Shinny Brass??

Likely the media you are using is responsible for the lack of shine. I use crushed walnut hulls (dark brown stuff) in one tumbler for the initial cleaning, and it cleans quickly but doesn't polish them bright.

Second tumbler has corn cob media (light yellow) with a bit of case polish in it and they come out looking like new.

I clean fired cases in the walnut, size/deprime then into the corn cob for removing of any case lube and final polishing.

I was told that you can't put any liquid cleaners in a vibratory case. Is this true?

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It isn't a washing machine so you can't fill the bowl with liquid to clean cases but you can add polish to the media.

If you are using treated walnut shell that has polishing compound like jewlers rouge already in it then the brass should come out relatively shiney but the rouge is kind of redish and may be like a dust on the case. Treated walnut and corn cob can be purchased and is marketed by Lyman. I get good results using walnut from Pet Smart and adding some Frankfort Arsenal brass polish from Midway or Dillons Brass Polish. Do a search on Midways web site for "brass polish" and you will find several that can be added to your tumble media.

You can also try a tablespoonful of turtle wax car wax. You may have to use a Q-tip to clean out some cases depending on if it happens to clump or not.

My experience with it has been very good, with nice, bright shiny cases.

Most folks add a polish of some type to add to the sheen. I use a couple drops of Brasso. Others frown on Brasso for some reason. Opinions vary.

Just DO NOT use any type of metal polish that contains ammonia. It has a chemical reaction with the brass that causes the brass to be vey brittle and weak.

Besides Brasso is an abrasive...

I use walnut shells and midway brass polish. The longer you tumble the brighter they are.

I use a capful of NuFinish car wax every time I tumble brass. Brass comes come out sparkling.

if you want maximum bling clean in corncob, resize then tumble for 3-4 hrs in rice with well mixed maguiars show car glaze, no dust like the 2nd best, treated walnut with rouge, like ben sheppard said avoid ammonia (brasso has it) it will weaken cases although only slightly with repeated use.

ok, ok, you all have convinced me. I'll save the brasso for other things and get some real polish

I use a few drops of Nu-Finish car wax and a few sprays of Simple Green along with 2 1" strips of Fabric Softener. My brass comes out clean and shiny.

I use NuFinish and corncob media, tumble for 2-3 hours and it comes out nice and bright.

A cap full of Finish is definitely the way to go along with a single used sheet cut into 10-12 pieces with every batch of brass. I have been using it in a 50/50 walnut and corn cob mix for two months ever since I found it posted on this site and my brass looks like new in two hours of tumbling. The dry sheet collects all the dust and I swear it cleans the media. I start this recipe with media I had used maybe 10 times and was looking grungy so if it hadn't turned out well I wouldn't be out much. Initially the pieces of dryer sheet came out black after every batch now after two months my media looks clean and the pieces of dry sheet only come out grey. I totally swear by this method and I owe it to the friendly folks here at THR!

2nd that

I just tried the nu finish/dryer sheet trick and it worked great!!!
Thanks

For the best shine you need corn cob, and I recommend using Flitz Medial Additive, don't waste your money on Frankford Arsenal polish, I tried it and it didn't add any shine to the cases at all! I've tried the Nu Finish, I wasn't impressed, Flitz is the one that really works.

Walnut for cleaning
Corn Cob for polishing

I just tried the nu-fiish/dryer sheet combo and it didn't work at all!

This was with corn cob media, 2nd time tumbling it.

All my brass is coming out dusty and matte. I don't whappend my tumbler was giving me nice beautiful brass for the first dozen tumbles or so and then it went to this dull stuff. Very annoying.

Thinking about trying the rice thing...

What did your brass look like to start with? I tried the rice thing, it's a bear picking broken kernels out of the flash holes.

the trick with the rice or even some other media is to either tumble before sizing with carbide dies or collet neck die, leaving the primers to keep the flash hole clean, but if cases are lubed, i use the lee case length trimmer that fits through the flash hole after tumbling, then use a pocket cleaner, i use this method for match rifle rounds and normally don't load more than 100 at a time, but then again I usually use untreated corn cob for pistol cases, I shoot around 500 a week, not woried about maximum shine

cobra- I've used some additives to the media to help polish the brass before. IMO if you do want to use it you need very little... otherwise you'll get a dull film on the brass. You can tell it's on the brass because after you handle enough cases your fingers get dirty quick. Try wiping a case on a clean towel.... I get it looks nice. I either use straight lizard litter (walnut) or a tiny bit of polish additive. Works good IMO.

Cobra1414...Try again only use paper towels cut in four pieces and use one or two at a time. When they turn dark...Toss-em and throw the other two pieces in...