Shiny Brass Competition

I once (or twice :redface: ) left the tumbler on for a couple days. Used walnut with a bit of abrasive polish. (Lyman)

Polished the nickel right off the cases. :eek: Does that count as shiny?
 
ya i would think tumbling would help clean the grit and grime out of the inside of the case as well so help the accuracy... if i am wrong at least it makes me very proud of my reloaded ammo that looks shiny as gold :)
 
Nice pic's guys, I think I have eye strain.

firemachine, I too suffer from impulse buying of components. Every time I'm near a store I get myself thinking that they're going to run out soon and can't help but stop by and spend more money.

We should start reloaders anonymous meetings.
 
I was (maybe still am) having trouble including pictures but will give this a try.
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7mm RM, just clean enough to work with...:D
 
I add about a tablespoon of Turtle Wax Car Polish to the Corn Cob every couple of hundred rounds through the tumbler. Add it, and mix it around by hand and by running the tumber for a few minutes before adding the brass.
 
I don't use dry media very often anymore ever since I got the RCBS Sidewinder, I only use the liquid cleaner. My brass comes out very clean, it actually squeeks, that's how clean it is, I can use the dry media also but don't bother since polishing is only for esthetics.
bigbull
 
peter2772000 said:
Funny! You guys are trying to make the brass as shiny as possible while I'm trying not to. :confused:

My 650XL's been giving me attitude since it entered my home back in Feb. One of the many issues was the tendency of the cases to stick to the resizer die in station 1. This results in increased force necessary to push the operating handle back down.

When I gave the Dillon representative my list of compaints (after comparing notes with my buddy who's had the exact same model machine for the last 3 yrs with nary an issue), the customer tech guy said that overzealous tumbling usually causes sticking.

None of you've ever experienced this?
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I put a little "spray push" of case lube on brass, shake it and let it dry 5 minutes before reloading it even if I have carbide dies... it runs smoother and doesn't stick on the upstroke

add a little 20 minutes in the tumbler after to repolish them

Snowboy
 
Well, the tumbler does not look like anything I remember as a kid, and it was a LOT smaller than she described, but I gave it a go anyway. I went to the pet store and with my luck a dog had bit open a 50lb. bag of English crushed walnut, and they were breaking it down to small bags, which was perfect for me. Cost $7 for 5lb, I have no idea if thats a good price.

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I had no idea the brass/walnut ratio, so I only put 20 pieces of brass in it and filled it 3/4 full of walnut media, then let it run for 2 hrs. I then added a bit of Nu Finish to it, and put it back on, fell asleep and turned it off this morning. One good thing is it has a digital timers set for one, two or three days, so if I do forget it , it will turn off.

Though it does not hold much, which is fine for the amount of reloading I do, the brass came out pretty nice, with the exception of a few that had some dark marks left on the necks, and my daughter is very happy her tumbler can now tumble brass.

The one piece on the left is what I started with, which was not horribly dirty, but the newly tumbled brass is pretty nice.

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I have found that if you encounter brass that is stained black, no amount of tumbling will clean it up. Soaking for 10 minutes or so in a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water, followed by a light polishing with extra fine steel wool, and finally a good rinsing will restore it. I don't typically bother if it's common inexpensive brass, but for some of the older obsolete stuff, it's well worth the effort.
 
heavyBullet said:
My daughter just told me she has one of those rock tumblers somewhere hiding in her closet. I've never even seen it, her mother gave it to her. These any good to do brass ???
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Thats what I use and its an oldie, thumblers tumbler or something like that.

I have used corn and walnu and they both work. I also started using some of that Lyman witch pi$$ and it helps.

Price was right,FREE!
 
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