Walnut tumbling media is terrible!

Machineguntony · November 14, 2016, 11:38 AM

About three months ago, I bought a big bag of walnut tumbling media from Harbor Freight. I started experiencing all sorts of problems in all my progressive reloaders.

The problem comes from the walnut being hard and inflexible, so the brass has a problem not feeding into the shell plate or not aligning properly. The brass would sometimes jam at the first station where the cases would feed into the plate, the brass would be off centered by a little bit for the priming station, the walnut would get caught up in the priming mechanism, etc.

I finally figured out what was wrong when one of my bullet feeders went down. Upon looking at the feeder, I saw a piece of walnut had gotten into the feeder and prevented the bullet from dropping.

It took me a while to figure out what was going on, and it was a frustrating three months. I finally switched back to corn cob media, which is flexible and gives way. Problems solved!

Anyone else experience similar problems with walnut tumbling media? It's the worst!

KEYBEAR · November 14, 2016, 12:21 PM

Having used Wall nut to clean my brass for a long time never a problem .
Never had any Wall nut in or on the case but all brass needs to be checked after cleaning . I have run my brass in a lot of different loaders .

P5 Guy · November 14, 2016, 12:40 PM

Ground walnut from the local pet store works fine for me.
I get the occasional piece stuck in the flash hole but I inspect my cases pretty intensely.

Reloadron · November 14, 2016, 12:50 PM

P5 Guy:

Quote:

I get the occasional piece stuck in the flash hole but I inspect my cases pretty intensely.

Good reloading habits and practices call for inspecting the brass all along the path from cleaning/sizing to the final bullet seating. Cleaning media has a way of finding its way into all sorts of places.

Walnut media seems to be better for the tough jobs while the softer corn cob media is good for light cleaning and especially polishing.

Ron

higgite · November 14, 2016, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Walnut tumbling media is terrible!

I disagree. But, whatever floats your boat. That's why they sell different types and brands of media. And dies. And bullets. And powder. And....and....and....

T. O'Heir · November 14, 2016, 01:10 PM

"...a piece of walnut had gotten into..." Operator failure. Like Ron says, you have to inspect your cases.

Reloadron · November 14, 2016, 01:10 PM

higgite:

Quote:

I disagree. But, whatever floats your boat. That's why they sell different types and brands of media. And dies. And bullets. And powder. And....and....and....

Ain't America great? That's why I love this country, the freedom of choice (fifes and drums playing in the background).

Ron

Gemmer · November 14, 2016, 01:20 PM

Not all walnut media is equal. Perhaps the brand you bought is the issue.
I have been useing walnut fo 60+ years without any problems. I do inspect my brass after tumbling.

BigJimP · November 14, 2016, 01:21 PM

I disagree as well...I tumble and shoot about 25,000 rds a year...( all reloaded in a Dillon 650 with a case feeder ).../ ... regardless of what media you use, you need to inspect the cases after they are cleaned ...and make sure you get the media out of them, check for cracks, etc...

I don't think corn cob media does as good a job in cleaning ...I tried it once and dumped it and went back to walnut shells.

Reloadron · November 14, 2016, 01:44 PM

I believe sometimes when it comes down to tumbling media it becomes a matter of the grit or how course/fine the media is, be it corn cob, walnut or whatever. One day when at I think it was Pet Smart I grabbed a big bag of media. It is Kay-Kob Bedding and Liter, 100% pure corn cob. Been sitting on the front porch a few years now. The stuff is just to coarse to tumble my brass in. Maybe this thread will serve as a reminder to give the stuff to my neighbor to use as kitty liter. I sure have no use for the stuff.

Ron

JeepHammer · November 14, 2016, 02:21 PM

Small batch stainless pin is a mess around the sink, draining water, ect.
It DOESN'T create dust, you don't have the cost of replacing walnut or cobb media, and there isn't anything to plug up the machines (provided you use magnetic pins and use a strong magnet to check cases BEFORE you feed the machines).

With steel pins/water, you get brass that is spotlessly clean INSIDE as well as outside.
The tumblers (not vibratory) aren't particularly cheap for a good one, but they usually last the home reloader a lifetime.

**44 AMP** · November 14, 2016, 02:31 PM

Lets see, you are allowing tumbling media to get into your reloading machinery, and blaming the MEDIA???

I'd say there was something wrong with both your process, AND your analysis.

Looks to me to be a good example of why we inspect tumbled cases and remove all media (including dust if any) BEFORE they go into the reloading machinery, and what can happen if you don't.

jag2 · November 14, 2016, 03:26 PM

I know corn cob can get stuck in flash holes. The walnut I used in the past was almost like a fine powder, no way it could get stuck. I think you might have bought the wrong type. I'm guessing harbor frieght only carries one type. Check out Graingers, I bet you'll find a finer grain.

ammo.crafter · November 14, 2016, 03:34 PM

Don't go cheap.

As others have said, you must constantly inspect your brass as well as your entire reloading process. Remember, you are making ammunition.

Curious: How many clean their brass prior to resizing and how many clean their brass after resizing?

eo1bart · November 14, 2016, 04:21 PM

Tumble before decapping if you don't want media in the flash holes

Dufus · November 14, 2016, 04:32 PM

My first step is to throw everything in the tumbler with walnut (I strictly use Lyman brand) and let it run about 2-4 hrs.

I then do all brass prep (size, deprime, trim, etc).

Then I tumble with corn cob (Lyman brand also) about another 2-4 hrs. to remove all the lube & other stuff.

After that it is load time.

When I process my brass, it is usually 600-1200 pieces at a time. My tumbler can hold 1000 30-06 size cases and I have done 1500 9mm at a time.

This has been my routine since I got my big tumbler on or around 1976.

Even though it works for some, I don't use pet store or cheap tool store media.

My tumbler holds around 32-35 lbs of media.

DaleA · November 14, 2016, 04:59 PM

I thoroughly enjoy these discussions.

That said, let's remember this guy knows how to reload and has been reloading without problems for quite some time. He switched to a new tumbling media and has encountered problems that he traced back to the walnut media.

Simple fix, he's going back to corn cob.

I'm not sure the OP needs to be told how to reload. He's already got a system that works.

I appreciate all the comments because it might teach me something new or make me reevaluate MY procedure.

Disclaimer: I got started with corncob, it worked and I never tried anything else. (Note that this is not (necessarily) a good thing---I've said it before there's lots of reloading stuff I was totally unaware of until I started reading this site.)

dahermit · November 14, 2016, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Walnut tumbling media is terrible!

Are you using one of these?
http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/176...AnkxoCv3Hw_wcB

JeepHammer · November 14, 2016, 07:30 PM

OK,
'An Experienced Reloader' might benefit from what others have done...

Use a 'Tumbler' separator, banging around a little helps knock loose stuck media.

Dump cases into a big towel, pinch the ends shut and shake around, removes dust from the outside of the cases and gives cases a little more banging to get the last of that media removed.

higgite · November 14, 2016, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Use a 'Tumbler' separator, banging around a little helps knock loose stuck media.

Dump cases into a big towel, pinch the ends shut and shake around, removes dust from the outside of the cases and gives cases a little more banging to get the last of that media removed.

This ^^^ is what I do, too. Work the towel back and forth like polishing a bowling ball. Just be sure to wash the towel when the brass starts coming out dustier than when it went in.

t45 · November 14, 2016, 09:00 PM

I've never had an issue with walnut. I've been using it for years without a problem. Brass comes out new and shiny.

MarkGlazer · November 14, 2016, 09:12 PM

Looking at the Harbor Freight web site, they have two types of walnut defined by their abrasiveness. Both have a fundamental description that reads as follows:

This walnut shell blasting media is great for rust- free paint removal from sheet metal and for cleaning engines and transmissions.

As some of the posts state, different media for different purposes. Personally, I've only used Zilla since I began loading and have never had an issue.

Change your brand and try again.

Be well.

shootbrownelk · November 14, 2016, 09:35 PM

Just go to PetSmart and get a bag of "Lizard litter" (fine walnut shells) fill your vibrator tumbler with it, add strips of used clothes drier sheets to the media (it removes all the dust) add your unprimed brass and let her rip. Been doing it this way for years, I blow out all the cases with compressed air before resizing and loading.

Snyper · November 14, 2016, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Tumble before decapping if you don't want media in the flash holes

It can still plug the flash hole from the inside.

If he's getting media in the equipment it's obvious he's already tumbling before decapping.

I'd decap, tumble, and then check the holes for debris

Average Joe · November 14, 2016, 09:39 PM

I see your problem clearly, " Harbor Freight " says it all.....

November 14, 2016, 11:38 AM	#1
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	Walnut tumbling media is terrible! About three months ago, I bought a big bag of walnut tumbling media from Harbor Freight. I started experiencing all sorts of problems in all my progressive reloaders. The problem comes from the walnut being hard and inflexible, so the brass has a problem not feeding into the shell plate or not aligning properly. The brass would sometimes jam at the first station where the cases would feed into the plate, the brass would be off centered by a little bit for the priming station, the walnut would get caught up in the priming mechanism, etc. I finally figured out what was wrong when one of my bullet feeders went down. Upon looking at the feeder, I saw a piece of walnut had gotten into the feeder and prevented the bullet from dropping. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, and it was a frustrating three months. I finally switched back to corn cob media, which is flexible and gives way. Problems solved! Anyone else experience similar problems with walnut tumbling media? It's the worst!

November 14, 2016, 12:40 PM	#3
P5 Guy Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,804	Lizard Litter Ground walnut from the local pet store works fine for me. I get the occasional piece stuck in the flash hole but I inspect my cases pretty intensely.

November 14, 2016, 02:31 PM	#12
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,482	Lets see, you are allowing tumbling media to get into your reloading machinery, and blaming the MEDIA??? I'd say there was something wrong with both your process, AND your analysis. Looks to me to be a good example of why we inspect tumbled cases and remove all media (including dust if any) BEFORE they go into the reloading machinery, and what can happen if you don't. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

November 14, 2016, 03:34 PM	#14
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 2,032	wall nuts Don't go cheap. As others have said, you must constantly inspect your brass as well as your entire reloading process. Remember, you are making ammunition. Curious: How many clean their brass prior to resizing and how many clean their brass after resizing? __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

November 14, 2016, 12:21 PM	#2
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	Having used Wall nut to clean my brass for a long time never a problem . Never had any Wall nut in or on the case but all brass needs to be checked after cleaning . I have run my brass in a lot of different loaders .

November 14, 2016, 01:10 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...a piece of walnut had gotten into..." Operator failure. Like Ron says, you have to inspect your cases.

November 14, 2016, 01:20 PM	#8
Gemmer Member Join Date: November 15, 2013 Posts: 38	Not all walnut media is equal. Perhaps the brand you bought is the issue. I have been useing walnut fo 60+ years without any problems. I do inspect my brass after tumbling.

November 14, 2016, 01:21 PM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I disagree as well...I tumble and shoot about 25,000 rds a year...( all reloaded in a Dillon 650 with a case feeder ).../ ... regardless of what media you use, you need to inspect the cases after they are cleaned ...and make sure you get the media out of them, check for cracks, etc... I don't think corn cob media does as good a job in cleaning ...I tried it once and dumped it and went back to walnut shells.

November 14, 2016, 01:44 PM	#10
Reloadron Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2016 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Suburbs Posts: 1,756	I believe sometimes when it comes down to tumbling media it becomes a matter of the grit or how course/fine the media is, be it corn cob, walnut or whatever. One day when at I think it was Pet Smart I grabbed a big bag of media. It is Kay-Kob Bedding and Liter, 100% pure corn cob. Been sitting on the front porch a few years now. The stuff is just to coarse to tumble my brass in. Maybe this thread will serve as a reminder to give the stuff to my neighbor to use as kitty liter. I sure have no use for the stuff. Ron

November 14, 2016, 02:21 PM	#11
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	Small batch stainless pin is a mess around the sink, draining water, ect. It DOESN'T create dust, you don't have the cost of replacing walnut or cobb media, and there isn't anything to plug up the machines (provided you use magnetic pins and use a strong magnet to check cases BEFORE you feed the machines). With steel pins/water, you get brass that is spotlessly clean INSIDE as well as outside. The tumblers (not vibratory) aren't particularly cheap for a good one, but they usually last the home reloader a lifetime.

November 14, 2016, 03:26 PM	#13
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 779	I know corn cob can get stuck in flash holes. The walnut I used in the past was almost like a fine powder, no way it could get stuck. I think you might have bought the wrong type. I'm guessing harbor frieght only carries one type. Check out Graingers, I bet you'll find a finer grain.

November 14, 2016, 04:21 PM	#15
eo1bart Junior Member Join Date: March 4, 2016 Posts: 12	Tumble before decapping if you don't want media in the flash holes

November 14, 2016, 04:32 PM	#16
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,967	My first step is to throw everything in the tumbler with walnut (I strictly use Lyman brand) and let it run about 2-4 hrs. I then do all brass prep (size, deprime, trim, etc). Then I tumble with corn cob (Lyman brand also) about another 2-4 hrs. to remove all the lube & other stuff. After that it is load time. When I process my brass, it is usually 600-1200 pieces at a time. My tumbler can hold 1000 30-06 size cases and I have done 1500 9mm at a time. This has been my routine since I got my big tumbler on or around 1976. Even though it works for some, I don't use pet store or cheap tool store media. My tumbler holds around 32-35 lbs of media.

November 14, 2016, 04:59 PM	#17
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,384	I thoroughly enjoy these discussions. That said, let's remember this guy knows how to reload and has been reloading without problems for quite some time. He switched to a new tumbling media and has encountered problems that he traced back to the walnut media. Simple fix, he's going back to corn cob. I'm not sure the OP needs to be told how to reload. He's already got a system that works. I appreciate all the comments because it might teach me something new or make me reevaluate MY procedure. Disclaimer: I got started with corncob, it worked and I never tried anything else. (Note that this is not (necessarily) a good thing---I've said it before there's lots of reloading stuff I was totally unaware of until I started reading this site.)

November 14, 2016, 07:30 PM	#19
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	OK, 'An Experienced Reloader' might benefit from what others have done... Use a 'Tumbler' separator, banging around a little helps knock loose stuck media. Dump cases into a big towel, pinch the ends shut and shake around, removes dust from the outside of the cases and gives cases a little more banging to get the last of that media removed.

November 14, 2016, 09:00 PM	#21
t45 Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2010 Location: Foothills, NC Posts: 782	I've never had an issue with walnut. I've been using it for years without a problem. Brass comes out new and shiny.

November 14, 2016, 09:12 PM	#22
MarkGlazer Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 329	Looking at the Harbor Freight web site, they have two types of walnut defined by their abrasiveness. Both have a fundamental description that reads as follows: This walnut shell blasting media is great for rust- free paint removal from sheet metal and for cleaning engines and transmissions. As some of the posts state, different media for different purposes. Personally, I've only used Zilla since I began loading and have never had an issue. Change your brand and try again. Be well.

November 14, 2016, 09:35 PM	#23
shootbrownelk Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2013 Location: Wyoming Posts: 329	Just go to PetSmart and get a bag of "Lizard litter" (fine walnut shells) fill your vibrator tumbler with it, add strips of used clothes drier sheets to the media (it removes all the dust) add your unprimed brass and let her rip. Been doing it this way for years, I blow out all the cases with compressed air before resizing and loading.

November 14, 2016, 09:39 PM	#25
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,332	I see your problem clearly, " Harbor Freight " says it all.....