Tumbling Brass "additives"

[Talon]

Hello All,

I was reading the liquid cleaning thread, so I thought I'd post this one

I add a cap full +/- of Nu- Finish car polish cleans and shine very nicely. I've also used Turtle Wax with great results but the Nu-Finish is cheaper at the dollar store.

Anyone else use something similar?

Peace,
Tal~:cool:

[bsterns]

I recently read the label on "FLitz" metal polish and it stated it was excellent for brass tumbling.

[Talon]

Hello Bsterns,

Ive used Flitz many moons ago it works very well, basically its what started me on finding a cheaper alternative, hence Turtle Wax then finally Nu-Finish:)

Peace,
Talon:cool:

[Rocky Raab]

Just stay away from what would seem to be the obvious choice: Brasso. It contains ammonia, which will quickly embrittle your cases.

It's great for belt buckles and such - but those are thick items that don't have to hold 60,000 psi!

[Talon]

Hello Rocky..

I hear ya! No ammonia in either the Nu-Finish or the Turtle Wax both do well on the brass.

I'm going to try and clean my media by washing it with a bit of liquid soap and warm water, I then will dry it by spreading the media over a section of stretched window screen in full sun. Anyone ever clean their media in a similar fashion?

I may try doing it with a diluted mix of Simple Green and water.


Peace
Tal~:cool:

[wyt_tail]

I personally don't clean my media as it is cheaper to throw away after it has reached its full life. My media lasts a very long time. I have switched from corn cob to strickly walnut as to me, it works better and gives a higher shine.

I have heard of guys soaking strips of paper towel in mineral spirits and then adding to the media and run it for about 20 minutes to clean the dirt out of it.

Jude

[gumpokc]

I ususally use a pretreated batch of either cob or walnut/pecan shells media thats been treated with jewelers rouge.

I cannot remember if I got it from Midway or if I bought it at a local gunshow, but it works great and I got 10 lbs of it for like 8 dollars back in 1996 or so, still have most of it.

[Cal Sibley]

I have to agree with gunpokc. After a lot of piddling around I tried Lyman walnut media that contains jewellers rouge. It's a dry operation with no liquid, and the media lasts indefinitely. Works for me. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Talon]

Hello Cal , all

I like the walnut media also I just recently bought some at PetCO, Petsmart "reptile bedding" 6.50 for 10 lbs.a lifetime supply :)

Peace
Talon:cool:

[BILLY D.]

my lips are sealed! :eek:

[pistolchamp]

Many years ago I owned and operated a company that reloaded ammo. We purchased once fired military brass from Fort Hood and reloaded 38 special, 9 m/m, 45 acp, 223, 308 and 50 bmg.

The only thing we used to clean the brass was a commercial clothes washer using tap water and sanivac... a toilet bowl cleaner. The brass was shiny and clean and it worked like a champ.

I don't need to polish so much brass at this time so I use walnut shells and Striker Aluminum Polish. Very shiny and nice to work with.

[Tall Shadow]

I've been told that a used drier sheet (or 2) placed into dirty polisher media & ran in/like a normal cycle, will clean allot of the "Nasties" out of it.

Several people I've talked to use this method...I haven't, yet... as My media is still brand new.

YMMV

Tall Shadow

[shooterjon]

I just recently changed from walnut media and jewelers rouge to Flitz Liquid Tumbler Media Additive and corn cob.I'm very happy with the results,clean,clean brass and no residue inside or on the outside of the brass.Removes: Oxidation, Tarnish, Lead Buildup and Fingerprints. Will not Harm ANY Metal. Will not Deaden the Primer. Will not Stress or Imbrittle Brass. No Ammonia. No Buildup. Cuts Tumbling Time in Half. http://flitz.com/:) I believe Sportsman's Warehouse,Cabela's and Midway all carry the Flitz Cleaner

[VirginiaHunter]

I've seen talk lately of using Ultrasonic cleaners (like for jewelery, and coins) that clean the inner case and primer pocket. Anyone use one of these?

See this thread for a discussion:

http://snipersparadise.com/sniperchat/index.php?showtopic=13532&hl=Ultrasonic

[berettadouble]

Hey all-
I run a jewelry store and am told by my goldsmiths to get the ceramic media. It isn't terribly cheap, but is supposed to be really effective. Call a jeweler supply store...

[VirginiaHunter]

Could you be a bit more specific? What kind? where to purchase? etc

[berettadouble]

Can't think of the catalog. I don't know if you can access but try Stuller, Inc. They are on of the biggest supply companies. I'll grab the specifics from one of my cataolgs at work tomorrow.

[BILLY D.]

VH

i have used a l&r ultra sonic cleaner for a long time. i use the birchwood casey liquid case cleaner along with it. simply mix a batch of the cleaner put it in the sonic cleaner and run it a few minutes, take out the casings, rinse in hot water and blow dry with an old hair dryer. this method will clean most of the funk out of the primer pockets but not all. the rest of the case is immaculate though. if you have previously polished your cases to a high shine you won't have to retumble every time.

the cleaning activities in the sonic take place after sizing and trimming. that way the sizing lube doesn't end up in your tumbler shortening media life.

[VirginiaHunter]

berettadouble, Thanks, I did a quicky search and found several hits on the media, but not knowing squat on this type of media I had no clue as to what i was looking at, high aluminia 1.5mm x 5mm or 1.3mm x 3mm blah blah blah lol



Billy D Thanks, me thinks I know what I'll say to my wife when she goes "So, what do you want for Christmas?" I've seen a few nice write ups on using ultrasonic cleaners. For me this would be perfect since i usally only work up 50 to 100 rounds at a time max, and I get a bit tired of having that constaint rumble rumble rumble sound of my tumbler in the gun room every time lol

[skeet]

wanted to let y'all know. Cabela's has the ceramic media Check their reloading section on line

[BILLY D.]

skeet

i've heard varying reports on the ceramic media. i'm anxious to hear what feedback you get on this. some folks say it was designed for rotating tumblers and a liquid charging and won,t work in standard tumblers. i don't know.

i have always been happy with corncob and walnut.

[VirginiaHunter]

From Cabela's website and the media in question:

"For use in case tumblers designed for use with liquid media agents only."