Media Life

jeepCJ · March 20, 2000, 11:18 PM

How long should tumbling media last? I use corn cob media with a splash of Dillon brass polish. It has become VERY dirty looking after about 10 loads of 45acp brass but still seems to be doing fine. Will it last forever

I bought some extra when I got my tumbler, when should I change it? Thanks.
Dave

WESHOOT2 · March 21, 2000, 09:54 AM

Trust me, you'll know.

I do the same, and it will clean long after it looks like [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color].

Then, it won't clean any more!

Corn lasts a long long time. Dillon polish is still the best; just add a dab each cycle.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"

JoeHatley · March 21, 2000, 12:14 PM

I will last a very long time, but it does lose effectiveness as the granuals become rounded and smooth.

I change my media often. My wife buys it very inexpensively at the pet store. Both corncob and crushed walnut are sold as birdy litter. I add a couple of squirts of bore cleaner each time I start it up.

Joe

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Go NRA

HankL · March 22, 2000, 07:32 PM

Joe, this may well be one of those old tales but bore cleaner and your brass might not be happy together. Just a thought.
Best, Hank

Big Bunny · March 22, 2000, 10:17 PM

Yes.... but I bet hism cases are sparkling bright !!

Maybe try a teaspoon of jeweller's rouge or lapidary tin oxide in a small measure to just to coat the media in a small batch as an experiment. Yes ...you do lose some case thickness, but you do that anyway!

Probably best to use the propietry stuff or leave it out all together?

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***Big Bunny***

WESHOOT2 · March 23, 2000, 07:49 AM

Tried many, Dillon Rapid Polish seems best..........and works for me.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"

JoeHatley · March 24, 2000, 11:13 AM

HankL, I think you may be thinking of bore cleaners ment to remove copper fouling. They many times contain ammonia, which will weaken brass. I use Pro-Shot, which is citric acid based. It doesn't seem to have caused any problems yet.

Joe

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Go NRA

Walt Welch · March 25, 2000, 04:15 PM

Yep, ammonia will weaken brass, but citric acid is safe and effective for cleaning. Only problem is, the darn brass tarnishes if you look at it. The Dillon brass polish leaves a tarnish resistant coating on the brass. Walt

March 20, 2000, 11:18 PM	#1
jeepCJ Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2000 Location: Winter Haven, Sunny Florida Posts: 100	How long should tumbling media last? I use corn cob media with a splash of Dillon brass polish. It has become VERY dirty looking after about 10 loads of 45acp brass but still seems to be doing fine. Will it last forever I bought some extra when I got my tumbler, when should I change it? Thanks. Dave

March 21, 2000, 09:54 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Trust me, you'll know. I do the same, and it will clean long after it looks like [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color]. Then, it won't clean any more! Corn lasts a long long time. Dillon polish is still the best; just add a dab each cycle. ------------------ "All my ammo is factory ammo"

March 21, 2000, 12:14 PM	#3
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	I will last a very long time, but it does lose effectiveness as the granuals become rounded and smooth. I change my media often. My wife buys it very inexpensively at the pet store. Both corncob and crushed walnut are sold as birdy litter. I add a couple of squirts of bore cleaner each time I start it up. Joe ------------------ Go NRA

March 22, 2000, 07:32 PM	#4
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	Joe, this may well be one of those old tales but bore cleaner and your brass might not be happy together. Just a thought. Best, Hank

March 22, 2000, 10:17 PM	#5
Big Bunny Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 1999 Location: New South Wales - Australia Posts: 605	Yes.... but I bet hism cases are sparkling bright !! Maybe try a teaspoon of jeweller's rouge or lapidary tin oxide in a small measure to just to coat the media in a small batch as an experiment. Yes ...you do lose some case thickness, but you do that anyway! Probably best to use the propietry stuff or leave it out all together? ------------------ *Big Bunny*

March 23, 2000, 07:49 AM	#6
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Tried many, Dillon Rapid Polish seems best..........and works for me. ------------------ "All my ammo is factory ammo"

March 24, 2000, 11:13 AM	#7
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	HankL, I think you may be thinking of bore cleaners ment to remove copper fouling. They many times contain ammonia, which will weaken brass. I use Pro-Shot, which is citric acid based. It doesn't seem to have caused any problems yet. Joe ------------------ Go NRA

March 25, 2000, 04:15 PM	#8
Walt Welch Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 1998 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 424	Yep, ammonia will weaken brass, but citric acid is safe and effective for cleaning. Only problem is, the darn brass tarnishes if you look at it. The Dillon brass polish leaves a tarnish resistant coating on the brass. Walt