Tumbling and Nu Finish

[JackEllis]

Probably a really stupid question but...

For tumbling, some have suggested adding Nu Finish or some other car wax product that does not damage brass, in part so the cases are "easier to handle". By "easier to handle", do they mean it's not necessary to lube cases before resizing, or is there some secret code?

[Hadies157]

[jmpgnr24k]

Use only nufinish. It does work. But chances are you’ll still need lube cases. Don’t use Other wax polish, leaves residue.

[tonyjr]

Almost any wax will cut down on dust .
I seem to get more dust in the rotary than the
vibrator.
I do use more " wax " with corn cob .

[Win231]

I've never understood the need to use products that are not designed for a specific function. I've been using "Berry's Brass Bright" for years. It lasts forever & cases look new after two hours. And I don't have to be concerned about any abrasive or brass-weakening ingredients.

[rsrocket1]

Nu Finish makes the brass shiny. It also helps the soot to stick to the media and make it blacken sooner. I don't think that's necessarily a good thing. I throw in a couple of cut up used dryer sheets to pick up the soot and walnut dust and they come out black while the media stays clean.

[JagerDog]

I use a bit of Turtle wax polishing or rubbing compound. Same function and I had it. Brass seems to clean up a bit faster.

Had some Midway brand stuff and when I ran out the polishing compound was just as good.

Put it in an application specific bottle if it makes you feel better.

[trackcage]

I add a cap full of nu finish for each load of brass. Cuts down on dust and makes brass clean. I use it because I already had it and it's cheaper than some dedicated brass polish chemicals.

A tip though... add the new finish and run the tumbler for 30 seconds before adding brass. Otherwise, I did see some nu finish in a few cases. After this process change, no more...

[Meety Peety]

As others have said, it does help cut down the dust a little bit, but I wouldn't really expect to see enough of a difference (Especially if you use lizard bedding walnut media) to make it the reason for using NuFinish. Primarily, the point of using the NuFinish is just to help shine up the brass, and it does do just that. I used the above combo for years until recently a guy at the range gave me a jug of tuff nut to try. Seems to clean just as good without NuFinish as the old stuff did with it, and waaaaaaaay less dust. I don't use the NuFinish with it because there just doesn't seem to be any point. With the lizard bedding, it definitely helped.

Edit: I agree with the guiy above, when using NuFinish, I always would run the tumbler for a little while prior to adding brass, and usually I would mix it up a little bit while it ran with a scratch awl. Never add it with brass already in there, you'll end up with white gunk all over (And inside) your brass.

[17+1]

I use the meguiars cleaner wax that has a chemical cleaner, abrasive polish, and a wax. The cleaner and polish help them clean up faster (maybe half the time vs just walnut) and the wax keeps them looking nice.

You still have to lube before full length resizing. As long as the cases are clean, they shouldn’t scratch the dies.

I used to tumble brass in an apartment like the other poster mentioned. It’s not that loud and I always shut it off before 9PM or so. I just do it in my garage now though.

[Dragginpanda]

I wash, deprime, resize, then another wash. All wash is wet.

Afterwards, I will put the brass in corn cob with NuFinish. It really helps in keeping the shine, especially in a room with big fluctuations in temperature, a garage.

I add a cap of NuFinish, let it mix for 15 minutes. Then, add the brass.

[JackEllis]

I did some experimenting tonight with buckwheat instead of walnut, and without using polish or mineral spirits. Buckwheat probably isn't as dusty as corncob or walnut but there is some, and it gets on the cases, even with cloth strips in the tumbler to extend the life of the cleaning media.

I could care less about whether the cases are polished. I just want them clean enough that my hands don't get grimy from handling them once they've been sized and trimmed.

[trackcage]

I did some experimenting tonight with buckwheat instead of walnut, and without using polish or mineral spirits. Buckwheat probably isn't as dusty as corncob or walnut but there is some, and it gets on the cases, even with cloth strips in the tumbler to extend the life of the cleaning media.

I could care less about whether the cases are polished. I just want them clean enough that my hands don't get grimy from handling them once they've been sized and trimmed.

You should wear gloves when reloading, regardless if the brass looks clean. Cheap disposable nitrile gloves do just fine

[JagerDog]

You should wear gloves when reloading, regardless if the brass looks clean. Cheap disposable nitrile gloves do just fine

Just wash your hands before eating/smoking/biting fingernails.

[tonyjr]

I agree - wear the gloves .
They find nicks- etc in cases , semi protect your hands
and keep oil from hands off cases .