Armory Sponsor
Posted: 9/20/2026 1:51:13 PM EDT
|
I wet tumble all cases first to get them bling bling then with pistol cases or anything I don't add lube for loading gets a turn in dry media to prevent expanding sticking. Couple questions Which media is best for "coating" the brass to prevent sticking with adding nothing to it, ie flitz how long does the media last to effectively add a "coating" to the cases? 5k cases? 10k |
PROUD AMMOSEXUAL
Founding father Tench Coxe
“Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American."
Founding father Tench Coxe
“Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American."
|
I have walnut media that is over 25 years old. The reason? I don't contaminate the walnut with polish additives, but it does have a small amount of lube from occasions when the corn cob was busy. Corn cob is my usual delube media, and it also does not get additives. I have tossed walnut that became ground down and rounded. Both have seen hundreds of thousands of cases. |
Keep your powder dry, and watch your back trail.
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Joined:
Jun 2007
Posts:
73099
EE: 100% (1)
WA, USA
|
Originally Posted By craig24680: I wet tumble all cases first to get them bling bling then with pistol cases or anything I don't add lube for loading gets a turn in dry media to prevent expanding sticking. Couple questions Which media is best for "coating" the brass to prevent sticking with adding nothing to it, ie flitz how long does the media last to effectively add a "coating" to the cases? 5k cases? 10k Which is dependent on your media, what you add to the media, and how dirty you brass is. Thing is I can't remember the last time I changed the corn cob in my 3 dry tumblers. I add a little brass polish (Nu Finish) to bling out the blem bullets. Also use the same media to remove case lube. Just experiment to see what works best for you. Remember Walnut for cleaning, corn cob for polishing. |
Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Joined:
Dec 2022
Posts:
1618
EE: 100% (42)
SC, USA
|
I just use treated corncob, it gets the cases plenty shiny and I don't have to mess with wet tumbling. I replace the media when it gets dark grey. My best guess would be ~10k cases per a bowl of media before I replace it. I don't dig cases out of the mud; mine typically start out relatively clean anyway. If I wait too long, it starts clumping up in the bottom of 223 cases and not easy it all out with the separator, if it gets to that point I know it is really time to replace it. |
|
Corncob it is for replacement Thanks all I have a load of some media I've been using for 15 or so years and seems to be going strong. I believe it's corncob but not 100% sure Debating if I need to swap it for new. I'll keep eye on it and buy new if it stops "coating" the clean 9mm brass for my Dillon 650 |
PROUD AMMOSEXUAL
Founding father Tench Coxe
“Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American."
Founding father Tench Coxe
“Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American."
|
I replace media based on how filthy the tumbler's bowl gets after a cleaning session. I use mineral spirits to clean the bowl. Once it's caked up and black I swap it out. Brass doesn't need to be perfectly cleaned. It only needs to be clean enough not to damage my dies. |
Joined:
Oct 2025
Posts:
1172
EE: 0% (0)
KY, USA
|
I bought some small diameter corncob media years ago. I use it with polish. I don't wet tumble, and I only have one tumbler. So i use it to clean, and also to remove lube from rifle brass. I forgot the quantity I bought, but I still have 3.5 5-gallon buckets - Enough for my lifetime. I replace it similar to others- when my tumbler gets caked. When it is very grey. If I wait too long, my "clean" cases leave a film in my fingers. I've used several polishes. I have settled on Lucas case polish. I can tell and feel the difference. |
|
Corncob is cheap....buy it as blasting media from places like Grainger or McMaster Carr etc. 14-20 grit. DO NO BUY CORN CORNCOB AT PET STORES....too big. Buy crushed walnut @ pet stores is sold as lizard litter!. I keep 2 batches one for lube removal and another pure polishing. I like iosso, dillon, and flitz for media additives...NuFinish is okay just not seem to add lubricity to the brass especially noted when sizing handgun brass..... |
jme and I am a NRA Endowment Member
Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
R W Emerson
Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
R W Emerson
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Joined:
Jun 2007
Posts:
73101
EE: 100% (1)
WA, USA
|
Originally Posted By rn22723: Corncob is cheap....buy it as blasting media from places like Grainger or McMaster Carr etc. 14-20 grit. DO NO BUY CORN CORNCOB AT PET STORES....too big. Buy crushed walnut @ pet stores is sold as lizard litter!. I keep 2 batches one for lube removal and another pure polishing. I like iosso, dillon, and flitz for media additives...NuFinish is okay just not seem to add lubricity to the brass especially noted when sizing handgun brass.....  Size matters when you tumble decapped cases. Like lube removal. Notice tumbling media is not lodged in flasholes. |
Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
|
Originally Posted By rn22723: Corncob is cheap....buy it as blasting media from places like Grainger or McMaster Carr etc. 14-20 grit. DO NO BUY CORN CORNCOB AT PET STORES....too big. Buy crushed walnut @ pet stores is sold as lizard litter!. I keep 2 batches one for lube removal and another pure polishing. I like iosso, dillon, and flitz for media additives...NuFinish is okay just not seem to add lubricity to the brass especially noted when sizing handgun brass..... https://www.harborfreight.com/25-lbs-fine-grade-walnut-shell-blast-media-92155.html Haven't used it yet, but I will.... |
| For pistols I just wet tumble and then load. Never had one stick as long as they are clean using carbide dies. I don't even own a dry tubler. For rifle same process except I get some Imperial Sizing Wax on my fingers and rub some on the neck and on the top of the case. Never have any issues. |
|
As dryflash3 says, the media needs replacement when it stops doing its job. Be aware that different kinds of media are best at different tasks. Walnut media is great for “scouring” brass because it is small, hard, sharp particles. Corn cob is great for polishing because it is soft and flat, so it can rub the cases. This also makes it great for removing sizing lube. No amount of additives will make walnut media polish brass, and nothing you can add to corn cob media will make it scrub gunk off of brass. But BOTH are pretty cheap, so (in typical ARFCOM style) get and use both. |
Armory Sponsor