Cheapest source of tumbling media.

HBW1412 · Aug 17, 2012

Forgive me if this has already been posted, but I'm sure most of you are like me and are always looking for a way to save money.

Several years ago I got a couple of parakeets for my nephew. When I was in the pet store I noticed they had ground walnut hulls that you put in the bottom of bird cages.

You have all seen how expensive walnut media is for tumbling brass. Well, you can get the exact same thing in a pet store for much less. I personally get mine at PetsMart in a 25 pound bag for around $23.00. This is the cheapest I have found unless you buy in much larger quantities.

They also have corn cob media, but I have never used it.

Several years ago when I stumbled onto this, the same bag was less than $10.

If anyone has a cheaper source, please let us know.

GCF · Aug 17, 2012

The last crushed walnut shell I bought, was from a local industrial sandblasting supply store. Big bag, & cheap. Got so much, I had to put it in 5 gal buckets for storage - even use it to stuff my bench rest bags.

Don't remember the price, as it was quite a while back. Still got a good bit left...

Rule3 · Aug 17, 2012

Drillspot is the place you want.

corn media

jag22 · Aug 17, 2012

I buy it at Graingers, around $25 for 40 lbs. I am able to pick it up in Dallas so no shipping charges. That link to Drillspot didn't look too bad since it included shipping. If you are near a Graingers that will be hard to beat.

TheTinMan · Aug 17, 2012

Just be careful about the size of the particles. I got some corncob critter litter that works GREAT for .38 and .45 cases. Then I made the mistake of tumbling some .223 cases in it. It took me a long time with a paper clip to dig the cleaning media out of those cases.

jepp2 · Aug 17, 2012

Just be careful about the size of the particles.

Agree 100%. I have standardized on the 20/40 grit size. It doesn't hang up in the flash hole as bad as the 12/20 does and it is much quieter in your tumbler. Much quieter. I have found the various sizes make no difference in cleaning. It is all in the additives you incorporate.

I have looked at the pet stores and never found the same deals I see listed on the forums. But I do read about lots of folks that wind up with problems due to excessively large particle size. I have seen corn cob pet bedding that is larger in diameter than the neck diameter of 223 rounds.

I buy my corn cob from DrillSpot and my walnut from Harbor Freight.

Rule3 · Aug 17, 2012

jag22 said:
I buy it at Graingers, around $25 for 40 lbs. I am able to pick it up in Dallas so no shipping charges. That link to Drillspot didn't look too bad since it included shipping. If you are near a Graingers that will be hard to beat.

The Drillspot media is drop shipped from Grainger, it is the same econoline media. They deliver fast, like a few days.

MP22 · Aug 17, 2012

What about using sand or salt?

Granddad · Aug 18, 2012

MP22: Offhand, I'm pretty sure sand or salt would be far too abrasive/corrosive. As far as sources, I also found drillspot to be a good deal.

mikld · Aug 18, 2012

jepp2 said:
Agree 100%. I have standardized on the 20/40 grit size. It doesn't hang up in the flash hole as bad as the 12/20 does and it is much quieter in your tumbler. Much quieter. I have found the various sizes make no difference in cleaning. It is all in the additives you incorporate.

I have looked at the pet stores and never found the same deals I see listed on the forums. But I do read about lots of folks that wind up with problems due to excessively large particle size. I have seen corn cob pet bedding that is larger in diameter than the neck diameter of 223 rounds.

I buy my corn cob from DrillSpot and my walnut from Harbor Freight.

Often the Corn Cob Pet Litter in stores, supermarkets or pet stores isn't the same as corn cob for blasting/tumbling. I've seen "flakes" of corn cob sold as litter and it definately won't work for tumbling. FWIW I've tried a bunch of stuff for cleaning brass and one item that works fairly well and can be found anywhere is rice. Not as good as corn cob or walnut shells, but in a pinch it'll work.

Wee Hooker · Aug 19, 2012

Farm stores often carry (or can order0 ground corn cob as pig food. Last I checked it was something like $12/50#.

imashooter2 · Aug 19, 2012

I also bought mine as blast media from the local welding supply years ago. 40 pound bag, inexpensive enough that I can't remember the price. As a bonus, blast media has much less dust in it than sources like pet bedding.

MP22 · Aug 20, 2012

Granddad said:
MP22: Offhand, I'm pretty sure sand or salt would be far too abrasive/corrosive. As far as sources, I also found drillspot to be a good deal.

I may be...I thought tumbling time would just be less.

ArchAngelCD · Aug 20, 2012

I buy from the pet store or Harbor Freight.

Frank46 · Aug 21, 2012

Best place to get corn cob and walnut is at a welding shop that sells blasting media. My buddy got two bags of corn cob for $24 and two bags of walnut also for the same price. Still have about half a bag of each. sometimes when polishing military brass you look at it and its a deep dark green. To me it means its doing its job. Frank

Wee Hooker · Aug 21, 2012

MP22 said:
I may be...I thought tumbling time would just be less.

As would usable case life.

m657 · Aug 25, 2012

I'd not like to subject my dies to that recipe either....

and for crushed 'medium' walnut shell, I got nearly a lifetime supply at HF about 10 years ago for $9. Probably is a bit higher now.

Old Corp · Aug 26, 2012

I've also used the 'alternate' sources for walnut and corncob.
Always wondered about using rice - just have never tried it.
Anybody here ever tried it?

tappedandtagged · Aug 26, 2012

TheTinMan said:
Just be careful about the size of the particles. I got some corncob critter litter that works GREAT for .38 and .45 cases. Then I made the mistake of tumbling some .223 cases in it. It took me a long time with a paper clip to dig the cleaning media out of those cases.

Been there, done that. It sucked the big one. It is now part used as stuffing for my shooting bags. I went out and bought some Lyman's green corn cob, but won't be doing it again once I use it up. Too much green dust all over my cases.

Thanks to jepp2 for suggesting the 20/40 grit size blasting media. I had started to go that route but was unsure of which gritt to get, so I bought the Lyman's.

rck281 · Sep 15, 2012

Does anyone add a polishing compound to the media. I have used the Dillon brass polish but am wondering if there is a better product.

Cheapest source of tumbling media.

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