Copper colored brass

[Greyfox]

I had an interesting developement a couple of days ago. I left some 221 Fireball brass in the Thumler's with SS media for about 8 hours, which is about double what I usually do. But this was fired brass that I picked up at a local reloader supplier and I wanted it very clean. When I took it out, it looked great. The primer pockets as the inside looked better than brand new. The thing is, it's the color of new pennies. I used Lemishine and some pressure washer concentrate with water. Anyone else had this happen?

Rick

 

[MrMajestic]

After annealing some cases become a copper/orange color. I like to see it because, right or wrong, it tells me the process was a success. I understand this doesn't answer your question but if they were my cases I don't think I would be alarmed until I see how they shot. JMHO

 

[bigedp51]

I had an interesting developement a couple of days ago. I left some 221 Fireball brass in the Thumler's with SS media for about 8 hours, which is about double what I usually do. But this was fired brass that I picked up at a local reloader supplier and I wanted it very clean. When I took it out, it looked great. The primer pockets as the inside looked better than brand new. The thing is, it's the color of new pennies. I used Lemishine and some pressure washer concentrate with water. Anyone else had this happen?

Rick

Follow the instructions and use Dawn, Ivory, or Joy dish soap and Lemishine, cold water wash and hot rinse. If tarnished or discolored just hand wash in bucket as above and the tarnish should be removed.

If dirty brass is left in tumbler too long the soap looses its cleaning ability and will not hold the dirt in suspension and the brass will become darkly stained.
(don't ask me how I know this) :-[

Whats in Lemi Shine (just for grins and giggles)

citric acid hemihydrate

http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2012/05/18/whats-in-lemi-shine/

 

[Killshot]

I've experimented and found the discolorations were due to using hot water in the the process.

I use only cold to wash and cold to rinse. To the water I add a tablespoon of Simple-Green concentrate and a tablespoon of Lemishine. Perfect everytime no matter the brass make. I run as much brass as recommended and let it go for 3.5hrs.

I've had customer brass* that was really carbon-caked. I did a presoak with some carbon cleaner, turned all the cases a dark blue. Would not rub off. I put it through the tumbler described above and it came out clean as new.

* I do cleaning and annealing if interested.

 

[37Lincoln1]

I see both types of coloring in the same batch of brass heated with the same source sometimes. It could be something as simple as moisture on the surface of the brass (i.e. from lube) which oxidize in the heat.

Copper which is a component of brass has two oxidation states – cupric oxide which is black in color which is what we are usually familiar with that causes “tarnishing”, and cuprous oxide which is red in color. This one is less often seen but people who do SS media cleaning sees it more often since only cupric oxide is dissolved by the citric acid in Lemishine but the cuprous oxide is left which gives you that pink brass. It’s a frequent question in the SS media threads.

 

[StevenDzupin]

Your cleaning concoction is dissolving the Zinc in your cartridge case brass faster than the Copper.

Possible reaction between the Stainless Pins and the Brass,with the concoction acting as an Electrolyte.

Sorta like mixing Barrel cleaning compounds,and wondering why the barrel rusted.

Hot water only hastens the process.

Regards,

Steve

 

[Greyfox]

I see both types of coloring in the same batch of brass heated with the same source sometimes. It could be something as simple as moisture on the surface of the brass (i.e. from lube) which oxidize in the heat.

Copper which is a component of brass has two oxidation states – cupric oxide which is black in color which is what we are usually familiar with that causes “tarnishing”, and cuprous oxide which is red in color. This one is less often seen but people who do SS media cleaning sees it more often since only cupric oxide is dissolved by the citric acid in Lemishine but the cuprous oxide is left which gives you that pink brass. It’s a frequent question in the SS media threads.

Very helpful information, Thanks a bunch,

Rick

 

[amlevin]

Stick with Dawn or similar dish soaps and avoid any "witches brew" cleaners. The dawn, lemi-shine, and pins do a great job. For those who say avoid hot water, it just cools off quickly and any color it might cause is burnished off in the next hour or so of tumbling.

Avoid using too much lemi shine. It only takes a real small amount. I use less than 1/4 tsp and my cases come out brite brass colored.

Also, don't leave your brass sitting in the cleaning solution for any length of time after the tumbler stops. I left mine overnite once, figuring I'd just rinse it the next morning. Big Mistake! The cases had a sludge on them that looked like what they pump out of Septic Tanks. All the dirt/carbon/crud, that was suspended in the detergent solution, fell out of solution and coated the cases like a congealed mess. Thirty minutes with fresh Dawn cured the problem though.