Dusty Crushed Walnut Shells

[chiltech500]

Bought my first bag of crushed walnut shells at a pet store. It was very fine which surprised me because I expected it to look more like the corncob media from reloading shops.

After running brass through the separater my brass had a fine dust on it. I suspect I need to get rid of this bag or use for sand in the winter!

Is your walnut shell media fine or coarse and has anyone experienced the dust issue? Thanks

 

[au_prospector]

Crushed walnut should be about the same size as corn cob.
It gets dusty, but not bad for a few cleanings.
The dryer sheet trick and the Nu Finish trick work well.

You could rinse and dry in the sun. I did that once when mine started to turn dark grey and was really dusty. Just know that this is a pain.

 

[LeftyTSGC]

I use the dryer sheets and it works most of the time. You can also add a little Mineral Spirits to the Crushed Walnut, it helps keep the dust down.

 

[gahunter12]

Bought my first bag of crushed walnut shells at a pet store. It was very fine which surprised me because I expected it to look more like the corncob media from reloading shops.

Did you happen to buy it at Petsmart in a 25lb bag? Reason I ask is I just picked up a 25lb bag of crushed walnut from Petsmart 3 weeks ago that was extremely fine crushed. I noticed it was very dusty also. I rinsed about 5lbs with water, and let it dry. I really like how it cleans, and it's small enough to not stick in flash holes.

I have always purchased Zella Lizard Litter, but they were out of it. It's a little bigger, and not dusty at all.

 

[Otto]

Get your walnut from Harbor Freight they sell course and fine grit. I find it less dusty than pet litter.

 

[Bush Pilot]

^^^ this, 24 grit and NuFinish (maybe a little mineral spirits)

 

[chiltech500]

I didn't go to Petco just a local shop, as this was my first time I didn't know what to look for. In fact I walked by it just looking on my own because the stuff didn't look like what I expected. When I asked an employee they showed me where and that was finely grained.

I will not waste my time with it, just look for better. I always use dryer sheets and some kind of liquidy polish but it wasn't near enough to get all that dust!

Thanks for your help as always.

 

[rcmodel]

This is what I have been using for years.

http://www.petco.com/product/102881/Zilla-Ground-English-Walnut-Shells-Reptile-Bedding.aspx

It is fine enough it hardly ever gets stuck in flash holes.
And it is dust free.

All I do is add a cap full of Flitz tumbler polish to a new batch and the brass comes out looking like new.

rc

 

[Blue68f100]

What you see is the main difference from pet bedding vs blast media. Pet bedding is what's left over after all of the good stuff is used. The reason for the dust and varying size of the media. Where blast media is sized, cleaner, less dust, sharper edges for cleaning.

The NuFinish will help, add some cleaning patches or paper towels.

 

[Tilos]

Pouring the media from container to container, outside in a slight breeze, will get rid of the dust
No breeze...use a fan

 

[Rule3]

Pouring the media from container to container, outside in a slight breeze, will get rid of the dust
No breeze...use a fan

Known to the Farming Community as Winnowing

Yes it works very well, you may have to do it a few times, I have done it with 2 5 gal buckets.

Better yet as mentioned buy the big box at Harbor Freight cheaper than a Pet Store.

Get corn media at Zorro.

 

[Tilos]

yeh, buy the HF stuff and put it in your trust fund for the next 2 generations of your family to use

 

[Potatohead]

Did you happen to buy it at Petsmart in a 25lb bag? Reason I ask is I just picked up a 25lb bag of crushed walnut from Petsmart 3 weeks ago that was extremely fine crushed. I noticed it was very dusty also. I rinsed about 5lbs with water, and let it dry. I really like how it cleans, and it's small enough to not stick in flash holes.

I have always purchased Zella Lizard Litter, but they were out of it. It's a little bigger, and not dusty at all.

I had to get that huge bag because they were "out" also. It is very fine.

 

[Potatohead]

This is what I have been using for years.

http://www.petco.com/product/102881/Zilla-Ground-English-Walnut-Shells-Reptile-Bedding.aspx

It is fine enough it hardly ever gets stuck in flash holes.
And it is dust free.

All I do is add a cap full of Flitz tumbler polish to a new batch and the brass comes out looking like new.

rc

From the link, and my favorite thing about it:

Stimulates natural digging and burrowing behavior

 

[chiltech500]

Thanks guys, ordered bds suggestion from petco, will use what I have for sand this winter

I supersized the bag so it may last generations like Harbor Freights.

 

[gahunter12]

This is what I have been using for years.

http://www.petco.com/product/102881/...e-Bedding.aspx

It is fine enough it hardly ever gets stuck in flash holes.
And it is dust free.

All I do is add a cap full of Flitz tumbler polish to a new batch and the brass comes out looking like new.

rc

That's the same stuff I used for the last 5 years, but Pet Smart didn't have it this time.

 

[Average Joe]

Car wax, any kind, and a small piece of rag will get rid of the dust.