Brass tumbling traditional vs steel
 

So some of the "free" brass I have gotten over time is just plain grimy. Dry walnut doesn't cut it. Wet walnut doesn't cut it. 4/0 steel wool and ALOT of elbow grease cuts it. When is it time to start looking at the steel media wet tumblers? These things cost a boatload, I dunno if it is going to be worth the hit to the non-existent pocket book any time soon.

I would ask this over at the other site I am on these days but there are way too many fans of steel wet media over there who would say it was worth it if ya had to lose vital body parts :p

GoodOlBoy

never used it so...I don't know

Walnut will get the grit and grime off, but it won't make the brass look shiny and new. If the walnut isn't doing it, change to a new batch - any media wears out after a while.
Never used the steel. I'm sure it will make your brass look great, but, for functionality, looks don't matter.
Another alternative is liquid types- Iosso makes one. You dip the brass in and let it sit for a while - don't need a tumbler for that.
I like my brass to look nice and shiny, too, but, as long as the brass is clean, you're good to go.

I have switched over to wet stainless steel tumbling. Held out for a long time but glad I did it. I went with the Midway "frankford arsenal" version. I still use the dry tumbler after the wet for a final shine with NuFinish. All brass looks like new, inside and out even the grimiest mud filled tarnished range scrounge brass you can find.

Came with a sample packet of their cleaner. I'd give it a meh-at best. Dawn dish soap and a sprinkle of some stuff called Lemi-Shine blows the Midway stuff away.

Bite the bullet and get one when funds allow, You won't be disappointed

The wet stainless media works great . I use the Thumler's tumbler . One thing I found is that you have to experiment a little bit with the amount of LEMI SHINE you use depending on the hardness of your water . MC

I bought the Frankford Arsenal machine too. Works really well...but found the brass is so clean I have to run it through walnut or corncob with wax in it....or it wants to run hard through the sizing die...even carbide. But I give all brass a spritz of case lube before loading

Stainless fanboy!!
Dawn dish soap, and a couple drops of Lemi Shine.(too much will tarnish the brass)
And I also walnut tumble with nufinish after.