Tumbling Media

[roc1]

What media do most of you use and where is best place to get it? i have been using media from Harbor Freight crushed walnut but they dont seem to carry it anymore. Looking for economical replacement if possible.
Thanks
roc1

 

[jwrowland77]

Lizard bedding from local pet store. Aka crushed walnut

 

[Paddy]

I bought a box from harbor freight recently.

 

[SuedePflow]

I like the Lyman green cobb. It's not the cheapest by a longshot, but one jug of it lasts a very, very long time. And it doesn't create any dust like some of the cheaper stuff can.

 

[MtnCreek]

$23 for 40#.
http://www.zorotools.com/g/Blast Media/00054305/

 

[Potatohead]

That Lyman stuff wedges itself into my hollow points. The lizard stuff worked well, didnt stick in the cavities.

 

[the count]

That Lyman stuff wedges itself into my hollow points. The lizard stuff worked well, didnt stick in the cavities.

Lizard bedding from local pet store. Aka crushed walnut

For me the lizard stuff did the exact opposite, got stuck everywhere. Worst was .223
Go figure. Maybe there are various brands....

 

[Schwing]

I have had very good luck with the lizard bedding as well. I have heard some complain that it is full of dust but it looks exactly like the crushed walnut media I used to buy at my LGS only it costs about 1/4 the price.

 

[rsrocket1]

Crushed walnut at the feed store cost me $17/50 pounds. Several cycles with brass and cut up used dryer sheets and the only dust on the sheets is primer/powder soot. At first the sheets come out tan colored. In later loads, they come out gray/black.

 

[jwrowland77]

For me the lizard stuff did the exact opposite, got stuck everywhere. Worst was .223
Go figure. Maybe there are various brands....

It catches a little in the cases in the .223, and others, but it's nothing that a light tap against the separation bowl can't handle.

 

[sexybeast]

4-5 years ago crushed walnut, corncob was not carried anywhere local, someone suggested rice. It works well, lasts quite a long time, and back then it was $11/50lbs at Costco. Still have some. When its gone I'll be going to Home Depot and getting their walnut stuff. Its popular for bead blasting and like others said its about $25/50lbs.
Rice has more than doubled in price so thats out.
Lizard litter is expensive from what I have found. Almost $12 for ten pounds.

 

[berettaprofessor]

That Lyman stuff wedges itself into my hollow points. The lizard stuff worked well, didnt stick in the cavities.

Okay, let's please not confuse a newby. I was under the impression that finished rounds (and rounds with unfired primers) shouldn't be tumbled????

 

[Walkalong]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=8036208&postcount=7

 

[Fredo0621]

Once you go stainless you never go back. No dust and never needs to be replaced. I do understand the initial costs suck but the results are great(no performance increase). Unless you don't care what brass looks like and I get that too.

 

[Bush Pilot]

What media do most of you use and where is best place to get it? i have been using media from Harbor Freight crushed walnut but they dont seem to carry it anymore. Looking for economical replacement if possible.
Thanks
roc1

Did you ask the people at HF if they stopped carrying the walnut shell or just assume? We have three local HF stores and they all have the product in stock, one of the clerks said it was a good seller.

 

[Potatohead]

Berretta Professor,
I PMd you back.

 

[Potatohead]

For me the lizard stuff did the exact opposite, got stuck everywhere. Worst was .223
Go figure. Maybe there are various brands....

I only load 9mm(gave up on 380 for now), so that might be the discrepancy.

 

[ambidextrous1]

Your local Grainger's will have both corn cob and walnut "blast media" in various particle sizes. They're great people to deal with, and their prices are competitive. If they don't have it in stock, they'll get it in a very short time, no extra charge. They offered to deliver a 40 pound bag to me too, but I picked it up instead.

 

[TenDriver]

Okay, let's please not confuse a newby. I was under the impression that finished rounds (and rounds with unfired primers) shouldn't be tumbled????

I tumble live ammo. Every round of HXP I have was filthy, every round went in the tumbler. They still go bang.

 

[BrianC636]

I also run SS media and love the fact the brass comes out looking brand new. Use a little armor all wash and wax with some lemi-shine.

 

[cdb1]

I've been loading less than a year and on tumbling I went all out and bought the Thumler's Tumbler and Stainless Media. I'm very happy with it.

 

[AABEN]

That Lyman stuff wedges itself into my hollow points. The lizard stuff worked well, didnt stick in the cavities.

Why are you cleaning your HP?? Are you cleaning loader rounds? Let me know! I used corn cob with crush pecan shells. Worked very good. I now use the Lyman ultrasonic cleaner witch is a lot faster and does a better job.

 

[1KPerDay]

I started with the large container of Lyman red walnut 2 years ago and I'm still using it, mixed about 50/50 with corncob now. Walnut cleans better than anything and if you let it run it polishes just fine. I have 40# of corncob that I'm probably never going to use up.

 

[JonB]

I use the green corn cob stuff. Toss in a few used dryer sheets that I tear into strips to catch all the dust. The I use 2 dryer sheets and they come out green-black, but very little dust/dirt in the media so the it lasts a lot longer. I dump a cap full of cheap car polish/wax in every few loads.

I tumble finished rounds for 15 minutes or so to remove oils from fingerprints or residual case lube.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Will stainless work in a vibratory tumbler?....Don