Brass Polishing

SwedeSteve · 02-07-2008, 11:57 AM

Which type of tumbling media do you guys use?

jerry · 02-07-2008, 12:16 PM

I like the corn cob. The green treated stuff works good & I refresh it with the Dillon liquid polish as it starts to loose it's properties.

Iv'e used treated walnut, but like some others here, I don't like the brown dusty residue it leaves.

I have used commercial cob like you put in a bird cage, it's ok but not great.

For the amount of corn that's grown, you wouldn't think ground up corn cob would be so expensive.

rdale501 · 02-07-2008, 12:27 PM

I use the cob out of Cabelas, I can't remember off-hand how much it costs me, but it isn't expensive. It seems to work as well as any.

turkn8r1 · 02-07-2008, 08:14 PM

I use walnut media. I am thinking of trying some of the ceramic.

res45 · 02-08-2008, 09:27 AM

I use walnut media for the really dirty stuff I pick up on the range,you can buy it a pet supply stores for about half the price. For my personal stuff I buy corn cob bedding at Wally World made by Hartz you get a nice big bag of the stuff for about $4.25 it about 3/16 in dia. and it is dust free and really puts a shine on my brass. Throw a couple of 2 inch squares of cut up used dryer sheets in there with your media to pick up the dust,helps keep it cleaner.

lefty o · 02-08-2008, 07:10 PM

i use both walnut, and corn cob. walnut cleans faster, corn cob polishes better. a guy could do just fine with either one.

nathangdad · 02-08-2008, 09:06 PM

Crushed (but not to powder). Just smaller sizes.

ouch · 02-08-2008, 11:56 PM

I add car wax into media I think it adsorbs dust and makes the brass shiney.
I use either media and just add it. I hardly ever change it.

Be sure to add the wax in and then run the vibrator for a bit before you add the brass.

MOD 70 · 02-09-2008, 12:44 AM

Corn cob,but I use a collet in my cordless drill and a Lee manual trimmer,deburr,chamfer and polish with a wad of Never Dull.(Brass/silver/copper etc )

21buck · 02-15-2008, 08:38 AM

Consider a batch of dirty brass, Northern Industries carries a 15 # bag of Black Diamond, its a slag material. Very abrasive. For use for only 15 minutes ONLY. Then use the corn cob/walnut to finish off the polishing. Personally, I haven't used it and feel that it would not give a bright shine. Using rogue polish with the cob ought to bring it out. You would not want to use this method every time only when the brass is really corroded.

Good Polishing and shooting

billt · 02-22-2008, 10:28 AM

I like ground corn cob as well with Dillon Rapid Polish. Works well. Bill T.

vincent.45 · 02-22-2008, 03:32 PM

I agree with res45. Use something that doesn't put off dust. The dust will contain powder and lead reidue so you don't want to inhale, Kind of like pres. Clinton. Lead can enter from inhalation and absorption through touch. I buy wal-mart cheap latex/plastic gloves and use a fan to blow away dust to the outside.

02-07-2008, 11:57 AM	#1
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,449 Images: 1	Brass Polishing Which type of tumbling media do you guys use? __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

02-08-2008, 09:06 PM	#7
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,526	Pecan shells Crushed (but not to powder). Just smaller sizes.

02-09-2008, 12:44 AM	#9
MOD 70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 163	Corn cob,but I use a collet in my cordless drill and a Lee manual trimmer,deburr,chamfer and polish with a wad of Never Dull.(Brass/silver/copper etc ) __________________ If God didn`t intend for man to eat animals he wouldn`t have made them out of meat

02-22-2008, 03:32 PM	#12
vincent.45 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Reloading danger I agree with res45. Use something that doesn't put off dust. The dust will contain powder and lead reidue so you don't want to inhale, Kind of like pres. Clinton. Lead can enter from inhalation and absorption through touch. I buy wal-mart cheap latex/plastic gloves and use a fan to blow away dust to the outside.

02-07-2008, 12:16 PM	#2
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,912 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	I like the corn cob. The green treated stuff works good & I refresh it with the Dillon liquid polish as it starts to loose it's properties. Iv'e used treated walnut, but like some others here, I don't like the brown dusty residue it leaves. I have used commercial cob like you put in a bird cage, it's ok but not great. For the amount of corn that's grown, you wouldn't think ground up corn cob would be so expensive.

02-07-2008, 12:27 PM	#3
rdale501 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 398	I use the cob out of Cabelas, I can't remember off-hand how much it costs me, but it isn't expensive. It seems to work as well as any.

02-07-2008, 08:14 PM	#4
turkn8r1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern Mississippi Posts: 145	I use walnut media. I am thinking of trying some of the ceramic.

02-08-2008, 09:27 AM	#5
res45 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 322	I use walnut media for the really dirty stuff I pick up on the range,you can buy it a pet supply stores for about half the price. For my personal stuff I buy corn cob bedding at Wally World made by Hartz you get a nice big bag of the stuff for about $4.25 it about 3/16 in dia. and it is dust free and really puts a shine on my brass. Throw a couple of 2 inch squares of cut up used dryer sheets in there with your media to pick up the dust,helps keep it cleaner.

02-08-2008, 07:10 PM	#6
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,815	i use both walnut, and corn cob. walnut cleans faster, corn cob polishes better. a guy could do just fine with either one.

02-08-2008, 11:56 PM	#8
ouch Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ridgerun, Mo Posts: 184	I add car wax into media I think it adsorbs dust and makes the brass shiney. I use either media and just add it. I hardly ever change it. Be sure to add the wax in and then run the vibrator for a bit before you add the brass.

02-15-2008, 08:38 AM	#10
21buck Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 42	Consider a batch of dirty brass, Northern Industries carries a 15 # bag of Black Diamond, its a slag material. Very abrasive. For use for only 15 minutes ONLY. Then use the corn cob/walnut to finish off the polishing. Personally, I haven't used it and feel that it would not give a bright shine. Using rogue polish with the cob ought to bring it out. You would not want to use this method every time only when the brass is really corroded. Good Polishing and shooting

02-22-2008, 10:28 AM	#11
billt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 161	I like ground corn cob as well with Dillon Rapid Polish. Works well. Bill T.