Harbor Freight walnut media?

[chief38]

I no longer use Walnut Shells since I first tried Lyman Green. It works better and lasts a long time. Since it's pre-treated, no additives or polish are needed.

 

[gman51]

I use Petco lizard litter and nothing else. It's really cheap compared to what gun stores want for walnut shell material which is what the lizard litter is. I have done over a couple thousand rounds and still on the first material in the tumbler. The material still is clean enough to use some more times.

 

[Leonard]

Some years ago I bought media from Harbor Freight ended up throwing it away way too dusty poor quality like most of what they sell. I also went to lizard bedding much cleaner.

 

[Steve_Revo_]

I have a 5 gallon bucket that is pretty much a 60 / 40 mix of walnut lizard bedding and corn cob.... I rotate what I use and I put in a squeeze of liquid car wax and it works like a dream.

 

[typetwelve]

I use it in my tumbler...works fine. I have a batch with red jewelers rouge added and a plain batch. Also use it in my media blaster for blasting plastics and other delicate items.

Man...I tried that combo an it made a mess so bad, I darn near threw out the brass afterwards. I picked up some walnut media from Pet Smart and a co worker gave me a baggie of that red jewelers rouge...my god, did it make a mess.

Now, I use this:
Lyman Turbo Brass Cleaning Media Corn Cob Medium Easy - MPN: 7631392

I ran 1500 38 spcl, 500 44 spcl, 500 44 magnum, 500 357 magnum, and 3000 9mm through the same batch of that stuff in my unit and the 9mm still came out clean.

 

[Black Sunshine]

Man...I tried that combo an it made a mess so bad, I darn near threw out the brass afterwards. I picked up some walnut media from Pet Smart and a co worker gave me a baggie of that red jewelers rouge...my god, did it make a mess.

Now, I use this:
Lyman Turbo Brass Cleaning Media Corn Cob Medium Easy - MPN: 7631392

I ran 1500 38 spcl, 500 44 spcl, 500 44 magnum, 500 357 magnum, and 3000 9mm through the same batch of that stuff in my unit and the 9mm still came out clean.

I had several hundred 6mm, 308, 30-30, and 5.56 cases that had been stored for 25years (heavily tarnished). Plain walnut was taking a really long time, so I researched and found the rouge. It sped up the process a lot, but yeah, definitely have to use the cover on tumbler. I think I ended up adding some mineral spirits to cut the dust.

I prefer using the ultrasonic with citric acid and only tumble to polish, if I feel it's needed.

 

[typetwelve]

I had several hundred 6mm, 308, 30-30, and 5.56 cases that had been stored for 25years (heavily tarnished). Plain walnut was taking a really long time, so I researched and found the rouge. It sped up the process a lot, but yeah, definitely have to use the cover on tumbler. I think I ended up adding some mineral spirits to cut the dust.

I prefer using the ultrasonic with citric acid and only tumble to polish, if I feel it's needed.

I have the Lyman tumber with the slotted lid, it made one heck of a mess. Where I really like the built in sifter lid...it's dusty with anything I've tried except their own treated corn cob, which isn't dusty at all.

I hear you on the time, I run my bowls for 3hrs. It's noisy so I run it on an outlet timer while we're all at work/school for the day, then I run one bowl a day.

 

[Joe4d]

Dont see the point of all the work arounds dealing with walnut media dust.
Just use corncob,, dont get the dusts, cleans just as well, may take a bit longer but works fine without the dust all over your brass.

 

[typetwelve]

Dont see the point of all the work arounds dealing with walnut media dust.
Just use corncob,, dont get the dusts, cleans just as well, may take a bit longer but works fine without the dust all over your brass.

This is what got me...when I used that walnut and red powder, it literally coated my brass with the stuff, I couldn't get it off. Had it not been a tub full of 44 special brass, I would have just chucked it. I had to wash them off in soap/water to get that powder off of it, it was a giant pain...

 

[Pauldg]

Update- Harbor Freight Media

Greetings all,

I went ahead and purchased a box of the Harbor Freight coarse walnut media. I added a some Dillon rapid polish, and tried it out.

I must say, at about 20 bucks for a 25 pound box, it is one of r better values out there. I usually let the tumbler run about 3 hours per batch. I've run 3 loads of 9mm brass so far, and it has all come out nice and clean.

Bottom line, don't hesitate to try this stuff.

Paul G

 

[S&WIowegan]

I can't say what I do is better or worse than all the methods already mentioned. My highest volume of brass is pistol/revolver empties. After 30 yrs of tinkering, here is what I do.

I have two medium size Thumlers tumblers which are 25+ yo. I clean with Lyman walnut/rouge, but the stuff has way too much rouge which will cause each case to jam full so I cut the mix with walnut from a pet store. That's the cleaning phase. I tumble the brass to get all media out, then put brass in a different tumbler with clean corn cob and a very light dab of Flitz or Nu-finish. The final product is clean, shiny and ready to use.

I leave primers in to avoid filling every primer hole with media.

YMMV

 

[trapper9260]

This is what got me...when I used that walnut and red powder, it literally coated my brass with the stuff, I couldn't get it off. Had it not been a tub full of 44 special brass, I would have just chucked it. I had to wash them off in soap/water to get that powder off of it, it was a giant pain...

I had got the Lyman walnut it had red powder and do not worry about the red powder.I run my cases first with that then I size the brass and deprime them and then I run them in ground up corn cobs.It works for me.It been many years ago that I got the ground up walnut of Lyman .I also use cut in strips dryer sheet for the dust .

 

[prairieviper]

I use Zilla Ground English Walnut reptile bedding that I can get at Walmart for just over six bucks for a 5 quart bag. It is a find grind. I always add a cap full of Nu Finish (or other brand I have on hand) liquid car polish. I have done this for years and the brass looks great. It works for me!