brass tumbling question....

S

saxsaxsax

Regular
Rating - 100%
29   0   0
Location
GTA
Hi all, I'm not exactly too much of a noob when it comes to reloading...I've been tumbling and reloading for a while now, so far my media has been 1/2 walnut 1/2 corn cob mix, as recommended by another CGNer. It works fine, honestly, but I just can't seem to get that brilliant shine that you get with some of the commercial brass....not that I care, but aesthetics is the only thing that matters when it comes to trying to get your girlfriend into shooting....initially anyways.

So I read online there are bunch of polishing compounds ETC, but never really looked into it, any one can give me some advice on how to get the nice and shiny?

Thanks!
 
Stainless steel OR put a glob of Brasso in your walnut/corn media - it will make give them a real nice shine that lasts a real long time
 
x3 on stainless steel. I was planning on the regular tumbler, but got a dirty cheap 2 x 3LBs rotary online. So, gave stainless steel a try. man, what a difference before and after! it's way better than new after 2-3 hours. just like looking at a pile of shining gold. I think I might be sleeping with a smile on my face that night. Lol...
And I think it' s shining enough that you can make a necklace for your girlfriend with them. lol...
The pins don't wear out, just you may lose one or two from time to time. So, it lasts really really long time which makes the cost is actually very low. here is the picture. top is after cleaning. the bottom is the before(the average ones, not the worst)
brass_cleaning_zps7saf0uvv.jpg
 
Last edited:
depending on the brass. the worst ones take me around 3-3.5 hours. the once fired, I got absolutely shinning than when I bought them in 1.5 hours. I have 2 x 3LB drum model that can clean about 200~ 9/40/45.

saxsaxsax said:
So...at the risk of breaking my piggy bank....just wondering how long does it take to get that nice shine out of a wet tumbler?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
saxsaxsax said:
So...at the risk of breaking my piggy bank....just wondering how long does it take to get that nice shine out of a wet tumbler?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I use a Frankford Arsenal stainless tumbler, it can be set from 1-3 hours or anywhere less than 3 hours really. One hour with get the brass pretty shiny but there still may be some crud left in the primer pockets. Three hours and the brass looks like new.
 
I use dry white rice, mixed with 10% treated corn cob, plus a dab of Nufinish car polish, and a 1/4 sheet of bounce which eliminates dust. They come out clean and shiney.
 
Stainless Steel. If dry-tumbling, I wouldn't go near brasso - it'll make the brass brittle (doesn't matter if you're going to shoot it and leave it on the ground, but it'll decrease the life of the brass, according to the world-wide-weeb).
 
I tumble overnight with a 12/20 grit Walnut. 100 Centrefire or 200 pistol per batch. I then dump all the Walnut and refill with a fine corn grit. While the media is tumbling, add a tablespoon of NuFinish Car Polish, let tumble for 10-15 minutes to saturate and distribute the polish, then add the casings. Tumble again for 2-3 hours and they come out bright and polished. I have several different buckets of tumbling media that I re-use this way over and over. Cutting up a used dryer sheet into 4 pieces and adding to the corn grit greatly reduces the amount of dust in and around my tumbling area.
 
saxsaxsax said:
Do you happen to know anywhere that has them in stock...?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yup, the "local" Hole Sale sports carries both - in your case, I'd try a glob of the polish compound in your current media.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/brite-brass-polish.php

I've heard of the superiority of SS wet tumbling many times now, so have to believe it, but the results I get are satisfactory with less abuse of the bank balance. If your dry tumbler works well otherwise, I'd try the polish and see if you are happy with the results.
 
I clean brass only to reload them and shoot them again, they are not jewellery to me. Dry tumble and get on with reloading. Pistol that is. Rifle gets the ultrasonic.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom