Texas Jim Henry, SASS #20616 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Based on a recent thread, I thought I'd give the lizzard litter and dryer sheet method a try for polishing brass. I bought the lizzard litter at Petco. It is finely crushed walnut shells... about the consistency of coarse sand. Did I get the right lizard litter? I know the polishing medium of crushed walnut shells and jeweler's rouge I've used in the past uses a much coarser grind of the walnut shells. Before I opened the package, thought I'd run it by the authorities on the Wire. Thanks, pards. Regards, TJH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacknife Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Sounds like the right stuff, but ya are supposed to get it from the cage before ya use it, not straight from the bag. the little lumps in it is what polishes the brass, not the crushed shells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Houston # 35508 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I get "Bird Litter" same thing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Yup, that's the stuff that I buy. Much cheaper than stuff marketed specifically for reloading. When it gets dirty and isn't cleaning much I just dump it out and replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Sgt. Jake McCandless #3368 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 About five years ago I found a better product IMO http://www.kaytee.com/products/walnut-litter.php Less dust and sharper triangular edges,better crud cutting,less run time in the tumbler. Adios Sgt. Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go West Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 I avoid any media containing rouge. The last year or so I've used a combination of corn cob and walnut. Walnut is known for cleaning and corn cob is known for polishing. No matter what you use, keep it somewhat damp to keep the dust down. The dust will spread contaminants such as lead everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Henry, SASS #20616 Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thanks, guys. Guess I'll open it up and give it a go. Stay tuned for the results. For the record, I'll be using Gain Original dryer sheets (40 sheets for $1.88 at Walmart), and Zilla Desert Blend ground English walnut shells (5 quart size for $7.99 at Petco). Putting it in a Thumler Tumbler Model B with some .38 Special brass. Regards, TJH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Canyon Kid #43974 Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Based on a recent thread, I thought I'd give the lizzard litter and dryer sheet method a try for polishing brass. I bought the lizzard litter at Petco. It is finely crushed walnut shells... about the consistency of coarse sand. Did I get the right lizzard litter? I know the polishing medium of crushed walnut shells and jeweler's rouge I've used in the past uses a much coarser grind of the walnut shells. Before I opened the package, thought I'd run it by the authorities on the Wire. Thanks, pards. Regards, TJH That is all I use except the dryer sheets to gather dust last few minutes or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 ...Zilla Desert Blend ground English walnut shells (5 quart size for $7.99 at Petco).... I tried that exact product, and it was exceedingly dusty so I gave up on it. Hope you have better luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red coneston 60384 Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 The first lizard litter I bought was coarse like comercial walnut media. The next time I went to buy the lizard stuff it was ground like sand so I looked at the bird litter and found it was like the old lizard litter. The coarse litter works good for me, haven't tried the sandy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Sgt. Jake McCandless #3368 Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 I tried that exact product, and it was exceedingly dusty so I gave up on it. Hope you have better luck. Agreed my finding also that's why I ended up with the Kay Tee parakeet liter,little to no dust,nice sharp edges and faster cleaning. Adios Sgt. Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Henry, SASS #20616 Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Agreed my finding also that's why I ended up with the Kay Tee parakeet liter,little to no dust,nice sharp edges and faster cleaning. Adios Sgt. Jake Thanks, Ranger Jake - If I encounter the same dust issue, I'll give the Kay Tee parakeet litter a shot. Where did you pick it up? Just out of curiosity, were you using the fine litter in a vibratory tumbler, or a rotary one? It's been tumbling for for an hour and a half. Will check the brass at the end of two hours. Right now I'm hoping the Rangers hold on and tie things up with the Cardinals. Regards, TJH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thanks, guys. Guess I'll open it up and give it a go. Stay tuned for the results. For the record, I'll be using Gain Original dryer sheets (40 sheets for $1.88 at Walmart), and Zilla Desert Blend ground English walnut shells (5 quart size for $7.99 at Petco). Putting it in a Thumler Tumbler Model B with some .38 Special brass. Regards, TJH I just checked the bag sitting under my loading table. It's the Zilla Desert Blend. It works fine in my Thumler and I won't try to get the last possible use out of it since I paid so little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD Trampas, SASS # 55781 Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thats the same thing I use, have been for 6 years, I also use the polish and mineral spirits, put a little polish in and spray a little mineral spirits in it, let it run for awhile until the clumps are gone, put brass in for 2 hours, good to go. I sometimes use the dryer sheet, have noticed when I started using mineral spirits don't have as much dust, don't know if this is the cause of less dust or not. All for now JD Trampas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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