What type of corn cob media do I buy for my new brass hopper?

Question

My wife bought me a new brass cleaner for my bithday. I've never used one before and I'm not sure what type of cleaning/polishing media to use. Any suggestions?

The manual only says to use dry media, but there many types of media that do different things. The manual fails to mention what they are.

Answer 1

I use walnut for cleaning, because it lasts for a super long time. I've been using my current bag for over a year, and I shoot a lot. Always leave the lid on when using walnut, because failure to do so will cause a layer of walnut dust to cover everything around it. I use corn cob media only for polishing, by placing a little brass polish in it. Put a capful of polish in the media, and let it work in, then add your clean brass to get a mirror shine. Corn cob media will not make a mess, so you can leave it uncovered, if your tumber will allow it. If you want to polish your loaded rounds, it's ok, just don't overload the tumbler: pay attention to the weight, since loaded rounds are heavier. I've been polishing loaded jacketed rounds for years, so don't let people scare you from doing it. Don't place finished rounds with lead projectiles in there, as the lead will get all over your brass. For lead projectiles, polish them prior to loading by placing silica or mica, or stainless media in the tumbler. NOTE: most tumblers cannot handle the weight of stainless media, so use only a very small amount until you can ensure the motor isn't overheating. I polish lead cast rounds (that I make myself) using stainless shot.

Answer 2

Umm, this is just a thought but perhaps you should read the manual that came with your brand new hopper.