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11-24-2012, 05:17 PM
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Tumbling media
I have been using corncob media for a few years now and have never used anything else. A friend said he bought some crushed walnut hulls at a petstore (some type of bedding material use) and it worked fine. Any difference between corncob media and walnut hulls? Anything else out there?
Thanks
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11-24-2012, 05:45 PM
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My experience says that walnut tends to be better at cleaning and corn cob is better at producing a brighter shine. But, it really depends more on what you add to the plain media.
I prefer the 20/40 sieve size media in either since it doesn't tend to hang up in the flash hole. I deprime before I tumble, so in my process it just empties quicker from my Lyman auto-flo tumbler.
I have seen lots of pet bedding that is way too large. I know that some folks have great luck using pet bedding media, but those sizes aren't available in the stores around me.
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11-24-2012, 06:16 PM
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Walnut shells & Corn Cob
I agree with jepp2. But I add FLITZ POLISH to both. Highly polished very clean Brass.
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11-24-2012, 06:46 PM
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Lizard bedding is typically what is found at the pet stores. I got a 50# bag of crushed walnut at the local feed store for $17. A single 4 pound scoop can last over a year of tumbling several times a week. Here's the trick:
Add cut up used dryer sheets. For the first few tumblings they will come out completely tan as they pick up the walnut shell dust. After that, they will come out dark brown/gray as they hold the soot which includes the lead laden primer dust. I don't add anything to the media and it stays clean for a long time. Some folks add mineral spirits to trap the dust, others add a capful of NuFinish car polish once in a while for shiny brass. Both work to trap the soot to the walnut shells and eventually it starts to turn dark brown/black. If you want shiny brass, use two batches, one to clean, one to polish, it will last a lot longer. I just run one batch on a lamp timer for about 3 hours and it works fine.
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11-24-2012, 06:59 PM
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I use walnut media with a couple caps full of liquid metal polish. Tumbled brass comes out nice and clean but not highly polished. Since I also de-prime and resize before tumbling, checking the flash hole for media is part of the case prep. Here's some .223 I loaded this weekend, it was military brass that's been sitting in my basement for 20 years...
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Last edited by Black_Sheep; 11-24-2012 at 07:01 PM.
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11-24-2012, 07:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Black_Sheep
I use walnut media with a couple caps full of liquid metal polish. Tumbled brass comes out nice and clean but not highly polished. Since I also de-prime and resize before tumbling, checking the flash hole for media is part of the case prep. Here's some .223 I loaded this weekend, it was military brass that's been sitting in my basement for 20 years...
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LOL thats pretty
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11-24-2012, 07:24 PM
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Scroll down to the bottom of this thread. There are several threads on this. Some say walnut polishes and corn cleans. Or the other way around. I did a test and it doesn't matter. I use 50:50
Online Drillspot is your cheapest source 40 lbs delivered!
Econoline 526020G-40 Blast Media, 40 Lbs, Corn Cob, 14/20 Grit
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11-24-2012, 07:41 PM
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Thanks for all the replies. I saw all the threads at the bottom after I opened it. I have a Petco not too far and a Wally World. Gonna give the walnut a try. Maybe a 50/50 mix.
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11-25-2012, 08:26 PM
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Caution: If you use /add metal polish, make sure it has no ammonia ( as is common in many.). Ammonia will brittle brass fast. If you want to use polish, use one intended for reloading or Nufinish 2000 car polish.
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11-25-2012, 08:35 PM
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jkmo, if you ever get up north to Bloomington, I have a huge bag of corn cob media.
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11-25-2012, 09:17 PM
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Walnut scrubs brass cleans , corn cob polishes.
I care about clean.
Walnut comes in various grain sizes and is used in sandblasting cabinets for thin , easily warped stuff and soft metals. Ya can get it small enough that it won't get stuck in flash holes , so ya can tumble unprimed cases to clean primer pockets.
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