Tumbler Media

[Ganderite]

I use ground walnut shells from Princess Auto.

$45 FOR 50 POUNDS.

Last bag lasted about 5 years.

I store it in the 5 gal pails. One bag needs 3 pails (with lids).

 

[6MT]

I use stainless steel pins. I don't think they wear out.

 

[Butcherbill]

I use the same walnut media in my vibratory tumbler, hard to beat the price for the amount you get. Add some varsol and liquid car wax and there’s no dust to speak of.

 

[B]

Didn't matter what I added I hated dry media tumbling. Still using the same SS pins I was 10 years ago.

 

[357Maximum]

I buy 50 lb broken bags from an oilfield supplier very cheap, they us the proceeds for their Christmas party.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

I use stainless steel pins. I don't think they wear out.

Apparently they get rounded on the end and aren't quite as efficient. I have been using mine for 5-6 years now and haven't felt the need to replace them yet.

 

[Butcherbill]

Didn't matter what I added I hated dry media tumbling. Still using the same SS pins I was 10 years ago.

Dry or wet tumbling?

 

[73582]

Didn't matter what I added I hated dry media tumbling. Still using the same SS pins I was 10 years ago.

I have a Lyman tumbler, I just add a full piece of clear plastic wrap over the top put the lid on and it keeps the dust down alot.

 

[Butcherbill]

I have a Lyman tumbler, I just add a full piece of clear plastic wrap over the top put the lid on and it keeps the dust down alot.

Try adding more varsol and liquid wax, there’s literally no dust and cases are cleaned and polished.

 

[73582]

Try adding more varsol and liquid wax, there’s literally no dust and cases are cleaned and polished.

Ill give a go, do you give them a hot water wash after?

 

[Butcherbill]

Ill give a go, do you give them a hot water wash after?

Nope, they don’t need it. I use a cap full of Nu Finish and a quick little tip of varsol, not enough to make the walnut media wet. It ends up absorbing it and eliminates any dust, I might add more if things start looking dry or if it starts taking longer to hit my desired level of clean/shine. A little goes along way, I might add some once a year.

 

[Dogleg]

I use oil-field walnut fine. By comparison PA shells are dusty nasty flash-hole plugging crap. Usually got it for nothing but the last time I actually bought it they got all messed up and wondered how many semi loads I needed. After that how do you tell the girl you only want one bag? Had to say five to preserve what little cred I had left, and when I told her it was for cleaning brass she said if they had any torn bags I could have them
For nothing, otherwise just throw something in the coffee can and call it good. full pop was about 28 bucks; pribably rounded that up. Used just about every compound at one time;
But the car wax stuff from Canadian Tire widks about as good as anything else..

 

[B]

Dry or wet tumbling?

Wet, it would have been more clear if I had just omitted the word "media", sorry.

 

[old303]

I use a similar 50-pound sack from Princess Auto but leave it open in my garage. Tumbling adds a shot of Nu Finish and a shot of water. What does keeping it in pails guard against? Animal nesting/pooping?

 

[Rod B]

Nope, they don’t need it. I use a cap full of Nu Finish and a quick little tip of varsol, not enough to make the walnut media wet. It ends up absorbing it and eliminates any dust, I might add more if things start looking dry or if it starts taking longer to hit my desired level of clean/shine. A little goes along way, I might add some once a year.

I do the same, a little NuFinish really helps in cleaning the brass.

 

[Jon87]

Nope, they don’t need it. I use a cap full of Nu Finish and a quick little tip of varsol, not enough to make the walnut media wet. It ends up absorbing it and eliminates any dust, I might add more if things start looking dry or if it starts taking longer to hit my desired level of clean/shine. A little goes along way, I might add some once a year.

Interesting. I'll have to give that a try. I usually use a bit of Flitz and a dryer sheet. The dryer sheet seems to help a bit with dust but it's still pretty dusty

 

[Matty reid]

I'm thinking about doing the same

 

[Butcherbill]

Wet, it would have been more clear if I had just omitted the word "media", sorry.

Hard to beat wet tumbling with ss pins, when I clean big amounts or really dirty range pickup I use the wet tumbler.

 

[Butcherbill]

Interesting. I'll have to give that a try. I usually use a bit of Flitz and a dryer sheet. The dryer sheet seems to help a bit with dust but it's still pretty dusty

It works really well, I could run my Lyman tumbler without the lid and not worry about dust. I look at it as similar to adding a bit of soap and Lemi shine to the wet tumbler.

 

[wrangler4867]

I toss in a shot glass full of Brasso.

Also got 350lbs of walnut media for free From Dave & Busters when they stopped using tokens. I'll probably die before I use it all. Lol