Polishing Brass

TROOPER2 · April 29, 2013, 08:33 PM

I have lyman pro 1200 tumbler I use corn cob media. It cleans the brass good
but does not polish it ,its very dull, do i need to use some kind of additive to make it shine.

rebs · April 30, 2013, 04:12 AM

There are various brass polishes you can add to the corn cob media, Cabela's, Midway USA and other sites have them or you can just use a liquid car polish. I have used Nu Finish auto polish and the Cabela's metallic cartridge polish and see no difference between them. Add 4 capfulls to the corn cob media and run the tumbler for about 15 to 20 minutes to get the polish all mixed in good and there are no lumps left. Then add the brass cases and run the tumbler until you get the cases all clean and shiny.
I have not used corn cob media, instead I use lizard bedding from Petsmart, it is made of crushed english walnut shells.

Eppie · April 30, 2013, 08:37 AM

I know many people like polished brass but I believe that what you want is clean brass not polished.

David Tubb in his video "High Power Rifle Reloading" states that he only cleans his brass every 3-4 times because he feels that a "grippy case" works better. Of course that's just his opinion.

Also don't forget that whatever you put on you cases to polish them is likely to end up in your rifle/pistol action. Additionally adding polish to your cleaning media may result in what I call the "mop & glow" effect. That's where dirt gets sealed into the polish and builds up over time.

gundog5 · April 30, 2013, 06:57 PM

Not sure if I have ever heard of a mop and glow effect, all I can say is I have used a couple of caps of polish in my media for over 40 years and I clean my guns after shooting them. There is no polish on the planet that will withstand bore cleaner. If there is please let me know as I would like to use it on my car

I like my brass polished but in reality a good cleaning is all that is needed and some will even disagree with that.

4runnerman · April 30, 2013, 07:20 PM

Im with gundog5 here all the way,, I use nu finish for years now,never a issue

tmorone · May 1, 2013, 08:26 PM

A long time ago there were some guys here that turned me on to nu finish, and that works great.

Then more recently I saw that some people were doing a capful of nu finish and a capful of mineral spirits. If you want some majorly shiny brass give that a shot, it won't disappoint.

April 29, 2013, 08:33 PM	#1
TROOPER2 Junior Member Join Date: January 14, 2013 Posts: 13	Polishing Brass I have lyman pro 1200 tumbler I use corn cob media. It cleans the brass good but does not polish it ,its very dull, do i need to use some kind of additive to make it shine.

April 30, 2013, 08:37 AM	#3
Eppie Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 802	I know many people like polished brass but I believe that what you want is clean brass not polished. David Tubb in his video "High Power Rifle Reloading" states that he only cleans his brass every 3-4 times because he feels that a "grippy case" works better. Of course that's just his opinion. Also don't forget that whatever you put on you cases to polish them is likely to end up in your rifle/pistol action. Additionally adding polish to your cleaning media may result in what I call the "mop & glow" effect. That's where dirt gets sealed into the polish and builds up over time. __________________ "Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)

April 30, 2013, 07:20 PM	#5
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	Im with gundog5 here all the way,, I use nu finish for years now,never a issue __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

April 30, 2013, 04:12 AM	#2
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	There are various brass polishes you can add to the corn cob media, Cabela's, Midway USA and other sites have them or you can just use a liquid car polish. I have used Nu Finish auto polish and the Cabela's metallic cartridge polish and see no difference between them. Add 4 capfulls to the corn cob media and run the tumbler for about 15 to 20 minutes to get the polish all mixed in good and there are no lumps left. Then add the brass cases and run the tumbler until you get the cases all clean and shiny. I have not used corn cob media, instead I use lizard bedding from Petsmart, it is made of crushed english walnut shells.

April 30, 2013, 06:57 PM	#4
gundog5 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 116	Not sure if I have ever heard of a mop and glow effect, all I can say is I have used a couple of caps of polish in my media for over 40 years and I clean my guns after shooting them. There is no polish on the planet that will withstand bore cleaner. If there is please let me know as I would like to use it on my car I like my brass polished but in reality a good cleaning is all that is needed and some will even disagree with that.

May 1, 2013, 08:26 PM	#6
tmorone Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 221	A long time ago there were some guys here that turned me on to nu finish, and that works great. Then more recently I saw that some people were doing a capful of nu finish and a capful of mineral spirits. If you want some majorly shiny brass give that a shot, it won't disappoint.