My buddy asked me to post this and find out if there was a way to clean it up for re-use.

He's a real do-it-yourselfer, and hates to throw things out that he doesn't have to.

Thanks for any help.

Someone once said to throw shop towels or dryer sheets into the tumbler and run it. Never tried it since media is cheap... towels and dryer sheets probably cost more

chuck it in a bucket and add hot water and a squirt of detergent and give a good stir. After a couple of minutes drain off through a sieve and rinse. Lay the media out to dry. One point to note is that the media will swell to about twice it's original volume when wet.

All you have to do is put the media into an old pillow case and wash it in the washing machine on the gentle cycle for a few minutes then let it air dry for two or three months. Seriously!! throw it away and use some new when it gets to dirty.

Vaya con Dios, Danbro

my media is cheap,40 cents per pound at pet supplies plus.I have used the media about 100 times before using new media.I keep adding a small amount of brass polish every few tumbles,and the media lasts a long time.

This is an easy one. Take one or two paper towels, tear them into strips and stick them in the tumbler when you get ready to run a batch of brass. The powder residue and gunk in the media will be absorbed (at least somewhat) by the towels. Then when you remove your brass, just pull out the paper towels and toss them.

Danbro's got it right! That's what I've done with crushed walnut media. It lasts forever. Doesn't work with corn cobs. Get a good pillow case, put the media in it, tie a good knot, and pitch it in the washer with a good batch of Tide. Doesn't take long. I still have half of the original 5 lbs of media I bought 15 years ago.

P.S. Didn't notice the "2 or 3 months" to dry. NOT SO! Spread it on sheet of plastic, garbage bag or something, for a couple of hours in the sun then use it. Seems more aggressive when damp anyway. Just don't leave cases in the damp media as they do stain. I use mine the same day or next.

[ 12-24-2002, 23:38: Message edited by: Bob338 ]

Good golly Miss Molly, you guys are cheap, cheap, cheap!!!