Cleaning nickel cases

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54lariat

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I searched and did not find anything abot cleaning/polishing nickel cases.

What type of media have ya'll used.
I use the same for my brass, some treated green corncob and some Flitz/Cabelas polish. I was just wondering if there was a better combo than I was using. I dont tumble for nearly as long as I do my brass and they come out looking good, just looking for others input even though I have been doing it this way for the last 30k+ rounds. :)

Thanks Ya'll
 
I have heard of people using NuFinish, but have yet to try it, any special reason why you use it? Does it speed up the process compared to the polish I am using? Couple years ago I put some nickel in the tumbler with no polish and tumbled for several hours, the nickel came out and I was like what the heck!! All the coating was gone...lesson learned the hard way:banghead:
 
Just plain ol' corn cob. Don't need a mirror, just clean.
Had Ni flakes in carbide sizing die and Lee FCD. Decided to let those that love shiny have all the Ni cases they want.
It seems the least important step gets the most detail...
 
I dont go for the mirror polish anymore, but it is darn close after an hour and a half in the tumblers for regular brass, I treat the corncob cause it was so dang dusty, seems the polish helps keep the dust down.

Luckily I have not had any flake yet but I may reload them 2 times then they are off to scrap pile, I figure I have over 30k "brass" cases in various sizes, so I can retire some sooner...LOL

Thanks!
 
Nufinish will keep the dust down, help it clean better, and give a great shine to the brass. It will also act kinda like a lube on the cases also. Very slick surfaces without being oily. Its better than any of the reloading companies polish.
 
I may try that next time my flitz and Cabelas runs out. That is one thing I like about the Cabelas polish, leaves it slick but not oily. Good to know. Thanks
 
Just plain ol' corn cob. Don't need a mirror, just clean.
Had Ni flakes in carbide sizing die and Lee FCD. Decided to let those that love shiny have all the Ni cases they want.
It seems the least important step gets the most detail...

I occasionally see the nickel finish flake off. Not enough of a problem that I worry about it. Most of the nickel brass I have currently is from decades ago. When I buy new brass these days, I only get brass cases.

The nickel cases just get thrown in the same media that I use for all my brass cases, mostly because I don't segregate nickel from brass.
 
I throw it in the tumbler the same as, in fact usually with, the regular brass. I have noticed the nickled cases seem to clean up quicker than the brass, but I still prefer brass over nickle.
 
I gave up tumbling--eats the nickel.
I use damp rag & dry rag--they clean right up & no loss of nickel.
I'm not doing 10000 cases--maybe 100 at a time.
 
I've had no problem so far with tumbling the nickel cases in the same walnut tumbling media as I run my brass through.

As others have said, the nickel seems to come out clean faster, but I'd never worried much about it.
 
The other thing Nu-Finish will do is put a light layer of Polymer finish which will keep the brass cases from tarnishing. However this is a mote point with nickle.

I like my cases to look shiney, it departs a professional job to my reloading. I also don't go to the range with a rusty ill kept rifle or pistol. No more than I go out in public looking like a tramp.
 
The other thing Nu-Finish will do is put a light layer of Polymer finish which will keep the brass cases from tarnishing. However this is a mote point with nickle.

I like my cases to look shiney, it departs a professional job to my reloading. I also don't go to the range with a rusty ill kept rifle or pistol. No more than I go out in public looking like a tramp.
Humm I like this idea.

Thanks again for all of you input on this matter
 
I use corncob, Nu-finish, and cut up old dryer sheets to suck up the dust and super fine stuff.
 
I have tried about everything over the years, and I have found nothing that will beat Flitz & corncob for shiny.

As for polishing nickle or brass?
There's a differance?

I just throw everything in the tumbler, set the lamp timer, and fogadaboutit.

rc
 
Guess I will have to add some Nu-finish to the grocery list at the local Wally world. I like shiny, it does add to my finished product, and when they feel slick but not greasy.....well thats the sweet spot
 
I am sure that it isn't important, but NuFinish and such contain abrasive.
It is still a very unimportant step that a lot of people spend a lot of time working on...
 
and your right to some not so important and to others it is just part of the process, I can tell you one thing.... You wont catch me telling my wife her hair is unimportant part of getting ready, even I think she looks great she is not happy till it's done. :cuss:
 
I am sure that it isn't important, but NuFinish and such contain abrasive.

Let me put it this way, if it was OK to use it on the clear coat on my Corvette I'm more than confident its OK to use to polish my cases for reloading.

Ever notice how abrasive powder/primer residue is.
 
jcwit said:
Ever notice how abrasive powder/primer residue is.
Carbon, it's not just for diamonds and bucky balls.

I have noticed any ammo I loaded in my "pre NuFinish" days has tarnished considerably.
 
"..just looking for others input even though I have been doing it this way for the last 30k+ rounds."

Seems you would know about as much about it as anyone.
 
"..just looking for others input even though I have been doing it this way for the last 30k+ rounds."

Seems you would know about as much about it as anyone.
Perhaps, but I like to hear what others have to say... Before I'm old and stuck in my ways... and I have not done but maybe 1000 Ni cases. LOL
And 30k rounds does not seem like alot.. 150k does ;)
 
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