Brass tumbler vs. Petsmart

itman · March 21, 2008, 05:49 PM

I just picked up a Brass tumbler and was reading what Media everyone uses. It sounds like a trip to Petsmart is in order to pick up some corn cob and/or walnut pet bedding. Not being a pet owner, and never been in Petsmant and didn't even know they sold corn cob and walnut for bedding (these animals must sleep better then I do).

So before I walk in and the thin little 19 year old kid walks up to me and asks me "Can I help you" want brand of Corn cob and Walnut do you use and are there types of corn cob or Walnut not to get? I really don’t want to him want I want the media for.

Thanks

Ozzieman · March 21, 2008, 06:05 PM

I hope it works out for you but I want to warn you of one thing.
When loading and unloading a bullet tumbler, use some kind of respirator / mask / air filter. When using something like what you’re planning in a tumbler it will breakdown and a lot of dust will be in the medium. When you empty the container, say though a screen, there will be a large amount of lead in the dust and it’s something you don’t want to breathe.
Lead poisoning is not something you want to experience or joke around about.
Take the precaution

itman · March 21, 2008, 07:08 PM

Ozzi. Thanks for the advice. I will keep a mask on my face when I work with the media.

snuffy · March 21, 2008, 07:22 PM

You didn't say which caliber you would be tumbling. Large handgun calibers can be done with the petsmart corn-cob, but smaller pistol,(under 40 cal), or rifle cases will get plugged up with the corn-cob. The stuff I got was ¼ inch grind, it plugged up the .223 I was tumbling so bad I nearly threw them away. Had to use a drill bit to pry it out!

The walnut I saw there was fine enough to use on the smaller stuff. BUT it don't do a high polish like the corn-cob does. It does however clean really dirty cases better.

itman · March 21, 2008, 07:40 PM

Sorry The brass is for my 300 Win mag and 223.

Ozzieman · March 21, 2008, 07:48 PM

One more suggestion.
What your planning on using will work,,, but.
I would suggest that some time use a professional manufactured case cleaning medium.
I get mine from Sinclair International in Fort Wayne IN.
It already has polishing compound in it and it will clean 223 brass in a vibrating cleaner like a polished mirror in less than an hour. It also makes very little dust and will clean and clean and keep on cleaning for a large number of cases.

hikingman · March 21, 2008, 08:04 PM

Well, ask the sales associate where the lizard bedding is, and they will lead you to the corn cob media, and ground shells and such...then tell them you'll look around at stuff, and that you will let them know if you need further assistance...

Secondly, use a square section of handy wrap on the top of the screen portion of your tumbler if it does not have a covered top. With the plastic guard screwed over the piece and a hole in the center of the handiwrap to place it over the threaded screw in the center, you'll contain the dust while it's tumblin'. When it's time to sift, use a glove, or a plastic cooking spoon and don't make dust when you shake it. Take your time, don't create dust, and leave the mask for a different job.

Problem with so much of life, is we hurry, instead of slowing a bit, and enjoying stuff or doing things right, or careful like.

ForneyRider · March 21, 2008, 09:35 PM

I use rice but the rice gets stuck in the flash hole. So I tumble then decap.

Saved a trip to the store.

TexasSeaRay · March 21, 2008, 09:49 PM

I've tried several of the corn cob and ground walnut varieties at Petsmart. I even tried the corn cob kitty litter--that stuff is DUSTY AS HELL!

Finally settled on the ground walnut. Think it's called Lizard Litter, or something like that. Can't remember the brand--Reptillia, maybe?

Anyhow, it does an EXCELLENT job. In fact, when I put a capfull of NuFinish car wax and a thimble full of mineral spirits in the mix, it outshines and outpolishes ANY corncob media I've ever tried--and I've damn near tried them all.

I use a true tumbler--it rotates rather than vibrates. So I do a two stage cleaning--stage one is in the treated walnut, then stage two is in the untreated walnut with some small pieces of torn up dish towels tossed in to help with the polishing effect.

Often times, the inside of the brass is as shiny as the outside.

All this for around ten/eleven bucks for a ten-pound bag. Four pounds of "brand name" media costs me almost twice that much--toss in shipping and it costs me over twice that much.

Jeff

mrawesome22 · March 21, 2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Reptillia, maybe?

I believe that is the name of the stuff I have. Fine ground walnut. I got it at We Love Pets. Works like magic with a cap full of NuFinish added every other batch of brass.

ryalred · March 24, 2008, 04:57 PM

For those who don't live close to a large pet supply store, some are selling corn cob media on Ebay for very resonable prices if you get the kind with no additive and then you can add your favorite. You can get walnut media as well.

the_right_reverend · March 24, 2008, 05:18 PM

Wally World...... Pet Dept most likely bottom shelf in the bedding, rabbit hay section....

I use Mothers Polish,about 1/2 teaspoon desolved in about a ounce of denatured alcohol

UniversalFrost · March 24, 2008, 07:47 PM

i like the flitz treatment and the frankford arsenal walnut media ( i buy in bulk from midway). the 7lb bag is on sale for 9 bucks!

if you want to avoid the dust from the media when dumping out the brass/media I would sugges either the painters face mask or just do it outside with a nice breeze.

JOE

I have heard of folks using kitty litter even and the lizard bedding, but I just buy the treated or untreated walnut or corn cob media and no worries. make sure to have 2 seperate medias. I have an ice cream pail with cleaning media (old polishing media) and a pail with polishing media. I tumble the used brass with the cleaning media then lube/resize then throw back in with polishing media and then finish loading.

Rotate the media when the polishing media starts to get dirty and just dump the old cleaning media.

Flying Groundhog · March 25, 2008, 01:07 AM

+1 TexasSeaRay

The Lovemaster · March 25, 2008, 02:50 AM

I too use walnut bird bedding from Petsmart and add NuFinish every second or third load. I need to try the mineral spirits trick. I never have any dust - I cut up a used dryer sheet into six pieces and run a new (used) one with every load. The NuFinish and the dryer sheets make the media last forever. I have been using the same media for what seems like months now, and it still polishes great.

jmorris · March 25, 2008, 08:11 AM

I like saving a buck just as much as the next guy and have tried just about every concoction there is when it comes to cleaning/polishing brass. Dillon sells corn cob media for $11.95 10# and it works without issue (remember time is money too). No matter how cheap you get on the media you are not going to put junior through college with the savings. Picking up range brass on the other hand…

tvick66 · March 25, 2008, 09:55 PM

+1 TexasSeaRay

I use the Lizard Litter and it does a great job.

Lizard Litter.jpg

williamd · March 25, 2008, 10:32 PM

The right stuff from Cabela's is not at all expensive!!!!!!!!

dakotashooter2 · March 26, 2008, 03:20 PM

I recently started getting the stuff from the pet store. Not all the stores have the "fine ground" corn cob. I had to get mine at tractor supply store (TCS). both the corn and walnut were 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of commercial media. Righ now I am experimenting with a 50/50 mix of walnut and corn with lyman media treatment and couldn't be happier with the results. My cases seem to be cleaner and more polished with very little dust. I have also noticed less corn media in the flash holes. It appears the walnut, which is finer, often fills the holes before the corn can get wedged in then easily falls out.

Bottom line is that it seems to work for me.

March 21, 2008, 05:49 PM	#1
itman Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2005 Posts: 199	Brass tumbler vs. Petsmart I just picked up a Brass tumbler and was reading what Media everyone uses. It sounds like a trip to Petsmart is in order to pick up some corn cob and/or walnut pet bedding. Not being a pet owner, and never been in Petsmant and didn't even know they sold corn cob and walnut for bedding (these animals must sleep better then I do). So before I walk in and the thin little 19 year old kid walks up to me and asks me "Can I help you" want brand of Corn cob and Walnut do you use and are there types of corn cob or Walnut not to get? I really don’t want to him want I want the media for. Thanks

March 21, 2008, 07:22 PM	#4
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	You didn't say which caliber you would be tumbling. Large handgun calibers can be done with the petsmart corn-cob, but smaller pistol,(under 40 cal), or rifle cases will get plugged up with the corn-cob. The stuff I got was ¼ inch grind, it plugged up the .223 I was tumbling so bad I nearly threw them away. Had to use a drill bit to pry it out! The walnut I saw there was fine enough to use on the smaller stuff. BUT it don't do a high polish like the corn-cob does. It does however clean really dirty cases better. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

March 21, 2008, 09:35 PM	#8
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	I use rice but the rice gets stuck in the flash hole. So I tumble then decap. Saved a trip to the store. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

March 21, 2008, 09:49 PM	#9
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	I've tried several of the corn cob and ground walnut varieties at Petsmart. I even tried the corn cob kitty litter--that stuff is DUSTY AS HELL! Finally settled on the ground walnut. Think it's called Lizard Litter, or something like that. Can't remember the brand--Reptillia, maybe? Anyhow, it does an EXCELLENT job. In fact, when I put a capfull of NuFinish car wax and a thimble full of mineral spirits in the mix, it outshines and outpolishes ANY corncob media I've ever tried--and I've damn near tried them all. I use a true tumbler--it rotates rather than vibrates. So I do a two stage cleaning--stage one is in the treated walnut, then stage two is in the untreated walnut with some small pieces of torn up dish towels tossed in to help with the polishing effect. Often times, the inside of the brass is as shiny as the outside. All this for around ten/eleven bucks for a ten-pound bag. Four pounds of "brand name" media costs me almost twice that much--toss in shipping and it costs me over twice that much. Jeff __________________ If every single gun owner belonged to the NRA as well as their respective state rifle/gun association, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in today. So to those of you who are members of neither, thanks for nothing.

March 24, 2008, 05:18 PM	#12
the_right_reverend Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2008 Location: Sneads Ferry, Nc Posts: 232	cob meal Wally World...... Pet Dept most likely bottom shelf in the bedding, rabbit hay section.... I use Mothers Polish,about 1/2 teaspoon desolved in about a ounce of denatured alcohol Last edited by the_right_reverend; March 25, 2008 at 02:06 AM.

March 21, 2008, 06:05 PM	#2
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	I hope it works out for you but I want to warn you of one thing. When loading and unloading a bullet tumbler, use some kind of respirator / mask / air filter. When using something like what you’re planning in a tumbler it will breakdown and a lot of dust will be in the medium. When you empty the container, say though a screen, there will be a large amount of lead in the dust and it’s something you don’t want to breathe. Lead poisoning is not something you want to experience or joke around about. Take the precaution

March 21, 2008, 07:08 PM	#3
itman Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2005 Posts: 199	Ozzi. Thanks for the advice. I will keep a mask on my face when I work with the media.

March 21, 2008, 07:40 PM	#5
itman Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2005 Posts: 199	Sorry The brass is for my 300 Win mag and 223.

March 21, 2008, 07:48 PM	#6
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	One more suggestion. What your planning on using will work,,, but. I would suggest that some time use a professional manufactured case cleaning medium. I get mine from Sinclair International in Fort Wayne IN. It already has polishing compound in it and it will clean 223 brass in a vibrating cleaner like a polished mirror in less than an hour. It also makes very little dust and will clean and clean and keep on cleaning for a large number of cases.

March 21, 2008, 08:04 PM	#7
hikingman Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 301	Well, ask the sales associate where the lizard bedding is, and they will lead you to the corn cob media, and ground shells and such...then tell them you'll look around at stuff, and that you will let them know if you need further assistance... Secondly, use a square section of handy wrap on the top of the screen portion of your tumbler if it does not have a covered top. With the plastic guard screwed over the piece and a hole in the center of the handiwrap to place it over the threaded screw in the center, you'll contain the dust while it's tumblin'. When it's time to sift, use a glove, or a plastic cooking spoon and don't make dust when you shake it. Take your time, don't create dust, and leave the mask for a different job. Problem with so much of life, is we hurry, instead of slowing a bit, and enjoying stuff or doing things right, or careful like.

March 24, 2008, 04:57 PM	#11
ryalred Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Location: SE Oklahoma Posts: 491	For those who don't live close to a large pet supply store, some are selling corn cob media on Ebay for very resonable prices if you get the kind with no additive and then you can add your favorite. You can get walnut media as well.

March 24, 2008, 07:47 PM	#13
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	i like the flitz treatment and the frankford arsenal walnut media ( i buy in bulk from midway). the 7lb bag is on sale for 9 bucks! if you want to avoid the dust from the media when dumping out the brass/media I would sugges either the painters face mask or just do it outside with a nice breeze. JOE I have heard of folks using kitty litter even and the lizard bedding, but I just buy the treated or untreated walnut or corn cob media and no worries. make sure to have 2 seperate medias. I have an ice cream pail with cleaning media (old polishing media) and a pail with polishing media. I tumble the used brass with the cleaning media then lube/resize then throw back in with polishing media and then finish loading. Rotate the media when the polishing media starts to get dirty and just dump the old cleaning media. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

March 25, 2008, 01:07 AM	#14
Flying Groundhog Member Join Date: January 15, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 18	+1 TexasSeaRay

March 25, 2008, 02:50 AM	#15
The Lovemaster Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 416	I too use walnut bird bedding from Petsmart and add NuFinish every second or third load. I need to try the mineral spirits trick. I never have any dust - I cut up a used dryer sheet into six pieces and run a new (used) one with every load. The NuFinish and the dryer sheets make the media last forever. I have been using the same media for what seems like months now, and it still polishes great.

March 25, 2008, 08:11 AM	#16
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	I like saving a buck just as much as the next guy and have tried just about every concoction there is when it comes to cleaning/polishing brass. Dillon sells corn cob media for $11.95 10# and it works without issue (remember time is money too). No matter how cheap you get on the media you are not going to put junior through college with the savings. Picking up range brass on the other hand…

March 25, 2008, 09:55 PM	#17
tvick66 Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: B'ham Posts: 23	+1 TexasSeaRay I use the Lizard Litter and it does a great job. Lizard Litter.jpg

March 25, 2008, 10:32 PM	#18
williamd Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 801	The right stuff from Cabela's is not at all expensive!!!!!!!! __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" Unfortunately, we may be moving in that direction. NRA Benefactor, Conservative!, VN '64-'65. Never sell a gun or a car ... and retire rich!

March 26, 2008, 03:20 PM	#19
dakotashooter2 Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2005 Posts: 498	I recently started getting the stuff from the pet store. Not all the stores have the "fine ground" corn cob. I had to get mine at tractor supply store (TCS). both the corn and walnut were 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of commercial media. Righ now I am experimenting with a 50/50 mix of walnut and corn with lyman media treatment and couldn't be happier with the results. My cases seem to be cleaner and more polished with very little dust. I have also noticed less corn media in the flash holes. It appears the walnut, which is finer, often fills the holes before the corn can get wedged in then easily falls out. Bottom line is that it seems to work for me.