Hi,
What brands of walnut media are available? Are there any brands that do not have additives? Who sells medias?

I got my walnut media from the local WalMart in their pet department. I am sure any pet shop will have ground walnut for pet cages.

I got my last batch of walnut shells at an industrial supply house. It is used for sandblasting. the price per pound was about half of what the reloading stores wanted.

I find this an interesting question. I take it that they don’t grow Walnut trees in Australia.

http://www.myrockhound.com, will ship internationally. As many pounds as you want.

quote:

Originally posted by C.F.Plinker:
I got my last batch of walnut shells at an industrial supply house. It is used for sandblasting. the price per pound was about half of what the reloading stores wanted.

Same here. I bought a 50lb bag years ago for something like $15. I've still got half a bag left.

quote:

Originally posted by Luckyducker:
I got my walnut media from the local WalMart in their pet department. I am sure any pet shop will have ground walnut for pet cages.

x2 roger

Thanks. I ahve not been able to locate an locally grown walnut media in Australia.

Anything wrong with corn cobs?

Bob ; Try and find some polishing medium other than walnut or corn cob . Perhaps check out some treated Plastic shapes triangles rounds squares ?.
You any where near Coober Pedy or have access to industrial suppliers who handle polishing media for the Gem market ?.

I have these triangles which are a treated plastic ( Urethane 80 100 durometer ? )they were used to polish glass , marble , synthetic counter top materials . How ever work VERY WELL on almost anything other than Aluminum .

Baking Soda works real well !. Try mixing in with saw dust or better very small chunks of say Bull Oak , or Eucalyptus Paniculata or Jarrah . They will clean what ever off that brass !.

You can even use dried Eucalyptus seed pods .

Straight Away Mate .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

quote:

You can even use dried Eucalyptus seed pods .

For that matter, I've used both wheat and grain sorghum straght from the combine. Unprocessed rice should work, but DON'T try any "converted" rice from the grocery as some will advise -- it leaves a stubborn residue of white starch on your cases.

I tried coffee grounds a couple of times, they worked, but not the greatest.

Bob from Down Under: surely someone grinds up gum trees? As dense as that wood is, it would last forever in a tumbler.

Thanks for all the ideas. I've got some different options to trial.

I guess I should be more thankful for that little gunshop locally that carries it in a big trash can in their store... you fill up gallon zip lock bags, or # 10 coffee cans of it.. for like $4 or $5.00.....

Bob ; I tried Eucalyptus seed pods along with baking soda . It works real well !.

Seeing as I have just about every Euke or at least the seeds of that genius ( Thanks to the CSIRO ) I thought I would give it whirl .

So I emptied my Dillon tumbler , walked out to my driveway swept up about 2 gallons of seed pods ( Pillaris , Maculata ) put them through a screen ( remove any gravel or debris ) set them in the wifes oven on 200 Deg. for 2 hours . Then turned it off left them overnight.

Next day put those along with baking soda in the tumbler . Instead of cases I decided to " Really Test " it . I'm refurbishing our rental .

So I removed ALL of these kitchen cabinet handles along with the back plates . Almost 30 years worth of food tarnish lacquer green brown stained , Lord only knows what else .
I washed them in Acetone Lacquer Mek solvent , alot of crap came off but the brass plating was almost non existent .

2 1/2 hrs. later I had bright shinny brass again which I promptly washed in a new solvent bath , laid them out and shot catalyzed lacquer over them .

I priced new handles along with backing plates WOW OUCH , all Chinese junk to boot .

The ones I had were made in Canada and quality at that !.

So being the enterprising sort I am !.Cheap is such a harsh word and I so dislike Frugal !.

I took the extra money and bought a few boxes of projectiles along with new powder and a New Die set , for an upcoming new caliber rifle I'm purchasing !.

One word of caution for any of you who will be using baking soda . Experiment with the tumble time , other wise you may have no usable pieces to tumble . It's used as a blasting media more commonly known by it's trade name Armex .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

Sea West Premium Harvest cage litter, ground walnut shell- 5 pounds for 3.19, add a cap full of Meguiars cleaner wax, or Dillon rapid polish 290, works great. IMHO the car wax does a better job than the Dillon additive.

Dr. K
You have got me going. I live in a semi rural area. Lots of eucalyptus trees abound. I'll give it a go. Thanks.

swheeler. Does the measured amount of wax go in the whole five pounds?

No just in your tumbler full, about half a bag.