Almost too embarrassed to ask!!

[Ramses II]

I just ordered a Frankford Arsenal Tumbler. Forgot to order media [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] and the local gunshop only has walnut media.

Is it ok to use walnut as opposed to corn cob media in a standard tumbler?

If so, are there any advantages of one over the other?

An Embarrassed Ramses II

[7Rumloader]

Yea it's fine to use the walnut media. They differ by way of
#1 They polish to a different finish.
#2 One works better on more heavily tarnished brass than the other ( not quite sure which one though never used the walnut)
#3 One costs more than the other.
#4 One gets stuck in the flash holes worse but again usure which one but 4ked horn said he used an extra fine ( I believe ) corn cob media and had no trouble with it sticking in the flash holes.
But yea you will be fine using walnut until you can get some corn cob if thats what you want or you may decide you like the walnut better. ( who knows ) Have fun polishing cases!

[rost495]

FWIW call around a bit to places that sell sandblasting type abrasives. In a decent size city you should be able to buy corncob in differing grit sizes in a 50 pound bag for 20 bucks or less. You can add polish if you want but lately I"ve just tumbled my stuff in straight cob and it works out fine. Unless you desire a high shine and again you can order polish and mix in as needed.

Works fine and doesnt' get much cheaper.

Jeff

[4ked Horn]

The corn cob that I am using is great for not getting stuck in flash holes but I got it from Gonehuntingagain. It came with his vibratory cleaner when he bought it I believe. I will email him and ask him to respond to this question.

Email sent. Stand by.

[gonehuntingagain]

The media that 4ked is referring to is the media that came with my Berry's Tumbler . The kit shows that it was a corn media - it was very fine, more so than the stuff I just bought to replace it. I would place its grain size to about 1/2 the size of what I have now. I do not know the mfg. of the stuff I have now as it comes in bulk from a small local shop.

[bcd]

I'm currently using walnut,for the same reason. It is a little harder on brass than corn cob, but alot of my brass was really tarnished and wouldn't come clean with the corn cob but did in the walnut. I have found that if you don't leave brass to long it may be better. I haven't had any problem with it getting stuck in the flash hole.

I got my last batch from Sinclair (the Corncob) This stuff is great. Very fine and does not get stuck in the flash hole. 1 case out of 50 I had it stuck in the hole. It's not treated which is fine with me. I used to use Lyman treated and it put a great shine on that brass but after what I have read about treated media and barrels...I'm not takin the chance.

The corncob does not get the brass as shiny and spiffy but it does clean well inside and out.

Hope this helps

Joe