Helpful hints from Helosie, Removing dust from tumbling media.

[Rule3]

I and many others buy ground Walnut and or corn from the pet store Reptile bedding or blasting media from Harbor Freight or like places.

Not being "official" expensive gun products I found it works fine but has a lot of dust in in. I leaves a coating on the brass.

So I tried some old school winnowing. It was a breezy day so I put a tarp on the lawn and slowly poured a bucket of ground walnut on the tarp and watched the wind blow 90% of the fine dust away. I did this 3 or 4 times. Just keep your back to the wind. Any old piece of plastic or old shower curtain will work.

Put it in my tumbler, added some liquid brass cleaner and presto no dust!.

We do not use those dryer sheets but found that used Handi Wipes ( Wal Mart hand wipes) that I use at the range or in the car work just as well to pick up any left over dust and dirt.

 

[rodell]

I wonder how my neighbors would like that? I certainly wouldn't have thought of it.

I use the dryer sheet method and have been pretty happy with the results. My brass smells fresh and clean and has no static cling.

 

[Rule3]

What could they say? It's microscopic, they wouldn't see anything. Might think your nuts however.
Of course you could do it under the cover of night in a black tactical outfit.
More dust mowing the lawn.

 

[SMSgt]

Dust? What dust? I add 3-4 drops of Kit liquid "J-Wax" to the pet store ground walnuts and there is no dust to clean up. The cases come out bright and shiny, and they are slick as a whistle. Any residue on the cases is virtually non-exisitant. The cases also have that nice "new-car" smell. Give it a try before you piss the neighbors off and have to wash their cars.

 

[Rule3]

You must have the "premium brand" Yes, there is dust, yes I do put in polishing liquid, put damp rag in brand new media and tumble and tell me there is no dust. How much dust can 1 or 2 lbs of media have to piss off the neighbors? All there cars are in the Garage, mine is filthy.

Geez forget the whole thing

 

[JohnnieB]

Fortunately, all my neighbors are gun nuts also, all of our grarages are full of "stuff" rather than cars and we share an common aversion to car washing.

I'll have to try winnowing the next time I buy a bag of crushed walnut shells.

The bulk corn media we have around here comes in liquid form, so dust isn't a problem.

Thanks for sharing a good idea,
John

 

[Paul5388]

I use dried coffee grounds, after the good stuff is extracted and consumed. Any abrasive media will do the job, even ground peanut hulls. We used to clean Westinghouse gas turbine vanes with ground peanut hulls or ground pecan hulls in the intake.

 

[Hammerdown77]

OCD1, would tumbling outside for an hour without the lid on the tumbler (no brass) accomplish the same thing? Wouldn't have to mess with a tarp.

 

[Rule3]

OCD1, would tumbling outside for an hour without the lid on the tumbler (no brass) accomplish the same thing? Wouldn't have to mess with a tarp.

Probably. Good idea, but that would be too easy.

Next media change I'll try it.

 

[Engineer1911]

I bought corn cob media in 1996. I'm still using the original 3 tumblers full. What dust? Added a dose of Brasso and still clean brass. Added mineral spirits and a used dryer sheet. Cleaned all the yuk out of the tumbler and media.

What happed to saving money? Use the money on powder and primers, not cleaning chemicals. This is a shooting sport and NOT recreational house work!

 

[novalty]

How about putting them in cheese-cloth and using a compressor to blow them off?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sounds good and it obviously works.

I also use "used" dryer sheets because they also clean the media.

 

[Rule3]

I bought corn cob media in 1996. I'm still using the original 3 tumblers full. What dust? Added a dose of Brasso and still clean brass. Added mineral spirits and a used dryer sheet. Cleaned all the yuk out of the tumbler and media.

What happed to saving money? Use the money on powder and primers, not cleaning chemicals. This is a shooting sport and recreational house work!

For a Dollar or so I prefer to change my media with all the nasty compounds in it. The price is insignificant compared to other aspects of the hobby. I am as cheap or frugal as anyone else but skimping on a 4 cups of ground walnut and corn cob is a bit much. See the ongoing discussion thread on lead. It also works much better and faster. I tumble or vibrate for 2 hours and my brass is as new. My 25 lb box of wlanut from Harbor Freight will last me for many years to come.

 

[1x2]

This is a funny thread .



Alas, I have nothing to add.