What advantages do the polishes provide that you don't get from the mildly abrasive tumbling media ?
It seems like it would be better to use just the corn cobs and avoid the residues left by polishes.
The Flitz adds a much more noticeable lustre to the brass the photo doesn't show very well. There is zero residue left on the brass. It is all absorbed by the media itself. As I mentioned, I'm pretty anal about having good looking brass in my handloads. I've tried just about everything there is to try to obtain good looking brass.
Stainless Steel media is the absolute best for cleaning brass inside and out. It doesn't produce much of a shine however. I got the idea of using Flitz paste because of how well it works on Stainless Steel handguns. I've gone over several with it and it really gives them a beautiful sheen. It only stood to reason it would work the same way on brass. Flitz also makes a liquid brass polish that I used as well, along with the paste.
One way to judge how well it works is by how long the corn cob media itself lasts. This stuff was black after just 2 loads in the Dillon, (about 1,600 rounds). Again, it's hard to see in the photo, but this stuff was aces on the inside, as well as the primer pockets. I have yet to see new brass that shines as well as this stuff does. Bill T.