Another wet tumbling question.

[Daddymac]

I have a wet tumbler that I have used with very good results on pistol brass that I had shot and saved over the years, actually amazing.

So, now that I'm an expert brass cleaner, I decided to try the range brass test just to see, and what a failure.

This was just a test for cleaning so I picked up about 150 .223/5.56 cases around our hunting club shooting bench, no idea how long some of it had been exposed to the elements. After cleaning, about 2/3 of the cases were pink and about 1/3 looked really good.
After doing some internet digging, it seems the consensus is that too much Lemishine is the culprit, that it removes something from the brass (according to all of the metallurgist and chemical engineers). Not to worry some say, just toss them into the dry tumbler, they will come out good as new. Nope.
No, no, no, put them back in the wet tumbler with less Lemishine is the trick, and out of desperation to prove my brass cleaning skill I did this with no thought, like I could tumble something back into the brass. Nope, still pink, but...

Why are some cases really nice and shiny, like we like it, but others are pink? If it were a chemical reaction from the Lemishine it looks like they all would be pink and I have cleaned other batches of brass with the same amount of Lemishine with a good results. I ASS-U-ME the length of time that they were expose to the elements is a factor, they were all brown and yucky when I picked them up.

This is more a matter of curiosity at this point, has anyone else had this happen? Opinions, experiences, scientific data, and facetious comments are all welcome.

 

[jpx2rk]

Real men use pink brass.

Since the brass in question is "range" brass with the unknown history, it's probably different lots, different headstamps, etc., etc. etc. I've had some turn a pinkish/rose colored from wet tumbling but nothing that was alarming to the point I would toss the brass. I would process a few pieces (sizing, etc) and see how those pieces take the processing, and shoot 'em. I've not noticed any issues with firing the pinkish brass that I can remember.

 

[bpd459]

Good day,
I have been wet tumbling brass for 13yrs. I use Cream of Tartar (tartaric acid), the same stuff in your spice cabinet. A teaspoon in the drum does it and cases are bright and shiny.

 

[AccelR8]

I had an experience similar to but not the same as yours.

In my case I had let my pins rust by storing them wet for a length of time. I didn't notice the rust but when I put them in the tumbler with brass, soapy water and Lemishine the water immediately became rusty colored. I thought just going ahead and tumbling and rinsing as normal would not be a problem,

The brass came out a beautiful pink color, like the imitation rose-gold color on a cheap fake Rolex. Tumbling again with clean soapy water didn't remove the color. Nor did dry tumbling in corn cob or walnut shell. The only way I could remove the color was with Flintz and a rag, spinning the cases with a case holder in a drill. Doing that took it off in just a second or two per case. So the rust stained the cases. It was not a loss of any constituent of the brass.

Since then I make sure to allow my pins to dry before storing them away. Yes they're stainless but as you probably know even stainless steel can rust.

I wonder if maybe you had a rusty steel case or a few mixed in with that range brass. Maybe see if the color can be removed by a light polish with a rag and something like Flintz.

Oh and, in my case it was ALL of the cases pink. Not some, like you had. I could only guess as to why some of yours were pink and some not. Length of time exposed to the elements...? If rust was the cause, may some cases had formed an oxide layer from longer exposure whereas others had less time out in the elements? My cases were all fairly clean. Not left out in the weather, just fired and then cleaned.

 

[D-4297]

Had a similar issue with some cases turning light pink , and no idea why . Have a two drum small tumbler , and the cases in one drum turned pinkish , and the other one didn't . Both drums were set up the same way , with the same amounts of Dawn and Lemmi-shine and filled equally with filtered water . After close inspection , I decided to go ahead and finish processing them , load and shoot . After the next cleaning and process , the "pink" went away . Don't think there is any real negative affect on the brass , and still don't know why it happened .

 

[Krogen]

I used the "generally accepted soup" consisting of Dawn detergent and Lemishine. I haven't gotten pink brass, but Lemishine did give me grief. The problem is that my brass got too clean or the surface was etched/altered. Pistol brass even with carbide dies needed some lube. Even more aggravating was the brass dragged on the Dillon's powder funnel/expander. I traced this to Lemishine. Omitting Lemishine did away with the drag issue, but it didn't give me bright shiny cases. That's just fine with me because I want them clean; shiny is overrated in my book.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I don't run any media. HOT water, jungle Jake cleaner(a degreaser), shake or 2 of dry type lemishine and a splash of lemon juice. Check on them they will be clean quicker than you think 1/2 hour. Pull the plug and rinse with hot water. Longer washes, too much citrus equals pinkish brass.

 

[LVLAaron]

I never found the dawn/lemishine combo to be very effective.

Splash of this stuff, run it for 45 minutes, cleaner than new.

https://www.grainger.com/product/42X024?gucid=N:N:FPL:Free:GGL:CSM-1946:tew63h3:20501231

 

[ebb]

$89 per gallon, I think that pink or dirty brass is looking better and better.

 

[ngb1787]

Fish more, no brass to worry about

 

[LVLAaron]

$89 per gallon, I think that pink or dirty brass is looking better and better.

Yeah, it got expensive the last couple of years. But a gallon lasts for ages. It's worth the price.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I rarely wet tumble brass and haven't had this issue with them turning pink. I think because I use very little Lemi Shine and don't tumble the brass for very long in hot water. As an old rockhound for ~70 years and using various tumblers over the years, I might try simply tumbling those pink brass in a wet tumbler with pins but without water. I'd think there's be enough friction to remove that layer of pink in a relatively short time???

 

[5spd]

Vinager and dish soap, it all comes out nice n shiny in my Franklin machine.
Old brown range brass, bam shiney, never pink.
I quit using lemishine as vinager, soap does a heck of a better job.
I run all my brass 3hrs.

 

[chkunz]

One part Simple Green and seven parts water.
Wet tumble for two hours or less.

 

[NW42]

Having a steel case mixed in with the brass will result in pink colored cases and if you leave it soaking for a while, any brass case in contact with the steel will turn red and appear similar to a case that’s been in a fire.

 

[Shooter13]

I rarely wet tumble brass and haven't had this issue with them turning pink. I think because I use very little Lemi Shine and don't tumble the brass for very long in hot water. As an old rockhound for ~70 years and using various tumblers over the years, I might try simply tumbling those pink brass in a wet tumbler with pins but without water. I'd think there's be enough friction to remove that layer of pink in a relatively short time???

a 9mm case of Lemishine is more than enough to a couple of gallons of water/brass/dawn!

 

[Bill Clifton]

I had some come out pink before but it was mostly just one brand of brass.

 

[Cryhavoc]

No more SS Pins for me. Too much of a hassle using pins......strictly Brass Juice Case Wash now....

 

[Walt Krafft]

Brass Juice is way better than any alternatives. Try it, you will like it.

 

[cmysix]

get a magnet out, check the pink ones, could be steel that was plated for lubricity and corrosion resistance