Polishing Brass in dry tumbler

I used to do that with a vibrating tumbler thing - I had some "jeweller's rouge" that would get dumped into the media - I think is just red iron oxide (iron rust). Just now can not remember if that was a liquid poured in or if it was a powder. Sorry - has been a few years since I played with that.
 
Nu Finish car polish works well. Add a cap full or so. Used dryer sheets cut into strips will help a bit with the dust too.

Auggie D.
 
1/4 walnut shell, 3/4 corn cob, 1 teaspoon Autosol metal polish, 1 teaspoon Nu Finish, 12 or so pieces cotton 1 1/2 cotton squares. (polishes brass & absorbs black crap). 1 tablespoon of water. Run for 3 hours.
When they come out you can hardly look at them they are so bright.

Regards, Henry
 
I'll second the Nu Finish. The last time I got media I went to Princess Auto and got some fine crushed walnut. Used dryer sheets cut into strips and nu finish really helps. The used dryer sheets really catch the dust and other crud that comes off the brass. Mineral Spirits helps too. But my stainless pins wet tumbler work even better. Wish I would have bought that years ago.
 
I use brasso brass cleaner and have had the same walnut media in the tumbler for about 5 yrs now. I deprime and tumble then wash in dawn dish soap/lemmie shine before resizing, dry and then do case sizing, once sized...I wash again.
Hello all,

I want to dry tumble my handloads with crushed walnut, is there any additives or polish that I can add for that extra shine?

Cheers!
 
Thanks all, I will look into these suggestions. To confirm, I wish to do this with live rounds. I seem to always get finger prints all over them and my brass always tarnishes in a few months of storage, I and hoping a good polish after reloading might resolve this?
 
To confirm, I wish to do this with live rounds.

I've always thought tumbling live rounds was kind of a no no. Don't the grains of powder fracture and break apart during tumbling? Does this not cause increased powder surface area, faster burn rate, loss of accuracy and increased pressure, maybe even to the point of being dangerous?
 
I've always thought tumbling live rounds was kind of a no no. Don't the grains of powder fracture and break apart during tumbling? Does this not cause increased powder surface area, faster burn rate, loss of accuracy and increased pressure, maybe even to the point of being dangerous?

Fake news. Don't worry about it.
 
I've always thought tumbling live rounds was kind of a no no. Don't the grains of powder fracture and break apart during tumbling? Does this not cause increased powder surface area, faster burn rate, loss of accuracy and increased pressure, maybe even to the point of being dangerous?

Always have this tucked away for just this occasion

 
I like this stuff

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NuFinish is usually the go to for walnut media

I have being using this ON Recommendations from Here and it makes a BIG difference in how Fast and how Brite the brass is done ! I put 1 cap full in 1/2 hour before tumbling to allow it to mix in the walnut media good - Then tumble for a couple of hours or SO ? RJ
 
I have being using this ON Recommendations from Here and it makes a BIG difference in how Fast and how Brite the brass is done ! I put 1 cap full in 1/2 hour before tumbling to allow it to mix in the walnut media good - Then tumble for a couple of hours or SO ? RJ

I second that. When I see guys say “a cap full of Nu Finish” I don’t get it. I but about 4 cap fulls in.
 
I've always thought tumbling live rounds was kind of a no no. Don't the grains of powder fracture and break apart during tumbling? Does this not cause increased powder surface area, faster burn rate, loss of accuracy and increased pressure, maybe even to the point of being dangerous?

Don - The design - physical size of powder does NOT have any thing to do with the BURNING rate -speed ! H870 is a Very small Spherical powder with a VERY Slow burning rate while the H570 is the size of cord wood and burns Faster !

Now in saying that Would H570 burn faster if it was ground up into Bits ? or Ignite easier ? I don't Know ! RJ

There's a Fellow on here who is a powder EXPERT ? maybe he will chime in ?
 
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