Author Topic: cleaning Brass without a Tumbler?? (Read 843 times)

sk330lc · « **on:** August 13, 2005, 11:54:10 AM »

Hey all ,

I started reloading for my Encore 44mag about two Months ago.. So Far I have Had a lot of Fun . I was wondering what the best way to clean brass with out a Tumbler would be.. I don't really Care If there all Bright and shinney as Much as if there Just Clean..

Would soaking In Gas or a Parts cleaning solvent work

What about a Soapy water mix with vinegar

I plan on getting a tumbler , But at the Moment Funds Are Tight..

Thanks

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2005, 12:03:48 PM »

I've done em in the dishwasher, they come out just as clean as in the tumbler, just not as shiny. Keep in mind that primers have mercury in em and this may not be a healthy thing to do with a load of dishes in there, too....and the wifey might not like it either!!!! :eek: But it works for larger cases, never did a little pistol case, though, just 45-120. :wink:

sk330lc · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2005, 12:14:43 PM »

Quickdtoo,

I value My Life to Much, to Even think about touching. The Washer, Dryer,Or the Dishwasher With anything Gun related :eek:

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2005, 12:33:57 PM »

Yup, I hear ya.....wives are like that!! :-D In that case, here are some home grown possibilities that don't involve appliances...

http://home.sprynet.com/~frfrog2/homemade.htm#Solutions

ShadowMover · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2005, 01:17:12 PM »

I used to clean mine by first putting them in a bucket of automotive parts cleaning solvent after they were de-primed, letting it sit for a while and then washing them with real hot soapy (dish detergent) water. You'll know when the solvent is gone. A final rinse with more hot water and then drain them as much as possible before putting the bucket full of them onto a large bath towel(s). Put the towel out in a sunny warm spot and spread the cases out. Choose an old towel for obvious reasons. Every twenty minutes gather up the corners of the towel and move them around to promote drainage. Follow this up with a shot of compressed air to clear the primer pocket and a visual inspection. This worked well for me on 44 Mag, 45 ACP and 9 mm cases. I used a waxy Alox and Beeswax lube that needed the solvent. You might get by without it. This would leave the cases clean enough to resize. I often did the same procedure after they were resized to get the resizing lube off; I didn't have carbide dies then. It sounds time consuming, but it really wasn't. This did nothing to shine up the cases, it just left them clean.

TNrifleman · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2005, 01:44:05 PM »

I use a tumbler, but for many years, I used OOOO steel wool to clean cases. It works very well, is quick, and is cheap. Try it, you will be pleased. I still use it to clean up really dirty cases before I tumble them.

Castaway · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2005, 02:00:42 PM »

Mr. Clean or some other detergent and a gallon jug. Place the cases in, shake soundly, soak overnight, drain and rinse.

mountainview · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2005, 02:14:58 PM »

sk,

I use a pinch of salt, a dash of white vinegar, and a generous covering of H20 in some sort of plastic container. Gets my brass nice and shiny and removes most of the crud while keeping costs down. Seems to make Win and Fed cases really shiny but also does not work bad on Rem cases which do not come out quite as sparkling for some reason. Usually 15-20 minutes (can be longer depending on what you define as a pinch etc) will do the job. Rinse afterwards and let dry.

Forest T · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2005, 02:39:17 PM »

well boys let me tell you a story about cleaning brass about 5 years ago I hurt my back real bad and was laid up in bed with not much to do so I decide to clean brass while I was laid up I got a drill made a wooden dowel that the brass would fit over and I used a brass cleaner called never dull comes in a can and look like cotton rolled up put a case on the jig and spun it around and made it look like new thin I got a friend of mine to go to the gun shop for me and get me a lee case trimmer set that goes in the drill and did the inside of the case bright and shinny just like new and that is how I cleaned brass for 3 months while I was laid up it not fast but you can take a old pice of brass and make look like new

sk330lc · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2005, 03:36:03 PM »

Thanks Everybody ,

I knew you guys would come through For me... The Fine people @ Graybeards Have yet to let me down.... :grin:
I've hear of a few of these , Like Never Dull. I Have used it on my Chrome on My cars and Trucks..
I am going to try a few of these Others tomorrow, If I get a chance..

Thanks again , Jason

beemanbeme · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2005, 04:36:31 PM »

And now the rest of the story: Put your brass in a pillow slip. Put a couple of pounds of long play rice (no Uncle Ben's Instant) in there too. Tie a loose knot in the neck of the pillow slip. (pillow case to you folks north of Richmond). Put the whole works into another pillow slip and knot that neck. (in case the first one splits) Put it into a cloths dryer and give it about an hour. No heat if you have that option. Ergo, shiny, clean brass.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2005, 04:53:46 PM »

Quote from: beemanbeme

And now the rest of the story: Put your brass in a pillow slip. Put a couple of pounds of long play rice (no Uncle Ben's Instant) in there too. Tie a loose knot in the neck of the pillow slip. (pillow case to you folks north of Richmond). Put the whole works into another pillow slip and knot that neck. (in case the first one splits) Put it into a cloths dryer and give it about an hour. No heat if you have that option. Ergo, shiny, clean brass.

Nope...no way...not gonna happen!!!

Quote from: sk330lc

I value My Life to Much, to Even think about touching. The Washer, Dryer,Or the Dishwasher With anything Gun related :eek:

sk330lc · « **Reply #12 on:** August 13, 2005, 05:07:12 PM »

Nope...no way...not gonna happen!!!

:-D Let me tell you all a little story! About Six Months ago I left a Half Full Can Of Skoal fine cut in my jeans pocket. Well It made it through the washer, But about half way through the drying cycle The lid finally came off.. I almost had to go to the laundry mate for a Month before I got things smoothed over.... So as stated No Washer ,Dryer, Or dishwasher Ideas!!!! :roll:

beemanbeme · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2005, 05:04:22 AM »

I don't think I want to talk about the time my wife came home to find me running 2 dozen new steel traps thru her dishwasher to get the factory grease off of them, huh. It does a great job but timing is everything. :grin:

leverfan · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2005, 09:28:33 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo

Keep in mind that primers have mercury in em...

Uh-oh, I think you just confirmed your age!

Experience with fulminate of mercury based primers generally means you qualify for senior discounts.

Mercuric primers haven't been used in decades. Besides the toxicity, the mercury weakens brass, making it dangerous to reload. Primers are fueled by lead based compounds these days, except for some factory "lead free" loads for indoor shooting.

Back to the question, I use dish soap, hot water, and a brush to scrub my black powder cartridge cases. For smokeless loads, I would just wipe the worst of the dust and grime off the outside and use a nylon brush on the inside of the neck, if I cleaned them at all. Some folks claim that the shower cleaner Ka-Boom cleans brass pretty well, but I wasn't impressed. All of my cases end up in a tumbler sooner or later, depending on what propellent I used in them. With tumblers starting under $45, and used ones even cheaper, they are handy to have.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** August 14, 2005, 09:46:27 AM »

Heh heh...your're right about that Leverfan and I should have said lead, lead styphnate to be specific!!! If it ain't one thing I forget, it's something else!!! :oops: Supposedly there are lead free primers available, but I don't know if they are common. I know Eley has started loading lead free primers in their rimfire ammo because of the common indoor shooting done with rimfires.

sk330lc · « **Reply #16 on:** August 14, 2005, 02:24:55 PM »

Hey all,

Tried the Vinegar ,water, soap and a dash of Salt Mix..

I popped the primers out first. Then put everything in a 2 Liter bottle.. Shook it up real good and let it sit for about 10min. Came Back shook it up again Let it sit, I did this about 3 Times. Then dumped the Mix and rinsed the Brass with Hot water about three Times..
Other than the Primer Pockets It did shine them up and got the Biggest part of the crud off..

Thanks again Everyone

ShadowMover · « **Reply #17 on:** August 14, 2005, 03:09:18 PM »

The only problem with vinegar salt and ammonia being used to clean and 'shine up' the brass is those chemicals actually eat up the brass to effect the 'cleaning'. This eating takes place at the grain boundaries of the metal crystals and forms a breaking point for the brass. Even though it looks nice and shiny, there is actually less metal, and the case won't last as long. If looks are important, keep using erosive chemicals, if long brass life is your goal, then skip the stuff that eats the brass. Just my 2 cents worth.

ajj · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2005, 02:51:06 AM »

Tumblers are cheap, safe, easy, simple, work great, don't require messy supplies or drying and don't destroy your marriage or your household appliances. That's why they're so popular.

Questor · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2005, 04:16:32 AM »

sk330lc:

Just look inside the case to make sure it's not clogged with debris, then wipe it with a paper towel. That'll get it clean enough unless it's really filthy.

cal sibley · « **Reply #20 on:** August 17, 2005, 07:46:55 PM »

Lee makes a set of 6 shellholders that will allow you to use a drill. Attach the shellholder to the drill, put a case in it and spin away. You need two rags, one with Brasso and a clean rag for polishing. Some people advise against using Brasso fearing it will weaken brass. I personally never had any problems with it over the years. Your cases will dazzle you with their brightness, utterly gorgeous. However, your hands will be filthy and require about a 5 minute wash with a hell of a potent cleaner. Now I just chuck them in the tumbler and go about my business for a couple of hours. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal