Tumbling Media you wont believe

[Master Blaster]

Folks there really are good reasons why reloaders with years of experience, as well as commercial reloaders use crushed corn cob and crushed walnut instead of rice or something else. Because after years of trial, and millions of rounds, corn and walnut work. I tried rice years ago, I found it was dusty, and after two or three loads of dirty brass, it was just rubbing the crud around rather than removing it.

Find a good supplier for walnut and corn cob and you will be happy.

 

[W Turner]

I have only used rice in my tumbler since starting a few years ago. I think I paid about $10 for 50lbs of rice at that time. WAY cheaper than cob or walnut. After about 2 hrs in the tumbler, my brass is clean and shiny.

Only consideration is weight. Rice is much heavier by volume than either cob or walnut shells. May reduce the # of brass pieces you can tumble at once. I have tumbled up to 250 .45 cases at one time with no ill effects.

W

 

[Kwt]

Harbor Freight has a sale on ultrasonic cleaners right now. They also have a 15% off coupon.

 

[41 Mag]

Never used rice. Got tired of high priced media and looked elsewhere for a supply. Found that the local sand blasting supply had several grades of both crushed walnut and corn cob for less than $20-50#. Split between a couple of friends and you have a long lasting cheap supply. Trust me, a 50# bag of either will last you for years.

Flitz is the best additive that I have found. About two teaspoons in a new batch of media will last quite a while. Even without adding the Flitz, a 50-50 mix of cob abd walnut will clean cases to a decent sheen and in a short period of time.

 

[ready4shtf]

Yeah, I use rice too. Its awesome. a 25# bag is only $9. I'm still on my first bag, 10,000 rnds later.

 

[Ranger J]

Dang! I got in on this thread too late. All the good jokes are used up already.

RJ

 

[Deavis]

walnut and a dab of mineral spirits cleans anything up. Follow with corn cob and a dab of kerosene. Loads in sotrage for 2 years while I was in Germany were gleaming when i took them to the range. Walnut and corn cob can be purchased for next to nothing from a bulk abrasice dealer. Look in your phone book, purchase a 100lb bag, and you're set for a long, long time.

Sand would certainly scratch the brass.

Don't forget you are scratching when you polish, no matter what you do. It is just a matter of how big are the scratches and how they are orientated that matters. Sand would also be REALLY heavy and tough for your tumbler to move well.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Using any ammonia based products with brass that's going to be shot at high pressure near one's hands and/or face: EXTREMELY BAD IDEA.

Buying ground corn cob media or crushed walnut in bulk either at the local pet store or the local industrial supply out fit: EXTREMELY GOOD IDEA.

There's lotsa reasons the reloaders who've been doing it a while use the corn cob and walnut, usually with Flitz or Nu Finish car polish. I mix the corn cob and crushed walnut 50/50, works great for me and keeps the dust down a good while. One capful of Nu Finish each time brass is loaded up.

Regards,

Dave

 

[DMZ]

I ran out of corn cob and tried $ Store rice.

It worked ooh kay and produced a flat, dull, shine.

I looked for walnut shell online and found some, but then remembered I read somewhere that Pet Stores sold walnut shell for bedding material.

I called the nearest Pet Store and sure enough they had 5 lb bags for $3. Went down and bought a couple of bags.

Re-ran my .45 LC cases and got that nice patent shine in a couple of hours.

 

[rundm]

be careful with the brasso, it will tear up brass a couple of firings down the road if you intend to use the brass a few times.