I've been using corncob media to keep my brass clean and it does a pretty good job at doing that (more or less). However I just bought some brass that looks like it's been sitting dirty for quite a while. I'm running ithrough the cob media now and it looks a little better but not great. Will walnut clean it more aggressivly?

Yes, walnut grit will clean more aggressively. Outdoor brass that is chocolate brown needs cleaning with Scotchbrite or steel wool to get shiny brite.

__________________
S&WHF 366

The only corncob media I've used is Lyman's Green media mixed (6) to (1) with their Tufnut media. It cleaned 44 Mag brass I've owned since the 70's that had years of reloads on them but had never been cleaned until I bought a tumbler a couple years ago. They came out super shiny after about 3hrs in fresh media. The dirtier the brass the sooner it takes the media longer to get them shiny.

The plain walnut media I've tried worked well but they didn't come out as shiny, even with some Tufnut added in.

.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

Walnut probably cleans better, but I find it too dusty. I use corncobs with car polish and let the tumbler run as long as needed.

This stuff is expensive, but it works.

Iosso Brass Case Cleaner Kit

Crushed walnut works great for cleaning. $17 for a 50 pound bag at a feed store. Throw in a couple of cut up used dryer sheets and they will pick up all the dust/soot. At first, they will come out tan colored as they pick up all the walnut dust. Later, they will come out light to dark gray depending on the side of the load as they pick up the soot exclusively. I don't use any additives because they will attract the soot to the media (I've tried that with mineral spirits and NuFinish and it simply makes the media dirty earlier).

Really ugly looking brass cleans up best with a piece of Scotchbrite with the brass spun in a drill with a case holder.

+1 for walnut. Used it for years of really dirty brass. Add a teaspoon of Brasso every other load or so. For me it was more important to get the brass clean than ready for a beauty contest. JMHO

__________________
Randy
Provenance nerd

Crushed walnuts at the pet store is cheap. So what if it doesn't last as long? Replace it! Corn cob always stuck in the flash holes for me.

As others have said, a strip of dryer sheet helps cut the dust. Just make sure it has been used in the dryer once. Otherwise, there is a good chance it will leave a residue on your brass.

Chubbs

For handguns I use the cheap Kaytee brand corn cob pet bedding from Wally-World--think it is about $2.80 for an 8# bag. Probably use 2# per tumbling, and discard after about 1,000 cases cleaned, usually 2 batches in my Lyman 1200.

For rifle I use finer walnut media, as the corncob above gets stuck in the rifle cases--something you don't want to find out when you are cleaning .223 Rem.

The used dryer sheets do help considerably, and I also set my tumbler up outside on a nice day to keep the dust outside.

Treated walnut media will. The stuff that has a red color to it, thats polishing rouge and will make them look like new.
I like my brass to look shiney, so I get treated, if you don't then you have to buy something like ISSO case polish to add to the shell to get that like new look.
Gary

Consider switching to SS pins with a little dish soap and Lemishine. Cases will look factory new.

A little liquid car wax added to the corn cob shines so bright it hurts your eyes.

Thanks guys. I've ordered some treated walnut and treated corncob from midway. I was almost out of what I had and I needed to get more on my order for the free shipping anyway so this was a good excuse. I have a vibratory cleaner not a tumbler so I can't use the stainless pins.

Try Zoro.com for 20-40 grit corn cob, very fine grit and doesn't get on the flash holes. 29 for 40 lb bag. 5 off on shipping with code "zmail4u". I still got 2/3 of the bag after 2 yrs, or make a group buy and split it into ziplock bags. I use 50-50 walnut and corn. Cheapest place I have found for corn cob, great service and fast shipping.

I have recently used citric acid to clean hulls. Does a good job and is a food product. I actually used some Kool Aid packets in hot water to clean some dirty 40 cal. Citric acid is the main item in kool aid. I just rinsed in cold water and air dried. You can also purchase citric acid at most grocery stores.

For those buying blasting media walnut from stores like Harbor Freight and Northern tool, what grit are you getting?

Wondering if folks have tried some of the other blasting media as well. Hate to buy 50 pound bags to experiment

Search results for: 'blasting media'

Blasting Grit, Glass Beads + Sand Blasting Media Accessories | Abrasive + Sand Blasters | Northern Tool + Equipment

__________________
Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?

I just tried some Turtle Wax chrome polish on some really dirty .45 brass some of it was black in my tumbler for about three hours and it came out looking like factory new brass.

Paul

__________________
Was born American I'M AMERICAN

+1 for Iosso

I use the fine grit from Harbor freight, it shows 24 grit. Its about the same grit as the corn cob (20-40) i got from zoro.com. Neither one clogs in the flash holes like the coarse will. Goes on sale once in a while and a 20% coupon at harbor freight, haven't used the stuff at Northern tool, but, looks a lot higher priced.

I used corn cob media forever but it never quite cleaned my brass as shiny as I liked it. I switched to walnut with a capful of NU Finish auto polish every other load and bras is shiny as new.

I have some tuff-nut and treated corn cob media arriving today. However, I tried the Turtlewax Chrome Polish thing mentioned by happy1 and the difference is amazing. I had run my recently aquired brass through the corn cob for about 4 hours and it looked cleaner but that was it. I then tried running it for about 3 hours in the same media but with some Turtlewax added. It wouldn't pass for new if you looked very closely but from a couple of feet away it looks just like new shiney brass. Seriously, the difference is astounding. I'll see today if the new treated walnut and cob make any improvement but I think it going to be difficult improving on what the Chrome Polish accomplished.

I tried a mix of both and have been happy with the results. The walnut really cleans and the corn cob gives a little more polish. I also use the dryer sheet trick and it works well for keeping the dust down.

Several years back I got hold of several thousand 5.56 hulls, some of which were literally black from contact with moisture. I de-capped them and soaked them in a concoction of tap water, a cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of salt. Gave them 15 minutes and rinsed them. The majority of the black came off and was replaced with a nice pink tone. I then ran them in walnut with the Frankfort Arsenal polishing liquid you get from Midway. I defy you to tell me this is not brand new brass...

The vinegar/salt recipe is on the 'net, and you can forget all those myths about it chewing up brass or de-alloying it. Just doesn't happen.

For the really inquiring mind, here is a link: Dezincification of Brass-Liquid cleaners [Archive] - Benchrest Central Forums