Speedsterp Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Hi everyone just purchased a used Dillon XL 650 along with my nephew. I am wondering if corn cob works well enough for cleaning cases. I have read in a few places that many prefer Walnut or combination of the two. The issue we have is that my nephew has a serious alergic reaction to nuts i.e. carries an eppie pin. Any input or methods to make walnut the most effective. Also with lowered funds any recommendations on a vibratory case cleaner. The Dillon is a bit over the budget. Was looking at the Lyman, Hornady, those are in the $50 - $70 range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lugnut Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I do think walnut cleans quicker. Just keep the cases in the corn longer. 2-3 hours will only help and it's just machine time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.roberts Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 A couple of hours with corn cob cleans my brass just fine. I'd stay away from the walnut if your nephew has an allergy. My nephew's allergic too, so I know how serious it can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 The best bang for the buck on a cleaner is the one Cabelas sells. If you are on a budget, you can skip the separator and just use a bucket and a plastic kitchen colander. I like walnut to clean and corn cob to polish, but walnut does kick up dust so just stick with the corn cob. Check pet stores for big bags of it sold as pet bedding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facelessman Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Walnut to clean, corn to polish. Using a tip from the members here, I put a few pieces of dryer sheet in with the walnut and there's hardly any dust. Works great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsterp Posted March 10, 2011 Author Share Posted March 10, 2011 Thanks for all the input. I decided to go with the Cabela's starter kit as it provides tumbler, corn cob media, polish and a simple colander style separator that shoudl get me started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pro-Pain Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I've used corncob and only added the separate polish/finisher when I put in new corn cob. I shoot nickel brass and while it doesn't get them blindingly bright, it polishes them up enough to make them look nice and get all the crud off. I was using a Frankfort Arsenal "Quick-N-EZ", which can only do about 500-600 cases at a time, but running them about 30-40 minutes is plenty of time to get them looking good. As far as dust/particulates, be aware that the brass have carbon and lead traces, and when you dump the tumbler into the separator, you can kick up some dust that has lead in it, so you want to make sure you're not breathing this directly in and you're ventilated, so the lead particles don't get inhaled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goosedowner Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I pick up my corn media here http://www.drillspot.com/products/521055/econoline_526040g-40_40_lbs_blast_media 40 pounds for $23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 40 pounds for $23 And that includes shipping? What does that work out to $20 for the shipping and $3 for the media? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dejadoo Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I pick up my corn media here http://www.drillspot...lbs_blast_media 40 pounds for $23 So what grit would everyone recommend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARKAVELI Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Thanks for all the input. I decided to go with the Cabela's starter kit as it provides tumbler, corn cob media, polish and a simple colander style separator that shoudl get me started. That is what I got it works great eventually I did get a media separator cause the media corn & walnut gets caught up in the primer flash hole sometimes and I use to have to tap it on the colander to get any media out my brass. As for walnut it does clean better then corncob but corn cob makes my brass shine almost like new juts will take longer if you don't use walnut. I wouldn't use walnut if your nephew will have complications with it, also +1 using fabric softener sheets breathing better yet being exposed to lead can and may cause health problems to you and your nephew and what ever you touch, on a lighter note I am out of brass polisher so I now use Nu Finish car polish good luck and be safe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn jones Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 don't forget you can use rice as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddpenn Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I use rice and it works fine. I went to China town and found a really short grain rice that doesnt get stuck in the flash holes since I deprime before tumbling. Would like to try walnut, I hear it is the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireman275 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 That price for corn media is fantastic. I can't find it anywhere else near that price. Does anyone know where to get a screaming deal like that on walnut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn jones Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 That price for corn media is fantastic. I can't find it anywhere else near that price. Does anyone know where to get a screaming deal like that on walnut? try the pet stores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike in CT Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I found very coarse corn cob at Walmart, but have not found the fine stuff. Do any of the larger chain stores sell it? Petsmart? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunakilla Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 I think Grainger has the same price, I use the 14/20 whatever that means, and a it's great. Very little dust also.... It is under Blast Media.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlmouret Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 No matter what you use just throw it in and reload. My corn does fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlmouret Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 I did around 5,000 rounds of brass with one 10 lbs bag BTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_kothmann Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Pet stores carry a "finer" media that I would look for. Got a batch one time that was the exact size as the primer pocket and spent a whole night poping them out. Now I just tumble before I resize. I almost bought the cabellas one but figured that for twenty bones more I could get the hornady and did and love it. There are alot of cheap, I mean innovative guys on the net who have made some very cheaply with an unbalanced out put shaft on an old vacuum motor and some springs and a bowl. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsa Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 corn cob is just fine tumble 2 to 3 hours and it will clean put a 2 X 2 piece of dryer sheet to stop dust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewiston Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 All I use is corn cob with a few capfuls of Dillon's polish resulting in clean, shiny brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Doc Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I have just used Lyman which is corn cob for some rifle rounds. I had sized/deprimed... then trimmed/chamfered/deburred... and then primed. Following this I tumbled to remove the case lube. I inspected each primer pocket and 3 out of 15 had media lodged down in the flash hole. Couldn't rattle it out either. Any recommendations? Wait to tumble until after bullet seating is my current thought but I am up for advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) I only use crushed walnut for the very small 32 H&R case. For 9mm through 45ACP I use ground corn cob from the pet supply store. Once in a while I will get a piece of corn cob stuck in a 9mm or 38 Special case but it is readilly removed before depriming. Edited March 26, 2011 by TonyT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Ryder Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Zilla reptile walnut shell bedding + a little(5ml) NU Finish car polish works well! Tumble the car polish into the media for 30 minutes before adding brass. Add some used dryer sheet strips to collect dust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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