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Tumbling Media----corn cob or walnut?

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20 March 2003, 08:17
DB Bill
Tumbling Media----corn cob or walnut?
Which do you use and why? Treated or untreated?
Where do you buy it?
20 March 2003, 08:43
Trapdoor
DB,

I use a very fine corncob. Its so fine its soft and fluffy! I got it from my Dad, who got it from a taxidermist who used it for tumbling bird skins (I think as it had feathers in it). It is fine enough that it doesn't clog flash holes. I treat it only with a red rouge powder. I don't remember where I got the rouge.
20 March 2003, 10:09
Guy Morrison
DB Bill
I use both, whichever is available at the time,corncob is cheaper but walnut lasts longer,other than that I can't see any real difference.
Medium grit corncob is sold here at pet stores as animal bedding, it is big enough to stay out of flash holes.
Medium grit walnut is sold here at industrial supply stores and it is "usually" big enough to stay out of flash holes.
I no longer use red rouge as I prefer Brasso brand brass polish sold in supermarkets.
I found rouge tended to build up whereas Brasso doesn't.
Guy
20 March 2003, 10:31
<Dan in Wa>
Think Brasso is not very good chemically. Been using plain old liquid Turtle Wax in walnut media for several years now with good results. Just run your tumbler for about 15 minutes after adding the liquid or you are in for a mess.
20 March 2003, 10:41
Trapdoor
Yes, the rouge does tend to build up as Guy said. That is a drawback.
20 March 2003, 11:09
Borealis Bob
DB Bill..
I use both at the same time. The walnut seems to clean faster, but the cob polishes better. Together they get the job done well within an hour. This combo even works great on black-powder smudged 45-70 cases.
20 March 2003, 11:53
kk
Glad to see this topic. I just bought some green Lyman corncob media. For God's sake, don't tell my farmer father-in-law I just paid $4.50 a pound for cobs.

And the stuff gets stuck in the flash-holes. I am picking it out with a toothpick, and I'm not happy.

Any solutions?

kk
20 March 2003, 14:24
BIG SAM
DB Bill,

We use both but favor corn cob.

It does not leave any film on the brass. We get ours from Sinclairs, Cabela's, etc. Whoever has the best price at the time.

Yes, we do have to clean flash holes, but consider that just part of the process. It also does a great job of dressing up our home rolled moly coated bullets after they are waxed. We got that idea from Saeed.

Cheers,

SAM
20 March 2003, 15:21
craigster
I get ground walnut shells (50lbs) from our local feed store for $15. Guess what I use. Ground walnut is also used in abrasive cleaning (aka sandblasting).
20 March 2003, 15:39
KevinNY
Walnut is best for really knarly brass. Corn cob with a touch of Lyman turbo polish makes nice new looking brass.
21 March 2003, 02:45
Terry Blauwkamp
I'm a corn cob fan, either the Lyman's green stuff or the ground cobs from www.MidwayUSA.com
21 March 2003, 03:02
x-51
i use walnut treated with mineral spirits. seems to clean really well. i use a spray bottle to add the spirits while the tumbler is running(no cases).
21 March 2003, 03:53
<Buliwyf>
I prefer corn cob by itself. I do not use rouge anymore.

B
21 March 2003, 23:15
Edmond
Hi, there is something new !

http://subguns.biggerhammer.net/reloading.cgi?read=6561
22 March 2003, 02:03
Zedman
For years I have used fine to medium, fine will stick in flash holes much worse, crushed walnut hulls mixed with jewelers rouge. This will not only clean your brass but will make it look new!

Good Hunting, "Z"
22 March 2003, 03:30
JustC
I use whatever and let it run for 3-4hrs. Anything will make it look new after that long in the vibrator. I just go work on a honey-do, and come back later to empty the machine.

I deprime after cleaning, then uniform the flash hole.
22 March 2003, 17:32
chadr
I mix green cob treated with turbo charge, with walnut and rouge, 50/50. I run my shells for about 1 1/2 hours. They come out looking better than any new brass I have ever seen. I do have to wipe them down with alcohol to remove the red residue though.