Looking for a untreated media.
What I have leaves a red color on the brass cases
What I have leaves a red color on the brass cases
Tumbling Media
- Thread starter jimmyj
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The crushed walnut shells is what I still use and I pick it up at the local pet store. The media has no color so no color is evident in the tumbled brass.
Erich
Member
Rice works, is cheap in bulk at your local grocery (buy the cheapest they have), and the light film of starch it leaves on cases helps lube the operations.
I also use Walnut but it needs to be tossed out when dust starts to happen.
Don't try to stretch its use time and it will work just fine.
You might need to check the primer holes if the cases are de-primed, though.
Don't try to stretch its use time and it will work just fine.
You might need to check the primer holes if the cases are de-primed, though.
muddocktor
Member
I use the Lyman Green treated corncob media. It works well and doesn't leave that red rouge all over everything. I buy the big tub from Amazon and it will last me a long time.
Lizard litter from Petsmart.......Cheaper than ANY of the commercial stuff.....Add a cap full of NU_SHINE car finish and GTG.
Rice works, is cheap in bulk at your local grocery (buy the cheapest they have), and the light film of starch it leaves on cases helps lube the operations.
In the beginning I tried rice.......It didn't work.
Hmmm, another "media" question. I'll short cut my post and get to the gist of my testing/experimenting with tumbling media over several years. I have tried all the "normal" media from beach sand to dried beans, peas and rice (rice breaks down faster than any similar organic media), wood chunks,glass beads and maybe a dozen others. My conclusion is the best all around tumbling media is corn cob blast media, 14-20. Blast media is much better quality controlled and designed for cleaning metals, not for pets to poop on. The only additive I use is a small amount of auto wax/polish, and have used Museum Wax to leave a light film to retard tarnish (most users I've read use way too much, just a teaspoon per load is enough). Tumbling is a mechanical method for cleaning metal. The action of the brass and media is what cleans the brass not a chemical action. For very tarnished brass, I use some HF resin media mixed in with my cob media, maybe 10%-15%. Straight resin media will clean brass quite quickly, but leaves a dull, matte finish. I use the resin pyramids for rusty tools and really tarnished/corroded brass (just a short time in the tumbler). 5.20 Lbs. Rust-Cutting Resin Abrasive Tumbler Media
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fredj338
Member
HF blasting media. It is untreated walnut, works great, way cheaper than pet store stuff, like $1/#. A cap of Nufinish polish & some cut up paper towel keeps the dust down & leaves the brass a little bit slippery.
Fine Grade Walnut Shell Blast Media - Harbor Freight Tools
BTW, rice is best eaten not as a media. it gets sticky & leaves a weird film also not as cheap as bulk walnut hulls.
Fine Grade Walnut Shell Blast Media - Harbor Freight Tools
BTW, rice is best eaten not as a media. it gets sticky & leaves a weird film also not as cheap as bulk walnut hulls.
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Patrick L
Member
I tried the lizard litter with Nu Shine, I wasn't impressed. Went back to Lyman treated cob.
I DO add a used dryer sheet to a load, it really soaks up excess dust and grunge.
I DO add a used dryer sheet to a load, it really soaks up excess dust and grunge.
mckenney99
Member
Last batch of media I purchased thru Grainger on-line, they have local office for pickup. Bought 50 lbs each of abrasive grade walnut and corncob. Very clean and virtually dust free & at a decent price. I use Midway/Franklin Arsenal case polish as needed. Tried the lizard litter from pet store and it generally was dusty and of too coarse to function properly.
msjdgman
Member
I've used regular walnut shell media, corn cob media, and now the lizard finely ground walnut. All 3 with Nu Finish. I prefer the lizard stuff.
I have used corncobs for years with a bit of Turtle Wax.
I use walnut blasting media from Harbor Freight--I find it's a little less dusty than walnut lizard bedding. I treat it with a dab of Nu Finish and mineral spirits.
I believe the 6MM Guys (or was it Accurate Shooter? Or Ultimate Reloader? Or RifleShooter?) did a test. They loaded two batches of ammo, one regular, and one with a kernal of walnut media lodged in the flash hole.
The batch with obstructed flash holes had a slightly lower velocity SD.
I believe the 6MM Guys (or was it Accurate Shooter? Or Ultimate Reloader? Or RifleShooter?) did a test. They loaded two batches of ammo, one regular, and one with a kernal of walnut media lodged in the flash hole.
The batch with obstructed flash holes had a slightly lower velocity SD.
This is what I use and I have thousands of rounds thru the same media. It still cleans just fine, and leaves a slippery film that helps lube the cases. I've bought wet tumbled used brass that I had to run thru the corncob to 'lube' it a bit.
fredj338
Member
Lizard litter is a poor mecia as well. I mixe cob & walnut 50-50, tsp of nufin every 3-4 loads. 2hrs to clean, 3hrs to shny.
I use the lizard litter, and it seems to work fine as long as it's not used too much. Corn cob always stuck in the flash holes. Lizard litter is too fine.
I don't know about this rice thing. Wouldn't you get lead poisoning when you cook it?
I don't know about this rice thing. Wouldn't you get lead poisoning when you cook it?
Benchrest1
Member
I use corn cob with a little Nu-Finish and mineral spirits.
Erich
Member
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