Does anyone have a preference between Corncob and Walnut Tumbling Media. Is there any other option then these two? I just noticed that I was running low and need to buy some.

Which one lasts longer?

Does one clean better than the other?

Cost Difference?

I use a polishing additive that seems to work well, I am looking for the most clean for my buck.

Thanks

I've used both....corncob seems to polish a bit brighter and walnut shells seem to polish a bit faster.

Both yield excellent results IMO

Walnut shell media which is red due to it's Iron Oxide abrasive removes heavy crud from range pickup brass.

The Corncob media which is tinted green due to it's treatment with Chromium Dioxide abrasive is capable of creating a brighter polish.

the more abundant "red abrasive" from the walnut shells sometimes collects inside cases, the green doesn't.

Each have their place.

I use both types, in seperate tumblers.

AD

Either is fine, so long as it comes untreated. Treat it with the white Lyman polishing compound or even with automotive polish for faster action.

The red oxide leaves a residue which I dislike very much. The green stuff on corn cob you can buy commercially is okay, but is much more expensive than untreated material.

The cheapest source I've found is walnut shells in a 25-lb box from Harbor Freight and Tool. Pet bedding material (corn cob) is also cheap, but it is typically too coarse for case polishing.

Tumbling is not a critical thing.

Each media type has it adherants, mostly from what they used at first it seems. Some can't make up their minds and use a mix of both just to make sure they get it right! Fact is the loading companies sell both types because, strong personal preferences aside, both work fine. There's very little, if any, real difference beween them in the criteria you list.

Cob is slightly slower and slightly more likely to produce a high gloss, for whatever that's worth to anyone. Nut seems to be a little faster and lasts a little bit longer.

Most folks toss their media much sooner than it need be. As long as it's doing it's job just keep going. When you think it's "too dirty" and stopped working, pour in a couple-three ounces of mineral spirits (oderless paint thinner) to rejuvinate it.

Just don't add too much polish, it doesn't take a lot. Polish really doesn't wear out either so a couple-three caps full will work a looong time! Excessive polish becomes a dryed powder and is the real source of the "contaminated" tumbler dust many folks get apprehensive about. Polish dust is unpleasant but harmless. And use any inexpensive, non-ammounia auto polish in your tumbler. Polish is polish, there's no magic in any of it. Those polishes sold by the loading companies is the same stuff but sells at far higher prices. Nu-Finish auto polish is very good and about as cheap as it gets.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:...

The cheapest source I've found is walnut shells in a 25-lb box from Harbor Freight and Tool...

I´ve looked for the walnut media at Harbor Freight Tools and found out that they have two types: coarse and fine, Which one would be better for polishing brass cases?

TIA

I use products from Micro and never looked back . Step up into the 21 century .

http://www.mikro1.com/supplies...f0r5kCFQ6jagodATYeJA

http://www.melleroptics.com/sh...yproducts.asp?id=531

http://www.kramerindustriesonl...on-ceramic-media.htm

quote:

Originally posted by errege:

I´ve looked for the walnut media at Harbor Freight Tools and found out that they have two types: coarse and fine, Which one would be better for polishing brass cases?

I would say the "fine".

quote:

Does anyone have a preference between Corncob and Walnut Tumbling Media. Is there any other option then these two? I just noticed that I was running low and need to buy some.

Which one lasts longer?

Does one clean better than the other?

Cost Difference?

I use a polishing additive that seems to work well, I am looking for the most clean for my buck.

PetSmart has 10-pound bags of "reptile bedding media," also known as crushed walnut hulls, for about eleven bucks. I use it; works great.

I am curently useing 30% glass filled nylon regrind from the plastic factory I work for.

quote:

I am curently useing 30% glass filled nylon regrind from the plastic factory I work for.

How does that work for you? I assume it has to be chopped up pretty small?

Mine works really well , perhaps not quite as pretty as Woods !.

However I don't flitz and spin them either . No reason glass filled nylon chips wouldn't work .

Just about anything put into a tumbler will work , some work faster and better than others .

I can't honestly say how long my media will last as

it's been doing around 5K rounds a year X 14 this year . I have washed and dried it twice now .

IMO it is every bit as good if not better than Walnut hulls .

Cob was always to dusty for my liking and required blowing out the cases with compressed air .

quote:

walnut media at Harbor Freight Tools and found out that they have two types: coarse and fine,

Fine. Much easier to remove from the cases, works as well and is much less likely to clog flash holes.

quote:

Originally posted by homebrewer:

quote:

I am curently useing 30% glass filled nylon regrind from the plastic factory I work for.

How does that work for you? I assume it has to be chopped up pretty small?

homebrewer,
it is about 1/8" to 3/16" bits and pieces of runners and bad parts all ground up to be re-used in the manufacture process.

I still use car wax in the media though.