dgillispie
Member
I have read in diffrent forums that diffrent things can be used for media. Other than the regulars. Can you give me the diffrent media's that you have used and it worked and can be inexpensive. 
Tumbling Media
- Thread starter dgillispie
- Start date
- Status
Petco & Petsmart Products
Ground Walnut shells and Corn Cob (media) are available in the lizard supplies department of these stores. Don't think it doesn't work, it does! Don't pay big bucks because something says 'tumber media' on the bag. Make your own with 65-75 % corn cob, and the remainder walnut shells. It works great, and my tumbler goes an hour or less with addition of one capful of Flitz tumber liquid from the gun store.
Hikingman
Ground Walnut shells and Corn Cob (media) are available in the lizard supplies department of these stores. Don't think it doesn't work, it does! Don't pay big bucks because something says 'tumber media' on the bag. Make your own with 65-75 % corn cob, and the remainder walnut shells. It works great, and my tumbler goes an hour or less with addition of one capful of Flitz tumber liquid from the gun store.
Hikingman
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Lizard-Litter from the pet store is ground walnut shells. Then you have to add polishing compound of some kind to it.
But in the grand scheme of things, how much tumbling media are you going to use in a year?
I use Lyman pre-treated red & green and it works perfectly great!
Midway and others sell pre-treated media and it is pretty darn cheap unless you tumble thousands & thousands of rounds a year.
If you do that, Berry bullets sells walnut in 50 pound bags.
http://www.berrysmfg.com/product.aspx?i=14548&c=47&pp=8&sb=0&p=0
rc
But in the grand scheme of things, how much tumbling media are you going to use in a year?
I use Lyman pre-treated red & green and it works perfectly great!
Midway and others sell pre-treated media and it is pretty darn cheap unless you tumble thousands & thousands of rounds a year.
If you do that, Berry bullets sells walnut in 50 pound bags.
http://www.berrysmfg.com/product.aspx?i=14548&c=47&pp=8&sb=0&p=0
rc
dave from mesa
Member
NEVER NEVER thought I ever do this but I disagree with you rc
(no flames plz he is my hero) but I use lots. I buy it from a feed store for about $15 for 50 lbs. Once it starts to lose it's edge I use it for taking lube off. Use it a couple of times and toss it. It's too cheap to run my tumbler any longer than necessary.plz don't hate me for this.
jcwit
member
I go along with what RC sayes but here are two other options.
Graingers Ind Supply can get for you 20/40 ground corn cob $25 for 40 lb. bag. This size will not clog up in the flash holes. You will have to add some polish ie; cleaner wax like turtle or Nu-Finish.
Other option is rice but it gets stuck in the flash holes and is a nuisance to remove.
I would think the walnut shells will last longer than corn cob but not shine quite as much. Of course shine is not what makes for accuracy.
Graingers Ind Supply can get for you 20/40 ground corn cob $25 for 40 lb. bag. This size will not clog up in the flash holes. You will have to add some polish ie; cleaner wax like turtle or Nu-Finish.
Other option is rice but it gets stuck in the flash holes and is a nuisance to remove.
I would think the walnut shells will last longer than corn cob but not shine quite as much. Of course shine is not what makes for accuracy.
fireman 9731
Member
I have always used corncob.... but have thought about adding a handful of sand to clean some of the tougher stuff... anybody ever done it before?
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I use 50% corncob and 50% ground walnut shells in my tumbler. I buy the cheapest stuff I can find. Be aware, the stuff you buy from the pet store will generate a lot of "dust" when you use it. It's not as refined as the media sold for cleaning brass. I've found a teaspoon or two of Mineral Spirits will eliminate most of the dust.
I went the Grainger route (50 Lbs Corn Cob) as well and have 50 Lbs of crushed Walnut from our pet store so I mix it 50/50. I use Nu Finish ( a capful every 1K - 2K or so) and Mineral spirits (a capful every batch) along with a dryer sheet punched over the middle stem.
BLING !!!!
LGB
BLING !!!!
LGB
bullseye308
Member
Get the walnut from your favorite pet place to clean and then get the cob to poilsh and shine your brass. Add a capful of Nu-Finish to the walnut and let it run for 15 min then add brass. Every 3rd load, cut up a used dryer sheet, and add it to the walnut to remove the dust. Grab the shades, you'll need them.
RustyFN
Member
I might have missed it but if you buy the pet store corn cob you don't want to use it with rifle brass. Trust me on this one.:banghead:
Rusty
Rusty
RustyFN
Member
That's what I use only I buy it in the pet section at Walmart. It works great and last a long time. Add some polish and a used dryer sheet or paper towel cut into around ten pieces. The polish will help clean faster, keep the dust down and make the brass shiny. The paper towel will collect a bunch of the crud and help keep the media clean. I like to use around 1/2 cap full of Nu Finish car polish in every batch.
Rusty
maxidiesel
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2010
- Messages
- 1
What is the brand name of the ground walnut (50lb) and what is the name of the store that you got it from? What do they call it (on the bag)...pet litter? Just trying to figure out what kind of place around here might have it...and what they call it?NEVER NEVER thought I ever do this but I disagree with you rc
plz don't hate me for this.
W.E.G.
Member
If you let your tumbler run for a few minutes outdoors with the lid off between batches, a lot of the dust will just blow away.
I use walnut shells with no chemical additives.
I use walnut shells with no chemical additives.
nambu1
Member
I use the walnut lizard litter with nu-finish car polish fro any auto store. The brass comes out nice and shiny.
ranger335v
Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2006
- Messages
- 3,797
"how does the mineral spirits keep the dust down."
Well, anything that dampens a fine dust helps hold it down. But, most dust comes from excessive polish that has dried. An ounce or so of mineral spirits softens/reactivates it quite well.
A few squares of loose weave material (such as used clothes dryer sheet) will trap a lot of the loose "dust" so you can toss it out before adding more polish that isn't needed.
Any difference between cob and nut is so small as to be meaningless but if you REALLY want to be sure to use the right one you can mix 'em. ??
It is VERY helpful to use the smallest/finest grit grade you can find. I prefer cob that's been fine ground for "sand blasting" log homes and wood decks, it's about as fine as table salt.
If anyone really wants to add sand to the proper media it is very likely to work quickly. It's also likely the very abrasive sand dust willl quickly sandpaper/erode bores. (There is a reason no one who knows what he's doing is selling bags of sand for case tumbling.)
Well, anything that dampens a fine dust helps hold it down. But, most dust comes from excessive polish that has dried. An ounce or so of mineral spirits softens/reactivates it quite well.
A few squares of loose weave material (such as used clothes dryer sheet) will trap a lot of the loose "dust" so you can toss it out before adding more polish that isn't needed.
Any difference between cob and nut is so small as to be meaningless but if you REALLY want to be sure to use the right one you can mix 'em. ??
It is VERY helpful to use the smallest/finest grit grade you can find. I prefer cob that's been fine ground for "sand blasting" log homes and wood decks, it's about as fine as table salt.
If anyone really wants to add sand to the proper media it is very likely to work quickly. It's also likely the very abrasive sand dust willl quickly sandpaper/erode bores. (There is a reason no one who knows what he's doing is selling bags of sand for case tumbling.)
Last edited:
ranger335v
Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2006
- Messages
- 3,797
"I use a sprinkling of water to hold dust down."
A light water dampening will cut dust but using an ounce to two of mineral spirits will both loosen up the polish-clogged pores of the media AND it helps cut case lube & "smoke" off the outside.
A light water dampening will cut dust but using an ounce to two of mineral spirits will both loosen up the polish-clogged pores of the media AND it helps cut case lube & "smoke" off the outside.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Why does anyone want to bring back a 2 year old thread?
MtnCreek
Member
I was really enjoying this thread until someone pointed out it's a Re-Run. Thanks alot ArchAngel !!!
Someone on THR pointed me in the direction of a company called The Drill Spot. I ordered 40 lbs of very fine Cob for $22 shipped; three days later, it was delivered. Great product, great price.
Someone on THR pointed me in the direction of a company called The Drill Spot. I ordered 40 lbs of very fine Cob for $22 shipped; three days later, it was delivered. Great product, great price.
Hondo 60
Member
I, too, use corn cob from the drill spot.
Cheap - free shipping - & it's small enough not to get stuck in the flash holes.
I guess I don't see the advantage of using walnut.
I've tried it & found it doesn't clean any better than corn cob
& the cases aren't as shiny.
'course that's just me YMMV
Cheap - free shipping - & it's small enough not to get stuck in the flash holes.
I guess I don't see the advantage of using walnut.
I've tried it & found it doesn't clean any better than corn cob
& the cases aren't as shiny.
'course that's just me YMMV
Shiny, yeah! I use corn cob and a little bit of spray car wax, diluted 1:2 with water. I spritz the media 5-6 times while it's running, and it's ready to go, right away, with no clumping.
The time I left the tumbler on overnight, I couldn't tell nickel cases from brass without close inspection, and even then I wasn't always sure. Factory ammo looked downright ghetto next to these reloads.
The time I left the tumbler on overnight, I couldn't tell nickel cases from brass without close inspection, and even then I wasn't always sure. Factory ammo looked downright ghetto next to these reloads.
Last edited:
- Status
