Hand brass polishing…

[slock1993]

Hi all,
Is anyone polishing up their brass using a cordless drill and shell holder?

If so what are you using to achieve the shine?

I hear brasso is a no no!

Thanks!

 

[takbok]

Wet brillo pad or steel wool and soap works well. It's a real pain chucking cases in the drill though.

 

[VSS]

When I dabbled a bit in reloading I just polished the cases by hand with Brasso. They worked fine afterwards.
Having said that, unpolished cases work fine too. I think the only reason for polishing them is to make them look pretty. No practical reason.

 

[cjs66]

As Takbok says, 000 wire wool for a few seconds has em shiny.

cjs

 

[takbok]

Autosol would also work

 

[grandad of the woods]

Meh abrasive pads and tcut polish lol

 

[Stevie/P]

Avoid anything that contains ammonia

 

[kenbro]

Wire wool 0000 grade, no polish needed for a super shine.
Ken.

 

[ndt man]

Been using brasso on my brass for more than 20 plus years never been a problem yet . 5-6 reloads then bin them if you think it's a problem..

 

[slock1993]

Been using brasso on my brass for more than 20 plus years never been a problem yet . 5-6 reloads then bin them if you think it's a problem..

Really? I’d heard the ammonia in brasso makes them brittle, good to hear though

 

[slock1993]

When I dabbled a bit in reloading I just polished the cases by hand with Brasso. They worked fine afterwards.
Having said that, unpolished cases work fine too. I think the only reason for polishing them is to make them look pretty. No practical reason.

I heard the ammonia in brasso makes them brittle but it seems people use it

 

[slock1993]

Here’s one I hit with some brasso as a experiment, happy with the finish I was just worried about it getting brittle from the ammonia.

 

[Bo Diddley]

When I've got the case in the shellholder, I trim to length, chamfer the case mouth inside & out, then use a piece of fine steel wool to give a bit of a clean up, drop them in a pan with some citric acid and boil 'em up to remove the case lube, then in the air fryer for a few minutes on low to dry them off... I'm looking at 240 to do in a while, I'll just let me dinner go down a bit...

 

[Jagged77]

Why not invest in a vibratory tumbler or better still stainless steel wet tumbler? If you’re not cleaning the inside of the cases after firing i wouldn’t be bothering making them look aesthetically pleasing on the outside, what’s the point?

 

[slock1993]

Why not invest in a vibratory tumbler or better still stainless steel wet tumbler? If you’re not cleaning the inside of the cases after firing i wouldn’t be bothering making them look aesthetically pleasing on the outside, what’s the point?

I don’t know I’m very new to this.

So after firing brass has been in a solution of water, washing up liquid and citric acid and hand tumbled for a hour every 15 mins.

They came out like the pic but dried to a tarnished dull look, that’s when I hit one with some brasso (see my other post above)

 

[Jagged77]

I don’t know I’m very new to this.

So after firing brass has been in a solution of water, washing up liquid and citric acid and hand tumbled for a hour every 15 mins.

They came out like the pic but dried to a tarnished dull look, that’s when I hit one with some brasso (see my other post above)

Ah in that case have fun down the reloading rabbit hole!

Try to get hold of some Lemishine, failing that try dishwasher rinse aid.

If you really want new looking brass including primer pockets then stainless steel pins is the way to go combined with lemon fairy (other brands and flavours won’t do!) and the above.

 

[slock1993]

Ah in that case have fun down the reloading rabbit hole!

Try to get hold of some Lemishine, failing that try dishwasher rinse aid.

If you really want new looking brass including primer pockets then stainless steel pins is the way to go combined with lemon fairy (other brands and flavours won’t do!) and the above.

A rabbit hole it is!
I’ll keep an eye out for those, also metal pins.

Thanks!

 

[Rutland lad]

I use some Scotchbrite held around the case whilst it’s held in the drill. If you trim then chamfer the case all when it’s in the shell holder in the drill, then the last thing I do is use the Scotchbrite to give it pleasant professional look.

 

[Cyres]

Agree with all. Trim chamfer and then use fine grade steel wool whilst still in electric drill. All done post ultrasonic bath clean.
D

 

[angusb1]

A rabbit hole it is!
I’ll keep an eye out for those, also metal pins.

Thanks!

Loads of threads on here about what to use for wet tumbling and places to get the pins from