Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Just curious if anyone has experimented using Kitty Litter and/or rice as tumbler media. Any pros/cons on alternative media types would be appreciated.

Funny you should ask this, I just tried "Lizard Litter" from Pets Mart with a cap full of Nu Finish. I can't take credit for this, I found it on another forum searching for alternatives to walnut, or corn cob media, since no one in the Richmond area had any in stock. I ran 250 cases through this yesterday, and they came out beautifully clean. Only thing for me, was I took a little extra time to wipe down all the cases as the "litter" is actually ground English Walnut, and I wanted to ensure I had no lingering dust. Could have just given them a quick blast from the air compressor, but it was no chore sitting in front of the TV wiping down the cases. Plus I got like 15+ lbs of the stuff for less than a 6 or 7 lb container of "media".

Good information Rualert. I have used various Kitty litter in the past. The thing to be careful is to stay away from anything with clay in it. You can find litter that is 100% corn cob so I have used that and finished up with uncooked white rice to remove dust and give a nice final finish. Does a respectable job. I just priced media at the gun shops and thought for what it is it was grossly over priced. I will watch for lizard litter.

interesting
i just got a lee loader for my 308, never reloaded anything, saw I need a tumbler, so Ill order that next
any rec's on a tumbler to get ?

Yeah, the "lizard little" is pretty good stuff and way cheaper than walnut shells by another name (brass tumbling media). Just about any Pet Store has it.

by mstuff » Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:01:10

interesting
i just got a lee loader for my 308, never reloaded anything, saw I need a tumbler, so Ill order that next
any rec's on a tumbler to get ?

Just buy the cheapest one you can find. You might try Harbor Freight. I think I heard one time that they have them.

sometimes cheap works great.

I got one of those cheap Frankford Arsenal case cleaners from Midway 2 or 3 years ago. It has cleaned thousands of cases for me.

It has stopped 2 or 3 times. Once a wire pulled loose from a connection on the motor. Another time a wire broke at the connector that clips to the motor.

Both were easy to fix and it is still working. I've gone off and left it running in the garage overnight several times and realize its still running the next day when I go out to get in the car and go to work. After 18 hrs. or so, those are some shineeeeeeeee cases.

M1A4ME » Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:43:17

sometimes cheap works great.

I got one of those cheap Frankford Arsenal case cleaners from Midway 2 or 3 years ago. It has cleaned thousands of cases for me.

Sounds like a good plan to me. I have purchased a number of Frankford Arsenal products and have always be happy. If I needed a new tumbler I certain consider a Frankford.

M1A4ME wrote: I've gone off and left it running in the garage overnight several times and realize its still running the next day when I go out to get in the car and go to work. After 18 hrs. or so, those are some shineeeeeeeee cases.

And maybe a little bit thinner.

DaRoller wrote:

M1A4ME wrote: I've gone off and left it running in the garage overnight several times and realize its still running the next day when I go out to get in the car and go to work. After 18 hrs. or so, those are some shineeeeeeeee cases.

And maybe a little bit thinner.

Good one

I have even seen people use an inexpensive rock tumbler, will run forever, as cases are nowhere near as heavy as rocks! Also might be available at Harbor Freight. I have a Lyman, the 600/1200 I have has been running 20 years or so now. I might spend the $21.00 or so dollars on the wet kit for it.

I like the 20/40 grit corn cob media with a bit of NuFinish...
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ECONOL ... Pid=search

For eally crusty stuff I use Lizard Litter from PetSmart but it sometimes clogs the primer holes while the 20/40 flows right through...

Dumb question but I see the worry over dust. Can I assume you don't want to pour water on them and let them air dry?

Add a used dryer sheet (fabric softener) to the tumbler to help keep down the dust....

Yes the dryer sheet works great.

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Crushed walnut bird litter is about the same grit as tumbler media and works for me...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Also found some crushed corn cob pet litter in the rabbit, ect section of Wallyworld. Mixed that with some of the lizard litter (Walnut) and the combo works very well for even the dirtiest brass. Once fired brass clean up in 30 minutes to an hour max, and really dirty stuff may take a couple of hours. That combo is what I'm using now, and it seems to have taken the walnut dust down to almost nothing. I do still drop a few pieces of a used dryer sheet in just out of habit, and the cap ful of Nu-Finish leaves the brass shiny, and almost lubed. Super smooth and slick. They run through my press with very little effort during re-sizing.

Casey

Rualert wrote:Yes the dryer sheet works great.

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The dryer sheet addition is amazing. Dirt be gone! To answer the question about what tumbler to get, I feel that the lyman turbo 1200 is a great tumbler but it is the only one I have ever used.