cleaning media(I know you've mentioned it many times, but...)

[snowman]

...I've not been able to use 'search' successfully, and I'm about ready to clean some cases. In the past someone suggested strips of paper towels. I tried this, and the strips came out dirty, but the media was still dirty, too. Are there good ways to absorb most of the dust in used media without expending loads of time?

Thank you, friends.
Andy

 

[john traveler]

I belive the most accepted method of controlling tumbler dust is to use cut strips of clothes dryer "antistatic" sheets.

 

[wolverine]

Andy, I have tried it all, strips of paper towel, cotton balls, dollar store cotton pads, etc. They all seem to absorb SOME of the burnt powder blackness & other case contamination but as you note the tumbling media still turns black.

So what I have been using lately is to have (2) batches of tumbler media.. The fist batch is some cheap WallyWorld coarse corn cob bedding (about $3.00 a bag).. That coarse grain corn cob seems to stay looking clean a very long time.. I first run the cases in the coarse cheap stuff for about ½ hour then switch to my good walnut shell media. By doing this I get very long usage out of the "good media" & after many thousands of cases it still looks pretty decent..

Wolverine

 

[Cloudpeak]

I use walnut "Lizard Litter", dryer sheets and "Endust". I spray the Endust on the media and let it vibrate awhile before adding brass.

BTW, the dust from the media is something you don't want to inhale. When retrieving the brass from the tumbler, I do it outside and wear a mask.

 

[TSQUARED]

I purchse the ground corncobs in a 50 lb sack and ground walnut in a 25 lb sack from the local pet supply store. When the media gets slightly dirty I toss it out and replace with clean media. Why bother with the potential hazard of lead dust when the media is so inexpensive.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I solved the whole problem by just replaceing the media when it needs it. Life is too short to mess with old media, been there, used to do it.

 

[snowman]

I purchse the ground corncobs in a 50 lb sack and ground walnut in a 25 lb sack from the local pet supply store. When the media gets slightly dirty I toss it out and replace with clean media. Why bother with the potential hazard of lead dust when the media is so inexpensive.

There is no pet supply store here within reasonable driving distance, and the closest one does not stock these items(I checked). I have been forced to buy from a shooter's supply outfit which has to ship it to me, and it is NOT inexpensive, even apart from the shipping charge. Add shipping and you would know why I'd like mine to last awhile.

Andy

 

[oldRoger]

I order primers and powder from Powder Valley, Powder Valley, Inc. they have crushed walnut for $17 for 25# I always include at least 5# when I order.
After cleaning brass and removing same, I do put in used drier sheets (free) or cut up shop towels and run for a few minutes then remove the dirty towels. The towels do get dirty so have to be doing some good.
The best thing I have found is to wash the brass first in hot soapy water, I use the wash machine, which gets a lot of the bullet lube and crud off, and saves the media. (Dry outside on a screen)

 

[PDL]

So if you've got to have the stuff shipped in anyway, why don't you do a search for 'online pet supplies'. You'll find a bunch of potentials.
Anyway, you should be able to search their sites more than I did. I haven't used any, but I found a number of them.

Like

Zilla Ground English Walnut Shells Reptile Bedding at PETCO

Same stuff on a different site

ZILLA - RZIL ENGLISH WALNUT SHELL 25QT

Looks like this is a popular brand, here it is again.

Zilla Lizard Litter - Substrate - Reptile - PetSmart

 

[snowman]

Pete,

Thank you for that suggestion and for posting the links; I'll certainly check them out. Maybe it would be less expensive through one of those outfits.

Thanks to all for taking the time to respond. This is a very helpful forum.

Andy

 

[jepp2]

Alternate sources for media

I have found Grainger and Harbor Freight have better prices than I can find for media at pet stores. Just more places to check. Look for blast media.

 

[snowman]

Thank you very much, jepp2. I'll check them out.

Welcome to the forum, by the way; hope it will be as helpful to you as it has been for so many of us who have been around awhile.

Andy

 

[Basic_problem]

If price and availability is an issue, then why not throw your dirty corn cobb or walnut shell media in bucket of hot soapy water to clean it. Then spread over a piece of screen wire to rinse and dry before reuse. You can get the polishing compound to rejuvenate the media when you use it.

If you don't have a couple of days to wait for the media to dry or don't have the luxury of a back yard to leave it in, you can always put it in the oven on the lowest temp setting for a few hours to dry.

Keep in mind, its just corn cobbs, not some high tech compound made in a lab.

 

[2sigs]

If price and availability is an issue, then why not throw your dirty corn cobb or walnut shell media in bucket of hot soapy water to clean it. Then spread over a piece of screen wire to rinse and dry before reuse. You can get the polishing compound to rejuvenate the media when you use it.

If you don't have a couple of days to wait for the media to dry or don't have the luxury of a back yard to leave it in, you can always put it in the oven on the lowest temp setting for a few hours to dry.

Keep in mind, its just corn cobbs, not some high tech compound made in a lab.

While I think the washing and let dry on screen in yard etc. is a new and worthwhile idea I may try weather pending of course.

However, Drying the media in the oven I would seriously reconsider as it is not a good idea in my opinion to bake lead particulate in the oven I roast my Turkey in, Just a thought.

The old media question, good for a discussion every time..Thanks all for the tips I too am cheap and would like to get more for my $$

I use a Dillon 2000 and prefer Corncob as media and the new Flitz liquid as a polish. I use USED dryer sheets almost every time I run it as it seems to collect dust and that is the poison I want to trash.

I need to consider the washing machine and brass some, Shhh!... don't let momma know

-2sigs

 

[kev74]

I've been using a bit of mineral spirits with crushed walnut lizard-litter. I add a cap full every few weeks. It keeps the dust down and really helps cut the crud off the cases.

 

[thedane]

I never noticed the dust. I recently read that one should beware of the dust. I'll keep my eyes open and be more careful.

I would be more concerned about inhaling lead particles when shooting. If you're outside and the wind isn't blowing, how much lead particulate are you inhaling? If you're shooting in an indoor range, it's much worse. I don't care how many exhaust fans you have, when every lane is full on a weekend, you're inhaling lead. Way back when I used a range that caked the inside of my nose with black stuff. I didn't go back many times.

Just something to think about...

 

[snowman]

More stuff to ponder.

I'm wondering how much lead is an issue for someone like me who uses jacketed bullets only. Does lead still get in the media dust?

Andy

 

[dddddmorgan]

My tumbling setup consists of two tumblers.

My first is a Lyman that I use walnut media to "scour" the brass. Often I leave it running overnight to get stains etc off.

The second tumbler is a Thumbler brand an it has corn cob with Rooster's polish added. A couple hours in the corn cob and everything looks as good as new.

For "sun burnt" brass from range pickup I soak it in a liquid cleaner (homemade) for a couple of hours and that seems to do the trick.

I have a reloading room made in my garage and my tumbler set up and bullet casting and brass storage is all out in the garage so I don't worry about dust an such.

I never pay any attention to the color of the tumbling media as it gets dingy fairly quickly, I pay attention to how fast it works and how good the cases come out.

Hope this helps.