air_winger
Bearcat
Can walnut shells or the corn media be washed to be used again? I cleaned a bunch of brass and the media is quite dirty. What can I use to wash it with? Thanks...
Reloading cleaning media
- Thread starter air_winger
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Donaldjr1969
Blackhawk
I don't think you can "wash" it. You can probably add some more polish to the media but after a point, it must be discarded. However, you can easily use a tumbler full of media more than once. I think that it is time to add more media when, even after adding more polish to the media, it will no longer polish the cases satisfactorily.
If you live close to a Harbor Freight store, just get their fine grade walnut media for 25 dollars. It is a 25lb box so it is very cheap. It is untreated so you will need to add some liquid car polish to the media, tumble for a half hour, and let sit before cleaning cases. But for a price like that, one will get a LOT of cleanings for the 30 dollars (25 for the media and 5 for the polish).
If you live close to a Harbor Freight store, just get their fine grade walnut media for 25 dollars. It is a 25lb box so it is very cheap. It is untreated so you will need to add some liquid car polish to the media, tumble for a half hour, and let sit before cleaning cases. But for a price like that, one will get a LOT of cleanings for the 30 dollars (25 for the media and 5 for the polish).
powder smoke
Hawkeye
I use the heck out of it never really keep track exactly. When I need new stuff I head to the pet store to pick up corn or walnut media. Best price around!! They sell it as reptile bedding. ps
Donaldjr1969
Blackhawk
Smoke, what does the pet store charge for reptile bedding and how much is in the container? Mind you, I still have about 20lbs left in my box in addition to the once used batch in my tumbler. So I am in no danger on running low in the near future.powder smoke said:
Iron Mike Golf
Blackhawk
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If you have cats (looking at you Don), make double sure you keep a lid on the media. One of mine drastically shortened the lifespan of a bucket of walnut.
Some folks put pieces of used dryer sheet or paper towels in the media. It does grab a buch of residue. I am not sure how much (if at all) it extends the life of the media.
Some folks put pieces of used dryer sheet or paper towels in the media. It does grab a buch of residue. I am not sure how much (if at all) it extends the life of the media.
slippingaway
Blackhawk
One thing you can do to make your media last longer is use the RCBS dry powder polishing compound in with the media instead of any liquid polishing compounds. Liquid polishes trap the removed residues and end up coating the cleaning media. Dry polish doesn't do that.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=135675
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=135675
Donaldjr1969
Blackhawk
LOL!! My cats are not permitted in the area of my basement where the reloading and tumbling takes place. So they are safe!Iron Mike Golf said:
That's a cool idea, Jeff. Do they do that WHILE they are tumbling or after tumbling a batch of cases?
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
If you cut a used 'dryer sheet' into quarters and put that in the tumbler with your brass it will catch a lot of dirt coming off the cases and keep your media clean longer. I replace some of the media every few tumbling sessions. That keeps the media at a fairly constant level of dirtiness. 8)
...Jimbo
...Jimbo
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