Post by bobcat2 on Sept 7, 2018 6:04:40 GMT -5
Hello all,
I need to replenish my media supply, now that we have a Harbor Freight close by, I see they sell 12 and 24 grit walnut media, but I have a few questions Google couldn't answer.
What grit size is Lyman Tufnut media?
What size is Hornady media?
The reason I ask is I typically mix Lyman Tufnut and Hornady corncob media 50/50 to cut really dirty brass, but to give it a decent shine too along with a few drops of Nu Finish car polish mixed in for 1-2 hours for semi-clean brass, and up to 3-4 hours for heavily tarnished range brass, and it produces what I need. I do run brass through a rock tumbler with hot water and citric acid for an hour first.
Current prices I pay for media:
Hornady: $3.16 lb.
Lyman: $1.77 lb.
Harbor Freight runs $1.00 lb. for both sizes. I've tried what I assume is lizard bedding in the past, but it doesn't seem to do much. I'm really not wanting to go the stainless pin route either.
On an unrelated note, I have 2 vibratory tumblers, a late 70s to early 80's Lyman 600, and a new Lyman 1200. All things being equal, the old 600 does a way better job, no idea if the wear and tear on the old tumbler has caused a better "action" to it, or if the same motor is used in both models and the extra capacity of the 1200 causes a lack of "action", I wish that old 600 had an hour meter on it, its been through the wringer.
I'm considering trying a Harbor Freight 18 lb. unit, but I hate to chance that much money on something that could be a dud. Berry's tumbler with the quick release bowl is tempting too, I hate running those thumb screws up 5" of thread to remove the Lyman bowls, I try to wash the inside of the bowl every run.
Thanks,
bobcat2