Has anyone added baking soda to walnut media as a polishing agent? I have some really funky 5.56 NATO brass that is due for cleaning, and while it will eventually clean up with just walnut, I’m wondering if a touch of baking soda can help speed up the process.
I know some folks add a few drops of metal polish to the media but I’m not too keen on that. I’ve heard it can get into the case and cause problems.
If a bit of dry baking soda can do the same thing I’d rather go that rout.
I don’t reload however I tumble the brass I use or my projects with media and NU finish,
This is what some reloads use to get clean bright brass. it only takes a couple of drops.
Trying to avoid using liquid polish as it sometimes leaves a residue that can contaminate powder. I have read a couple stories where experienced reloaders suspected that polish residue was responsible for squibs.
I’ve used NuFinsh in my corn cob media for the past 20 years. Never had a squib in over50k rounds. Just a teaspoon is all I use. Brass is clean and smooth with zero residue.
Ive used a touch of Brasso in corn cob media for years. Never a problem.
You can throw them in my Lyman tumbler with the stainless pins. They will come out perfect in 2 hrs. Knock the primers out first. You have to watch out for changing of the PH. That will cause it to turn pink or tarnish. Wash and wax car soap works so good.
I read that when using corn cob or walnut to leave the primers in, but when using steel pins (or ceramic), decap because the pins clean the pockets pretty good. However, I am reluctant to run filthy brass through my decap/resizing dies.
I have read about using polish in media, it is a very popular thing to do. The problem is, I am like the unluckiest guy on the planet and Murphy’s law hangs over me like a cloud. I WILL be that 1 in 1000 to get a squib caused by contaminated powder.
Usually clean brass after decapping and resizing on a carbide die. Never had a problem. If using regular steel dies i tumble first. But that presents the problem of tumbling media stuck inside the brass. Doesnt take much to break a decapping pin. That can happen with brass youve already decapped and resized.
Walnut or corn media clean primer pockets well. When i find one that still needs more cleaning i use a highly specialized tool. I spin a small screwdriver in the pocket and tap out the residue.
I still use a single stage or a turret press for batch reloading. Most of the problems you read about are from progressive presses. One wants to pull the handle 50 times and spit out a box of ammo fast. That hurts the quality.
Yes my methods are slow. Ive never had a squib with my ammo. Thats because my methods involve several inspections before Im satisfied.
Ive only been reloading for over 50 years.
Especially when de-capping NATO brass, the crimped primers can be hard on the pin. After busting the pin twice while de-capping a big batch of 5.56 cases, I ordered a half dozen pins. It sux to have the whole line shutdown because of one thin steel rod.
I was recently convinced to get a universal de-capping only die, the pins are more stout compared to the ones in a resizing die.
My experiment with baking soda was a limited success. It cut the cleaning time by about 1/3rd, except, it left an annoying powdery residue. So now I have to re-tumble the batch in fresh media to rectify that. Y’all will be happy to know the brass did not turn pink.
What I really need is a media separator. Plucking and tapping media out of cleaned cases one or two at a time is tedious.
All sounds like a good idea.
I made a media separator over the weekend with two 5 gallon utility buckets, a piece of sheet metal vent grating and a glue gun. It is a little noisy but works like a charm.
Separated two batches, (500ish .223 cases and 200ish 9mm cases) in like two minutes.
Also discovered Harbor Freight walnut media. 25# box for $28.00. And it is Made in the USA. By comparison, Hornady and Lyman media is over 2x the price.
Lee universal decapper, i keep a few spare pins on hand too.
I wouldnt run dirty brass through a resizer either.
I also have the Lee Universal Decapping die setup on a Lee Breech Lock Challenger Press. I decap and sort by headstamp everything before tumbling.
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