lightman
Member
Like a lot of folks I started off just wiping cases clean so they would not damage dies or weapons. Then I got a little Lyman tumbler in a trade and have been tumbling brass ever since. Any of the brass polishes form Dillon, Midway, Berrys, or NuFinish etc will work. Yes, the brass gets shiny, but, as pointed out, the best benefit is the light wax coating that keeps it protected and postpones the tarnish for a long time.
This is pretty much me. I only bought a tumbler after I had bought all of the other basic tools. Brass needs to be clean before it goes into your sizing die or chamber but it does not have to be shiny to be clean. But there is something about shiny brass!
When dry tumbling I have used several different polishes. Dillon, Lyman, Frankfort Arsenal, Midway, Berrys, and some others. The automotive polishes give the same results at less cost. NuFinish is a favorite but I've seen little or no difference with any of the others, including the cheaper store brands.
When wet tumbling I use ArmorAll Wash and Wax and LemiShine. Dawn gets the brass just as clean but the Wash and Wax leaves a protective coating that retards tarnish. Probably any other brand of Wash and Wax would work just as well.