picks up the dust but does not make the shells oily.

 

[Scooter22]

I wouldn't put WD-40 near any reloading components. Not worth the chance.

 

[Rule3]

I've done it both ways. Same difference. Corn cob is not sharp either but it works fair. The primers in the walnut media seam to beat the crap off the shells and they come out shiny. I only run them for an hour. Good enough for me. I'm not trying for a beauty contest on em, just great and my guns like em.

OK, if you say so and are happy,

 

[crackshot258]

• What were you using before you embarked on this "experiment"?
• What were you trying to accomplish by adding what you did?
• Why did you think it would give you those results?
• Was there any concern about using a solvent (i.e. WD-40) that has a reputation (whether or not deserved) for deactivating primers?

Before, I was using crushed walnut shells followed by corn cob. Never did I say to put enough WS-40 on a rag to get it on the cases and it does not get on there. I also don't put it in the powder or on the primers.
As far as what I accomplished, the shells come out clean after 1 hour instead of the time it used to take with the combination media and cob. The small piece of cloth comes out saturated with dust which I toss. And I have used the same primers in there for over a year. As far as lead, well most everything associated with reloading has lead on it and the primers, if they had any, are surely clean by now.

 

[crackshot258]

Worn out media gets dusty, looses it sharp edges and plan out does not work well.

You will be surprised if you just spend the .50 cents and change to some new media.

I have been using this mixture of walnut and primers for over a year. I use a small piece of cloth with a very small spritz of penetrating oil on it to collect the dust but not enough to get on the brass. As far as lead is concerned, everything associated with reloading has lead around so I suggest you keep your fingers out of your mouth and wash your hands after using these products.
Here is a picture of a batch of range brass that I ran for 1 hour in my old worn out mixture. It still works well for me.

 

[Rule3]

I have been using this mixture of walnut and primers for over a year. I use a small piece of cloth with a very small spritz of penetrating oil on it to collect the dust but not enough to get on the brass. As far as lead is concerned, everything associated with reloading has lead around so I suggest you keep your fingers out of your mouth and wash your hands after using these products.
Here is a picture of a batch of range brass that I ran for 1 hour in my old worn out mixture. It still works well for me.View attachment 772116

Wow, you are a rebel!

 

[mdi]

Wow, a guy shares what he did and the forum turns into "reloading snowflakes" (danger! danger!). The WD40 is on small rags and just catches the dust when the OP goes through a cleaning cycle. I didn't read he used this as an additive while cleaning brass.

Brass tumbling/cleaning is prolly the most talked about but least important part of reloading. Opinions on what works best for an individual run the gamut from blast media to rice or pet poop chips and the additives (contaminates) are almost vodoo recipes.

I have my favorites for my brass cleaning and I have arrived at them from a few years of experimenting, but I ain't gonna bore anyone with more "secret super media recipes". Brass is easy to clean, and if one deems it necessary, to shine.....

 

[clearcut]

Thinking Outside the box is good ! What about us crazy powder coaters ?

CC