Rice for tumbling

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Many threads on it. No it is is not worth the expense or trouble. Doesn't work well. Stick with corn or walnut. You can buy 40lb bags online delivered cheap.

Drillspot used to be the go to place, but they upped their shipping. Can't think right now what the other place is ,
 
I use it, still do.
Upside: Its fine for pistol. Works pretty quick and cleans up the brass pretty well although not as shiny as corn cob. Lasts a long time too. Bought a fifty pound bag at costco years ago and still have about ten pounds. Only cost $12 then.
Downside: Pain in the butt with 223 or other bottleneck cases. Have to shake each one and empty them. And don't dare decap before you tumble or you will have to poke out all the flashholes.
When I get done with it I throw it in the grass. It decomposes and is gone within a few days.
 
Yeah, thats the problem. I live in the absolute middle of nowhere (town is ninety miles away and it aint much of a town) and shipping kills me. I can pop over to Mexico and buy rice for nothing and, more importantly, I can get it. I'm more concerned about it getting stuck in the cases more than anything else.
 
Well it doesn't actually get "stuck", rather you just have to hold each case and shake it out. You kind of have to do that with corncob too, its just not as bad. Every case will fill up with whatever you are using for media.
You will have to judge, buy a small bag and give it a try.
 
Well, I just looked at Harbor Freight and I can get 25# of walnut blasting media for a little over $30 shipped. Guess that solves the problem.
Thanks for the help.
 
primalmu, I've tried that stuff and the screen size is to big for 223. Getting it out of the cases is a nightmare. But thanks though.
 
The only problems I see with using food as a tumbling media is that if you dispose of it in a manner that it will be consumed by birds etc., you can poison wildlife with the contaminated food product. It is a waste of food, there are starving people even it this country so donate it to the food bank where it will do more good than polishing your brass with it. Walnut shell and corncob grit is inexpensive and are waste products of other production so they are more environmentally friendly.
 
I didn't like my results with rice. Walnut lizard bedding from petco worked ok but was very dusty. If you are going dry, I still like corncobb or walnut bits sized specifically for the task.

If shipping really kills you you might think of switching to stainless media and wet tumbling. It will cost more to convert but it never goes bad or gets old.
 
I had good results with the Lizard stuff from Petco but mine quit carrying it. Ive been trying to squeeze the life out of what little I have left for awhile now.
 
Well it doesn't actually get "stuck", rather you just have to hold each case and shake it out. You kind of have to do that with corncob too, its just not as bad. Every case will fill up with whatever you are using for media.
You will have to judge, buy a small bag and give it a try.
Click to expand...

NO, It does not.

Buy the correct size 20/40 grit, which flows like sand.

Suggest one of these vendors

http://www.drillspot.com/products/521055/econoline_526040g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ECONOLINE-Blast-Media-2MVR5?Pid=search

http://www.zorotools.com/g/Blast Media/00054305/


This is corn cob BTW.
 
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thanks jcwit & rule . $.94 a lb, but... I can get it locally at Graingers. $.83 for the Z stuff. Good decent price? Might check the gun show I prefer corncob I think it polishes better

OP...I might 'experiment' with the rice idea someday. Sounds like you're in a shipping predicament. The joys of being out 'away from it all' !!
 
Per the USDA and EPA rice has arsenic already anyway:D

Not supposed the throw rice at weddings anymore as the birds eat it and then in expands and kills them.:eek:

A novel idea, is to put your used media in a plastic bag, place in trash and send it to the landfill or incinerator,

It's for the birds you know.:D
 
Bottom line here, there is better media to use than rice. Ever wonder why walnut and corn are sold and so popular?:rolleyes:

Of course the new "big" thing is the water, stainless pins and acid solution. Vinegar, Lem Shine, Barkeepers Friend (acetic, Citric, Oxalic acid)Probably costs more in water and solution and time and effort. I have cleaned buckets of range brass of real dirt, sand and mud in 5 gal buckets. Used vinegar, salt and water, Then you need to triple rinse it all and dry it. Living in FL not a problem, lay it on the driveway till it's too hot to touch.

For regular just shot brass,

I much rather throw it in a tumbler. Too much work washing and drying.

DSC02709Medium.gif
 
I tried kitty litter and it caked a grey thick film on all my cases and the tumbler. I had to scrub the whole thing down with SOS pads. You can't beat walnut and corncob for vibratory cleaning.
 
I didn't mention my attempt with kitty litter, I have been trying to forget that day. Total disaster.
 
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