Polishing Brass

I looked at the one on Midway USA and it seems like a nice kit for the quantity I will be doing. I do more than 100 a year but under 200 for sure so I don't think I need an expensive one. Thanks for the reply. Do you all tumble before resizing and after also to get the lube off and clean out the primer pocket?
 
I have a RCBS "Sidewinder" tumbler as in THIS one and it is nice as it has a timer on it, but it's not very fast in the cleaning process... I use Lyman's rouge treated 'Tuff Nut' that cleans very well and has the brass looking like new...

My other tumbler is the least expensive Frankfort tumbler that Midway used to sell, similar to THIS one by Hornady and it's much faster with the same media...

Some weeks I'm cleaning several hundred pieces of brass at a time and others may be very little, depending on my shooting schedule...

I know that the Lyman Tuf Nut media is a little more expensive, but the results are worth the expense and it lasts for a long time... My last batch lasted for five years with an occasional shot of polish rejuvenator added about once a year...
 
Originally Posted By: COYKILLthere is so many tumblers out there and I will only be tumbling about 100 .223 cases a year so what one would you recomend. Is there a cheaper one made that uses the stainless steel media?

Check this one out, I am fairly low volume myself...a couple of hundred a month. I bought one of these and its been doing a great job.

Smart Reloader Nano
 
Originally Posted By: markleythe tumbler wont get your primer pockets clean. you will need a tool for that. I just tumble after i re-size them.

Generally I use a straight metal pick to ensure that there is no media stuck in the flash holes after i tumble. I usually just give the tip of the pick a quick circular motion in the primer pocket and it scrapes any heavy deposits of carbon build up off. Takes a fraction of a second more, and I'm already doing something in the primer pocket anyway. Try it, it works.

Oh...and I always just tumble after I resize and deprime. Saves a lot of repetition. I only neck size my bolt rifles anyway.
 
I tumble my brass twice once before I resize and deprime and then again after I size the brass. Just use a small wire for getting the media out of the flash hole.
 
I use a tumbler with crushed walnut shells and add a little bit of the Midway liquid case polisher. The brass comes out of the bowl shiny white. I don't think you'll see any cleaner looking brass than that. I've never had a problem with the primer holes getting plugged up but I inspect each case when I remove it from the tumbler just the same. If you buy the liquid case polisher you'll only need a small amount. I bought the large bottle and have enough to last several lifetimes.
I tumble only once, after the resizing (and depriming). I don't see any need to liberate the primer ash (lead sphynate)and mix it with the walnut shell dust that is produced by the tumbling operation. I've got enough potential lead exposures that I may as well control what I can. I'm probably unnecessarily cautious with this but I sleep better at night just the same.
 
If you are wanting a cheap way, buy a Tumbler @ Harbour
Freight Tool, pick up walnut or Corn cobb from pet store
put some good liquid Car polish in tumbler then run for 15 minutes, add the Brass for 5-6 hours which will make them look new. This is the Cheapest way I know & the Dryer sheet works good also for dust,etc.
 
I've read recently about using an ultra sonic cleaner with distilled water and a drop of soap. 3 minutes of cleaning and the inside of the case is as sparkling as the outside. Amazon has a nice sized ultra sonic cleaner for around $65. You can clean your womans jewelery as a bonus.

When cleaning brass cases it's recommended that you use a glass beaker to put the water in, instead of the stainless steel tray it's self.
Ultra sonic brass cleaning
 
Stainless Steel Media is by FAR the best way to clean your brass. I'll put it up against any other method of cleaning. Use a lee universal decapping die and you're primer pockets will be spotless, inside the cases will be spotless and your brass will look like new. The media never wears out and the only re-occuring cost is simply dish soap and tap water. Corncob and walnut are simply just polishers not cleaners.

Yes, ultrasonic does clean pretty good but SS media will do a better job!! Send me some dirty brass and I'll clean it and sent it back so you can see the results. It's the coyote's howl.
 
I would love to go that way, However, very expensive to get set up, could almost buy a years supply of new Brass for the cost.
 
Considering the limited number of brass you are planning on cleaning, the link Big Key gave would be your best bet for light duty...That and some quality media would last you for years, at little expense..
 
I have all three, and the Thumblers tumbler with stainless media is by far the best at cleaning and polishing, but it is too big an investment for 100 cases a year. If that is going to be a constant, then I'd probably go with the ultrasonic which cleans well including primer pockets, but won't shine like ss media does. Of course you can just take some 000 steel wool and polish them after they're clean.
 
Back
Top