Can't keep the shine!

[ironhat]

Don't you guys find that the nice polishing goes to heck after you lube and de-prime/ size/ prime? I've thought that maybe I should size in one operation and deprime/ prime after the cleaning. What do you folks do?

 

[jcwit]

Add a 1/2 cap of auto cleaner wax like Nu-Finish or liquid Turtle wax to your media. This will deposit a light coat of wax on the brass to prevent tarnishing.

 

[GP100man]

+1 for Nu-finish car polish & it helps sizing also!!

GP100man

 

[ironhat]

Are you folks saying that the Nu-Finish, etc, is better than the made-for-reloading polishes? I'm using one from Midway. It looks real nice at first. after I wife off the sizing lube it won't shine back up.

 

[jcwit]

Yup you got it. Actually you can use just about any cleaner wax liquid or paste. Use sparingly thats the secreat, I think alot of people use to much and then it clogs up the media. About a thinble full or 1/2 a cap full.

 

[ironhat]

Thanks, I'm off to get some right... oh yea, it's 10PM. OK, tomorrow!

 

[Horsemany]

Yeah I've noticed freshly tumbled brass tarnishes quickly unless you use a little wax in the media.

 

[Doug B.]

I have heard that you should stay away from any polish that contains ammonia. Supposedly it will change the molecular structure of the brass to a point. I too use automotive wax.

 

[jcwit]

Never ever use a brass polish that contains ammonia, unless you let the ammonia evaporate out/off, whatever. Ammonia weakens the brass.

 

[Hikingman]

Wearing Latex gloves (Walgreens type without powder) while reloading keeps the fingerprints off the brass, lead off the fingers...

 

[The Bushmaster]

Tumble to illiminate grit and grim. Resize/decap, wipe off access lube. Measure and trim if needed. tumble again with Nu-Finish.

 

[Jumping Frog]

Wearing Latex gloves

Man, I've have worn latex gloves for projects in the past and cannot imagine having to wear them for reloading. I hate getting my hands all sweaty and stuffy in those gloves.
I'd rather have the fingerprints and wash the lead off my hands...

 

[Mainsail]

What about cotton gloves? These are pretty cheap and should last a while, then just wash them. I knew somebody way back that wore cotton gloves to keep skin oils off his reloads.

 

[rcmodel]

Don't you guys find that the nice polishing goes to heck after you lube and de-prime/ size/ prime?

This OP's question was all about ruining the shine by sizing after polishing.
Not by handling them with your bare hands, or not using Nu-Finish.

Nothing you can do, or use, will prevent the shine from getting scuffed up when you size cases.

There are two things you can do though.

Rough polish with walnut prior to sizing to get the dirt off, then polish again with walnut or corn-cob after sizing to get the lube off.

The second thing you can do is polish for 30 minutes to an hour after the rounds are loaded.

Thats how the factories do it.

No, it is not dangerous.
No, it won't turn the powder into fine dust that causes your gun to explode!

rc

 

[mkl]

I've never used car polish, so can't comment on that, but:

I mix about a tablespoon of Flitz metal polish in with my media (50/50 walnut/corncob).

The Flitz paste (not the liquid) contains an anti-tarnish agent works pretty well. I've never found finger prints on my cartridges after years of storage.

See Flitz web site for details. Google for best price.

And no, I have no commercial or otherwise connection to Flitz.

 

[rcmodel]

+1
But Flitz does make liquid polish for case tumbling.

It is by far the best I have ever used!

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=816895

rc

 

[Riss]

The paste Flitz in the can is really the same stuff AND costs less per ounce. Midway and Brownells both have the 2 Lb cans.

 

[rcmodel]

I'll check it out!

Thanks for the tip!

rc

 

[jcwit]

For the difference in cost I'll stick to car polish. Man that Flitz is expensive to just make the brass shiney.

 

[buck460XVR]

like my women, I prefer my brass a little on the dirty side. Not gritty or stinky, and certainly not used to the point that their primer pockets are wore out, but just a little tarnished from experience.

 

[mkl]

But Flitz does make liquid polish for case tumbling.

There is one difference between the paste and liquid.

The liquid does not contain the anti-tarnish ingredient. See (first paragraph):

http://www.flitz-polish.com/s.nl/it.A/id.538/.f?sc=123&category=3182

Never have tried the liquid, since I thought I'd want an anit-tarnish film left on my cases. May not make a difference; don't know.

 

[mkl]

Man that Flitz is expensive to just make the brass shiney.

That's why I said Google for best price in an earlier post.

I got a two pound can for $29.00 at an on line automotive store.

Given one tablespoon to every 5,000 cases or so, the price is not that bad.

[(2 lbs./1 tablespoon) X 5000] = many cases.

Like my algebra? Well, neither did my teachers!

 

[jcwit]

See your point mkl. Got a chuckle over your school math problems. lol

I'll still go with the car polish as I have all these kinds of polish that are so easy to use and they all bead water 3 years down the road, ya right, but I keep falling for the latest claims. Maybe someday I'll learn but at my age probably not. lol

Well enough about waxing my car and back to the reloading bench.

 

[Riss]

Flitz it not just for brass. Cleans fiberglass (riflestocks), shines plastic headlamps (for getting home from a late night at the range), shines up old dies (without changing dimensions), etc etc.