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12-09-2012, 02:41 PM
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Media for a tumbler
How often do you change it? I got a Cabela's vibratory tumbler when I got my re-loading kit and it came with a few lbs. of corn-cob media.
I've Google'd for a an hour now on how often to change it and can't find anything.
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12-09-2012, 03:08 PM
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Scroll down to the bottom of this page. There is similar threads posted.
Not to be crass but change it when it looks dirty. There is no set time, depends on how often you use it. Put a USED dryer sheet or damp paper towel in it when you tumble and it will pick up a lot of dust and dirt.
Order this and you will have enough for the rest of you life
It's deliver to your door in a few days, best deal going!
Econoline 526020G-40 Blast Media, 40 Lbs, Corn Cob, 14/20 Grit
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12-09-2012, 03:26 PM
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If I could get them to fit I would use news media.........they are usually abrasive enough...might make them useful after all.
Randy
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12-09-2012, 05:26 PM
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Grab a bag of ground walnuts from Petco or the like. Inexpensive for a big bag. I can tell by how long it takes to clean that it needs to be replaced. A few drops of liquid auto wax in the mix keeps the dust level down and produces shiny, slick cases. I've found it more effective than corncob.
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12-09-2012, 06:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMSgt
Grab a bag of ground walnuts from Petco or the like. Inexpensive for a big bag. I can tell by how long it takes to clean that it needs to be replaced. A few drops of liquid auto wax in the mix keeps the dust level down and produces shiny, slick cases. I've found it more effective than corncob.
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Not all walnut is equal. The stuff I got from a pet store was too coarse for anything but pistol cases. The peices kept getting stuck in my rifle case mouths.
Since then, I've moved to fine grain blast media fro Harbor Freight.
As far as when to change it, you will notice that it takes a good bit longer to tumble them clean. There is no set time or number of cases. Depends on how dirty the cases are, what type of powder you use etc. Its a play it by ear type of deal.
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12-09-2012, 06:32 PM
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Media is cheap and gets contaminated with some nasty heavy metal and such. Change it often. I don't know how often you use it, but when it goes from a light color to real dark, pitch it.
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12-09-2012, 06:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMSgt
A few drops of liquid auto wax in the mix keeps the dust level down and produces shiny, slick cases.
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IMHO waxing the cases is not a good idea. This will decrease the friction of the case on the chamber and increase the back pressure. This may not be very important in some handgun cases but could be very dangerous in a high power rifle like a300 Weatherby.
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12-09-2012, 09:23 PM
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I buy pet litter in 8lb bags from Wally World for $3.52, and get about 2 runs (400-500 pieces handgun brass) through my Lyman 1200 before it seems to be dirty enough that it takes a lot longer to actually clean the brass. For rifle brass or brass with smaller openings you can get 25 quart (32lb) bags of Zilla ground walnut shells from Amazon $18.43 and available for Super Saver Shipping with $25 order. Sometimes they have 50 lb bags for around $32 with free shipping.
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12-09-2012, 10:08 PM
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That seems like a good price for cleaning media. But how much more time is it adding to the run time after the 2 batches you run.
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12-10-2012, 12:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Argonnakid
That seems like a good price for cleaning media. But how much more time is it adding to the run time after the 2 batches you run.
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Well I'd guess it almost doubles the cleaning time. I can clean a batch of 250 (38/357) cases in about 3 hours with a fresh batch of media (1+ lbs). Also, I toss in a couple of used dryer sheets cut up into smaller 1/4 sheet size--they realy due hold a lot of debris. I then dump in my Cabelas separator to separate the brass from media, and dump the media back into the tumbler. Running the second batch through on this media seems to take between 4-5 hours to get the same level of cleaning as the first batch. I typically dump the batch out after this. I've never weight the amount of media I dump into the machine. My cases don't come out as clean as wet tumbling with stainless steel pins, but they are a whole lot cleaner than when they get dumped into the tumbler--and I don't have to dry them when I take them out--but you do need to check cases for errant pieces of corn cob. I ran a huge batch of brass through my tumbler about 2 weeks ago now: 950 (38 Special), 1650 (357 Magnum), 300 (9mm), and 100 (45 acp). I didn't go through quite a whole 8lb bag of corn cob media. The tumbler ran about 40 hours that week.
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12-10-2012, 01:35 AM
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Maybe it is that my tumbler holds more than yours. I have a Frankford and it uses about 3 lbs. of media to get the proper movement of cases and media. A 5lb. jug of untreated corn cob has lasted me thru about 2000 cases of .223 rem, 1000ish 9mm, and 235 of .380. It's still getting them clean in about 3-4 hours. But then my clean and your clean could and is most likely different. BUT, I am willing to try new things and if I can save a dollar.... So thanks for the heads up on the time span of the wally world media. I'll give it a try and see how it does for me.
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12-10-2012, 08:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rule3
Scroll down to the bottom of this page. There is similar threads posted.
Not to be crass but change it when it looks dirty. There is no set time, depends on how often you use it. Put a USED dryer sheet or damp paper towel in it when you tumble and it will pick up a lot of dust and dirt.
Order this and you will have enough for the rest of you life
It's deliver to your door in a few days, best deal going!
Econoline 526020G-40 Blast Media, 40 Lbs, Corn Cob, 14/20 Grit
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Thanks for the link .
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12-10-2012, 10:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rck281
IMHO waxing the cases is not a good idea. This will decrease the friction of the case on the chamber and increase the back pressure. This may not be very important in some handgun cases but could be very dangerous in a high power rifle like a300 Weatherby.
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1. Your breeches don't lock when firing?
2. Polished cases feed with less resistance.
3. Cases expand in all directions to seal upon firing.
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12-10-2012, 02:31 PM
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My tumbler isn't big either. It holds 250 .223 rounds MAX. The instructions say to drop a cap full or two of polish per tumble to polish the cases. I did it the first time and they came out really nice. I let it run about an hour or so initially to get the fouling of carbon off after I shot them for the first time, and again after I put on the Imperial sizing wax and de-primed and re-sized them.
I was just curious how often to change it. Couldn't find any thing locally besides this big green jug of "Lyman" media at Wal-Mart. Going to order some back-up media from Midway I think.
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12-10-2012, 03:05 PM
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Don't drop the polish into the media with the brass in it. It likes to get inside the cases and is a mess to get back out. I give a squirt into the media and let it run for a while. Then check it for clumps and break them up with your fingers and runs some more. No more clumps and it's ready.
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12-10-2012, 03:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximumbob54
Don't drop the polish into the media with the brass in it. It likes to get inside the cases and is a mess to get back out. I give a squirt into the media and let it run for a while. Then check it for clumps and break them up with your fingers and runs some more. No more clumps and it's ready.
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I learned that lesson fast.
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12-10-2012, 04:46 PM
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If the cases you are cleaning are NOT lubed (eg, pistol) or the lube you used (eg, on rifle) is NOT a powder contaminant, then you will know when to replace the media. Cleaning time will increase, or your cases are not as clean as they used to be
I use a lube that might contaminate powder (eg, synthetic motor oil like I do), so I replace the media more frequently, ie, when it no longer gets the cases clean and not slick.
While many of the measurements indicate reloading is a science, there are some aspects of home reloading that lend themselves more to "discovery", as an art.
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12-10-2012, 10:08 PM
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soak cases over night in simple green and rinse. let air dry for a day and then tumble the media will last for years if its a good walnut . the brass polish like midway sells works better . and as for slick cases . they aint going anyplace in a chamber
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12-12-2012, 12:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by max
Media is cheap and gets contaminated with some nasty heavy metal and such. Change it often. I don't know how often you use it, but when it goes from a light color to real dark, pitch it.
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I started washing my brass in Lemi Shine before tumbling to reduce those nasties in the dust. A bit of a pain but there is less bad stuff/dust, the brass shines up quicker & media lasts a looooong time.
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