changing media

[44magsam]

searched but cant find that much to answer my questions. how often do you have to change media in a viberater? is there anything that you can add to it to increace its life? i seen a thread on the forum that you can use some kind of pet beding that cost a lot less than the real stuff. can anyone tell me what this is?
thanks

 

[H Richard]

You will probably get more resopnses in the reloading section. But it will depend on how much you use it. Putting a "used" clothes dryer sheet in the machine helps keep the misc. out. I also use a liquid brightner (non amonia) about every 2nd or 3rd use. Midway sells several types, the Red Rooster is good. You can put used media in a porous bag and wash it, but it is cheap enough most won't bother. I believe the pet media is Lizard bedding, which is crushed nutshells(?). I just buy the corncob media, usually at gun shows to save on shipping, and treat withthe brightner. I can usually run about a couple thousand cases of pistol ammo before I add any brightner and won't change it for maybe 10,000 cases. The dryer sheet seems to collect the misc dust and crud. Good luck

 

[Dragon88]

Used dryer sheets can be run in the tumbler for about 10-15 minutes to collect some of the crud. You can also add a polish or "activator" to the media. I like Nu Finish car polish. Don't use Brasso though! I add Nu Finish to a new batch of media, then again after about 5,000 cases, and then change the media after another 5,000 or so. It depends more on the dirtiness of the media and how well it shines than case count.

Whenever you're changing or working with used media, do it outside in a well ventilated area. Used media has a lot of lead particulate in it.

 

[44magsam]

thanks guys i really appreciate the help

 

[Texas Star]

I'm having trouble understanding this thread. I thought that "used media" was good for lining the bottom of the parakeet's cage, and as for questions about "vibrators" I'd have to ask the editors of, "Cosmopolitan."

Sorry: couldn't resist.

 

[old bear]

Sorry: couldn't resist.

You are not the only one who wondered about this topic, and was trying to come up with some response that would not get me in to much hot water.

 

[44magsam]

Used dryer sheets can be run in the tumbler for about 10-15 minutes to collect some of the crud. You can also add a polish or "activator" to the media. I like Nu Finish car polish. Don't use Brasso though! I add Nu Finish to a new batch of media, then again after about 5,000 cases, and then change the media after another 5,000 or so. It depends more on the dirtiness of the media and how well it shines than case count.

Whenever you're changing or working with used media, do it outside in a well ventilated area. Used media has a lot of lead particulate in it.

how much Nu Finish car polish do you add?
thanks

 

[JoeHatley]

how much Nu Finish car polish do you add?

I pour a thin ribbon around the tumber and then let it run for a few minutes. My tumber holds 2 pounds of media and I 'm guessing the wax is less than an ounce.

I also us the walnut shell "lizard litter" for the pet store and change it out often.

 

[jcelect]

Corn cob media!

The corn cob media can be bought in a pet store! It is used for unsented kitty litter and a 50lb bag can be bought for less than $20.00! It's so cheap I don't clean it, when it gets dusty I change it!
jcelect

 

[chief38]

I reload quite a bit and have done so over the past 25 years while only changing the crushed walnuts ONE time. I use Dillon's blue case cleaner solution (a cap full for every 500 - 600 cases) and my cases continue to come out clean & shinny. They are not "show room new looking" but I am past that stage now and as long as they are clean and look descent I am more than happy for range reloads.

Also a note here:

When I did change the media, I did not notice any appreciable difference in the effectiveness between the new & the old stuff.

Chief38

 

[medalguy]

You can also order corncob media from Drillspot.com and they will deliver a 40 pound bag to your door for $26. I use three different buckets of media. The first bucket is used dry to clean any lube or finger smudges off loaded ammo. Just about 10 minutes before putting the ammo away. When that media gets a little dirty, it goes into bucket #2 and I use it to clean dirty range brass. Walnut media also works well here.

Bucket #3 is basically clean media with Nufinish polish added to really polish brass to a bright shine. I cut up a dryer sheet into 2 inch squares and let it tumble with the media to pick up most of the extra dirt and crud, then toss them. When this media doesn't clean or polish well any longer, I add a capful of mineral spirits to soften up the dried polish and extend the useful life of the media.

If you order media, get the 20/40 grade of media. That is small enough to not clog up the primer flash hole in the brass. Lizard litter is bigger and will plug up the holes. Get a box of large paper clips if this happens, straighten out one end of a clip, and pull up a chair to punch it out.