Vibratory tumblers and corn cob media

I use worn out wallnut and corncob mix when I have dirtier brass, I have another can of just corncob when I want to really polish it.

I change my media once in the last 30 years. I do use dryer sheet, mineral spirits, and polish in mine also.

If you put to much polish in it the media will quit working though. Keeping the dust out really helps also.
 
Wendyj, I have tumblers, one holds 1,000 30/06 cases or 45 pounds of tumbling media ;). The Ultra Vibe 45 is an expensive tumbler. I also have a Ultra Vibe 10. Around here things ware out, my tumbling media wares out and looses its ability to clean cases then there is that stuff that accumulates in the media that could be hazardous to 'MY' health. Many years ago it was the government that made 1 cent coins out of zinc. It was about that time the government found people puts coins in their mouth and some actually swallowed them (the coin). And that is the reason zinc 1 cent coins are difficult to find.

Cases are made from brass, zinc is used to make brass. My media wares out and looses its ability to clean cases, the media could be warring its self out, who knows? Anyhow, I change my media, I want to reduce the numbers of hours my tumblers run.

F. Guffey
 
A bunch of fellers have told you what they use, so I won't bother but will chime in with a hint or two. Normally, it's time to change the media when it no longer cleans your brass to the finish you prefer, in a reasonable time. Like if you want clean but not necessarily shiny, when your media don't do that in 3 hours, mebbe it's time to change. There's a bunch of media out there that works great and this is one which is designed as a blast media http://www.drillspot.com/products/499763/econoline_526020g-40_40_lbs_blast_media. A lot of folks don't need a bright, shiny, virgin looking case so they use the media without additives (actually works good for me). Walnut is good for cleaning but normally doesn't give a high polish, more of a light matt finish, the coarseness of the grind and the hardness of the media makes a big difference.

While I haven't done it, a lot of folks clean their media in lightly soapy water, rinse good and dry. Works.

But like much of reloading practice, what works for Joe-Bob don't really make Willie happy, and Petuna may have a completely different slant on things...:D
 
Is lizard litter from the pets store the same thing as walnut media. If it is its $14.00 for 2 gallons. Cheaper than $19.00 for a quart jar full at Bass Pro.
 
I prefer the corn cob

Treated media is best

There are additives you can get for perking it back up

Love the Ultra Vibe 10
 
My media is a mix of walnut and corncob and all of it is at least ten years old. As it got dirty I saved it and when enough got dirty I dumped it in to a used three gallon plastic bottle with some laundry soap. I set the jug in the bathtub and each time I went into the bathroom I would give the Jug a shake. I took a plastic tray and cut some holes in it with a hole saw and then lined the tray with a layer of nylon window screen.

I dumped the soaking media onto the screen box and rinsed it in hot water. once the water running through the media was clear I let it dry in the tray.

I doubt that I will ever purchase new media again.
 
The lizard litter I used first (way back when; 1989) was from PetSmart. It was the dark coarse grind and worked quite well. The walnut litter I purchased a few months ago was different ("Desert Blend") and is a lighter, finer grind that works much like/no better than corn cob blast media. But a 24 qt. bag of Zilla does work and costs less than $15.00 and should last quite a while. https://www.bigalspets.com/lizard-litter-premium-reptile-bedding-24-qt.html

Reloading supplies are much like "Marine" equipment. Add "Reloading" to the name of something simple and you pay 3 times the cost (I wrapped my own fishing rods in the late '80 and sometimes I used a "crutch tip" on the butt end. In a dedicated fishing equipment store, rod building supplies, the tips cost $2.50. From a Marine/Boat supply, the "deck protector tips" were around $1.98. In a medical supply store, the "crutch tips" ran about $1.50. In a cheap hardware store the "chair leg tips" were less than a dollar. Same tip and often the same manufacturer! :confused:). If you want to add something to your media, auto polish is plenty good for a good, bright shine, and a bit less than an ounce or so (1/2 shot) of mineral spirits every once in a while will "rejuvenate" the media...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top