Cleaning Brass

I used to use two tumblers, one with walnut for cleaning and one with corncob for polishing. Midway brass polish in the corncob did improve that step. Some guys add Nu Finish or carnauba wax to media to enhance performance.

I don't recall what walnut media I used because I filled my old Midway 2092 with it back in the early 90s (it lasted 20 years), but it was ground finely enough that it did not clog primer pockets and flash holes. You might find yourself picking media out of cases and it gets real old very quickly. I also used corncob media that was actually blasting media, and that type also did not pack up and create extra work, and it did an excellent job.

When my 2092 bit the dust I shopped around and decided to go with a rotary tumbler and stainless media. I don't care for the extra trouble of having to deal with the water and having to dry the brass, but the results just cannot be beat.
 
A 5 minute rinse in a half gallon of water and a couple table spoons of citric acid before you tumble will do more to clean your brass and help it keep its shine. Your media will last longer as well.
 
I use the Frankford Arsenal Brass Polish. Makes 'em shine and it smells good.
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I add a cap full of Nu Finish every few batches of brass that I tumble. It adds shine to the brass that the tumbling media alone does not.
 
Ive found that adding the lyman polish to my dry corncob media that my cases come out sorta sticky and greasy feeling. also i noticed that that greasy film seems to attract fingerprints in it and cause the brass to become tarnished looking very soon. am i maybe using too much polish? i put in a cap full every batch of brass i put in the media?
 
Originally Posted By: skidooracer_99Ive found that adding the lyman polish to my dry corncob media that my cases come out sorta sticky and greasy feeling. also i noticed that that greasy film seems to attract fingerprints in it and cause the brass to become tarnished looking very soon. am i maybe using too much polish? i put in a cap full every batch of brass i put in the media?

I have never used Lyman polish, but when I add polish to my corn-cob, I run the machine (Dillon 2001) for an hour or two with the top off to make sure it is absolutely, 120% dry.

I have had sticky results when there was still moisture from the polish.

 
Originally Posted By: pahntr760I use Zilla reticle bedding and a squirt of Turtle wax. I usually set to tumble before bed and let them go all night.

I put my Dillon 2001 on a timer - it runs at night, and shuts off in the morning.
 
I like that idea, Cat. May need to pick one up. I also want to wire a on/off switch to my Lyman. I don't understand why they don't have one...
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Originally Posted By: pahntr760I like that idea, Cat. May need to pick one up. I also want to wire a on/off switch to my Lyman. I don't understand why they don't have one...
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The timers work as a switch until you can put one in.

I did it because I got 700 pounds of funky 50-BMG cases and the polisher took 25 cases at a time
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so I'd fill that puppy up to the top, and run it all night.

After that was done, I liked it so much, that I do it for everything.
 
I use the TufNut almost exclusively...I also picked up a small bottle of Lyman's liquid polish that goes with it as a rejuvenator...My TufNut has lasted for several years with a cap full of the polish entered about every year....You just have to be sure to run the vibrator for at least ten minutes after adding it before introducing brass for cleaning...

The TufNut is a little more expensive initially, but if I consider the length of use of one of their containers, it's really less expensive than some of the alternatives and the impregnated rouge in the TufNut puts a really great shine on the brass...
 
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