Re: Tell me about tumbling

by miker84 on Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:39 am

Duhbob wrote:Even though ugly clean brass works fine, I would like to shine-up some of my (other peoples) range brass that I picked up from outdoors. It has dark splotches and streaks that look bad. How do you brighten dark stained brass to look new again???I am using a combo of Lyman green and corncob with Dillon case polish and it gets 'em shiny but not bright...YKWIM?

If you're sure that the dark spots are just stains and not corrosion, then you could try soaking them in a 50/50 mix of hot water and white vinegar. I haven't tried that, but I've read about it. Some say you need to rinse the brass in a mix of baking soda and water after the vinegar bath.

by pinetor on Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:08 am

captain-03 wrote:
pinetor wrote:I tumble 50 to 100 at a time in corn cob from the pet store.

May I ask what Pet Store you found the corncob at ... have look around at a couple and have always come up short ...

Actually ...... Walmart in the pet Section. Clinton Store.

by Duhbob on Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:51 am

Thanks. Just happen to have white vinegar here, I will give it a try this evening. I'll report back asap.

by Duhbob on Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:13 pm

I tried the vinegar/water mix and soaked a few pieces for about 2 hours...IT WORKS

by miker84 on Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:52 am

Duhbob wrote:I tried the vinegar/water mix and soaked a few pieces for about 2 hours...IT WORKS

cool. Let us know if it stays that way after it dries.

by LugerT on Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:19 pm

As far as the Smart Reloader SR737 Tumbler that you mentioned, I own one. It is smaller than the other tumblers I own, however it is very useful for the small batches as you stated its capacity is approximately 300 9mm casing, for the price I would purchase one again.

by judgedelta on Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:40 pm

Finally got up enough used brass to justify breaking out the tumbler. A Lee Universal decapper to remove the primers, then into the washer with 5 lbs of media, about a half teaspoon detergent, same amt of Lemmishine and a gal of warm water; wash for 3 hours; rinse with water, then alcohol, then 30 minutes in sun and brass looks like new. I cleaned and dried the media then stored in the machine. A PITA... Clean enough brass at a time to make it worthwhile.

by LugerT on Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:30 pm

corn cob media and brasso from kroger for me

by judgedelta on Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:49 pm

Doesn't Brasso have ammonia in it? I have read that ammonia will make brass brittle...