Used Walnut and Corn Media??

LiveLife said:
At 2:50 minute of video, Jerry Miculek talks about washing dirty corn cob media in cement mixer and drying on wire mesh fabric/window screen box and why window screen is used on top of wire mesh fabric, so drying corn cob media won't fall through.
www.youtube.com

How to clean your brass for reloading with Jerry Miculek

Jerry shows us a little bit about his methods of cleaning brass for reloading.Get your Official Team Miculek Firearm and second amendment T-shirts!http://mic...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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But he doesn't actually say much beyond that he does it.
 
Rule3 said:
Why anyone would want to dump it (with all the lead and other toxins) in their yard or garden is beyond me.
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I suppose its insignificant for me because I just dump it down by the bullet trap, lots more lead than my tumblers have ever created down there and I gather it up to remake bullets out of what I can.

If any chemistry nerd wants to see how much lead they can precipitate from 11lbs off highly used corn cobb, I'll donate some or the cause. I bet its less than what 1, 1oz shell contains.
 
74man said:
What is the acceptable way to dispose of "USED MEDIA MIX". My used media needs to be replaced, what do most re-loader' do with their used media? I have about 2-3 lbs to dispose of. Do most re-loaders put the USED MEDIA in the trash or is there a way to effectively remove any contaminants or recycle the media? What should I do with used media after cleaning Ammo Brass first to remove the polish then to remove the bullet lube after reloading? What should I do with my used media? It is Crushed Walnut and Crushed corn media. Thanks for your response and advise. Never thought of what to do with the media after cleaning!!
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I doubt it is hot enough to be much of a problem. I wouldn't put it in a garden I was going to eat out of, but tossing it or spreading it somewhere won't create a superfund site either. Lead is found naturally in the soil.
 
I would be surprised if there was any more than a negligable amount of lead in the residue, I'm sure the plants like the nitrates! (My wife washes the tomatoes before she uses them anyway!)
I was given a "keg" of rifle powder years ago that had "rust" in it, and old friend showed me to put down newspaper, and dribble it in front of a fan. The heavier "rust' dropped out, and the clean powder was collected on the paper. I dumped the 'rust" on a bare spot in my brother in laws yard, and the grass started filling in in less than a week!
 
CQB45ACP said:
How many folks here grow their tomatoes in a used litter box?

Didn’t think so:)
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Wait, we compost chicken manure along with guinea pig pellets and pine shavings (Mini pig poop is too wet and takes too much time to compost ... Thinking about building a poop dryer). May have to run kitty litter into compost idea to my wife who runs multi-level worm farm for worm casting (Fastest way to turn kitchen scrap into compost ... Hands down). ;)

We did think about aqua-ponics of circulating pond water through clay ball hydroponic greenhouse for tomatoes and such. I worked at a nursery in High School and prefer more traditional approach of growing vegetables in "natural" humus/compost media with worms/bugs which chickens love. But chemistry major in me wants to "tinker" with chemicals and wife usually has to stop me before I turn into "mad scientist mode" and blow up things. (What? We are out of fire works? No problem, I will quickly make some things that will go BANG ... then BOOM 😆)
 
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LiveLife said:
Wait, we compost chicken manure along with guinea pig pellets and pine shavings (Mini pig poop is too wet and takes too much time to compost). May have to run kitty litter into compost idea to my green thumb wife. ;)
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Veggie only diet & composting are the keys. But even Milorganite (composted Milwaukee sewage sludge) is “approved” for garden use due to composting.

But even composted, you won’t find my tomatoes in used kitty litter.
 
Oh yeah forgot the story of my Dad’s first lawn experience in 1952 Paramus, NJ. (I was told this story. Didn’t experience it)

Went to local chicken farm and got fresh non-composted chicken poop and spread it in the lawn. Couple days later neighborhood was infested with flies.
 
I don't have a cement mixer so I'll try the bucket cleaning method...what does anyone suggest? Pound of corn cob in big bucket with some Dawn? Then slosh it around, rinse it, and dump on concrete driveway to dry? (Or neighbor's driveway?)

Anything i'm missing?
 
CQB45ACP said:
I'll try the bucket cleaning method...what does anyone suggest? Pound of corn cob in big bucket with some Dawn? Then slosh it around, rinse it, and dump on concrete driveway to dry?

Anything i'm missing?
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Wind and warm/hot water to help dissolve waxy lube/sticky gunk.

I did the same:
  • Dumped media into 5 gallon bucket with warm/hot water and Dawn
  • Stir. Rinse with water and drain.
  • Spread out on tarp on driveway with corners/edges raised to hold media from blowing wind
 
LiveLife said:
Wind and warm/hot water to help dissolve waxy lube/sticky gunk.

I did the same:
  • Dumped media into 5 gallon bucket with warm/hot water and Dawn
  • Stir. Rinse with water and drain.
  • Spread out on tarp on driveway with corners/edges raised to hold media from blowing wind
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Thanks

This'll be great. Neighbors will think I'm cleaning kitty litter! They already wonder about that clicky clack sound when I'm wet tumbling brass.
 
CQB45ACP said:
Neighbors will think I'm cleaning kitty litter!
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Tell them you are recycling to save the planet. :rofl:

CQB45ACP said:
They already wonder about that clicky clack sound when I'm wet tumbling brass.
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Reloading is the ultimate recycling program:
  • Lead/tin/antimony/copper/zinc for bullets/brass come from dirt
  • Ingredients for powder/primers also come from dirt
  • We shoot bullets back into dirt and scatter powder/primer residue back on dirt
  • Repeat until brass cases split or primer pockets enlarge
  • We recycle unusable brass/spent primer for scrap metal
  • I even recycle shot up aluminum soda cans and 2 liter bottles along with cardboard target backers (CA redemption center pay me back by weight ... I get back around $45-$120 each time I go depending on weight and I usually buy steaks/tri tip roasts on sale for wife and I and pork shoulder on sale for doggy treats)
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TT10252 (1).jpg
 
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74man said:
What is the acceptable way to dispose of "USED MEDIA MIX". My used media needs to be replaced, what do most re-loader' do with their used media? I have about 2-3 lbs to dispose of. Do most re-loaders put the USED MEDIA in the trash or is there a way to effectively remove any contaminants or recycle the media? What should I do with used media after cleaning Ammo Brass first to remove the polish then to remove the bullet lube after reloading? What should I do with my used media? It is Crushed Walnut and Crushed corn media. Thanks for your response and advise. Never thought of what to do with the media after cleaning!!
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i dump the used media in a paper bag so it breaks down easier, then toss it in the trash.

i buy a box of media at Harbor Freight for cheap, then the time it takes to wash, dry, the old stuff...don't forget, that media contains lead as well as carbon, you don't want to wash that and let the drain water go down your plumbing or into your ground.

that's me, and i am a cheap SOB too, but not enough to not have to buy fresh/new media.
 
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LiveLife said:
Tell them you are recycling to save the planet. :rofl:


Reloading is the ultimate recycling program:
  • Lead/tin/antimony/copper/zinc for bullets/brass come from dirt
  • Ingredients for powder/primers also come from dirt
  • We shoot bullets back into dirt and scatter powder/primer residue back on dirt
  • Repeat until brass cases split or primer pockets enlarge
  • We recycle unusable brass/spent primer for scrap metal
  • I even recycle shot up aluminum soda cans and 2 liter bottles along with cardboard target backers (CA redemption center pay me back by weight ... I get back around $45-$120 each time I go depending on weight and I usually buy steaks/tri tip roasts on sale for wife and I and pork shoulder on sale for doggy treats)
View attachment 1201911
View attachment 1201910
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My cardiologist just called...said stop looking at that!
 
WHAT A MESS!!!

Above I showed my drying corn cob media. Well, had to go out for rest of the day and couldn't leave it out in the wind, etc.

So, it's still damp to very damp and the stuff sticks to everything!

I've always been a show me/prove it to me kind of guy and have to do it myself at least once. (Would've thought I was from Missouri.)

Well, that's it, I'm done.

Unless you use a lot of this stuff or have endless free time or are single, I cannot see any advantage to cleaning this crud--put it in a bag, any bag, and throw it in your neighbor's trash after dark.
 
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