Cleaning Brass

[350skylark]

Im new to reloading I just bought a 5lb media tumbler but didn't get any media, im wondering what type of media to use to clean the brass and if you add a polishing compound to it.

[Colt562]

There are two kinds of media to choose from:
Walnut
Corncob

I'm not sure of the advantages of each wait for others to chime in, but you only need the polishing compound of the media is untreated.

Also I know some people use a 50/50 mixture of walnut and corncob media.

[ExtremeX]

I only use walnut media… the stuff I use is the Harbor Freight coarse medea.

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lbs-coarse-grade-walnut-shell-blast-media-92150.html

[rsrocket1]

Walnut is typically better for cleaning, corn cob for polishing although either works fine in practice. You can add a capful of NuFinish (the cheap polish you find in just about any store including Walmart and even Walgreen Pharmacy). Let the polish tumble around for 5-10 minutes before adding the brass. I don't bother polishing anymore because shiny does not outshoot clean and no one notices how shiny my brass is when I load and shoot so fast

I do add a couple of cut up used dryer sheets when tumbling. They pick up all the walnut dust when using new media and most all the soot (including the nasty Lead Styphnate from the primer compound).

Check with your local pet store for "lizard bedding". Much cheaper than at reloading store or better yet get a 50 pound bag of crushed walnut from a bigger feed store (typically $15-$18 for the whole bag).

[ExtremeX]

I do add a couple of cut up used dryer sheets when tumbling. They pick up all the walnut dust when using new media and most all the soot (including the nasty Lead Styphnate from the primer compound).

Forgot to mention that... I do this too, it helps a lot...

Also helps keep the media clean.

[350skylark]

Ok, i figured if the brass is polished it would be easier to spot and pick up after shot, how long should it take to clean in one.. approximately

[ExtremeX]

Even if I polish my brass, it looks just like any other range brass after I fire it…

[MIAMIbaseballer]

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lbs-coarse-grade-walnut-shell-blast-media-92150.html

nufinish.

Does nufinish contain any ammonia?

[troysland]

I don't believe Nufinish has ammonia. I have heard Brasso does contain ammonia, which isn't good for the integrity of brass strength by degrading it.

[ExtremeX]

Does nufinish contain any ammonia?

[MIAMIbaseballer]

.

Thanks.... The way I look at it, is pay now or pay later. I won't use anything that's gonna weaken my brass.....

[Clownpuncher]

I used corn cob. It works good but it kept getting stuck in the flash hole. I use the walnut media for iguana beds from pet smart. It works just as good and doesn't get stuck in the flash holes.

[Lead Waster]

When I put in the nufinish, I drip it onto the empty tumbler bowl so it sort of drips down the sides of the bowl, then I pour in the lizard bedding. If you pour the nufinish directly onto the bedding (walnut) it tends to clump more. If you drip it onto the bowl instead, it flows down, then sticks a bit so it clumps a bit less.

Some people put a capful of mineral spirits in the media as well.

Get a timer too. I have a special timer that does 30 min, 3 hours or 6 hours. Set it, go to bed and wake up to clean brass and not a running tumbler. Then someone pointed out you can just use a normal electical timer, just turn it on, set the "off" tab, but don't put in an "on" tab (so it doesn't turn itself back on in 24 hours).

Oh, one last trick. Get a bucket, put all your dirty brass in there. Add hot water and some dishwasher detergent (and/or lemi-shine) then mix the brass around in the soapy water with a TOILET brush. This gets the brass pretty clean of dirt and other big crud. Dry it on a towel in the sun. THEN put it in your tumbler (or don't if you don't have a tumbler)

[shooterbill]

I use walnut with some brass polish from Midway. Add 2-3 little squirts and let the tumbler run for a little bit. Then add your brass.

[tvfreakarms]

How about a sonic cleaner?
Or is not as good as a tumbler?