Best crushed Walnut Grit to clean cases?

Wallyl · September 12, 2020, 12:27 PM

Tractor Supply Corp offers crushed Walnut shells @ $12.99/10 Lbs.: they offer Corase or Fine grit; I assume coarse is best (won't stick in flash holes), The coarse grit is 12/20 mesh; the fine is 35/60 mesh....it is used as blasting media and the mesh is important for its application. They also offer a medium grit 18/40 mesh but it costs more. I would guess it's better than lizard bedding as the later is not screened and one would get particles of all different sizes....can anyone offer me some advice before I buy ten lbs please?

Twinsig · September 12, 2020, 01:03 PM

Not sure what type I have since it was a gift from a larger source, but, mine does stick in flash holes. I little annoying but gives me the opportunity to inspect each case.
Following this thread though...

gnystrom · September 12, 2020, 01:18 PM

I am not overly anal about shiny brass but I have had great results for years using
Lizard Litter from Pet Smart and a bit of Nu Finish car polish.

**Unclenick** · September 12, 2020, 01:21 PM

I think 14/20 is the most common, but massreloading.com recommends 10/14 and some like 20/40 (see this THR thread). It seems to me that smaller cleans more slowly, but is least likely to stick in a flash hole.

burrhead · September 12, 2020, 01:40 PM

If you use coarse grit like lizard bedding, it will tend to stick inside 223 cases and is a huge pain to get out with a piece of stiff wire. DAMHIK

I buy 25# boxes for walnut blasting media from Horrible Fright and, with a little MS, it works great and is fine enough to flow out of small bottle neck cases.

**Unclenick** · September 12, 2020, 02:04 PM

Mineral Spirits (MS) is a good cleaner, but the polish is faster. I've made my own slow polish by mixing MS with diatomaceous earth from the garden supply. It's one of the polishes used in toothpaste and usually comes in food grade for garden applications. For something faster, mix white automotive buffing compound with MS. For faster still, the red compound. There are still occasions where that is quicker or more appropriate than running stainless pins.

Wallyl · September 12, 2020, 04:38 PM

I have used the SS pins...works great, but I dislike seperating them and then you have to dry them throughly...the worst is they tarnish quickly afterwards...

USSR · September 12, 2020, 04:48 PM

Zilla lizard litter from the pet supply stores. It's small enough to not clog up the flash holes. Then, add a cap full of Nu Finish car polish followed by a cap full of mineral spirits.

Don

Wallyl · September 12, 2020, 05:05 PM

My local pet shops don't stock it...where did you get yours?

USSR · September 12, 2020, 07:01 PM

Petco.

Don

Dead-Nuts-Zero · September 12, 2020, 09:38 PM

Slightly off topic, but I use walnut lizard bedding from pet store, it's a small uniform size & does plug flash holes but has never been an issue for me.
Problem is, it eventually wears out takes forever to clean brass.
I do all my brass cleaning outside. One day I forgot to put everything away & had left my Lyman bowl filled with worn out walnut shells outside in a 2 day rain.
So I poured off the water, dumped wet shells on a cookie sheet, placed it in the sun to dry.
I tried using it, it worked as good or maybe better than the fresh new shells from the store.
I'm now on my 2nd water cleaning of the same shells, so far it's working well.
However, YMMV!!!

rclark · September 12, 2020, 10:34 PM

When I clean cases, I use the cheap (around $13 for 10 quarts) Lizard Litter too (the bags says Zilla Desert Blend on it. I have 20qt of the stuff.... Lasts me a long time... Solving the flash hole problem is to leave the spent primer in place. Then resizing kicks out the primer and makes sure the flash hole is clear at the same time.

jetinteriorguy · September 13, 2020, 07:56 PM

Not sure what grit it is, but the stuff from Harbor Freight works great.

marchboom · September 18, 2020, 01:06 PM

This won't get stuck in the flash hole.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OVGPH6/...ding=UTF8&th=1

USSR · September 18, 2020, 03:46 PM

Quote:

This won't get stuck in the flash hole.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OVGPH6/...ding=UTF8&th=1

Yep, Zilla won't clog the flash hole.

Don

September 12, 2020, 12:27 PM	#1
Wallyl Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2011 Posts: 255	Best crushed Walnut Grit to clean cases? Tractor Supply Corp offers crushed Walnut shells @ $12.99/10 Lbs.: they offer Corase or Fine grit; I assume coarse is best (won't stick in flash holes), The coarse grit is 12/20 mesh; the fine is 35/60 mesh....it is used as blasting media and the mesh is important for its application. They also offer a medium grit 18/40 mesh but it costs more. I would guess it's better than lizard bedding as the later is not screened and one would get particles of all different sizes....can anyone offer me some advice before I buy ten lbs please?

September 12, 2020, 01:03 PM	#2
Twinsig Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: East Alabama Posts: 235	Not sure what type I have since it was a gift from a larger source, but, mine does stick in flash holes. I little annoying but gives me the opportunity to inspect each case. Following this thread though... __________________ I also have Fire Extinguishers, hope I never need those either.

September 12, 2020, 01:21 PM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I think 14/20 is the most common, but massreloading.com recommends 10/14 and some like 20/40 (see this THR thread). It seems to me that smaller cleans more slowly, but is least likely to stick in a flash hole. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

September 12, 2020, 01:40 PM	#5
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	If you use coarse grit like lizard bedding, it will tend to stick inside 223 cases and is a huge pain to get out with a piece of stiff wire. DAMHIK I buy 25# boxes for walnut blasting media from Horrible Fright and, with a little MS, it works great and is fine enough to flow out of small bottle neck cases. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

September 12, 2020, 02:04 PM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Mineral Spirits (MS) is a good cleaner, but the polish is faster. I've made my own slow polish by mixing MS with diatomaceous earth from the garden supply. It's one of the polishes used in toothpaste and usually comes in food grade for garden applications. For something faster, mix white automotive buffing compound with MS. For faster still, the red compound. There are still occasions where that is quicker or more appropriate than running stainless pins. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

September 12, 2020, 01:18 PM	#3
gnystrom Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2006 Posts: 308	I am not overly anal about shiny brass but I have had great results for years using Lizard Litter from Pet Smart and a bit of Nu Finish car polish.

September 12, 2020, 04:38 PM	#7
Wallyl Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2011 Posts: 255	I have used the SS pins...works great, but I dislike seperating them and then you have to dry them throughly...the worst is they tarnish quickly afterwards...

September 12, 2020, 04:48 PM	#8
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	Zilla lizard litter from the pet supply stores. It's small enough to not clog up the flash holes. Then, add a cap full of Nu Finish car polish followed by a cap full of mineral spirits. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

September 12, 2020, 05:05 PM	#9
Wallyl Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2011 Posts: 255	My local pet shops don't stock it...where did you get yours?

September 12, 2020, 07:01 PM	#10
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	Petco. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

September 12, 2020, 09:38 PM	#11
Dead-Nuts-Zero Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2004 Posts: 579	Slightly off topic, but I use walnut lizard bedding from pet store, it's a small uniform size & does plug flash holes but has never been an issue for me. Problem is, it eventually wears out takes forever to clean brass. I do all my brass cleaning outside. One day I forgot to put everything away & had left my Lyman bowl filled with worn out walnut shells outside in a 2 day rain. So I poured off the water, dumped wet shells on a cookie sheet, placed it in the sun to dry. I tried using it, it worked as good or maybe better than the fresh new shells from the store. I'm now on my 2nd water cleaning of the same shells, so far it's working well. However, YMMV!!! __________________ . . BANG------------ >>> !

September 12, 2020, 10:34 PM	#12
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,622	When I clean cases, I use the cheap (around $13 for 10 quarts) Lizard Litter too (the bags says Zilla Desert Blend on it. I have 20qt of the stuff.... Lasts me a long time... Solving the flash hole problem is to leave the spent primer in place. Then resizing kicks out the primer and makes sure the flash hole is clear at the same time. __________________ A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.

September 13, 2020, 07:56 PM	#13
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,176	Not sure what grit it is, but the stuff from Harbor Freight works great.

September 18, 2020, 01:06 PM	#14
marchboom Member Join Date: September 10, 2017 Location: No. Idaho Posts: 39	Media This won't get stuck in the flash hole. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OVGPH6/...ding=UTF8&th=1 __________________ U.S.A.F., aircrew (ret.) NRA Life Member NHRA RSO