Corey Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Im getting ready to order some brass to make sure I get my initial supply up where I want it and it got me thinking. If I buy un-tumbled brass from someone/ somewhere it could take me awhile to clean it ( no biggie, i have spare time). What I dont have a lot of right now is media. How long do you let yours go before tossing it out/changing it out? Not sure if I want to buy actual "tumbling media" or the lizard bedding from pet store ideas ive seen from searching-but thats not really the topic here. How long should good media last before its time to change it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan550 Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Tough question. Depends upon how dirty the brass is to start, how shiny you want it to be and how much you run at a time. I have the big Dillon tumbler/cleaner, and running 200-400 pieces of 9X23 brass through each batch, it lasts for about 10 runs before I throw it out. I also add some Dillon Rapid Polish to the first 2-4 batches and pretty much leave it alone after that. The media will turn dark to let you know when its life is getting short. Also it takes longer to do the job as it gets loaded up with the grunge from the cases. YMMV Alan~^~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 If you save the old Dryer static sheets that gets used in the Laundry. = I will put two or three in the mix to take out the 'dust' that collects. Also I will some times add in a cap full of Mineral Spirits. With that I will use the same media for over a year or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h2osport Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I use the dryer sheet trick in my tumblers, and a cap full of dillon rapid polish. My media has been used for probably going on two years. Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Miles Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I use my media until it turns a darkish gray. I use Nufinish car wax from Wallyworld. There is a recent post regarding media ordered from Drillspot.com. 40 pounds/$20.05 delivered. Can't beat that deal. CYa, Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc1974 Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 just go to the pet shop and buy a big bag of lizard bedding.(Crushed Walnut Hulls) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I use my media until it turns a darkish gray. I use Nufinish car wax from Wallyworld. There is a recent post regarding media ordered from Drillspot.com. 40 pounds/$20.05 delivered. Can't beat that deal. CYa, Pat I've used blasting media for years and just got my first order from Drillspot.com (drop shipped from Grainger)$20 delivered, got it the next day too. At $20 per 40#'s you can swap it out about as often as you want. I too use nufinish. I generally do 2 tumblings if I want it real shinny, and rotate media out of the process. Dirty/old media to get the dirty stuff semi clean, cleaner media with polishing compound to shine it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Biondi Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 well... i bought my media whit my thumber about 7 years ago.... well i wash it with a basic acid for brick curtain and water... the media becomes as new. Just add a little quantity of dillon polish and they are ready to works fine again.. Total cost 10,00 € about $8,00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CocoBolo Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I run mine about a year. Keep forgetting about the dryer sheets. I use what every polish I happen to find. When you use polish the dirt cakes up and sticks to the side of the tumbler I just scrape it off and keep going. Only use a small amount of polish or it gums up the corn and it sticks in the cases. Flitz is the best polish I found. The RCBS media seperator is a good one. Yes, I sold a Dillion. Handling media is the biggest source of lead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Tough question. Depends upon how dirty the brass is to start, how shiny you want it to be and how much you run at a time. I have the big Dillon tumbler/cleaner, and running 200-400 pieces of 9X23 brass through each batch, it lasts for about 10 runs before I throw it out. I also add some Dillon Rapid Polish to the first 2-4 batches and pretty much leave it alone after that. The media will turn dark to let you know when its life is getting short. Also it takes longer to do the job as it gets loaded up with the grunge from the cases. YMMV Alan~^~ This is about how I would have answered. I'll add that with walnut shells I can also tell when it is time to change it because you can feel the difference in the sharpness. After several loads of brass pick up a handful of new shells then pick up the used shells you will feel why it has stopped working as well. Make sure to wash your hands. Also get a pack of the lead removing Dwipes from Dillon. They work great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSteel Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I get my media from the pet shop. Newest media is used for initial case cleaning. The old stuff gets saved and I use in with Nu finish post loading to get the rounds shiny and slick!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 i already use the dryer sheets, that was a great idea! Ill look into local pet stores for extra bedding/media as i dont have a ton, but what I have probably has some more life in it. Ill look into the polish as ive never used it before. I also want to look into those lead wipes...not a fan of high lead levels or lead poisoning, haha. I do wash my hands thorughly after sifting cases by hand. Maybe Ill look at the sifters too. Thanks for all the input!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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