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[robirdman]

I am trying with a number of different metals, some sterling silver and some brass from old lamps and some steel parts I am cleaning after dissembling a rock saw.  I am using a vibrating tumbler, and I never get a good sheen. I used what I thought was old burnishing solution, then tried dishwashing detergent and Boraxo.  The foam gets brownish, I rinse and do again multiple times, but there is always more of a dull grayish sheen on the steel parts, though the brass does pretty well.  Recommendations as to solutions or procedures?

[Slabbercabber]

I'm not sure polishing is posible by tumbling but I would use walnut shell media.  It works very well for brass cases.

[Rockin' Randy]

I use Stainless steel shot with a tablespoon of dish soap in a three pound rotary tumbler to shine Sterling silver settings. It seems to work well. Never tried it on brass or steel parts.

[ileney]

I agree with Randy. I use stainless steel shot. Are you sure it is stainless and not regular steel shot?Are you not adding enough water? I leave stainless steel shot or pins and shot in there for an hour or two, with plenty of water and a little original Dawn dishwash detergent and the silver polishes beautifully. However, if the silver was tarnished, I think you might have to get that off or you could pickle it first to get that off. For copper or brass, you might have to pickle it or use pennybright to get the tarnish off first. I wouldn't expect tumbling to get off heavy tarnish. I also don't know if it would work for polishing steel.