cleaning used brass

[.357 shooter]

How do you guys with out a tumbler clean your used brass? I have one on order for Christmas. But until then I have to do it by hand. What do i use to clean them up? Thanks.


Bryan

[stimpylu32]

Bryan

Good old hot water and dish soap works well , give them a final rince and put them on a cookie sheet in the oven set at 170 till dry . Or a pillow case tied tight and tossed in the washing machine .

Neither of which the Mrs. will like , but they do work !  

stimpy

[Dave in WV]

I've used Iosso brass cleaner before. It's a liquid solution you soak the brass in. I always rinsed the brass and let it dry after the soak.

[sk330lc]

Just be Sure what ever cleaner you use that it does NOT Have ammonia In it..   Be very care full if using the oven to dry.   Keep it on the lowest setting..    I have found that Onion sacks work great to dry brass. just hang them up . geve'm a shake every now and then.

[Graybeard]

Isso makes a liquid cleaner that will clean and shine brass better and faster than a tumbler BUT do not leave them in it too long or it will do things to them that cannot be undone. It is supposed to be harmless to the brass but you will never again be happy with the looks of the brass if you leave it longer than they recommend.

[.357 shooter]

Thanks Guys. Great info as usual.


Bryan

[wncchester]

Soak the cases in while vinegar (it doesn't stink!) for an hour or so, shaking the container a few times.  Flush, drain and allow to dry over night in a single layer.  Works as good as a tumbler on the outside and gets the internal carbon crud out even better.  You DO need to allow plenty of time for it to get dry inside; placing it in direct sunshine is a good helper.

[Dezynco]

You can drop them all into a water tight container like an old GatorAid bottle, add some hot water and soap.  Screw the cap on tight, then give them a good shaking, then a good rinse.  Let them dry and presto.  You can stand them on a hotplate and cook the water out of them, or stand them in an old skillet and turn on heat until they stop bubbling.... or set them out in the sun, or just let them dry.  They will dry eventually one way or the other.

I think the buffalo hunters would boil their cartridges for a while to get the funk out of them, then dry them by the fire.

You can polish them with some fine steel wool (#0000) if you want them shiny.  You don't have to have a tumbler, it just makes it more convenient.  As a matter of fact, you don't really have to clean the cases, but it doesn't hurt to clean them to get rid of old powder residue and what ever else that may get into them.

[kevinsmith5]

Anyone ever try the dishwasher? Use one of the silverware compartments with the flip down lid to keep small stuff from coming out?

[Graybeard]

I cannot believe you guys put that kinda filth and LEAD CONTAMINATION into your dishwasher and then eat food from the dishes you wash in there later. You do understand that all primers or nearly all at least contain lead right?

[3006softpoint]

i use white vinegar, lemon juice,dishwashing liquid & hot water! someone had the recipe for this awhile ago! cleans cases inside and out and softens most primer pocket carbon that you can use a tooth brush to clean the pocket! I have no desire to buy a tumbler yet! Your case soaking mixture will turn a milky green! Rinse cases with plenty of hot water ! Someone will chime in with the recipe I just wing it!

[Graybeard]

Seems an odd combination of ingredients. The first two are mild acids and I suspect most dishwashing liquids are mildly alkaline which if so would kinda react with and counter act the benefit of the mild acids. Still who knows it might be great. I'm not sure why both mild acids would be used tho it seems an either or would be just as effective.

[Steve P]

Dawn dishwashing soap and hot water.  Wash / rinse / set ou to dry on a dry bath towel.  Turn every 15 minutes or so.  In about an hour, they should be dry.  I also use a Lee trim tool which makes it easy to spin the brass.  A piece of 0000 steel wool and a hand drill will make this polishing a snap.

Used to work for me.   Now I have three tumblers...........Thank God!!  Saves HOURS and HOURS!!

Steve

[ButlerFord45]

Bryan

Good old hot water and dish soap works well , give them a final rince and put them on a cookie sheet in the oven set at 170 till dry . Or a pillow case tied tight and tossed in the washing machine .

Neither of which the Mrs. will like , but they do work !  

stimpy

Have tumbler, still do it this way.

[huntswithdogs]

A buddy of mine bought a pail of carb cleaner to soak his in. After soaking, he'd blast them with a water hose and dry them in the oven. Worked pretty well for him. Me, I bought a tumbler when I first got into this mess years ago.


HWD