Cleaning Brass

[limbic]

Anybody have a good way to clean brass without using a tumbler. I'm just looking to get it a bit more shiny. I clean the neck and shoulder with steel wool but the body needs some love. ;D

 

[Tozguy]

Brasso applied with a synthetic pad. Use blue nitrile gloves for hand protection and for grip on case. Wipe with clean dry cloth. my .02

 

[SmokinJoe]

Brasso has ammonia in it, and many people asking this question over the years have been advised not to use it because of possible embrittlement issues. I would recommend using the IOSSO case cleaning kit, but start with a minimal soak time. You could also use the ultrasonic cleaner with vinegar solution, but you have to have an ultrasonic cleaner. The IOSSO kit is the simplest effective method I know of.

 

[cmillard]

i would get an ultrasonic cleaner--you can buy one from harbor frieght for $40. i have used IOSSO in the past but it is a hassle. another one to try is Never Dull. I use that on my 6BR brass--just a quick touch up on the necks and im done. take a dry towel and wipe off and thats it. for total case cleaning, go the ultrasonic route.

 

[watercam]

Many folks have said their tumbler does not make their brass 'shiny' and I don't know why as I have not had that problem. Assuming you are using a brass polish in the media (3 tsp. first time and 1 tsp. each time thereafter) they should be clean and shiny. I use corn cob, polish, and run for 1-2 hrs. and the brass looks terrific and feels, well, polished. Never have had to do any additional cleaning in ten years and 13 caibers.
Mike T.

 

[radshooter]

I use something called "Krazy Kloth." Can get from Sinclair or other places. Does a nice job. It is a square cloth with some type of cleaner soaked in..you just rub the dirty cases with it then wipe it off with a dry cloth of some sort (like an old t-shirt) and they look good as new. I have one of the ultrasonic cleaners and my main issue with it is that it is fairly time consuming to dry out the brass when done.

 

[Taildrag15X]

I use something called "Krazy Kloth." Can get from Sinclair or other places. Does a nice job. It is a square cloth with some type of cleaner soaked in..you just rub the dirty cases with it then wipe it off with a dry cloth of some sort (like an old t-shirt) and they look good as new. I have one of the ultrasonic cleaners and my main issue with it is that it is fairly time consuming to dry out the brass when done.

For small batches 50-100 I use a blow dryer and a mounting bracket that gets the job done fairly fast, for the 50BMG's and large amounts of anything else I run them through a drier I made from an oven, takes less than 1/2 hour to dry 1,000's.

 

[limbic]

No vinegar fans?

 

[songmanscott]

I am trying to run down that Vinegar solution...

Thanks

I am Scott
oper1_4_u@yahoo.com

 

[camac]

If you can get hold of it - the birchwood case cleaner is great. For 30 years before buying tumbler and ultrasonic cleaner I used to just drop shells in the case cleaner, rinse and dry with towel (stops streaking) then place upside down in holes in cardboard box to drain. Make holes in cardboard with sharp pen. If you want em ultra shiny after this you can polish with a metal polish (no brasso) but wipe it off well. The polishing takes two rubs after cleaning, but hard work before.

But now - for $40 I would highly recommend the ultrasonic cleaner - cleans out the inside too.

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

Go the ultrasonic case cleaning route. I have been using the 50:50 white vinegar/water solution in glass beakers and it takes about 10 minutes to fully clean cases. I then rinse the cases in water before drying in the oven.

Drying cases is a breeze, put paper towel on a tray, shake excess water out of cases and place on tray and into the oven set at 60-80F on fan forced. Sounds a bit like a cooking recipe but the cases are dry after 15 mins in the oven.

Ian

 

[songmanscott]

In a glass beaker instead of the basket?

I got the 1 to 1

 

[StevenDzupin]

Hot water and Citric Acid ( Sour Salt ) in
the Spice Rack at any Food Store.

1 Tablespoon per quart ,soak till clean ,dump &

rinse with clean water. Dry.

Cheap,safe and effective.

Distilled Water works best,no streaks.

Works alone,in a water tight Tumbler or Ultrasonic.

Regards,

Steve

 

[boltman13]

I tumble cases with Lyman corncob media and they are very shiney. After resizing them I use Joy dish detergent to restore the shine. I would think it would add some shine to your cases. Can't hurt to give it a try.

 

[petierney]

This works the best for me:

SS Media Cartridge Case Cleaning - Wet in Tumbler (cleans inside case like new)

1. Using a Thumler’s Tumbler (Model B – High Speed).
2. 30-06 size cases, deprime cases (100-250 cases), place in machine. If you don’t
deprime - primer pocket will not be cleaned by media.
3. Place stainless steel media (5 pounds) in tumbler.
4. Fill tumbler with the hottest water you can get from your tap.
5. Add ½ ounce of Ivory dishwashing fluid or Dawn.
6. Add 9mm case of Lemi Shine (available Wal-Mart) dishwasher detergent additive
(yellow & green container), its granules. Do NOT add more, can make gray spots.
7. Run tumbler for 8 - 12 hours, less with high speed machine.
8. Obtain two 12 qt. plastic Sterilite rectangler dishpans (white gets dirty), fill with 2 ½
gallons of water each, shake out media under water to get it out of cartridge cases.
9. Rinse cases in the other dishpan and dry in sun or on towel overnight or ?
10. If any media is stuck in cases, pull out with needle nose pliers & throw away or you
will see it again.
11. Obtain (Target has better quality) a 7 inch stainless steel colander (fine mesh) black
handle to strain out media after separated (rinse media off & clean well). Cases or or media can be dried in plastic container using a Harbor Freight 160 degree food dehydrator ($20+).

Return media to tumbler, otherwise it begins to disappear.
A Harbor Freight magnet helps in handling media.
Makes cases look like new inside & out!

PeTierney has source for SS Media, but that source has ordered us NOT to post his contact info. Send PM to petierney for further information.