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5/7/2015 8:07:47 AM EDT
I am having problems with dry cleaning media clogging primer flash holes.

Suggestions on cleaning media would be greatly appreciated.

Cleaning flash holes is a PITA.

Thanks for the help.
5/7/2015 8:33:20 AM EDT
[#1]
Is it clogging in a dry way or clumpy way?

if small dry pieces, try walnut grounds (smaller but more of a pain in terms of mess). Harbor Freight has cheap boxes.

if in a clumpy way, you didn't mix the polishing compound in the media long enough (or at all) before putting in brass. That helps.

Or.. better yet, switch to wet tumbling for all post de-primed applications.
5/7/2015 11:52:59 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote History
Quoted:
Is it clogging in a dry way or clumpy way?

if small dry pieces, try walnut grounds (smaller but more of a pain in terms of mess). Harbor Freight has cheap boxes.

if in a clumpy way, you didn't mix the polishing compound in the media long enough (or at all) before putting in brass. That helps.

Or.. better yet, switch to wet tumbling for all post de-primed applications.
View Quote


Hello djryan;

Not clumping in the primer pocket but wedging in the flash hole.

Checked Harbor Freight they have two grits 24 and 12.  Which do you recommend?

I also wet tumble but still like to use the vib. dry cleaner to clean off range dirt.

Thanks for the help.
5/7/2015 1:07:14 PM EDT
[#3]
I use a Lee universal decapping die in the first station of my turret press. I don't usually have issues with media getting stuck but if there are any blocked flash holes it clears everything out.
5/7/2015 1:31:30 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Quoted:
I use a Lee universal decapping die in the first station of my turret press. I don't usually have issues with media getting stuck but if there are any blocked flash holes it clears everything out.
View Quote


Absolutely the best answer.

If a person is having a lot of primer pocking plugging by the media, then for sure think about using a different media (I use the Kaytee walnut stuff from the pet store).

HOWEVER, there is ALWAYS going to an occasional piece of media caught in a primer pocket, so if you deprime before tumbling, they just load as you do when you don't deprime and leave the deprimer in the sizer die.

The deprimer stem will poke through all the primer pockets and keep you from worrying if you had missed that one piece of trash. It's just good insurance.
5/7/2015 5:35:13 PM EDT
[#5]
Check out this thread

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/334053_Cheap_tumbling_media_.html
5/7/2015 5:40:36 PM EDT
[#6]
Switch to 14/20 grit media, which will flow through the flashole.
5/7/2015 11:57:11 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Quoted:
Switch to 14/20 grit media, which will flow through the flashole.
View Quote


This.  if it doesn't flow through it won't cause any problems on reloading. Mine comes marked as 1420, but is likely the same thing.  $16 / 40LB from the local grain store is hard to beat.

I have found that the higher the number the larger the size.  Larger cleans better but doesn't last for crap.
5/8/2015 6:18:33 AM EDT
[#8]
Quote History
Quoted:
Switch to 14/20 grit media, which will flow through the flashole.
View Quote

This, or deprime after cleaning.
5/8/2015 9:04:19 AM EDT
[#9]
I process my brass initially by decap, trim - some flash holes have a grain lodged in them but when I size on my 550B, the decap pin removes the walnut.

For subsequent loadings, I clean with spent primers in place.
5/8/2015 2:55:12 PM EDT
[#10]
I inspect my brass after it's been tumbled.  At this point I use a small punch to push out any corncob or walnut media that may have stayed in the primer pocket.
5/12/2015 9:27:25 PM EDT
[#11]
Get rid of that dry media.  Move on up to this: http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/

After 25+ years of going about it the same way as you I took the plunge.  You never have to deal with the dust, etc again.  I too go through any and all brass and discard the bad pieces in a bucket that will eventually I take to sell at a local recycler. Then I run the brass through the tumbler to keep my depriving dies clean.  Next, after depriming I run the brass back through the Tumblr to clean out the flash holes.  
5/13/2015 10:17:17 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote History
Quoted:

This, or deprime after cleaning.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Switch to 14/20 grit media, which will flow through the flashole.

This, or deprime after cleaning.


I deprime after cleaning.  It eliminates this problem and is easier on the dies.
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