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15 minutes in a wet tumbler w/ 2oz of Citranox

LVLAaron

Gold $$ Contributor
Gave Citranox a test in the FART rotary wet tumbler. 2 oz of solution... 15 minutes and the brass is clean. That's 30 minutes faster than RCBS solution, and the primer pockets are definitely cleaner. And 3 hours faster than the dawn/lemishine process.



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Wow, primer pockets in 15 min? That’s much better than I can get w SRP brass. Its my assumption that mechanical cleaning from the pins gets the pockets.

Is the brass getting dark after this?
 
Wow, primer pockets in 15 min? That’s much better than I can get w SRP brass. Its my assumption that mechanical cleaning from the pins gets the pockets.

Is the brass getting dark after this?
Pins do an "OK" job cleaning primer pockets... They're never super clean like this even with long tumbles. I'm guessing citranox does a better job of loosening the carbon. No discoloration.

Here's what the manufacturer says about it... which links back to the main site! https://technotes.alconox.com/detergents/citranox/cleaning-brass-gun-cartridges/
 
Cool. I learned that even a generous dash of Lemishine will darken my brass. It needs to be a very small dash with my Fart Lt.

Im impatient so I typically run 15 min with hot water and get everything but the pockets clean. Then I run a uniformer through the pockets as I’m separating the pins from brass. It would be fantastic to skip the uniformer step.

David
 
In run my .308 brass in a FART using SS pins with HOT water (hot water from my water heater is at 130°F) along with Dawn and a "small dash" of Lemishine. I run it for 30 minutes, rinse out the really dirty water and I get brass that shinny clean and the large rifle primer pockets look like the OP's pics. The HOT water really cut down the time I needed to get the brass clean like that.
 
I have no idea if your method of cleaning brass has merit. But I sure do like it when someone lays out and countersinks their screws. If you made that bench top nice job. Ive worked with guys that claim to be pros that don't do work like that. And i didn't like the torx screws at first but they have grown on me.
 
Do you have a before pic ? With out it not sure how impressed I am . I do like the idea of only 15min though .

example

Before

tS1SLr.jpg


After 1-1/2hrs dawn & lemishine

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May be because of chemicals or minerals in my water. But HOT water turns my brass dark. Very noticable difference from using cool/cold water.

Those complaining about dark discoloration might want to experiment...
 
But HOT water turns my brass dark. Very noticable difference from using cool/cold water.

I've always used the hottest water I could use and never thought twice about it , It just seemed like the logical option . Next time I have some old once fired NATO brass I'll give cold water a try .

I got to thinking more about the 15min process . I air dry my cases which takes 24+hrs to dry . Not sure that extra hour saved is really going to mean much in the grand scheme .
 
May be because of chemicals or minerals in my water. But HOT water turns my brass dark. Very noticable difference from using cool/cold water.

Those complaining about dark discoloration might want to experiment...

Yeah, there could be issues with what chemicals or minerals in one's particular water that'll effect the brass . . . like water having a high amount of chlorine. The first time I used really hot water I had this problem of my brass turning dark a few days afterwards. Someone had mentioned that Lemi Shine would do that if too much of it is used. I was using about 1/2 teaspoon and cut it back to something less the 1/4 teaspoon for a fully filled FART and I also cut back to just one quick little squirt of Dawn. Now my brass stays pretty. I should have known that such hot water invigorates the chemical action that could continue after drying, especially if the rinse wasn't performed well. Like finding the right load for your gun, it takes some experimenting to find what works best in your cleaning process. ;) :D
 
I haven't tried the pins in solution,yet. No dawn or lemishine just been a splash of jungle Jake cleaner and hot water. Turn the Franklin on for 1/2 hr. Rinse with hot water, air dry. Pretty clean, shiny brass. I don't pick-up range brass, just load my own.
 
Be careful with some of these industrial products. There are two objectives with wet tumbling. Cleaning, which is accomplished with the Dawn or other detergents, and shining or brightening, which is the job of the citric acid. If I put clean but tarnished brass in a lemishine solution for 20 minutes it brightens up considerably. Range Brass will too, But tarnished areas remain where a “smut” was blocking the acid from reaching the metal. These industrial solutions may be too harsh if misused. Citranox contains both Citric acid and Glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is ised in skin care and in Pine-sol cleaner.
 
$75/gallon? I’ll keep looking. So far, car was soap and degreaser seems to work fine in about 60 minutes.

Tumbling time is definitely diminishing returns.
 
May be because of chemicals or minerals in my water. But HOT water turns my brass dark. Very noticable difference from using cool/cold water.

Those complaining about dark discoloration might want to experiment...
I have a water softener and can get minor deposits if left to air dry. If spotless brass is critical, you’ll need distilled or RO water.
 

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