brass cleaning questions - The Firearms Forum

hunter29180 · 02-02-2011, 06:04 AM

1) tumble or vibrate..does it matter?

2) what media do you use to tumble brass? if walnut ..corarse or fine?

3) what media used for vibrating?

4) what is the polishing paste? or additive used and why?

figure i wont be doing much more than 100-200 cases at any one time for my needs, but do wish to do this right.

JLA · 02-02-2011, 09:03 AM

#1 - I believe all case tumblers are vibratory. they vibrate on a center axis and cause the media to tumble inside out, "rolling" the brass around and around the tumbler bowl...

#2 - Wlanut cleans faster, but corncob polishes better, You can mix the 2 for the 'best of both worlds'.. I prefer to use FINE corcob from Harbor Freight treated with cabelas brass polish and I let my cases run overnight most times...

#3 - refer to #1 (if there is a such thing as a rotary case tumbler for cleaning brass, I suppose you could use any type of media you wanted to use) and again I prefer fine corncob...

#4 - Case polish is added to media so the cases wont only come out clean, they will also come out polished. I tumbled some 30 year old 9mm ammo I bought cheap at a gunstore because it was all tarnished and brown. 3 hours in the tumbler with some treated corncob and they looked like brand new...

Kevin Rohrer · 02-02-2011, 09:15 AM

There are tumbler case polishers, which were originally used for rock polishing. My friend has a red one. The outside is steel and inside of it is covered in rubber so it is fairly quiet. It is basically a washing machine w/o an agitator.

JLA · 02-02-2011, 09:18 AM

oh, ok, I know what youre talking about. An old shootn friend of mine used one for his .40-70 sharps brass, he said it was his dads old rock polisher. I never could understand why he didnt just go buy a 50 dollar tumbler from cabelas.

todd51 · 02-02-2011, 09:30 AM

Kevin is spot on. I bought this one at a gun show, oh gees, maybe 35 years ago. That $64 price was what I paid back then. It is the only tumbler I have ever used and it is quiet. I use walnut when I want a fast clean with no concern about shine. I use the corn when I want that pretty shinny brass which doesn't shoot one bit better but it is oh so pretty.

JLA · 02-02-2011, 09:33 AM

nice todd. I think ronnys was a thumbler too...

todd51 · 02-02-2011, 09:35 AM

Josh, back then when I got that tumbler I didn't know any thing about a vibrator. Cross that out. About case cleaners and this was what was available at the time.

carver · 02-02-2011, 10:51 AM

I have one of those old rock tumblers too, but use a modern vibrater. Don't care much about the shine, just want em clean. I use crushed walnut with a liquid brass polish for use in vibraters.

hunter29180 · 02-02-2011, 10:52 AM

ok, didnt know about the "rock" tumblers, had read on here and elsewhere about using old cement mixers after removing the "paddles"? for larger batches, and had seen one good for about a 5 gal buckfull of cement made with a plastic tub..

so in the "rock" tumblers about how many shells work well in them? say about 30-30, 30-06 or 45lc sizes? I see Harbor freight has a dual rock tumbler avail..2 3lb drums on it.

also some mention brass polish, metal polish, is this a liquid or a paste? (like Brasso?)

woolleyworm · 02-03-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunter29180

ok, didnt know about the "rock" tumblers, had read on here and elsewhere about using old cement mixers after removing the "paddles"? for larger batches, and had seen one good for about a 5 gal buckfull of cement made with a plastic tub..

so in the "rock" tumblers about how many shells work well in them? say about 30-30, 30-06 or 45lc sizes? I see Harbor freight has a dual rock tumbler avail..2 3lb drums on it.

also some mention brass polish, metal polish, is this a liquid or a paste? (like Brasso?)

Go with a Lyman 600 or 1200 vibrator, I think they do a better job in a shorter amount of time. More noise though, but I have mine on a timer and I set it when I leave for work. ( probably annoys the snot out of the dog while I'm gone, but oh well,

)

As for polish, stick with something made for cartridge brass. There are people out there that will say what they want about using brasso and some of the other brands that have ammonia in them; but I'm not going to argue with basic chemistry 101 - Ammonia WILL make your brass brittle and you will have problems with split cases much sooner.
They make plenty of stuff on the market that does a great job; I've used at various times, Roosters, Lyman, Dillon and Flitz. They're all pretty comparable, buy what is available and the most economic.

hunter29180 · 02-03-2011, 01:33 PM

thanks Woolleyworm,

noise is a big factor to me..so decided to stick with the tumbler..(wife decided this one for me..) so so far heres where i am..lee classic set in 45lc, trailboss powder, rock tumbler with walnut media. more questions to follw...

thanks to all those who replied, your input was very helpful!

medalguy · 02-04-2011, 08:32 PM

One of the best, and cheapest, polishes is NuFinish car polish in the orange container. Give a couple of glugs into the cob, run it 15 minutes to distribute it evenly, and add the brass. When it seems to be dried after a week or so, add a couple of capfuls of mineral spirits to soften it up and also help remove any carbon from your brass.

The Thumler's tumblers are great for smaller loads of brass. I started with one of those and I think it will handle maybe 100 rounds of 30-06 and probably 300 rounds of pistol brass. Pretty quiet too, and parts and replacement tubs are available.

hunter29180 · 02-05-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medalguy

One of the best, and cheapest, polishes is NuFinish car polish in the orange container. Give a couple of glugs into the cob, run it 15 minutes to distribute it evenly, and add the brass. When it seems to be dried after a week or so, add a couple of capfuls of mineral spirits to soften it up and also help remove any carbon from your brass.

The Thumler's tumblers are great for smaller loads of brass. I started with one of those and I think it will handle maybe 100 rounds of 30-06 and probably 300 rounds of pistol brass. Pretty quiet too, and parts and replacement tubs are available.

a glug..new measurement there! is that more or less that a tablespoon? JUST kidding Medalguy! so NuFinish car polish..wouldnt take much in a tumbler drum less than a glug i would think..does it ever go bad? i have a orange bottle in the closet thats about 4 yrs old....

JLA · 02-05-2011, 08:44 AM

careful with all these polishes that are not labeled for brass. Some of them contain amonia, which destroys brass... Check the active ingredients

02-02-2011, 09:30 AM	#5
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,572	Re: brass cleaning questions Kevin is spot on. I bought this one at a gun show, oh gees, maybe 35 years ago. That $64 price was what I paid back then. It is the only tumbler I have ever used and it is quiet. I use walnut when I want a fast clean with no concern about shine. I use the corn when I want that pretty shinny brass which doesn't shoot one bit better but it is oh so pretty. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member Last edited by todd51; 04-23-2013 at 08:05 PM..

02-02-2011, 09:33 AM	#6
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: brass cleaning questions nice todd. I think ronnys was a thumbler too... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

02-02-2011, 09:35 AM	#7
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,572	Re: brass cleaning questions Josh, back then when I got that tumbler I didn't know any thing about a vibrator. Cross that out. About case cleaners and this was what was available at the time. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

02-02-2011, 10:51 AM	#8
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,254	Re: brass cleaning questions I have one of those old rock tumblers too, but use a modern vibrater. Don't care much about the shine, just want em clean. I use crushed walnut with a liquid brass polish for use in vibraters. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

02-02-2011, 10:52 AM	#9
hunter29180 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: in a motorhome where ever we park! Contributor Posts: 1,627	Re: brass cleaning questions ok, didnt know about the "rock" tumblers, had read on here and elsewhere about using old cement mixers after removing the "paddles"? for larger batches, and had seen one good for about a 5 gal buckfull of cement made with a plastic tub.. so in the "rock" tumblers about how many shells work well in them? say about 30-30, 30-06 or 45lc sizes? I see Harbor freight has a dual rock tumbler avail..2 3lb drums on it. also some mention brass polish, metal polish, is this a liquid or a paste? (like Brasso?) Last edited by hunter29180; 02-02-2011 at 11:05 AM.. Reason: add comment and question

02-02-2011, 06:04 AM	#1
hunter29180 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: in a motorhome where ever we park! Contributor Posts: 1,627	brass cleaning questions 1) tumble or vibrate..does it matter? 2) what media do you use to tumble brass? if walnut ..corarse or fine? 3) what media used for vibrating? 4) what is the polishing paste? or additive used and why? figure i wont be doing much more than 100-200 cases at any one time for my needs, but do wish to do this right. -->

02-02-2011, 09:03 AM	#2
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: brass cleaning questions #1 - I believe all case tumblers are vibratory. they vibrate on a center axis and cause the media to tumble inside out, "rolling" the brass around and around the tumbler bowl... #2 - Wlanut cleans faster, but corncob polishes better, You can mix the 2 for the 'best of both worlds'.. I prefer to use FINE corcob from Harbor Freight treated with cabelas brass polish and I let my cases run overnight most times... #3 - refer to #1 (if there is a such thing as a rotary case tumbler for cleaning brass, I suppose you could use any type of media you wanted to use) and again I prefer fine corncob... #4 - Case polish is added to media so the cases wont only come out clean, they will also come out polished. I tumbled some 30 year old 9mm ammo I bought cheap at a gunstore because it was all tarnished and brown. 3 hours in the tumbler with some treated corncob and they looked like brand new... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

02-02-2011, 09:15 AM	#3
Kevin Rohrer V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 281	Re: brass cleaning questions There are tumbler case polishers, which were originally used for rock polishing. My friend has a red one. The outside is steel and inside of it is covered in rubber so it is fairly quiet. It is basically a washing machine w/o an agitator. __________________ An armed society is a polite society--Robert Heinlein via Jeff Cooper Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, Varmint Hunters Assn, American Legion, ARCTA, & South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Assn.

02-02-2011, 09:18 AM	#4
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: brass cleaning questions oh, ok, I know what youre talking about. An old shootn friend of mine used one for his .40-70 sharps brass, he said it was his dads old rock polisher. I never could understand why he didnt just go buy a 50 dollar tumbler from cabelas. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

02-03-2011, 01:33 PM	#11
hunter29180 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: in a motorhome where ever we park! Contributor Posts: 1,627	Re: brass cleaning questions thanks Woolleyworm, noise is a big factor to me..so decided to stick with the tumbler..(wife decided this one for me..) so so far heres where i am..lee classic set in 45lc, trailboss powder, rock tumbler with walnut media. more questions to follw... thanks to all those who replied, your input was very helpful!

02-04-2011, 08:32 PM	#12
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 585	Re: brass cleaning questions One of the best, and cheapest, polishes is NuFinish car polish in the orange container. Give a couple of glugs into the cob, run it 15 minutes to distribute it evenly, and add the brass. When it seems to be dried after a week or so, add a couple of capfuls of mineral spirits to soften it up and also help remove any carbon from your brass. The Thumler's tumblers are great for smaller loads of brass. I started with one of those and I think it will handle maybe 100 rounds of 30-06 and probably 300 rounds of pistol brass. Pretty quiet too, and parts and replacement tubs are available.

02-05-2011, 08:44 AM	#14
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: brass cleaning questions careful with all these polishes that are not labeled for brass. Some of them contain amonia, which destroys brass... Check the active ingredients __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!