Tumbling and polish

[Constrictor]

Ok i have a little problem here. when tumbling brass, i tried using the dillon polish on the media and have encountered a problem. The label says to use several capfulls in the media, but what happens is the wet polish ends up inside many of the cases and of course the media sticks to this and creates a hard to get out, if not impossible mess inside the case. what is the correct procedure for using polish in media? put polish in and run for awhile with no cases? i already have a big hard spot of dried polish on the bottom of the tumbler tub.

 

[snuffy]

put polish in and run for awhile with no cases?

Yup! In fact turn the tumbler on , then get the media circulating, SLOWLY add the polish. Run it until you no longer see clumps, then you can add the cases.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!
You are using too much polish, and not waiting long enough for it to break up and disperse in the media.

You might need several capfuls to charge untreated media the first time you use it.
But not every time after that.

When I add liquid polish, I use my hand to break up lumps of wet media and also scrap it off the bottom of the bowl until it is uniformly mixed.
Then let it run with the lid off for a while to dry out a little.

I am also of the opinion that once you have added that much polish, it's counter-productive to keep adding a bunch more every time you add more cases.

Eventually, the media will become over-loaded with excess polish, and that leads to the problems you are having.

If I were you:
I would clean out the stuff that is stuck to the bowl and throw it away.
Then leave the lid off for the media to dry out until the next time.
Then do not add more liquid polish to the next go around and see what happens.

rc

 

[Constrictor]

Actually I have never used more than half a cap of Polish and reapply every tenth cycle. I Have always put in media before cases but still ruins some brass on the first cycle.

 

[ReloaderFred]

You need to let the tumbler run long enough to thoroughly mix the polish with the media before you put the brass in. This will solve your problem. Just let the tumbler run for 15 to 20 minutes after adding polish, then put in the brass.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ColtPythonElite]

After you run out of that Dillon polish, save you a few bucks and use Nu Finish car polish. A capful or two works as good as any brass polish I have used.

 

[1SOW]

COLTPYTHONELITE: I agree. One or two capfulls of Nu-Finish (or other quality liquid car wax, and let it mix with the media), then add the cases. Nu-Finish DOES seem to work best.

Doing 300-500 9mm cases at a time, I add about 1/4- capfull/load and let it mix again before adding the brass

 

[jjensen229]

A related question from a newbie:
I have been reading up and hear good things about cleaning brass with either the carbon steel or the ceramic angle cut pieces. is there a big difference between the two cleaning methonds? I have cleaned a couple hundred 9mm and .40 cases using corn cob media and some brass polish, and was wondering about the carbon steel or ceramic. Is it worth the money? Does it wear out the brass quicker? Thanks for the help!

 

[rocketdoc]

ultrasonic

 

[rcmodel]

and was wondering about the carbon steel or ceramic.

All I have seen advertised for cleaning cases / reloading use requires the addition of a liquid cleaning solution to the ceramic media.
They recommend a rotary type rock-tumbler with a sealed drum to contain the liquid.
Some vibratory polishers may leak and short out the motor.

Also, once wet, then you have to dry all the cases.

IMO: Not worth the trouble when regular corncob or walnut media works just great.
And the cases are dry and ready to use when you take them out of the tumbler!

rc

 

[bambikilla]

whats the best media im doing 45 acp and using corn colb and some parts look good other parts have black spots any sugesstions

 

[LiveLife]

some parts look good other parts have black spots any sugesstions

You get spots from wet polish/media stuck to case during tumbling. This is from adding too much polish to media or not running the tumbler long enough to distribute the polish BEFORE adding brass.

If there is too much polish in the media to distribute, you could try adding some more media and running the tumbler some more.

 

[ref441]

Polish

Whatever you do, don't use a polish or cleaner with ammonia in it.

I agree with the NuPolish...have used it for years.

 

[Bush Pilot]

Get a 25# box of 24 grit crushed walnut shell media from Harbor Tool and a bottle of Nu-Finish. Follow the previous instructions about mixing the polish before adding cases and you'll be good to go.