Tumbler and media problem

[Grassman]

I just got my new tumbler in the mail yesterday. I've been reloading without one for a while, so I thought I would get one. So I fired it up today with corn cob media. This was corncob media for bedding animals I got at tractor supply, is this stuff OK? The problem I have is that I let it vibrate for an hour, came back to check it and saw no real difference in appearance. And there is corncob packed all in the shells, which I can't get out.(22-250 cases)What am I doing wrong? I fear that I have wasted about 150 or so 22-250 cases, because I can't get this media out of them. Any help, what am I doing wrong? At best I'm going to have some very tedious time ahead of me digging this media out of the cases. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[dave from mesa]

Well my suggestion is to use walnut shells to polish with.
Now to you're problem. Have you tried to just turn them upside down and tapping two of them together? That usually works for me tho I've never them packed that tight.
The media wasn't wet was it? Can't see it packing that tight dry but it seems yours did.
I'm sure others will have other/better ideas.
Good luck with this.

 

[Grassman]

It's dry, and it is packed up to the neck of the shell. Not tight, but the size of the media was such that it gets in easily but hard to get out. I was looking for walnut but could not find any and went to three stores, so I settled on the corncob. What size does it normally come in for tumbling purposes? This stuff was roughly the size of a BB or a little larger.

 

[buck460XVR]

sounds like the corncob is too course or too fine and most of the time corncob need an additive/polish added to help clean. Many use a small amount of Nu-Finish car wax. An hour in a tumbler usually isn't enough anyway. Most of my cases go for 4 to 6 hours. I use crushed walnut cause it works better for quick cleaning and I'm not concerned with seeing myself in the shiny cases. Plain ol' rice works well too.

 

[The Bushmaster]

The media is too coarse. Get a finer ground media. To get the media out of the .22-250 cases is going to be a bit of a problem, but I'm sure someone on heremight be able to help. I would amagin that once you clear the media from around the case mouth and shoulder you should be ablet to pour the rest out.

 

[dave from mesa]

I would try a place like Petsmart or one of those kind of stores. It's called lizard bedding I think. BB size is too large. If you have a Feed and Grain store around go to them and tell them what you will use it for. Bet you aren't the first reloader to go there. This is where I buy mine but I do use alot of it.
Again try tapping them together and see if it falls out.
Sure wouldn't be fun dig that out.

WOW you guys type fast

 

[Grassman]

They are packed up pretty good, this will take a while to clear out. Guess my media is all the wrong size. CRAP:banghead:

 

[dave from mesa]

How about putting them back in the tumbler without any media and see if they will shake themselves clean?
I have a Dillon media separator and that shakes the media out but I guess that's not an option at this point in time.

 

[rondog]

I bought some corncob bedding from WalMart once, it was waaaay too big, much larger than Grape Nuts cereal. It just sat in the tumbler, didn't roil around at all. Threw it all away.

I use the ground walnut bedding from PetSmart, I think it's actually bird litter, not lizard, Kaytee brand. I get the 25lb.(?) bag for about $20. That stuff works great for scrubbing brass, I use it dry and follow that with corncob and Nufinish car polish to polish the brass.

I'm still using corncob from the local reloaders supply shop. I haven't found a good source for cheaper corncob yet. Grainger's told me they don't carry it anymore. I may try to order it online from them.

And FWIW - I recently read several guys mentioning that the more brass you have in the tumbler, the better it all works. Put in as much brass as the tumbler can hold effectively, and all that brass moving around helps to grind the media against all the cases, increasing the friction and scrubbing action. Put the cases to work scrubbing themselves and each other! Seems to work, I fill my Lyman Turbo Pro 1200 halfway with brass, then fill it to the top with media and let 'er rip. Works great.

 

[RandyP]

I got my Lizard Litter from Petsmart too. Works great. I did buy a container of corncob media from Midway USA when I bought my Lyman 1200 from them (who knew about the litter thing - lol) so I mix 3 parts walnut to 1 part cob, which combined with a tbl of car polish ( pre-tumbled) and a couple cut up used dryer sheets works great.

 

[Walkalong]

Grainger

 

[Grassman]

Just been out in the shop trying to dig the corncob out of the cases, what a beating this is going to be. It's amazing, these things are packed to the neck pretty tight too. I really screwed this one up. i'll be throwing that media in the trash. Lesson learned I guess.....:banghead::banghead:

 

[rondog]

Got an air compressor, or access to one?

 

[dave from mesa]

Did you try tumbling them again without media? What have you got to lose?

 

[jcwit]

Try a long sheet rock screw and a drill/driver to break up the cob.

 

[Eb1]

put a primer in it a blow it out Just kidding.

Put them back in the tumbler without media. It will be loud, but I bet it vibrates it out.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Live primer? And loaded into rifle? Not sure that won't work...Probably scatter media everywhere...

 

[Eb1]

that is the point isn't it? to get the media out of the case. yes, charge the case with a primer in the primer pocket. fire the rifle. media is going to fly out of the case.

 

[MMCSRET]

Save the media for 30 cal. and larger dia. cartridges. It works great for 45/44. OK----- ask me how I know, I dare you!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jcwit]

I doubt the live primer would work, but hey nothing ventured nothing gained.

Had this same thing happen to me when I tried ground cob from W/W, thats why I suggested the screw method. Course I only had 10 or 20 to do if I remember.

Also primers are in short supply.

 

[ranger335v]

Nut or cob makes little difference. The proper grit size makes a LOT of difference.

I use the finest I can find. My favorite is cob sold as a "sand" blasting media for log homes, about as fine as table salt.

You would tumble cases alone for a long time before you get much cleaning done, and nothing inside at that!

 

[Poper]

Save the media for 30 cal. and larger dia. cartridges. It works great for 45/44. OK----- ask me how I know, I dare you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uh huh! 44 Specials & Magnum cases, too!

Poper

 

[Grassman]

I might try the compressed air trick.

 

[shepherddogs]

Do what dave said. That should shake most of it out. It will make quite a clatter but should work. Then if you have some stubborn ones use compressed air.

 

[Grassman]

Looks like the compressed air is doing the best, still slow and a mess but it's the best thing so far. Thanks.