Cleaning media

[dbaird]

which is best to tumble brass-walnut or corn cob media.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

SS pins

 

[onelastshot]

SS pins

Have to agree, tried both, corncob and walnut and, at the end of the day, SS is miles ahead of both.

 

[Mikemci]

S.S. also removes the carbon deposits in the neck, aka free lube. Corn cob or walnut do not. If you don't get your brass wet, you don't have to dry it.

 

[retired]

12 years in the commercial brass business.
fine ground corn cob sold as "blasting media"
for truely impressive results add some nufinish car polish.
1/2 the price of brass polish.

 

[KenOath]

Found that corn cob cleans and polishes a little better and quicker than Walnut. Just my experience over last 8 years using both.

Cheers Rushty

 

[jepp2]

fine ground corn cob sold as "blasting media"

Agree 100%. However the shipping can be costly. I have found the cheapest place to buy it is Zoro and you get free shipping with a $50 order. I use the 20/40 sieve size as it doesn't get caught in the flash holes like the 12/20 does.

https://www.zoro.com/zoro-select-blast-media-corn-cob-20-to-40-grit-crn3-40/i/G2165387/

 

[hikfromstik]

Home Depot sells a 50lb bag of corn cob media for $39 and has good reviews on their website . Its a bit dusty so be sure to rinse . You maybe able to add some case polish or nufinish to cure the dust problem like Hornady does with their media .

 

[Rsadams]

You can also get 25 lbs of Walnut media from harbor freight for $25... Just be sure and get the course ground...

 

[JRS]

Take your pick. Both work, with the walnut working much faster than the corncob. Whichever you choose, don't add anything additional to the media.

 

[David247]

I have always liked corn cob best but I don't like the dust. I have poured lots of Nu finish on it to try and keep the dust down but that didn't even work. For some reason, I ended up getting one bag from Dillon that had no dust at all. Several others since have been terrible. I guess I will try some blasting media suggested above.

I would like to try SS but it is more money and sounds like a pain in the butt with the dirty water, rinsing, and drying. I think I will keep searching for not so dusty corn cob media.

 

[JRS]

I have always liked corn cob best but I don't like the dust. I have poured lots of Nu finish on it to try and keep the dust down but that didn't even work. For some reason, I ended up getting one bag from Dillon that had no dust at all. Several others since have been terrible. I guess I will try some blasting media suggested above.

I would like to try SS but it is more money and sounds like a pain in the butt with the dirty water, rinsing, and drying. I think I will keep searching for not so dusty corn cob media.

You can essentially eliminate the dust by rinsing the corncob in a fine mesh strainer before you use it the first time. Blasting media is too fine to use, and takes much longer to clean the brass. Like comparing 60 grit to 600 grit sandpaper.

 

[Bc'z]

I'm liking Lyman's walnut, leabes a bit of red film on inside of the case tho.

 

[jepp2]

Home Depot sells a 50lb bag of corn cob media for $39 and has good reviews on their website

Didn't know that. Would have never looked there for it. Thanks!

 

[arm017]

The secret is toasted buckwheat- it is large enough to not get stuck in flash holes, but not too large, never any dust, tumbles well, and is relatively inexpensive and longer lasting for me than any CC/ Walnut/ Rice/ mixture blends that i have tried. I will throw a bit of new finish as well and we are good to go. With the larger particle size, I am done tumbling within 1 hr or 2 hours for factory shiny brass.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

 

[LHSmith]

Anyone try Alfalfa? Watermelon seed?

 

[Comrade Terry]

Anyone try Alfalfa? Watermelon seed?

Alfalfa hasn't been worth squat since he took up with Darlene.

 

[nmkid]

The secret is toasted buckwheat- it is large enough to not get stuck in flash holes, but not too large, never any dust, tumbles well, and is relatively inexpensive and longer lasting for me than any CC/ Walnut/ Rice/ mixture blends that i have tried. I will throw a bit of new finish as well and we are good to go. With the larger particle size, I am done tumbling within 1 hr or 2 hours for factory shiny brass.

View attachment 1042087

Where did you get the stuff?

 

[nmkid]

I tried corn cob from Tractor Supply once. What a dusty mess and bunches of pockets plugged up. Didn't know you could buy the stuff in different sizes.