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#1
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Time for some new media for the FA dry tumbler, corn or walnut...hmmm
Maybe I should ask what oil is the best =P. Walnut gets dust and I think I read corn polishes better but doesn't last as long. My walnut seems to still work but is getting dark looking and maybe that's fine. I've probably cycled it at least 15 times and had added nu finish one time that eliminated the dust so maybe I don't need it? Harbor freight has their 25% coupon but I just read a post and powder valley has corn cob cob 42 lbs for $24 after shipping($5). I was even thinking of switching to dry tumbling to knock the lube off since it's a pain to do over a 1000 cases with my hf wet tumbler. They look awesome but after a while I think I'll be fine with just really clean looking. Any benefit of cleaned flash holes for walnut vs corn? I think #40 is the small corn and probably would be better for getting in the flash holes to clean but maybe someone has some good experience I can learn from.
I'm sure some will say just get a big FA wet tumbler and be done and wet tumble before and after. |
#2
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I tried corn once. I found that the mice are very fond of it. Chewed into and out of my media separator to get to it. I went back to crushed walnut. YMMV of course.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Paul Confirmed Domestic Terrorist & NRA Member tiocfaidh ár lá Bobby Sands |
#3
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Wait did you use actual corn kernels?
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#4
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If there was no mice would you have continued to use it? I don't have a mice problem I hope or I'll have lots of happy full mice I guess. I'll definitely avoid using corn dogs cuz then the rats will come for sure.
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#5
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Pet stores or feed stores are cheaper . I use both nut and corn ,
No problem with dust . After the dryer sheets get black [ yes I use in both ] I change the media . Nut gets dull - to check - put on wrist - if it feel rough - still good .
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life member - CRPA and NRA All ways listen - after you can say I new that |
#6
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Quote:
I was gonna use the hf freight couponeso $17.50 for 25lbs of walnut. There is a petsmart and Petco nearby any preference on selection? |
#7
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Walnut -
A little NuFinish and you are GTG
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Anyone press will hear the fat lady sing. Quote:
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#9
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I used walnut for years. I bought the corn cob does not last story.
Then I tried the treated corn cob and again used cut up dryer sheet each load. My corn cob has lasted even better than the walnut did with nicer looking brass. I still have some walnut but will probably never use it. I clean a lot of range pick up as well as the brass I shot. Try the corn cob and dryer sheet. I think you will like it.
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A 30cal will reach out and touch them. A 50cal will kick their butt. NRA Life Member, NRA certified RSO & Basic Pistol Instructor, Hunter, shooter, reloader SCI, Manteca Sportsmen Club, Coalinga Rifle Club, Escalon Sportsmans Club, Waterford Sportsman Club & NAHA Member, Madison Society member |
#11
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I put some nu finish in my dirty walnut and I was amazed. It was like a mirror. Maybe I'll just get the Powder Valley deal for 42lbs of corn. I would think it's treated for tumbling brass vs a pet shop. That will probably last so freaking long. Should I get the #40 size or the #20? Maybe the smaller will clean the primer pockets better. I was almost thinking of getting a second dry tumbler so I don't need to swap the media, one for dirty range brass and one for knocking the lube off. Not sure if the lube will cut the life down a lot. But if I'm using corn then it shouldn't be a big deal. As long as I can pour into a bucket without having bits flying and wasting any. I can have a tiny dedicated shop vac to suck it all out with the brass in there hehe. Put a screen on the vacuum and so the brass stays put. I wonder if that is a thing.
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#12
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You are over thinking it
__________________
A 30cal will reach out and touch them. A 50cal will kick their butt. NRA Life Member, NRA certified RSO & Basic Pistol Instructor, Hunter, shooter, reloader SCI, Manteca Sportsmen Club, Coalinga Rifle Club, Escalon Sportsmans Club, Waterford Sportsman Club & NAHA Member, Madison Society member |
#13
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Last time I bought media it was a 50lb bag of crushed walnut. Got it from Oldshooter32 I believe is his name one here. Very friendly gentlemen. Had good prices too. I believe it was $30
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Good friends will come bail you out of jail. A best friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying damn that was fun! |
#14
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I've used RCBS corn media for decades and Petco lizard liter with Nu Finish and dryer sheets for the past several years. Both work well, but I no longer like to knock corn cob media out of flash holes, so it's lizard liter for me.
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#15
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Which thing was I overthinking? The size of the corn media? Or if the lube shortens the life of the corn media? Or if I should get a second tumbler? I was kidding with the vacuum . I did read people talking about the size, and lube, and having multiple tumblers but the main thing before I purchase is 20# or 40#. I see lots of people talking about 20/40 so maybe some places sell a mix but Powder Valley has one or the other and 40# you get 42lbs for $25.
Last edited by Geofois; 05-25-2019 at 12:18 AM.. |
#17
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Geofois-- If you just buy Lyman or midway treated corn cob media it will be the right size. I always toss my brass back into the media to remove the RCBS SPRAY LUBE(the best) and a cut up used dryer sheet(cut into 1/4th pieces). I cannot help you on the powder valley and the 2 sizes. I have not used theirs. I am on my 2nd jug of the Lyman stuff and I have been using it(Lyman) for about 5 years. I clean and reload a lot of brass also. I have not even touched the big box of media I got from Midway yet.
I only have one tumbler but would use a 2nd if I got one cheap just because of the amount of brass I clean and much of it is dirty range pickup. But have not done so and the one with Lyman media and dryer sheets does the job well. I do occasionally add a capful of Midway media additive from the bottle I have had for 20+ years and is only 1/4th used up. I really do not think if you get the powder valley stuff it matters which one. The dryer sheets is what really matter for keeping the media clean and lasting. If you get that much media you will have a supply for a VERY long time. Again do not overthink it.
__________________
A 30cal will reach out and touch them. A 50cal will kick their butt. NRA Life Member, NRA certified RSO & Basic Pistol Instructor, Hunter, shooter, reloader SCI, Manteca Sportsmen Club, Coalinga Rifle Club, Escalon Sportsmans Club, Waterford Sportsman Club & NAHA Member, Madison Society member |
#19
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I did read people added white rice, 1lb to their mix of walnut. I just got a box of harbor freight walnut, 25lbs for $19. I got the 24grit sized but before I open it I wonder if the 12grit would be better. I'm sure I'm overthinking it but maybe someone else can under think it for me. Read some more posts so looks like the fine won't get stuck in the primer pockets or flash holes. Gonna google about that white rice.
Last edited by Geofois; 05-27-2019 at 8:49 AM.. |
#20
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I tried both and do have 2 tumblers and 2 vibrators .
Worked OK in tumblers but the 12 grit seemed to be more dusty in vibrators . I have nephews and nieces and just go by what they said . The 12 grit seemed to clean bottle necks better [ flash hole ] Rice seemed to leave a coating on cases .
__________________
life member - CRPA and NRA All ways listen - after you can say I new that |
#21
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Quote:
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#22
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Yes , generally we go out for lunch on Sundays . When I get home there
are a couple of nephews / nieces cleaning / reloading . Some prefer nut and others want the corn cob . For rotary - I prefer pins but they generally don't want to rinse and the pins and are harder to knock out of primer pockets and flash holes . I generally reload 25 , 45 and 270 . They do everything from 25 to 50 AE and 223 to 30 cal [ 30-06 / 308 and 30 carbine ] Today I got home and they bought 3 lbs of CFE and another brick of primers . Harbor freight has 25% off this weekend so I went and bought another 25 lbs , then when back in and bought another 25 . [ I got 2 more flash lights ] All the cleaners are running - 2 tumblers and 2 vibrators and the sonic . They are cleaning their guns now . Tomorrow others come home and will bring more M T's . I sit and deprime in front of TV . They used up all [ or will shorty ] so tonight will be busy . [ priming and checking ] They and sizing and depriming now . I use a Lee hand primer and need something better / faster . We use the FA hand deprimer for pistol and the loadmaster for bottle necks .
__________________
life member - CRPA and NRA All ways listen - after you can say I new that |
#23
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I have a hand primer loader but was thinking about getting a deprimer. Mainly it would be for 223. Now I'm wondering if I should run to hf before it closes to get the 12 grit. I wonder if the finer will clean the primer pockets better but I'm sure both will.
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#24
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Yes , I use both . Plus corn cob - but I prefer the pins . On pistols all seem to
work . On bottle necks the pins seen to clean inside better , but are a little harder to get out . My nephews / nieces prefer not to work with the water [ changing / cleaning then drying ]
__________________
life member - CRPA and NRA All ways listen - after you can say I new that |
#25
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Corn cob is a softer medium. It will polish cases quite nicely.
Walnut shell is harder - the finish you get will be less polished and more matte, but it tends to cut the baked/caked on deposits better (comparing new media to new media.) Corn cob uses more of a sponge-type full surface contact to polish, whereas walnut shell uses more of a sharp-edge cutting action (think a cloth polishing wheel vs grit-blasting.) Corn cob may (depending on case contamination) last longer; it doesn't depend on edges to work whereas walnut's sharp edges wear, reducing it's efficiency. They both work well, just a bit differently, and with slightly different results. I've heard of using white rice, rice hulls, and buckwheat groats (and a few others), but have never tried them. Has anyone heard of anybody using something like ceramic beads in a vibe tumbler? I've seen metal fab shops use ceramic blocks in a vibe tumbler, but that's more for softening edges and deburring, rather than cleaning. |
#26
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This is somewhat off topic but one of my friends lost his home in the Paradise fire last Nov. 8th. While searching through the burned out remains of his house he found a coffee can full of coins that had been burned pretty badly. I offered to see If I could clean them up using my vibrator tumbler. I started using clean sand for two hours, then 1/4" pyramid ceramic media for another two hours. Finally I used corn cob media for two more hours and even though they didn't turn out bright and shiny, they looked like coins instead of burned discs. Coinstar accepted all of them with a few exceptions.
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