Curious About Media Sources

[Tony Sopranno]

What media do most people use?

I've until now skipped polishing my brass, just washing by hand with a little dish washing detergent and water. But last night I was drying some .223 brass on a small wood stove (it was cold up here) and the stove got kinda hotter than expected. So now I have about 250 annealed once-fired brass cases with a nice blue/orange/yellow patina.

I don't care about that so much... but it's time I think about really cleaning brass better than I have been. The re-loading houses all sell crushed walnut shells at an overinflated price, $15.98 per 5 lbs. I tried some local pet shops (bird litter and lizard bedding is also crushed walnut shells) and I saw it at $3.59 per 5 lbs. - on a closeout. I tried ordering some, but she told me they were out of stock - their regular supplier went "belly-up" and she was looking into new sources.

So any other ideas on cleaning media, beside the usual fare from Midway and other gun/hobby suppliers? I think aquarium gravel is very hard and will wear the brass too much. ...Maybe softer clay cat litter..?? I refuse to pay $15.98 plus $10.00 shipping for what amounts to bird cage litter.

[pdq_wizzard]

What media do most people use?

I've until now skipped polishing my brass, just washing by hand with a little dish washing detergent and water. But last night I was drying some .223 brass on a small wood stove (it was cold up here) and the stove got kinda hotter than expected. So now I have about 250 annealed once-fired brass cases with a nice blue/orange/yellow patina.

I don't care about that so much... but it's time I think about really cleaning brass better than I have been. The re-loading houses all sell crushed walnut shells at an overinflated price, $15.98 per 5 lbs. I tried some local pet shops (bird litter and lizard bedding is also crushed walnut shells) and I saw it at $3.59 per 5 lbs. - on a closeout. I tried ordering some, but she told me they were out of stock - their regular supplier went "belly-up" and she was looking into new sources.

So any other ideas on cleaning media, beside the usual fare from Midway and other gun/hobby suppliers? I think aquarium gravel is very hard and will wear the brass too much. ...Maybe softer clay cat litter..?? I refuse to pay $15.98 plus $10.00 shipping for what amounts to bird cage litter.

I got a 25lb bag from petco for $20, also I know feed stores carry it, if you can't find walnut, you can use corn if they have that.

[thefifthspeed]

I use walnut for 20-30 minutes to clean brass then I switch to corncob + polishing liquid for 2-3 hours to clean/polish. I bought my media from Grafs (when you tack it onto an order it doesn't cost much extra in shipping). Aside from pet stores having media you could also check out places that sell sand blasting media, they usually at least have crushed walnut.

[Donut]

I use a mix of corncob and walnut shells, with a little brasso in there. I got both bags of media from PetSmart in the bird litter section.

[r08ert209cali]

I use harbor freight media with a little wenol. come out super shiny. $14 for #20 fine walnut media. probably cheaper if its on sale.last a really long time I'm only half way done with my bag and it's been over a year. I reuse my media and tumble for 6-10 hrs. heres a link to some wenol... http://www.properautocare.com/y-335....FRYiagodThdIXg

[Hans Gruber]

I've heard some people have had some decent experience with just plain ol' dry uncooked rice. I actually added about a 16oz solo cup full to my 5lbs of corn cob and it seemed to augment nicely. Added a couple of caps of range top polish too.

[Tony Sopranno]

Thanks everyone, good sources to be checked out... The idea about the uncooked rice is very intriguing. The local Asian Supermarket has tons of that, for pennies a pound. Also, I'm sure corncob and walnut shells can be gotten at feed supply places or a Petco close by.

[westcoastr]

I've heard some people have had some decent experience with just plain ol' dry uncooked rice.

nothing like that good ole gun oil, gunpowder and jasmine rice smell at the range!

try putting a few dryer sheets in with your walnut or corn. will really extend the life of it by adsorbing dirt and dust AND clean the brass significantly better.

[scrat]

rice works good i tumbled on to that a few years ago. i now use a full cup of rice to walnut media with a couple of cap fulls of nu finish. then 3 dryer sheets and pieces of papertowels

[domokun]

+1 on the corn or walnut media found at your local pet/feed store for about $10-15 per 25lbs.

[Jonathan Doe]

I use walnut media for about an hour with Dillon brass polish.

[Tony Sopranno]

You guys gave me some great ideas idea - crushed walnut shells at Pet Club, $2.29 per 5 lbs. Got 10 lbs. ....should last a while.

...Tried the rice but it would get stuck inside the shell cases too much. So I'm going with the walnut shells and some kind of polishing compound, Brasso or Wenol, w/ 2-3 dryer sheets.

[Jicko]

Forget about pet shop junk.... in my experience they don't work... stick with real tumbling media, they are CHEAP.... $1.25/lb @ El Cajon Gun Exchange, one of the 3 kinds: medium walnut, fine walnut and fine corn cob....

I use walnut for cleaning dirty range brass, and corn for polishing (to take lube off)....

I add NU automotive polish to both process...

I get super shiny brass at the end!

[joelogic]

dont use pet store corn on smaller bottle neck cases. I learned this lesson the hardway. The stuff wont come out. On .308 or pistol it would be fine. Other lesson I have learned is use the right tool for the job. But to each his own.

[jb7706]

I use a mix of corncob and walnut shells, with a little brasso in there. I got both bags of media from PetSmart in the bird litter section.

I was under the impression that ammonia would weaken/damage the brass. Is this true or is that just being extra cautious?