Q: Walnut media - how do you tell when it's spent?
- Thread starter Xippper
- Start date
i don't buy it. Using A variety of powders and running ammo for 200+hours in a tumbler showed zero change in powder structure when viewed at 75x magnification.http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/98...torture_test__UPDATE__fired_rounds_in_OP.html
Never tumble ammo for this reason. Gave up and switched to stainless media. It works way better and never wears out.
just having some fun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
add car polish etc. every so often
use used Dryer sheets every so often
Change media when it's black- black (instead of brown) and leave a ring around the top
i used the same media to clean 3k of range pickups and was black and leaving a ring around the top (and this was after cleaning other stuff)
use used Dryer sheets every so often
Change media when it's black- black (instead of brown) and leave a ring around the top
i used the same media to clean 3k of range pickups and was black and leaving a ring around the top (and this was after cleaning other stuff)
Snakehunter
CGN Regular
- Location
- Kenora, Ontario
Check TSC stores for walnut media. I picked up a 50lb bag for half price a few years ago and have barely touched it
- Location
- The Orion Arm
^^^ I do everything here. No dust, no problems, very low cost.
I have been using crushed walnut for about 6 months and haven't changed the media yet and it has seen a lot of action. Once a month I cut up 2 dryer sheets and throw them to collect the dust and after there out a little squirt of new finish car polish and good to go.
stainless wet tumbling may be the way to go but I'm not about to spend big dollars to clean brass. The old boys used to just wipe it off on a rag and they didn't have any problems.
just my $.02
stainless wet tumbling may be the way to go but I'm not about to spend big dollars to clean brass. The old boys used to just wipe it off on a rag and they didn't have any problems.
just my $.02
- Location
- The Orion Arm
Just to add to be careful that the polish or wax you use contains no ammonia. Ammonia weakens brass.
Nu Finish car wax (in the orange bottle) is safe, as is all the brass polishers from the majors (Dillon, RCBS, Lyman, etc...). DO NOT USE BRASSO
Nu Finish car wax (in the orange bottle) is safe, as is all the brass polishers from the majors (Dillon, RCBS, Lyman, etc...). DO NOT USE BRASSO
http://www.tscstores.com/50LB-OPTA-MINERALS-WALNUT-SHELLS-ABRASIVE-P31870.aspx
It works good for tumbling? Edit, read there description, it says that's what it's used for.
I mainly use stainless steel wet tumbling, but i'll throw in my two cents like others. I clean my dry media, there's no reason why you can't.
When I dry tumble, I use 50% walnut, 50% corn and clean the bowl regularly. Every 15-20 sets, I will wash the media - 6 gallon pail, warm water and a drop of Dawn dish detergent. Rinse thoroughly (2-3 times) and then drain. Leave for 2-3 days on a towel on a table. When dry, run through with a few drops of Nu-finish car wax for 30 mins before adding brass again.
When I dry tumble, I use 50% walnut, 50% corn and clean the bowl regularly. Every 15-20 sets, I will wash the media - 6 gallon pail, warm water and a drop of Dawn dish detergent. Rinse thoroughly (2-3 times) and then drain. Leave for 2-3 days on a towel on a table. When dry, run through with a few drops of Nu-finish car wax for 30 mins before adding brass again.
50 pound bag of crushed walnut shells from PA has lasted for a long time. I have used it to clean up thousands of rounds of tarnished surplus ammo, gave some to a nephew who uses it for his pet lizards terrarium and it works as a 'softer' abrasive when media blasting. My old Lyman Turbo 3200 holds a lot and rarely needs cleaning when the dryer sheet trick is used.
Brasso is fine to add to your tumbling media. The quantity of ammonia in the small amount you would add to a tumbler load isn't enough to damage the brass. The media will eventually start to take much longer to clean the brass. This would be a good time to replace it. The cost is minimal if you buy in bulk.
I have switched to stainless pins and no longer need to replace my media. I already had a rock tumbler that I was using with walnut. I find that it is a much cleaner process in several ways:
1. No dust. All the crud remains in solution and gets dumped down the drain.
2. No stray media particles. The few SS pins that get spilled are easily picked up with a magnet.
3. Brass is cleaner to handle. Walnut or corncob tumbled brass can look shiny, but it will turn your fingers black when you are reloading it.
I have switched to stainless pins and no longer need to replace my media. I already had a rock tumbler that I was using with walnut. I find that it is a much cleaner process in several ways:
1. No dust. All the crud remains in solution and gets dumped down the drain.
2. No stray media particles. The few SS pins that get spilled are easily picked up with a magnet.
3. Brass is cleaner to handle. Walnut or corncob tumbled brass can look shiny, but it will turn your fingers black when you are reloading it.
No it doesn't, instead of being an ignorant liberal like (insert words here) read the reply below.......
