Brass tumbling questions

[STFU]

I keep reading (on various sites) about people adding car polish such as Nu Finish to their tumbling process.
What is the point of this addition?
At what point in the tumbling cycle do you add it?
Do you have a preferred polish type/brand?

 

[bulletsmith]

Never done it, but I believe it's something that is added periodically, as needed. Not so much like you add fabric softener at the rinse cycle of your laundry.

 

[Fullmag]

Nu finish really improves the cleaning process. I add it after the brass. It will clump up at first but then it mixes in.

 

[STFU]

Fullmag, do you pour it in while the tumbler is running?
Does it affect the inside of the brass? EG: leaves a residue or film that the powder sticks to during the powder drop phase?

BTW, thank you for answering the noob questions!

 

[17 squirrel]

Add a capfull or so with the tumbler running, full of media and no brass.
Let it run for a few minutes that way until the media unclumps and it is dry.
Then add your brass.
I use Dillons brass polish.

 

[red_zr24x4]

Weve used nu-finish, chrome polish and maybe a few others.
All seem to work. As stated, add a cap full or so, let run for a few minutes, add brass.

 

[Leo]

I have added Turtle wax polishing compound as an abrasive to corn cob media when I was out of dillon or midway brass polish. I am sure any liquid car polish with a cleaner will work.

Without some mild abrasive, raw corn cob will just shine up carbon scorch marks. The mild abrasive cuts through the carbon.

Like already said, add it to a running tumbler, and leave it run a while until it is dry. (I'll let it run an hour usually) If you add brass too soon, especially rifle brass, you will end up with tightly packed cases full of media. It is a nusance to clean out.

 

[Lee S. Forsberg]

You do rinse all of the abrasive off the cases before loading and firing, correct?

 

[STFU]

Thank you all. Those are some very helpful answers!

 

[17 squirrel]

You do rinse all of the abrasive off the cases before loading and firing, correct?

No, you don't use that much abrasive.

 

[Drail]

Clean brass is probably all you really need but shiny polished brass goes through a sizing die with less effort and makes it harder for residue to stick to on the next firing. I use a small amount and let it run until it breaks down in the tumbler before adding the brass. You can use a spoon to break up the lumps to speed the process.

 

[Lee S. Forsberg]

No, you don't use that much abrasive.

Am I hearing this right? You don't clean the abrasive off the brass after tumbling?!?! How's your barrel life?

 

[red_zr24x4]

Am I hearing this right? You don't clean the abrasive off the brass after tumbling?!?! How's your barrel life?

Been adding nu-finish or chrome polish for 15 yrs or so and never had an issue with barrel/chamber wear.

 

[Lee S. Forsberg]

Been adding nu-finish or chrome polish for 15 yrs or so and never had an issue with barrel/chamber wear.

If I want the outside of the cases polished I use Toilet Paper. When the inside of the case and the primer pockets need cleaning I use SS pins and hand soap.

 

[17 squirrel]

Am I hearing this right? You don't clean the abrasive off the brass after tumbling?!?! How's your barrel life?

No, your reading it right. My barrel life's are just fine sir..

 

[17 squirrel]

If I want the outside of the cases polished I use Toilet Paper. When the inside of the case and the primer pockets need cleaning I use SS pins and hand soap.

Toilet Paper ????? Please explain...
How do tell, do you wet tumble with pins and clean just the inside of the cases ????
No wet tumbling here, fill up drum with 100 pieces of brass, add water and soap, tumble , then wait hummmmmmmmmmmm. Then rinse off and then dry..
I tumble , sift, check primer pockets and load..

 

[Leo]

The abrasive that is in car polish or specifically made case polish is softer than the steel in a barrel. It is also WAY softer than the carbide ring in a sizing die. It is not anything like carborundum or diamond grit. It will not hurt your barrel. Think of it like the plastic pads used for cleaning a teflon pan, it is harder than the crusty food, but still softer than the teflon.

 

[Lee S. Forsberg]

Toilet Paper ????? Please explain...
How do tell, do you wet tumble with pins and clean just the inside of the cases ????
No wet tumbling here, fill up drum with 100 pieces of brass, add water and soap, tumble , then wait hummmmmmmmmmmm. Then rinse off and then dry..
I tumble , sift, check primer pockets and load..

I use Toilet paper to clean case lube from loaded rounds and to polish them. About 10' of TP in the drum and some loaded rounds or empty brass tumble for 2-3 hours cleans them well. Or about 20 minutes to an hour just get the lube off.
To clean just the inside and primer pockets of brass cases with wet SS pins and hand soap would be a good trick!! The outside of the cases are bound to get clean in the process, can't be helped. Then rinse, dry, and load.

 

[red_zr24x4]

I tumble my brass to get the lube off, both empty sized brass and any loaded ones with lube on them.

 

[Lee S. Forsberg]

The abrasive that is in car polish or specifically made case polish is softer than the steel in a barrel. It is also WAY softer than the carbide ring in a sizing die. It is not anything like carborundum or diamond grit. It will not hurt your barrel. Think of it like the plastic pads used for cleaning a teflon pan, it is harder than the crusty food, but still softer than the teflon.

What abrasive is used in car polish or case polish?