How Often Do You Replace Your Tumbling Media?

[coalman]

See poll. Approximation expected. Comments welcome. Thanks.

[HS101]

I'd guess I get about 10 batches at around 8-12 hours each. I replace my mix when I notice the brass is not clean after 1 cleaning...

[polizei1]

I'm using crushed walnuts as media, and I'm about to replace my first "batch" because the last batch I cleaned, I noticed the walnuts were very dirty and didn't clean the brass that well. I've used the same media ~4 times, each run time is ~4 hours. I clean probably 300 pieces at a time. Besides, I can buy a large bag of crushed walnuts at the local pet store for pretty cheap, so I'd rather dump the stuff more often and have cleaner brass.

Edited April 7, 2012 by polizei1

[Coleman]

I run 3 different batches of walnut hulls.

1st batch is use for range brass and cleaning case lube off and dirt.

2nd batch is for a pre polish of straight walnut hulls which helps polish it down faster.

3rd batch is for final finish walnut hulls with nufinish.

When the 2nd and 3rd batch is getting dirty it becomes it becomes the 1st. It may seem like more work, but i know that my cases are very clean and dirt free. I run about 20 minutes on each batch. I have done about 3k of 9mm and 6k of 223 brass. Plus i buy 2-3 bags of walnut hulls at a time at the pet store and throw it away when it looks dirty. Coleman

[splashdown]

Dude. 50? 100? 1000? I run corn cob for 2-3 batches then toss it. Is it really good for as much as 50+ runs? It's looking pretty dirty after a few runs.

[BullyDog]

My corn cob is almost black from case lube, I guess it's time to toss and head over to pets-mart for a refill.

[RGinIdaho]

I use "Lizard Litter" from Petsmart with a little turtle wax. The "Lizard Litter" is ground walnut hulls. I put a few old dryer sheets in with each batch to capture the crud. I've ran my last batch of media for two years in my dillon. At least a batch every other week for two hours. When I was shooting indoors and acquiring a large amount of brass, it was running weekly.

[blaster113]

I use corn cob media from Drillspot and a little Dillon polish; lucky to get 20 cleanings. By then the media's pretty filthy.

[kalaur]

I change my media every 5 gal bucket or two or so of brass I clean. The big dillon tumbler holds like 1000-1500 40 cases, so that's probably 4-6 batches.

[anachronism]

I squeeze a hand full of media, and if it clumps, I toss it. In the olden days I would clean media with brake cleaner, but brake cleaner is now so expensive that it's cheaper to just replace the media.

[RePete]

I'm using a 40/60 mix of Lyman Treated Corn Cob (green) and corn blast with 2 used Bounce drier sheets. The drier sheets perofrm 2 jobs, first it helps keep the dust down and second it extends the life of the media. I change the drier sheets out with every batch of brass.

I can't say how many loads I use the media for, but when new it takes about 1 1/2 hours to clean the brass, but when it goes over 4 hours I change it.

FWIW I'm running 3 Lyman tumblers, a 1200, a 2200, and a 2500 Magnum.

[SonnyCrockett]

about every 10 cleanings......I use lizzard /walnt shells.....too cheap not to keep it clean IMO

I think I paid 20 bucks for a 5 gallon pails worth

[Mike_P]

I do it about every 8-12 cleanings as well. I use a mix of Lyman green treated corn and just normal corn. (About a 75%/25% mix). I typically run my tumbler for 5-6 hours at a time and my results are great. I'll normally add more polish every ~3-4 cleanings too, and run it for 30 minutes before putting any brass in.

[superbeetle73]

What your supposed to change it?? hell i been using the same lyman treated walnut and dillon polish for 3 years. brass comes out nice and clean and really shiny lol

[OpenDot]

I just changed mine after about 5000 rounds in the last year

After 2 hours I didn't see much progress on the cases so I chucked it...

So i'd say once a year/5k - corncob with dillon polish. between 2-4 hrs a set, as much brass as I can put in the tumbler.

Redneck style..

[NicVerAZ]

Dude. 50? 100? 1000? I run corn cob for 2-3 batches then toss it. Is it really good for as much as 50+ runs? It's looking pretty dirty after a few runs.

I am very surprised by the choices as well.

I was expecting different brackets: 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, ....

[warpspeed]

I probably get 50 cycles before I toss it. Maybe not that many for certain not 100.

[noylj]

Go to Drillspot:

http://www.drillspot.com/products/521055/econoline_526040g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

Econoline Blast Media, 40 Lbs, Corn Cob, 20/40 Grit

Model: 526040G-40 SKU: 521055--$32.90 and free shipping.

After ten years, I am almost half way through my 40lb bag...

20/40 is small enough that it doesn't pack in my primer pocket or the flash hole.

Edited April 23, 2012 by noylj

[Giant81]

Never, I have a wet tumbler with SS media. Someday it may wear out, though I suspect I won't live to see it.

[Onagoth]

Never, I just rarely add some recharging stuff from Lyman I think. It still cleans my brass, not matter how old it is.

[BillD]

About every 20-30K pieces of brass.

[Classic_jon]

When it does not clean the Brass, or at least make some good progress in two hours, I replace it.

I just replaced the crushed walnut media I have been using for about a year now. I have run at least 20 gallons of pistol brass through it and about 5 gallons of rifle brass, probably more.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Classic_jon

[joecichlid]

For me, I go by how many hours it has been used, not the number of times it has been used. I usually change it every thousand hours or so. Since I shoot mostly indoors it isn't that big of an issues for me but I usually run my brass a day or two just cause I like it extra shiney. lol

Joe W.

[Bshooter]

I clean my brass with rice first, then polish it with corncob media and polish. It last quite a long time doing it that way. When the rice get to the point it is leaving dust on the brass, I toss it and replace it with new. Does a good job, as long as you don't cook the rice first.