Walnut Media - Course or Fine?

[Lovesbeer99]

I see that Harbor Freight has coarse(20 grit) or fine (24 grit) walnut for a decent price. Any advantage or disadvantage to either grit?

I've heard that if it's too course it's a pain and can get stuck in the case and has to be picked out.

Thanks in advance.

 

[LiveLife]

Lovesbeer99, I got the fine (24 grit) instead of coarse (12 grit). The fine media is comparable in size as the corn cob media I use and slightly smaller than the walnut media I have been using. I thought the coarse grit was too large in size.

They just came off $14.99 sales price for the 25 lb box. I find local HF managers quite liberal with pricing. With the big Father's Day sale coming up, you might just ask. If you want the online price extended, it really helps to take a printout for manager approval.

 

[loadedround]

That's the best price I have seen for walnut media. I'm going to get a back of it this weekend. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Steve C]

I like the fine media as it doesn't get stuck in the primer pockets if polishing decapped brass

 

[Maj Dad]

Check out the 20/40 grit from Grainger/Drillspot - about $25 for 40 lbs.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2MVR5?Pid=search

 

[warnerwh]

I buy the lizard walnut shell stuff from Pet Smart. It's very cheap and works fine. It looks like it's exactly the same as the walnut media I bought for reloading.

 

[Sport45]

^^ Me too.

A bag of lizard litter lasts long enough for me that I don't worry about saving a bit per pound by buying 20 pound or heavier bags. A 40# bag would keep me in walnut for decades.

 

[Skylerbone]

I used corncob for years and it took forever for a satin finish. Bought some Lyman Tuffnut and WOW! Walnut media with a polishing rouge mixed in. I've never seen brass so bright. It's $20 for (I think 10 lbs) but I've tumbled over 3000 rounds so far with no change in effectiveness. While the rouge sticks to the sides of the tumbler (probably from old liquid polish residue) it absolutely eliminates dust.