Need some advice on tumbler media - The Firearms Forum

Deacon_Man · 07-03-2012, 08:14 PM

I am buying my new tumbler tommorrow from Harbor freight (Lyman 1200).
My question is: Should I buy Walnut fine or course grade media? I have been told walnut course grade does the best job of cleaning the brass, do you agree?? What kind if any additive should I add to the media? As most of you know I am new to reloading. So far I have not blown up anything or myself, thanks to a lot of your help getting started. Special thanks to JLA for all his help. I like all the opinions I get for all the questions I ask. The answer I usally go with is the one with the most consistant opinions. I really enjoy being a member on TFF.

Deacon Man

JohnnyFlake · 07-03-2012, 08:34 PM

For whatever it's worth, as there will be many different opinions, I use a 50/50 mixture of Corn Media and Course Walnut Media. When I am ready to clean some brass, just before I put the brass in, I add two cap fulls of Brasso Polish for metal and turn the unit on for about a minute or so to let it mix in with the media. Then I add the brass and let it run for an hour to an hour and a half. It works wonders with my brass.

312shooter · 07-03-2012, 08:44 PM

One additive that helps a great deal is a few dryer
Sheets cut into pieces, walnut gets dusty, the sheets help.

aa1911 · 07-03-2012, 09:43 PM

I have not used this yet as I still have one bag of walnut media left, but this is about the cheapest way to go; kind of a lot but plan on splitting it with a buddy. anyone used this stuff yet?

I also use an additive especially once the media starts getting dirty; I have brasso cream colored stuff and Dillon brass polish. Too expensive though, going to probably try and find something else that works on the cheap. I will have to try out the dryer sheet idea, sounds interesting.

As for walnut vs. corncob, I usually use walnut but corncob is great for .45ACP's and similar but they frequently get stuck in the primer pocket, kind of a pain. both work good though

aa1911 · 07-03-2012, 09:44 PM

oops, the link....

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lbs-...dia-92150.html

JLA · 07-03-2012, 11:05 PM

I favor fine corn cob and brass polish

ryan42 · 07-03-2012, 11:56 PM

I use walnut shells,I have never used corn cobb but I hear its good to.

bntyhntr6975 · 07-04-2012, 01:09 AM

Stick with treated corn cob, or treat it yourself and maybe save a little. Run the cut up dryer sheets in it now and then to pull the gunk out of it. Add a little reactivator when it seems to be taking too long. I prefer a half and half mix of fine walnut and treated corn cob to get the best of both worlds. The corn cob cleans better, the walnut polishes better.

Evins74s · 07-04-2012, 07:42 AM

I am using the red turbo media for my first cleaning. I run it about one hour just to get the grit and grime off of the brass. Once I have the brass sized/deprimed/trimed and debured then I will run it through the tumbler with crushed walnut shell. All that the second run does is polish the brass and remove any little pieces of brass shaving and the brass lube.

JLA · 07-04-2012, 08:50 AM

Its actually the other way around bnyhntr. The walnut cleans like crazy because its very abrasive and the cobb puts a fine polish. a 50/50 mix is a very good way to get clean shiny brass in short order, but the polish isnt as fine as cobb alone can produce and the mix doesnt clean as quickly as walnut shell alone will.

DixieLandMan · 07-05-2012, 08:17 AM

I've used corn cob for the longest time and treated it with some brasss polish or case cleaner. I use walnut for really dirty brass and it cleans up quite nicely.

Appliancedude · 07-05-2012, 08:44 AM

I just use walnut. No additives. I don't care if my brass is pretty.

soundguy · 07-05-2012, 06:40 PM

i run a mix of lyman cob media, treated, white rice and untreated fine cob media ( litter ).. I have recently added in a lil brass polish.. just a lil.

seems to be working great.

after I vibro clean my brass, I thn ultra sonic clean it.. my cleaner soloution is mostly water and a few drops of dish soap per qt of water... then i dry in a flat towel lined aluminum turkey disposable bake pan in a shoe rack in the dryer... wife loves that..

07-03-2012, 08:14 PM	#1
Deacon_Man V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Weatherford Texas Posts: 453	Need some advice on tumbler media I am buying my new tumbler tommorrow from Harbor freight (Lyman 1200). My question is: Should I buy Walnut fine or course grade media? I have been told walnut course grade does the best job of cleaning the brass, do you agree?? What kind if any additive should I add to the media? As most of you know I am new to reloading. So far I have not blown up anything or myself, thanks to a lot of your help getting started. Special thanks to JLA for all his help. I like all the opinions I get for all the questions I ask. The answer I usally go with is the one with the most consistant opinions. I really enjoy being a member on TFF. Deacon Man -->

07-03-2012, 08:34 PM	#2
JohnnyFlake V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Henderson, Nevada Contributor Posts: 152	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media For whatever it's worth, as there will be many different opinions, I use a 50/50 mixture of Corn Media and Course Walnut Media. When I am ready to clean some brass, just before I put the brass in, I add two cap fulls of Brasso Polish for metal and turn the unit on for about a minute or so to let it mix in with the media. Then I add the brass and let it run for an hour to an hour and a half. It works wonders with my brass. __________________ Of All The Things I have Lost During My Life, I Miss My Mind The Most!

07-03-2012, 08:44 PM	#3
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,158	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media One additive that helps a great deal is a few dryer Sheets cut into pieces, walnut gets dusty, the sheets help. __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin

07-03-2012, 09:43 PM	#4
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,120	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media I have not used this yet as I still have one bag of walnut media left, but this is about the cheapest way to go; kind of a lot but plan on splitting it with a buddy. anyone used this stuff yet? I also use an additive especially once the media starts getting dirty; I have brasso cream colored stuff and Dillon brass polish. Too expensive though, going to probably try and find something else that works on the cheap. I will have to try out the dryer sheet idea, sounds interesting. As for walnut vs. corncob, I usually use walnut but corncob is great for .45ACP's and similar but they frequently get stuck in the primer pocket, kind of a pain. both work good though __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

07-03-2012, 09:44 PM	#5
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,120	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media oops, the link.... http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lbs-...dia-92150.html __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

07-03-2012, 11:05 PM	#6
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media I favor fine corn cob and brass polish __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

07-03-2012, 11:56 PM	#7
ryan42 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: marion indiana Contributor Posts: 1,589	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media I use walnut shells,I have never used corn cobb but I hear its good to. __________________ Tommorrow is promised to know one! Ryan Stevens

07-04-2012, 01:09 AM	#8
bntyhntr6975 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wichita, Ks. Posts: 296	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media Stick with treated corn cob, or treat it yourself and maybe save a little. Run the cut up dryer sheets in it now and then to pull the gunk out of it. Add a little reactivator when it seems to be taking too long. I prefer a half and half mix of fine walnut and treated corn cob to get the best of both worlds. The corn cob cleans better, the walnut polishes better. __________________ There is a fine line between paranoid and prepared.

07-04-2012, 07:42 AM	#9
Evins74s V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 97	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media I am using the red turbo media for my first cleaning. I run it about one hour just to get the grit and grime off of the brass. Once I have the brass sized/deprimed/trimed and debured then I will run it through the tumbler with crushed walnut shell. All that the second run does is polish the brass and remove any little pieces of brass shaving and the brass lube.

07-04-2012, 08:50 AM	#10
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media Its actually the other way around bnyhntr. The walnut cleans like crazy because its very abrasive and the cobb puts a fine polish. a 50/50 mix is a very good way to get clean shiny brass in short order, but the polish isnt as fine as cobb alone can produce and the mix doesnt clean as quickly as walnut shell alone will. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

07-05-2012, 08:17 AM	#11
DixieLandMan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 618	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media I've used corn cob for the longest time and treated it with some brasss polish or case cleaner. I use walnut for really dirty brass and it cleans up quite nicely.

07-05-2012, 08:44 AM	#12
Appliancedude Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The true northern Cal Posts: 1,610	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media I just use walnut. No additives. I don't care if my brass is pretty. __________________ It ain't broke it just lacks duct tape. The nice thing about opinions is everybody has one.

07-05-2012, 06:40 PM	#13
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,736	Re: Need some advice on tumbler media i run a mix of lyman cob media, treated, white rice and untreated fine cob media ( litter ).. I have recently added in a lil brass polish.. just a lil. seems to be working great. after I vibro clean my brass, I thn ultra sonic clean it.. my cleaner soloution is mostly water and a few drops of dish soap per qt of water... then i dry in a flat towel lined aluminum turkey disposable bake pan in a shoe rack in the dryer... wife loves that..