Cleaning media experiment – and results! Looks like a winner and its PLASTIC!

Timbertec

Timbertec

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Edmonton, AB
Cleaning media experiment – and results! Looks like a winner and its PLASTIC!

I decided to try something new after getting tired of having to buy crushed walnut and corncob. After doing a bit of research online on “Vibratory metal polishing” I found many products that are common place in industry but two that would lead to home use.

Ceramic media – Already posted on this board.... M’eh – the water makes the process a pain in the ass

Plastic media – Sounding interesting here. Did some shopping around and it turns out a company in the city here (Edmonton) sells the media! Went in and for the low low price of $4.99/lb I bought four pounds. Turns out it only took three to fill my Frankford cleaner!

Now the results! After just 3 hours of cleaning this is how some assorted 45 Auto brass (Assorted reloads and range brass) turned out! (Nothing added to the cleaning media!)

Sitting in the Tumbler


Lid off the Tumbler


In the media with a nice Macro shot

(Notice the soot and dirt in the media!)

Out of the cleaning media


And looking inside


Not bad for just a few hours I think!

I’m thinking of trying a bit of fine “burnishing compound” to see what the results are and how long it takes.
Now the real cool thing – If this stuff gets filthy you can just wash it!
Hope my fellow reloaders play further with this concept!
 
I'll keep using my corncob until my bottle of rejuvenator runs out. Thanks for the post though, will have to look at this in the future.

I know there is a place in Toronto where you can buy industrial walnut and corncob media for $1/lb (40 lb minimum purchase). Another CGNer had great success with a 50/50 mix of walnut and corncob.

Not bad results from the plastic though. ;)
 
I wonder if you ran cut up plastic windshield wash jugs through a good paper shredder (the kind that shreds to little pieces rather than long thin strips) if that would produce a good tumbler media?
 
Well, It looks like my inbox is getting a little swamped so I'll let my source go for all to see...

The two basic questions everyone is asking are as follows

1) What is this stuff called?
- I just asked for plastic polishing media

2) Where did you buy it
- A store called "Bedrock Supply" in Edmonton


Now after the popularity of this post I did a bit more research and it looks like someone else has tried this too

For those who do try this - Post your opinions and results!
 
You know what's funny? I make the same nylon pellets at work every day, and until I saw your post, I never thought about using them.
 
Manus Abrasives at 34th street just off the Sherwood Park Freeway stocks all kinds of industrial abrasives, from coarse steelmaking slag to fine plastic fluff. I bet it's a fraction of the cost of Bedrock Supply.

I thought about experimenting with all the varieties they had, but when I found that medium seived crushed walnut shell was $22 per 50lbs bag, I just gave up and went with what I know.
 
They look like plastic resin pellets used in the manufacture of plastic films (extrusion) and plastic solids (injection moulding). Thanks for the post. A customer of mine does injection moulding. I'll grab some the next time I'm in (they come in 1500lb cartons). I don't think he'll care if I take a few pounds to experiment with.

Thanks for the info !!!!!!
 
I bought some of these plastic beads from a hobby/sewing store to fill my shooting bag/rests, the lead shot was just to darn heavy. I never thought of using it for a media cleaning.

I have a bit left over, not sure what to do with it so I may have to give this a try.
 
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