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1/18/2011 10:03:49 AM EDT
After many years of reloading, my supply of tumbling media is about gone.  I had heard you can get corncob media at the pet store for less?  Anyone know what to ask for?

1/18/2011 10:07:24 AM EDT
[#1]
I've used the lizard litter before, but its real dusty.  

When I run out of my current supply of the discontinued Wal-Mart walnut bird litter, Im going to give this stuff a try: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ECONOLINE-Blast-Media-2MVR5?Pid=search

1/18/2011 10:11:42 AM EDT
[#2]
i have used  walnut lizard  mix from pet-co  works good
1/18/2011 10:13:52 AM EDT
[#3]
pet store lizard walnut works well. But they get powdery pretty fast so stick a few dryer sheets in there.
1/18/2011 10:26:56 AM EDT
[#4]
Corn cob, best deal is here:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/499763/econoline_526020g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

$24.65 and free shipping for 40lbs. Can't beat it!

This is a couple bucks cheaper and is finer grit media:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/521055/econoline_526040g-40_40_lbs_blast_media
1/18/2011 10:40:27 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Corn cob, best deal is here:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/499763/econoline_526020g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

$24.65 and free shipping for 40lbs. Can't beat it!

This is a couple bucks cheaper and is finer grit media:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/521055/econoline_526040g-40_40_lbs_blast_media


Thanks!   Cheaper than my Grainger link!
1/18/2011 10:43:09 AM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Corn cob, best deal is here:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/499763/econoline_526020g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

$24.65 and free shipping for 40lbs. Can't beat it!

This is a couple bucks cheaper and is finer grit media:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/521055/econoline_526040g-40_40_lbs_blast_media


Thanks!   Cheaper than my Grainger link!


Same stuff too.  It will probably be shipped from Grainger.  I use this corncob with some Dillon polish and it works really well.
1/18/2011 12:16:36 PM EDT
[#7]
Here's a nearly identical post from three weeks ago:

What exactly do i ask for at the pet store for corn cob media?

jonblack
1/18/2011 2:41:59 PM EDT
[#8]
This isn't worthy of it's own thread so I'll shoe horn it in here.

How much media are you guys using to be concerned about price?  I bought a 7lb jug of lyman walnut for $14.99 over a year ago and haven't thrown any of it out yet.  1/3 is my lube remover, 1/3 (mixed with some free hornady media) is my first pass cleaner, and 1/3 is in the bottle still untouched.  It all appears to still be working as good as new and I don't foresee replacing it any time soon.

Am I just reloading at a lot lower volume than you guys?  if I bought over 10 lbs of media at a time I would be set for years.
1/18/2011 3:13:06 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
This isn't worthy of it's own thread so I'll shoe horn it in here.

How much media are you guys using to be concerned about price?  I bought a 7lb jug of lyman walnut for $14.99 over a year ago and haven't thrown any of it out yet.  1/3 is my lube remover, 1/3 (mixed with some free hornady media) is my first pass cleaner, and 1/3 is in the bottle still untouched.  It all appears to still be working as good as new and I don't foresee replacing it any time soon.

Am I just reloading at a lot lower volume than you guys?  if I bought over 10 lbs of media at a time I would be set for years.


This

All these threads about the cheapest tumbling media has me scratching my head.  

1/18/2011 3:14:56 PM EDT
[#10]
I have a Frankford vibratory polisher as well as a small cement mixer. The small cement mixer is using about 20 pounds and the Frankford about 4 pounds if I recall correctly.

jonblack
1/18/2011 6:11:40 PM EDT
[#11]
I get my corn cob media here.   Its not the cheapest but it is a good grade and very little dust even in the bottom of the 40lb bags.  I buy 80LBs to 120LBs at a time.  80 LBs will last me 1 year.


http://www.greenproducts.com/corncob_info/sample_request.php?mode=submit
1/18/2011 7:19:33 PM EDT
[#12]
I got some of that walnut stuff from the pet store
It cleans fine and dandy, but almost sands it clean, rough finish...
Corn cob makes it smooth and shiny again
Sandy finished brass into your dies and chamber ?
1/19/2011 3:48:27 AM EDT
[#13]
Well for me, I use walnut for the inital heavy cleaning. Then pretty much after everything is said and done I toss it in cob for that nice bling shine.
1/19/2011 6:15:54 AM EDT
[#14]
I use the Granger corn cob and Lizard Litter from PetSmart. I mix it about 70/30. The Granger bag lasts me about 2-3 years. If I did not use lemishine on dirty range pick-ups first, it would probably last a year.

Get a buddy or 2 to split a bag from Granger with you if it's too much.
1/19/2011 8:45:14 AM EDT
[#15]
+1 on the drillspot... Ordered it monday night, and it is scheduled for delivery today...  Can't beat that speed and free shipping..


thanks to the poster for that info.
1/19/2011 9:26:59 AM EDT
[#16]
Nothing cheaper than a $25 rock tumbler from Harbor Freight and a bottle of Ajax and some lemon juice.  Half an hour in there and the cases look good.  No dust, and no media to separate or get stuck in the flash holes.  
1/19/2011 11:07:53 AM EDT
[#17]
Walnut is so much softer than brass (let alone steel) that there is NO problem using it to clean your cases.  But that's what walnut does-CLEAN.  It scours because it's hard and sharp.  That's good with dirty cases, but not good for blingy shine.  Corn cob, on the other hand, is soft, like a polishing cloth...see the point?  Use walnut to clean, corn cob to polish.

The whole point behind cheap media is that it's cheap.  When it starts to break down, look dirty, become to dusty, throw it away and add new media.  You'll see an immediate improvement in cleaning/polishing power and an immediate reduction in tumbling time.

For real bling, use a wet cleaning method, like hot water and LemiShine, and then polish with corn cob.  I'd do this as a three step process-CLEAN range brass with walnut then deprime, soak in hot water/LemiShine/Dawn dish soap for 20-40 minutes (agitate regularly) and then rinse and dry, then tumble in fresh corn cob until blindingly bright!
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