Armory Sponsor
Posted: 10/6/2008 11:50:43 AM EDT
|
Can you guys let me know when to replace the tumbling media. Right now I am using crushed walnut and it is about 2 years old. I have to tumble brass for a long time before its shining again and it still isnt all that great. So I am thinking it is definately time but just wanted to know what I SHOULD be looking for. Also, what are the differences in media (walnut, corn cob or anything else) I was reading on here that people are having good luck with the green corn cob from Lymans. Then there is the pet store lizard litters (crushed walnut). Should I use more than one type? Clean with something and then polish with something else. Thoughts/suggestions Thanks for the help Gunny M |
I'm new to reloading, So i'll give you my $0.02 worth, but won't charge ya anything for it!  Obviously it's time you replace your media, There are figures as to if it takes longer than x to polish your brass, it's time to replace it. I think its 3 hours? But it's really hard to go by that since depending on if you put 50 cases or 250 cases in the tumbler it will take longer, So I personally will just go by how it works when new, and after some time if it's not performing to my requirements I will replace it, No special math formula, no time limit, just how it is working for me. As for which media, I am just using corn cob media, the local shop sells some bulk untreated stuff for $5/gal. I might try walnut later on. My personal thoughts which are not based on anything, is that corn cob is softer and more porus, thus it is probably easier on the cases, and polishes better than walnut, but walnut probably last quite a bit longer. Again that's not based on any facts, just my thoughts. I say use whatever is most available to you, that works to your requirements, and is most affordable. Some people want their cases to shine like a mirror, others don't care if the brass is dull as long as it's clean. So that's your prefrence. -Masta |
|
I buy crushed walnut from Petsmart, and it has enough to last me quite a while. When it takes forever to polish, it is time to replace. I put NuFinish in with mine for the first batch, and do not add it again unless using new media, then for the first batch again. You can also use corn cob to really brighten things up, but I haven't that sort of time. Edit to add: When I do want to bling the brass (for bragging rights at prairie dog shoots, for instance), after tumbling the lube off with walnut, assembling the components, I then tumble in corn cob with the loaded round. Never use anything with ammonia, e.g. Brasso, and use a drier sheet to soak up the funk in the media while tumbling. |
|
I use the pet store lizard litter. I add a few squeezes (maybe 2 "toothbrush" full) of Flitz polish. I run the tumbler for about an hour (until it is all mixed, no clumps) Then I add a teaspoon or 2 of Hoppes #9, run about 15 minutes (until no clumps). Quantities depend on how much media... I have a Lyman Turbo 650? and run it 3/4 full of media. The brass comes out like new. I use the same media until it doesn't get the brass clean anymore and gets gummy crud on it... then I know I should've replaced it a couple tumbles ago ... basically it will get brown instead of tan like it is new. Also... you'll notice a build-up in the hopper. BOTTOMLINE... use it until it doesn't clean anymore. I tumble 500+ rounds per WEEK, and I EASILY get a couple of (2-3) months out of a batch. A lot depends on how cruddy your brass is to begin with. Add some "stuff" to it... it will clean WAY better. You can buy the "conditioners" at the gun shop... but like the "tumbling media" they sell it is WAY overpriced. Crushed walnut is crushed walnut. |
|
Not really an answer to the actual question asked, but here's another option for cheap walnut media. I replace as often as I feel like it after having found this deal, since a tumbler full of media costs less than a cold Coke. |
|
i use lizard litter (walnut) in my lyman turbo and the corn media that came with my Frankford Arsenal Tumbler/Media Separator kit in the FA tumbler. The corn works great for polishing with the brass polish that came with the kit. Does anyone know what media FA includes in this kit? The lizard litter works well for general cleaning but not a great polisher even with the FA brass polish. I've also noticed that it's really dusty. I always use used dryer sheets when tumbling and they come out caked with walnut colored dust. |
|
I change my media about as often as we change Presidents. I use a cap full of Nu Finish car polish every few loads and always load up the media with a new dryer sheet cut into 2" squares in every tumble. The dryer sheets suck the gunk and dust out of the media (what turns it black) and keeps it working almost for what seems indefinitely. My 2 year old media still looks like ground up corn and not soot. :) |
very interesting.... very interesting indeed. I thinks I gonna have to try that! |
I use "used" dryer sheets. Keeps the wife happy (she gets to use them for their intended role) and it recycles them for another usage out of the otherwise thought of as "trash" of a used dryer sheet. They cut down on dust as well when using walnut media. |
|
I replace it when it gets gray and "ookie" looking. Now if you are a real cheap bastard you can wash your media, it's a pain but it can be done. (I only did it once to prove the point) Go to Petsmart and buy a 20 lb bag of Kaytee walnut litter for birds. You should be good for a good long time. |
|
OK, so I am bringing this thread back. I have gone to the local pet store and bought corn cob but the stuff might be a little big. I have to take a nail and dig it out of the casings. Is there a certain size I should be looking for? I just bought the arm and hammer cat litter but I think it maybe treated and it looks really small so I am going to just take it back and keep looking for the all around best thing.
Anybody want to jump in and share their knowledge? Thanks and Merry Christmas!!! |
|
Quoted:
OK, so I am bringing this thread back. I have gone to the local pet store and bought corn cob but the stuff might be a little big. I have to take a nail and dig it out of the casings. Is there a certain size I should be looking for? I just bought the arm and hammer cat litter but I think it maybe treated and it looks really small so I am going to just take it back and keep looking for the all around best thing. Anybody want to jump in and share their knowledge? Thanks and Merry Christmas!!! Cat litter is clay or recycled paper. I use walnut to clean cases. Since I've started using a dryer sheet every second or third load I haven't tossed any. It's going to last forever as near I can tell. I delube in corn cob sold by Graf's. About 10% of the cases get a piece stuck in the flash hole, but I the only time I ever had to dig it out of cases was the first time I used Dillon lube on .30 Carbine cases. Even though I didn't intentionally spray the interiors of these cases, plenty of lube made its way inside. |
|
I use walnut treated with FA polish to clean cases.
Delube with plain corn cob. I tumble overnight, I like the brass to shine. When media doesn't clean good, I toss it. 
For corn cob, get the 1/8 mini cob, right side tray. 1/4 corn cob in the front.  Will pack solid in 223 brass.
Works fine for cleaning 40 or 45 pistol brass. Used dryer sheets keep the dust down. |
|
You asked if you should use more than one kind of media. Yes, indeed, you should. Note that crushed walnut shell is relatively hard and sharp, and it's really good for scouring (safely) your brass, but it doesn't do a great job of polishing. Corn cob is relatively soft, and it's really good for polishing, but doesn't do such a great job at getting gunk off of brass. The trick is just to figure out which type to use for what purpose.
I put my range brass in the tumbler with "used" walnut media and let that run for an hour or two. Being "used," this stuff is already a little dirty, but it's there to scrub off the mud, dust and whatever other crap has gotten stuck to the cases. The dryer sheet idea helps keep down the dust (you do not want to breathe that stuff!), as well as keeping the media in good shape, but you can't avoid the media picking up the crap you're trying to get rid of from range brass. Once the brass is "clean," you can go ahead and process it. You may find a bit of media stuck in flash holes, but depriming takes care of that. Oh, and what I use is "Lizard Litter" from the pet store. Much cheaper and easy to get. After processing, I polish my cases with treated corn cob to remove lube and shine 'em up. I use Lyman's green stuff and it does a good job. I reuse it several times, until the brass just isn't getting shiny within a reasonable amount of time. I'm looking for a source of that "1/8 Mini Cob" litter that dryflash uses, but none of the pet stores around me carry it. That stuff, with a good polishing agent like Flitz, will be at least as good as the Lyman stuff, and probably a LOT cheaper. Cheap is an important point. This stuff isn't gold, it's more like sandpaper and paper towel. Use it until it doesn't work anymore, then replace it. I'd also like to mention that it's possible that your media will pick up measurable quantities of lead over the time you use it, so I would suggest that you bag it up good and put it out with the trash, where it will be (hopefully) dispersed with the other stuff in your landfill and thus reduce the point levels of lead so low that your contribution won't be measurable. |
|
Quoted:
You asked if you should use more than one kind of media. Yes, indeed, you should. Note that crushed walnut shell is relatively hard and sharp, and it's really good for scouring (safely) your brass, but it doesn't do a great job of polishing. Corn cob is relatively soft, and it's really good for polishing, but doesn't do such a great job at getting gunk off of brass. The trick is just to figure out which type to use for what purpose. I put my range brass in the tumbler with "used" walnut media and let that run for an hour or two. Being "used," this stuff is already a little dirty, but it's there to scrub off the mud, dust and whatever other crap has gotten stuck to the cases. The dryer sheet idea helps keep down the dust (you do not want to breathe that stuff!), as well as keeping the media in good shape, but you can't avoid the media picking up the crap you're trying to get rid of from range brass. Once the brass is "clean," you can go ahead and process it. You may find a bit of media stuck in flash holes, but depriming takes care of that. Oh, and what I use is "Lizard Litter" from the pet store. Much cheaper and easy to get. After processing, I polish my cases with treated corn cob to remove lube and shine 'em up. I use Lyman's green stuff and it does a good job. I reuse it several times, until the brass just isn't getting shiny within a reasonable amount of time. I'm looking for a source of that "1/8 Mini Cob" litter that dryflash uses, but none of the pet stores around me carry it. That stuff, with a good polishing agent like Flitz, will be at least as good as the Lyman stuff, and probably a LOT cheaper. Cheap is an important point. This stuff isn't gold, it's more like sandpaper and paper towel. Use it until it doesn't work anymore, then replace it. I'd also like to mention that it's possible that your media will pick up measurable quantities of lead over the time you use it, so I would suggest that you bag it up good and put it out with the trash, where it will be (hopefully) dispersed with the other stuff in your landfill and thus reduce the point levels of lead so low that your contribution won't be measurable. Got the mini cob at either Pet Smart or Petco. Don't remember which. They seem to be out of it very often.[>:/] |
Armory Sponsor