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  #1  
Old 01-03-2017, 9:09 AM
smith629 smith629 is offline
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Default Substitutes for brass polish

Hi guys I have some brass I want to polish with walnut media but I don't want to pay shipping from Midwayusa just to get a bottle of polish. Is there a homemade recipe you guys use as a substitute? I have heard that car wax works...
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  #2  
Old 01-03-2017, 9:18 AM
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This works great. No extra shipping chg.

https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/brass-bright-polish
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  #3  
Old 01-03-2017, 9:26 AM
Kings River Kid Kings River Kid is offline
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I've always just used a cap full of Brasso in every other load. dump the cap in and let it tumble for a bit to break up the clump before you add your brass.
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  #4  
Old 01-03-2017, 9:28 AM
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Need finish car polish you can get it at most autoparts stores and it will not weaken the brass.
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  #5  
Old 01-03-2017, 9:28 AM
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Nu Finish
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  #6  
Old 01-03-2017, 9:47 AM
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Walnut media works fine without any additives.

I soak brass in detergent and water first and let it dry in the sun. That gets the dirt off and keeps the media cleaner and so it lasts longer. I can use a bowl of media for 100k cases.

I add a tablespoon of Rouge powder to the Walnut Media because it makes the media work faster and cuts tumbling time by 75%. Just let it run until it gets as clean as you want it to get.

Really corroded black brass will get clean in a few hours, shiny and new looking...I mean the really bad stuff! You can get a bag of Rouge powder locally at a lapidary supply for about $1.00 a pound when I bought it a decade ago.

You can then soak the brass in Citric Acid solution and it cleans and shines more. Citric Acid is available at the grocery store or Walmart for $3.00.

I use Citric Acid as the final cleaning step then rinse and let dry. Citric Acid changes the chemistry of brass to make it tarnish resistant in storage.

I re-use the Citric Acid solution and make a fresh batch basically when it gets low as it never really wears out.
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  #7  
Old 01-03-2017, 10:09 AM
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Chicken feed works for pistol case's.
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  #8  
Old 01-03-2017, 10:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaJames83 View Post
Nu Finish
Walmart is the cheapest.
Add about three capfuls and let it run for 30 minutes before adding your brass.
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  #9  
Old 01-03-2017, 10:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Top Cat View Post

I add a tablespoon of Rouge powder to the Walnut Media because it makes the media work faster and cuts tumbling time by 75%. Just let it run until it gets as clean as you want it to get.

Really corroded black brass will get clean in a few hours, shiny and new looking...I mean the really bad stuff! You can get a bag of Rouge powder locally at a lapidary supply for about $1.00 a pound when I bought it a decade ago.

Yep, I got some from CH4D and it does a darn good job of polishing the really bad/ugly once fired brass!

After about polishing about 1k of brass with the polishing additive, the walnut media is worn out.
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  #10  
Old 01-03-2017, 11:23 AM
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Not to hijack the thread, but I'd be curious to know whether some cat litter "dissolved" in water or some Gojo hand cleaner with pumice similarly dissolved in water wouldn't do the trick.
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  #11  
Old 01-03-2017, 12:14 PM
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I've been using Turtle Wax Premium All Metal Polish which I usually get from Walmart.

No ammonia or other harmful ingredients as far as i'm aware. It works.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Turtle-Wa...-11oz/16888949
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  #12  
Old 01-03-2017, 7:23 PM
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Yep, Nu-Finish works very well. Leaves a smidge of wax on the cases, making it easier when going through the dies. Slicker....and ooohhhh shiny!
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  #13  
Old 01-03-2017, 7:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Revoman View Post
Yep, Nu-Finish works very well. Leaves a smidge of wax on the cases, making it easier when going through the dies. Slicker....and ooohhhh shiny!
I must have used too much last time - the cob/NuFinish got all gunked up inside the casings... It was easy to fix, but a mess. I even mixed it in by hand.... I kinda like Brasso now...

.
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  #14  
Old 01-03-2017, 10:35 PM
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All that trouble to save a couple of cents. Sorry but sometimes I do not understand some of the reloaders.
Yet I live on a small fixed disability income and manage just fine without trying to pinch the last penny into nothing.
Heck you are already saving money(???) by reloading yet you find a need to cut corners even where they are not really there to cut.

Sorry if you are offended but it is high time I spoke up----plus this is one of the few times I allow myself to get drunk
I have a bottle from midway I bought over 30 years ago and still have most left and yet I have used very little media. I still have about 10 lbs left of corn cob and 6 lbs of walnut. I would guess I clean more cases than 90% of the posters here. Yet I have spent very little on media. It is a wonder what dryer sheets will do to extend the life of the media.

My 2 Cents
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Last edited by Divernhunter; 01-03-2017 at 10:39 PM..
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  #15  
Old 01-03-2017, 10:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Divernhunter View Post
All that trouble to save a couple of cents. Sorry but sometimes I do not understand some of the reloaders.
Yet I live on a small fixed disability income and manage just fine without trying to pinch the last penny into nothing.
Heck you are already saving money(???) by reloading yet you find a need to cut corners even where they are not really there to cut.

Sorry if you are offended but it is high time I spoke up----plus this is one of the few times I allow myself to get drunk
Give em hell ! hahaha
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  #16  
Old 01-03-2017, 11:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kings River Kid View Post
I've always just used a cap full of Brasso in every other load. dump the cap in and let it tumble for a bit to break up the clump before you add your brass.
Brasso is a bad idea, it contains ammonia.
Ammonia will embrittle brass.
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  #17  
Old 01-04-2017, 12:30 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason_2111 View Post
Brasso is a bad idea, it contains ammonia.
Ammonia will embrittle brass.
^^^THAT^^^

BRASSO is NONO
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  #18  
Old 01-04-2017, 1:29 AM
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There really isn't enough ammonia in brasso to do damage. By the time you let the brasso work into the media (and dry), most of the nh3 has evaporated.

Having said that, I use turtle wax rubbing compound, specifically the formulation for light scratches. Just a dollup works.
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  #19  
Old 01-04-2017, 8:18 AM
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I use nufinish car polish (1 capful). I also use walnut bird cage litter as the media. Make sure the nufinish is dissolved in the media before throwing brass in it. I usually spin a drizzle around in circles while it is running and wait 5 minutes before throwing the brass in.

You didn't ask, but I use some dissolved citric acid in hot water as the bath to get the dirt off the cases before drying and tumbling.


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  #20  
Old 01-04-2017, 2:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Divernhunter View Post
All that trouble to save a couple of cents. Sorry but sometimes I do not understand some of the reloaders.
Yet I live on a small fixed disability income and manage just fine without trying to pinch the last penny into nothing.
Heck you are already saving money(???) by reloading yet you find a need to cut corners even where they are not really there to cut.

Sorry if you are offended but it is high time I spoke up----plus this is one of the few times I allow myself to get drunk
I have a bottle from midway I bought over 30 years ago and still have most left and yet I have used very little media. I still have about 10 lbs left of corn cob and 6 lbs of walnut. I would guess I clean more cases than 90% of the posters here. Yet I have spent very little on media. It is a wonder what dryer sheets will do to extend the life of the media.

My 2 Cents
New reloader here. Do tell about the dryer sheet. What does it do to the media?
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  #21  
Old 01-04-2017, 4:44 PM
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I cut a new or used dryer sheet into 1/4's and put the pieces in with my media on each batch of brass. The dryer sheets remove dirt/dust/crud from the media. This allows me to use the media longer with better(cleaner) results for the brass. I use to use treated walnut media but now I just use treated corn cob. I also sometimes add a bit of Midway media additive. The stuff lasts a long time this way and I get really nice brass.
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  #22  
Old 01-04-2017, 4:55 PM
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Lizard Litter--Buy it at Pet Smart
1 capful of NuFinish
1 capful of Mineral Spirits

Let it run for about 15-20 minutes and break up clumps with a stick, screwdriver or whatever.

Add your brass.
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  #23  
Old 01-04-2017, 10:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ditchdigger View Post
Lizard Litter--Buy it at Pet Smart
1 capful of NuFinish
1 capful of Mineral Spirits

Let it run for about 15-20 minutes and break up clumps with a stick, screwdriver or whatever.

Add your brass.
Why Mineral Spirits, or any other petro based solvent in media?

If used to mix with and thin the NuFinish prior to adding to media. I can see where it would make the media absorb the NuFinish faster.

But you make it sound as if you add MS straight to media.
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  #24  
Old 01-05-2017, 6:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pacrat View Post
Why Mineral Spirits, or any other petro based solvent in media?

If used to mix with and thin the NuFinish prior to adding to media. I can see where it would make the media absorb the NuFinish faster.

But you make it sound as if you add MS straight to media.
I don't know any of the science behind using the mineral spirits.

I heard about the Lizard Litter, NuFinish, mineral spirits mix, I tried it and it works.

I don't add the NuFinish and mineral spirits every time. Only to 'recharge' the media.

When I notice that even after 'recharging' the brass is not coming out looking as shiny as it should, I throw out the old media and start over.

If you are looking for an inexpensive additive to get your brass in a shiny,like new condition, use it.

I bought a 25 qt. bag of Zilla lizard litter. It is a fine grind walnut shell. It does not get stuck in the flash holes. I don't remember the price but it is cheap.
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Old 01-05-2017, 6:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Divernhunter View Post
I cut a new or used dryer sheet into 1/4's and put the pieces in with my media on each batch of brass. The dryer sheets remove dirt/dust/crud from the media. This allows me to use the media longer with better(cleaner) results for the brass. I use to use treated walnut media but now I just use treated corn cob. I also sometimes add a bit of Midway media additive. The stuff lasts a long time this way and I get really nice brass.
Ha I do the same thing...still using the same stuff after 3 years...if I have a bad case and I "just" have to have it pristine I use some cloth I got from Sinclair...I think they are called Magic Cloth but I'd have to check...but thats only if I'm being OC.
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Old 01-05-2017, 7:19 AM
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I use Turtle Wax liquid rubbing compound. Cheap, local (and I already had it).

In reality you don't need anything besides walnut but a bit of compound seems to make it work a little faster.
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  #27  
Old 01-05-2017, 8:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pacrat View Post
Why Mineral Spirits, or any other petro based solvent in media?

If used to mix with and thin the NuFinish prior to adding to media. I can see where it would make the media absorb the NuFinish faster.

But you make it sound as if you add MS straight to media.
The odorless mineral spirits keeps the dust down. It just needs a teaspoon or so added to the media and ran a few minutes before putting in the brass.
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Old 01-05-2017, 1:04 PM
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Yep, post #22 states, "Lizard Litter--Buy it at Pet Smart
1 capful of NuFinish
1 capful of Mineral Spirits
Let it run for about 15-20 minutes and break up clumps with a stick, screwdriver or whatever. Then add brass."

This is what I do as well. Works great and gives me all the bling I need.
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  #29  
Old 01-05-2017, 3:15 PM
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I used NuFinish like others. One capful each time. I did this for 20 years. I switched to wet tumbling last year and will never go back to walnut.
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Old 01-05-2017, 7:25 PM
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Depending on the size of your tumbler a capfull or two of Brasso and let it rip.
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  #31  
Old 01-05-2017, 10:37 PM
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Do you clean and then shine? Or all at one time?
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  #32  
Old 01-06-2017, 9:05 PM
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Nufinish, brasso or car polish and two cut up fabric softender sheets
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  #33  
Old 01-06-2017, 9:33 PM
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formula 1 "scratch out" i think you can get it at sears ,ace hardware
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Old 01-06-2017, 11:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaJames83 View Post
Nu Finish
This!!
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  #35  
Old 01-11-2017, 8:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaJames83 View Post
Nu Finish
^^^ This. Make sure to run it without brass for a half hour or so to avoid clumps. A half or 2 halves of USED drier sheet & GTG.

A new drier sheet will make a nice mess of your brass.
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  #36  
Old 01-23-2017, 3:01 PM
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Crushed walnut shell media is available at Home Depot (or other home improvement places) for use as a sandblasting media; lots cheaper than buying from a shooting supply place. Don't remember the grit size required, but you can get smaller stuff that fits through flash holes (unlike most of the stuff from gun supply places.)

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