[rube12345]

I have some range brass picked up from an outdoor range which is discolored from exposure to the weather.

It cleaned up somewhat with a 5 hour tumble with walnut media, but some is still tarnished.

I have a bottle of Dillon Rapid Polish that I have not used before and was wondering if there are downsides to using brass polish in the media. Does it weaken or change the brass at all? Any reason I should not tumble again with some polish in the media?

Thanks for the input.

rube

[ron59]

I ALWAYS add a little polish into the media before tumbling. Turn the tumbler on, add a little polish, let it tumble for just a minute, and add brass.

I don't know that it will remove ALL the tarnish, though... Most of my cases come out bright and shiny, but some that are stained seemed to stay that way.

[tlafrance]

Dillon "Blue" brass polish is Blue Coral liquid car wax. I know a few folks that work there I use the the Turtle wax liquid stuff because it's dirt cheap (sub 4 buck) for a large bottle at Wally World. Used it for 15 years now, brass always shines like gold when done

Tom

[njl]

Originally Posted by tlafrance

Dillon "Blue" brass polish is Blue Coral liquid car wax. I know a few folks that work there I use the the Turtle wax liquid stuff because it's dirt cheap (sub 4 buck) for a large bottle at Wally World. Used it for 15 years now, brass always shines like gold when done

Tom

Do you run the tumbler with just the media (which type) and wax for a while? I used to use a bit of liquid turtle wax, but kept finding clumps of walnut and wax inside some of the cases. I haven't added anything but used dryer sheets for a while.

[rjrivero]

Originally Posted by tlafrance

Dillon "Blue" brass polish is Blue Coral liquid car wax. I know a few folks that work there I use the the Turtle wax liquid stuff because it's dirt cheap (sub 4 buck) for a large bottle at Wally World. Used it for 15 years now, brass always shines like gold when done

Tom

I thought I recognized that smell........Thanks for the "a-ha" moment.

[dudel]

Is it discolored or corroded? Outwardly they can look very similar. Discolored will clean up easily in a tumbler with straight media. If it doesn't clean up, then it's corroded and should be tossed.

[21 shooter]

Originally Posted by njl

Do you run the tumbler with just the media (which type) and wax for a while? I used to use a bit of liquid turtle wax, but kept finding clumps of walnut and wax inside some of the cases. I haven't added anything but used dryer sheets for a while.

I would suggest running the tumbler with the lid on for 10 minutes or so before adding any cases. I use the smaller Dillon tumbler and add about an ounce or so to the media. It will last for awhile. When your cases are not quite as shiny as you like, just add a little more wax. I have used different kinds of car wax with similar results.

[tlafrance]

Originally Posted by njl

Do you run the tumbler with just the media (which type) and wax for a while? I used to use a bit of liquid turtle wax, but kept finding clumps of walnut and wax inside some of the cases. I haven't added anything but used dryer sheets for a while.

Fill tumbler 1/2 with brass
Add media (50/50 corncob/walnut)
Turn on tumbler
Add 2x tablespoons polish
Allow to circulate for a few min
Turn off tumbler
Add more media to make "full"
Install lid
Turn on tumbler

I use a lamp timer for 2-4hr run times depending on how dirty brass is. I also put in 1x used drier sheet per load (cut into strips or squares)

Tom

[mteagle1]

It is easier to keep the media from clumping in your brass if you leave the brass out until after the media is thoroughly mixed. For discolored brass actually all brass I use a couple of squirts of odorless mineral spirits in with Lizard Litter ground walnut run for an hour or two. Then it is on to corn cob with NuFinish for another hour or so. Beware that handling brass that has been run in car polish will transfer said wax to your hands in the form of a black residue.

[unclebob]

Originally Posted by mteagle1

It is easier to keep the media from clumping in your brass if you leave the brass out until after the media is thoroughly mixed. For discolored brass actually all brass I use a couple of squirts of odorless mineral spirits in with Lizard Litter ground walnut run for an hour or two. Then it is on to corn cob with NuFinish for another hour or so. Beware that handling brass that has been run in car polish will transfer said wax to your hands in the form of a black residue.

Except I mix the polish and mineral sprits 50/50 in a squeeze bottle.

[ilgunguygt]

NuFinish car polish. Works better than any of the reloader specific brass polishes.

[Pianoman]

What's with the dryer sheets? I've never heard of that before. What exactly does it help?

--Pianoman

[Toml]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

What's with the dryer sheets? I've never heard of that before. What exactly does it help?

--Pianoman

Kind of absorbs the grime from the media.

[ilgunguygt]

Originally Posted by Toml

Kind of absorbs the grime from the media.

It also helps keep the dust down.

[tlafrance]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

What's with the dryer sheets? I've never heard of that before. What exactly does it help?

--Pianoman

AND it helps the static issue.

Tom

[bush pilot]

Not to mention the spring like scent Bounce leaves on the brass. +1 on NuFinish, the best of the group IMO.

[rube12345]

I re-tumbled the brass with walnut media and some of the Dillon polish.

It worked great. I'll get a better look at each case when I run them through the loader but when dumping them out of the tumbler it looks like almost all of them cleaned up nicely.

The Dillon polish was old and a little thick, so I might try thinning it with a little mineral spirits next time. This time I just mixed it into the media by hand before adding the cases.

Thanks for the input.

Rube

[glocknick]

+1 on nufinish. i read about it on gt and gave it a try. ill never tumble without it.

[tlafrance]

Originally Posted by glocknick

+1 on nufinish. i read about it on gt and gave it a try. ill never tumble without it.

NuFinish is 2x more expensive than plain old Turtle Wax liquid. Being the frugal individual I am, I'd rather buy 2 bottles of the TW. Never tried thinning it with mineral spirits, may be onto something by stretching my savings even further

Tom

[unclebob]

Originally Posted by tlafrance

NuFinish is 2x more expensive than plain old Turtle Wax liquid. Being the frugal individual I am, I'd rather buy 2 bottles of the TW. Never tried thinning it with mineral spirits, may be onto something by stretching my savings even further

Tom

First you say Blue Coral, Then you say Turtle Wax. So which one do you use?

[Pianoman]

r

Originally Posted by tlafrance

Dillon "Blue" brass polish is Blue Coral liquid car wax. I know a few folks that work there I use the the Turtle wax liquid stuff because it's dirt cheap (sub 4 buck) for a large bottle at Wally World. Used it for 15 years now, brass always shines like gold when done

Tom

Looks like he said he uses Turtle wax from the beginning. I made the same mistake though thinking he used the blue coral.

--Pianoman

[tlafrance]

Originally Posted by unclebob

First you say Blue Coral, Then you say Turtle Wax. So which one do you use?

Originally Posted by Pianoman

r

Looks like he said he uses Turtle wax from the beginning. I made the same mistake though thinking he used the blue coral.

--Pianoman

DILLON polish is Blue Coral. I use Turtle wax

Tom

[bush pilot]

Originally Posted by tlafrance

NuFinish is 2x more expensive than plain old Turtle Wax liquid. Being the frugal individual I am, I'd rather buy 2 bottles of the TW. Never tried thinning it with mineral spirits, may be onto something by stretching my savings even further

Tom

You can always wash your media and sell your blood too.

[jdavionic]

I always put a cap full of Nufinish in & the brass comes out bright.

[glocknick]

Originally Posted by tlafrance

NuFinish is 2x more expensive than plain old Turtle Wax liquid. Being the frugal individual I am, I'd rather buy 2 bottles of the TW. Never tried thinning it with mineral spirits, may be onto something by stretching my savings even further

Tom

wow you are frugal. i have been using nu finish for about 4 months and i still have 3/4 of the bottle. thats only like $2 worth. but if turtle wax works for you then why buy nufinish.