brass cleaning

[dbaird]

Which is best for cleaning and which is best for polishing brass-corn cob or walnut media?

 

[Charlie-NY]

Which is best for cleaning and which is best for polishing brass-corn cob or walnut media?

For about a bagillion years I merely cleaned the inside & outside of the necks with steel wool. In normal use, cases don't get dirty.

Moving up to modern times, there doesn't seem to be a better system then the wet/stainless pin tumbling method. I bought a STS system and it does an amazing job of cleaning the inside of the brass, that is, if there is any reason whatsoever to clean the inside of the brass.

 

['Freak]

I wipe down the outside until clean enuf using a Krazy Kloth 749-000-263, and for inside the necks I’ll use one of Sinclair’s Case Neck Brushes, all five of ‘em covering .17 thru .45 cal. and a handle 749-009-753. Corn cob is all I have but then I never have much cared for ending up with seriously polished brass.

 

[Lapua40X]

... I never have much cared for ending up with seriously polished brass.

Me either. I used corn cob media for a very long time. Recently tried a sonic brass cleaning instrument.
Now, I prefer the sonic cleaner. It's a little more work and increases the time needed to get the job done but it cleans the necks better than the cob media. Many years back I did find it easier to recognize flaws in the brass when they were well polished. Sometimes I'd polish then with Semi-Chrome ®. But I don't do that any longer cuz it's just not worth the time IMO.

 

[Conrad]

Corncob, tried and true. STM may give you the most bling but it adds more steps to the process and introduces some variables that can be not fun to sort out.

 

[Mozella]

Corncob, tried and true. STM may give you the most bling but it adds more steps to the process and introduces some variables that can be not fun to sort out.

What kind of variables?

 

[WillyTP]

OP, I've used both and found walnut "cleans" better and quicker. But to me, nothing puts a shine and "polishes" like corn cob with just about any sort of liquid automobile wax/polish added to it.

 

[Scott Harris]

Corncob, tried and true. STM may give you the most bling but it adds more steps to the process and introduces some variables that can be not fun to sort out.

What kind of variables?

contaminating the inside of the case with citric acid, peening the mouth of cases, cleaning the necks too much so they scratch the bullets, leaving moisture in the case if you are not careful....being a tedious, time-consuming way to clean brass...

Wet tumbling is great if you want cases truly clean inside and out, but you don't need truly clean brass to load great ammo. After years of stainless tumbling, I'm very happy to be use corn cob media now.

 

[Conrad]

Scott is spot on to what I was referring to.

 

[JLT]

OP, I've used both and found walnut "cleans" better and quicker. But to me, nothing puts a shine and "polishes" like corn cob with just about any sort of liquid automobile wax/polish added to it.

I agree. I tumble with corn cob media 'activated' with auto polish after I clean with stainless steel pins, resize and trim. Cleans the rest of the case lube, deals with any possible contamination issues and polishes nicely.

 

[SHootSTraight22]

I use walnut bought at Pet Smart for pet bedding... It works great and has never been changed in a little over one year!! I've been told that walnut is better for cleaning and corn for polishing a sheen... Just mix the two up 50%/50% and add some kerosene or minerial spirits and some NuFinish car polish and I promise you, you will be happy...

 

[Macropod]

I prefer to use corn cob media over s/s simply due to the fact that I prefer to leave a carbon coating inside the necks.

I don't do anything to the inside of the necks preferring to just vibratory clean the cases. This gives far more consistent bullet seating and release. I'm happy some of my competitors use stainless media though .

 

[unclefish]

I put in a cheap ultra sonic cleaner with 50/50 mix of vinager distilled water with a squirt of dawn. Run 3 times mixing them up. Good way to keep dust down in house and cleans them nice. Take out put in a water baking soda mix to neutralize. Bring over to cellar sink rinse good. Then I put them in lobster pot bait bags hang them above wood stove to dry. Then they go into vibrator with pet store walnut littler think they call it lizard litter with a couple squirts of Walmart orange bottle off new car finish polish. Don't no why but that cheap nu car finish polish works awsome. I tried big dollar 3m polish didn't work. I am sure u could use a fan and some type of heat to dry if u don't have wood stove.
My brass is always nice and clean and keeps me occupied during winter.

 

[Sheldon N]

Corn cob media plus a bit of Meguiars car wax and a tiny dab of Mother's metal polish. Nice shiny brass.

 

[6MMsteve]

I never have cleaned my brass but I been thinking about it, should I or not? I only clean my necks with fine steel wool very lightly sometimes , nothing wrong with clean brass I like the look just to lazy to do.