Tumbler media question

[Jamie Jackson]

Well it's time to change the media in FL 2000 tumbler. Lord that stuff gets dirty...

I've seen Lizard bedding ( Zilla crushed walnut) mentioned on several forums and iirc I've seen it mentioned here at TGO.

The local Petco carries it at a much lower price than places like Midway .

I know walnut doesn't polish as well as corncob media. I'm not looking for "pretty", just clean brass.

Anyone have any first hand experience using this?

TIA

[xsubsailor]

Used it all the time before switching to wet tumbling and it worked great. I always deprimed before cleaning and unlike the regular media, it didn't clog the primer hole.

[jpx2rk]

HF has some cleaning media that is reasonable, I've used the fine grit media but I usually wet tumble as well.

https://www.harborfreight.com/25-lbs-fine-grade-walnut-shell-blast-media-92155.html?_br_psugg_q=cleaning+media

 

[Jamie Jackson]

Thank you @xsubsailor!

The 10 qt Zilla "Desert Blend" is only $17.99 and the Petco is just down the road from me.

Think I'll give it a try.

Thank you @jpx2rk... just saw your reply as I was posting this.

[TNMTBik3r]

The Zilla desert blend, and other lizard litter brands were very dusty in my experience.

I switched to the HF walnut media above and am happier with it. And a 25# bag means it is going to last quite a while even with more frequent media swaps if it does break down and get dusty.

[AuEagle]

Agra-Grit Walnut Shell Blasting Grit, Medium, 10 lb., BGM10 at Tractor Supply Co.

[chances R]

Jamie, you really need to switch over to    wet tumbling.  Get the Hornady tumbler.  No need to deprime first, unless that’s your preference.  RCBS brass cleaner, about 10cc a run.  Great looking results.

[noylj]

Get 20/40 corn cob media from home depot or such.

[Jamie Jackson]

4 hours ago, chances R said:

Jamie, you really need to switch over to    wet tumbling.  Get the Hornady tumbler.  No need to deprime first, unless that’s your preference.  RCBS brass cleaner, about 10cc a run.  Great looking results.

I probably do need to at the very least consider the change. 

Money is kinda tight right now. But there's always the next Black Friday sale 

My old Dillon tumbler just keeps working. Like my old Lee press,  I keep thinking I'll replace it when it wears out... 30 years later they just keep working LOL 

[gregintenn]

I use corn cob pet bedding. It works great, by is a little larger than I’d like, as I always have to dig pieces out of rifle brass.

[Jamie Jackson]

I've got the Zilla running in my tumbler as I type this. 

I don't deprime my brass first btw.

I 'll give it a few hours and see how it  works. 

My tumbler is in my basement,  so the potential for dust really isn't a concern. 

 

[RED333]

Are use both methods with stainless steel pans in a homemade Tumblr and walnut with some type of car polish in the vibrator. I had an old rock Tumblr from teenage years, I bought some 6 inch PVCa cap and an adapter and a rubber cap to make my Tumblr barrel. I will see if I can get some pics when I get home this afternoon. Afternoon. The stainless pans wet really clean the brass. However the walnut in the vibrator will polish much better.

[jpx2rk]

I use the FA wet tumblers, have the large and small, they may be less $$, very satisfied with both of them.  Get the wet/dry media separator, very useful.  I've not found a SS pin in any brass after the dry cycle when i continue on with the brass processing for reloading.  

[Jamie Jackson]

I'd appreciate seeing a pic of the setup you're describing @RED333. Sounds like something I could work with.

Thanks @jpx2rk.

I'll eventually have to try wet tumbling.

btw, the Zilla media worked great and I couldn't appreciate any dust issues.

[RED333]

4 hours ago, Jamie Jackson said:

I'd appreciate seeing a pic of the setup you're describing @RED333. Sounds like something I could work with

 

[Jamie Jackson]

Thank you @RED333! That's pretty darn clever my friend.

[gregintenn]

21 hours ago, Jamie Jackson said:

I've got the Zilla running in my tumbler as I type this. 

I don't deprime my brass first btw.

I 'll give it a few hours and see how it  works. 

My tumbler is in my basement,  so the potential for dust really isn't a concern. 

 

Squirt a little liquid car polish in there.

A dryer sheet will help as well.

Edited March 20, 2021 by gregintenn

[RED333]

4 hours ago, Jamie Jackson said:

Thank you @RED333! That's pretty darn clever my friend.

I am a cheap SOB, only issue is 7mm rem mag. The long case and narrow case mouth makes the pins hard to get out. As well as fill the case with pins and not clean very well. The vibrator and walnut hulls work great to clean the inside of cases.

30 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

Squirt a little liquid car polish in there.

A dryer sheet will help as well.

I am going the have to try the dryer sheet. Wife got mad I used the car polish, till she saw the effect.

[gregintenn]

The dryer sheet keeps your media clean longer.

[AuEagle]

1 hour ago, gregintenn said:

Squirt a little liquid car polish in there.

A dryer sheet will help as well.

We used a little bit of Brasso in our media.

[expendable]

2 minutes ago, AuEagle said:

We used a little bit of Brasso in our media.

I use Nu Finish polish. 

I thought Brasso had ammonia in it that can cause your brass to crack? 

[gregintenn]

28 minutes ago, expendable said:

I use Nu Finish polish. 

I thought Brasso had ammonia in it that can cause your brass to crack? 

I think NuFinish is what I have. Orange bottle.

I was thinking I’d read something similar about Brasso. I have no idea whether there is any validity to it.

[Jamie Jackson]

On 3/20/2021 at 9:51 AM, gregintenn said:

The dryer sheet keeps your media clean longer.

OK, I tried this. Now my brass has no "static cling" and smells like Gain detergent "Moonlight Fresh".

Have I been had?

 

[gregintenn]

8 minutes ago, Jamie Jackson said:

OK, I tried this. Now my brass has no "static cling" and smells like Gain detergent "Moonlight Fresh".

Have I been had?

 

What does your media look like?

[Jamie Jackson]

26 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

What does your media look like?

I was just yanking yer chain my friend.

The media looks great! Not nearly as dirty as without the dryer sheets.

Thank you for the suggestion. I was simply compelled, uncontrollably I might add, to be a smart a**.