Tumbler media question

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Chuck Perry

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I've seen alot of favorable reviews here of the 20/40 corn cob media for sale by Drillspot.com, so I picked up a bag. I've used it several times now, and I am really not impressed by it. It cleans, but it doesn't shine my brass like regular 1/8" corn cob does. This is even when I add in a dolop of Nufinish. Watching it in action, the brass doesn't circulate thru the tumbler with the 20/40, it just lays on the bottom.
I'd like to find a source of the regular 1/8" corn cob. Who has it for cheap? I used to get it at a local garden supply shop, but he says he can't find it anymore.
 
Don't know what to tell you then. The 20/40 works fine in my Berry/Cabelas tumbler with approx the same amount of handgun cases. In my tumbler the cases rotate from bottom to outside of bowl across top and back down at center post.
 
I too, have been using that same media for a few years now with no problems. I'd suggest how you load the tumbler (wobbler) might be checked (too much brass?), or perhaps your wobbler ain't wobbling right? Mebbe your Midway tumbler gave up the ghost ("had it forever").
 
This may not be of much help, but I use "Zilla Desert Blend" ground walnut shells, as I've found they polish and clean brass a lot better than corn. I added a cap-full of Nu Car polish and only have to add more every few weeks. A 10 quart bag cost me $13 at Petco.

The stuff is super fine, comparable to coffee grounds, and my brass is always clean, bright and shiny after an hour or two.
 
Last night I let a load run for 6-7 hours, just to see if that would help. Made no difference.
Putting some more thought to this, I always load the tumbler near full with media, then add my brass. Since this 20/40 is so much finer than the normal stuff, and compacts much more... compactly, an equal volume of 20/40 probably weighs a bit more than an equal volume of 1/8" size. Maybe the extra weight is too much for my old tumbler?
 
Thats a possible. I have never loaded my tumbler more that about 2/3 rds to 3/4 full with media. I can no longer remember if that was on the instructions or if that was just where I've always done it, this goes back to the days when I even tried white rice, maybe 10 years ago or even longer.
 
Tumblers

I believe it is your tumbler. I had a Midway for years till it died (twice - replaced the motor once) and bought the smaller Dillon (750, I think). It sends the 20/40 into a maelstrom and cleans like the dickens. I replaced the motor in it once a couple years ago and will upgrade to the new model with the high quality Japanese motor if and when this motor craps out. I like the Dillon, but I there are other tumblers out there that are high quality as well - if yours won't clean with the 20/40, it's not the size of the grit. If yours cleans well with larger grit, go with what works. I am on my second 40 lb bag of the 20/40 and have stopped using anything else...
My experience - your parallel universe may vary ;)
 
I've got some brass running now, with about a 1/3 less media than I usually run. The action in the tub is much improved, the brass is moving from top to bottom as it should. I'll let it run a couple hours and see how it does, but I think I got it beat. Thanks for helping me talk it out!
 
I"m using 14/20, and it works great. I mix it 50/50 with pet store walnut and add a couple of caps of NuFinish.
 
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