Question on media and polish?

[Wink]

I have finally been able to purchase my reloading equipment. the last few months all I have been doing is searching threads for info on all aspects of reloading. I am sure I will have more questions in the future, but I will start with tumbleing first. Ive decided to try adding a cap full of new finish and a few tablespoons of mineral spirits, as many have said that is what they do. The question is do you do this every time you run a new batch of brass or only when you change your media. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[eguns-com]

OK, this is what I do. I do not use the stuff you mention but use the Dillon Rapid Polish. YMMMV with the stuff you use. If I am doing a load through the machine every once in a while with a big pause (meaning day[s]), then I tend to stick another capful in when I do another round, but if I am doing several loads in a row then I usually don't bother unless I change media. I don't know if this is a good routine or not but it seems to work for me. I am not big on making my brass totally shiny so I may not be as picky as some.

Keep your lid on tight when not in use to prevent evaporation of whatever you are using in between loads.

Remember that polish additives are for aesthetics only and serve no real functional purpose so if it does not work out for you, you can adjust on the next load but don't have to redo what didn't work out.

[Franksremote]

I use NuFinish and 90% rubbing alcohol. Add 1/2 a capful for the smaller tumbler (1 1/2 capfuls for the big one) run for 5-15 minutes to make sure all the clumps are broken up, add brass and tumble away. With the small tumbler, I run it for at least 8 hours to get a better than new shine inside and out (5 hours with the big one even packed to the brim). Add the NuFinish every time you tumble even though it does get soaked up in the media; it takes a lot to actually saturate the media. After 6-8 cycles, you can tumble without adding any if you so choose (you can smell it on the media at that point), but I find it works better if you always put it in. YMMV

Remember that polish additives are for aesthetics only and serve no real functional purpose so if it does not work out for you, you can adjust on the next load but don't have to redo what didn't work out.

The NuFinish leaves the casings slick so that combined with case lube makes me feel more confident about reliable cycling; especially with nickel. Also, some folks who don't use case lube find that the coating left on the cases from the car wax easier to resize that a completely dry case.

Carbide dies don't require case lube, but the press runs like butta with it.

[JMB1911]

Frankford Arsenal case polish from MidwayUSA.com. I use about 5 -6 capfuls with every 5 or so pounds of corn cob media and the cases come out shiny. If you reuse the same media, you need to put in another 3 - 4 capfuls of the polish to reactivate the media. I've polished 2 batches of cases (around 1,000 rounds) to a nice polish on my first 6 pounds of corn cob media. Funny how you always end up with more cases than you shoot when going to an indoor range

[bigkahuna04]

Frankford Arsenal case polish from MidwayUSA.com. I use about 5 -6 capfuls with every 5 or so pounds of corn cob media and the cases come out shiny. If you reuse the same media, you need to put in another 3 - 4 capfuls of the polish to reactivate the media. I've polished 2 batches of cases (around 1,000 rounds) to a nice polish on my first 6 pounds of corn cob media. Funny how you always end up with more cases than you shoot when going to an indoor range

I've found that out too...are they like little rabbits for the hour or two laying around before I begin to pick them up...they just magically multiply !

[kris&bela]

I use NuFinish and 90% rubbing alcohol. Add 1/2 a capful for the smaller tumbler (1 1/2 capfuls for the big one) run for 5-15 minutes to make sure all the clumps are broken up, add brass and tumble away. With the small tumbler, I run it for at least 8 hours to get a better than new shine inside and out (5 hours with the big one even packed to the brim). Add the NuFinish every time you tumble even though it does get soaked up in the media; it takes a lot to actually saturate the media. After 6-8 cycles, you can tumble without adding any if you so choose (you can smell it on the media at that point), but I find it works better if you always put it in. YMMV



The NuFinish leaves the casings slick so that combined with case lube makes me feel more confident about reliable cycling; especially with nickel. Also, some folks who don't use case lube find that the coating left on the cases from the car wax easier to resize that a completely dry case.

Carbide dies don't require case lube, but the press runs like butta with it.

Good info.I have 2 of those just sitting in the garage.

[Franksremote]

how much rubbing alchol do you use?

In the small tumbler (CV-500) 4-5 capfuls, in the big one 10-12 +/-. It also helps to leave the lid off the tumber for 5-10 minutes after tumbling to let any alcohol that is still present evaporate.

The nice thing with this combo is that it reduces the amount of dust. It does however leave a ring around the media line in the bowl where the wax attracts the dust. I clean it off every couple of cycles, but it does take some elbow grease microfiber rags work good and so does any sort of citrus spray cleaner (leave it on for a bit to help dissolve it some)

Oh, I also use a shim (any stick type thing will work) to help break up clumps of the NuFinish while it's tumbling in (for those 5 minutes, I leave the top off the tumbler) before adding the brass (turn off the tumbler before adding).

Also, I fill the bowl roughly 2/3 (more than 1/2 way) of the way full of media. The lizard bedding from Petsmart works perfect and it's cheap.

Have fun

[ar15barrels]

It does however leave a ring around the media line in the bowl where the wax attracts the dust. I clean it off every couple of cycles, but it does take some elbow grease

Yuck.
That sounds like work.
Work is a four letter word.

I use 3M rubbing compound.
A couple teaspoons in the large tumbler.
Let it run for 3 minutes to break up the chunks.
Then add brass.
I do this every 3-4 loads and it works good.
I use walnut media from the pet stores.
I change the media when it starts to look gray instead of brown.

[eguns-com]

Yuck.

I use walnut media from the pet stores.

That is expensive and dirty walnut

12-20 grit walnut in 50 pound bags from your local sandblasting supply store should be somewhere around $20-$25 (I pay about $18-19 or something here). Less dust in the walnut than the typical pet store stuff which is typically a 25 pound bag for $15-$20 or more (last time I bought it at a pet store was around 2001 at $15 a bag for 20 or 25 pounds).

Chad

[metalhead357]

Ok, complete (almost new n00b to reloading)foolish questions- How come no one uses brasso????????

And for media....does anyone use playground sand? the real fine stuff? If not- Why not?

[ar15barrels]

Ok, complete (almost new n00b to reloading)foolish questions- How come no one uses brasso????????

And for media....does anyone use playground sand? the real fine stuff? If not- Why not?

I was told that brasso corrodes the brass if you don't de-activate it afterwards by rinsing the cases.

Sand does not polish, it scratches.
I tried sand one time to see what would happen.
The cases looked like crap.
Don't do it.

[ar15barrels]

12-20 grit walnut in 50 pound bags from your local sandblasting supply store

I don't have a sandblasting store nearby, but I have a huge pet supply store 2 blocks away.
It's $16 for 25 lbs which lasts me long enough that I don't care to chase down a 50lb bag for the same price.

ETA: woo hoo, I'm over 2000 posts now.

[metalhead357]

I was told that brasso corrodes the brass if you don't de-activate it afterwards by rinsing the cases.

Sand does not polish, it scratches.
I tried sand one time to see what would happen.
The cases looked like crap.
Don't do it.

Thank you for that...always wondered and never seemed the right venue (till now) to ask.

[Kiba]

Ok, complete (almost new n00b to reloading)foolish questions- How come no one uses brasso????????

On my rifles with expensive barrels after I do all tumbling/sizing/trimming operations I chemically clean the brass in either Iosso or Birchwood Casey solution. Not only does it do a great job of removing the case lube, it removes most of the powder residue inside the case but more importantly removes any of the tumbling grit or rouge that might remain inside the case. I don't like sending grit or polishing compound that might remain inside the case down the bore with every shot fired.

[PLINK]

I use Nu Finish and pet store walnut.

Add brass
Let it settle under the media
throw a cap full of Nu Finish (every batch).
Let is run for 1 1/2 -2 hours
Done

I have the Dillon tumbler and it seems to work pretty well.

I replace the media when it starts to look gray.