[mike6161]

I just got in to reloading and do not have a lot of stuff or room. I need a way to clean my brass But I don’t have room/money for a tumbler. Are there any ways to clean brass with out one?
Thank you for the advice

[bensdad]

I use a rock tumbler/polisher. We got one for my daughter a few years ago (before I was into reloading). She used it once or twice, then forgot about it. I can only clean a small amount of brass at one time, but it works fine. I usually leave it to tumble overnight, then refill it in the morning and let that load go all day.

I got a big, green separator at Cabellas, but you can use a cat litter cleaner/filter also.

[Idano]

You can just wipe them down with a clean rag. The whole purpose of cleaning is to remove the dirt and grim so they don't damage your dies or your chamber. I use to just wipe down the brass with a clean rag for many years without damaging a die or a chamber before I bought a tumbler; they just won't be real shinny but be just fine to reload and shoot. There are also chemical cleans with vinegar and dish soap but then you have to dry them; too much of a hassle for me.

[cdrt]

I posted an answer for you on that other forum.

[Otto]

Decap them and throw them in the washing machine.

[Jacka L Ope]

This recipe has made the rounds here many a time:

Brass Cleaning Solution

1 pint water
1 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon detergent

Mix solution. When all solids are dissolved, agitate cases 10 minutes. Pour off solution and rinse cases in tap water. Dry in sunshine or in pie tins in warm oven for few minutes.

Have used and like it myself. For the warm oven drying method, I like to heat to oven to 200 degrees and spread the cases out in baking pans or cookie sheets.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a62/lakcaJLOpe/BrassCleaningSolution.jpg

Cheers! http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a62/lakcaJLOpe/beerchug.gif

[evan price]

I've heard, tie them up in legs of old pantyhose and toss them in the dishwasher... but I have never tried it.

[RugerBob]

The dishwasher worked ok for me when I first started. Then had an old pair of jeans and cut the leg off. Had the wife sew one end shut and put my brass in and tied it closed. Worked better then the dishwasher, just make sure there good and dry before reloading. I have seen some cheap tumbler/vibraters in Harbor Frieght. They were for rocks or steel. Good luck, Bob

[mike6161]

WOW i just got done with some cases its the cleanest brass i have ever seen. shiny i can see my self in them thank you for posting the mixture.

[Halo]

Are you guys who use the dishwasher not worried about lead contamination? I guess it all goes down the drain, but I know I'd be too paranoid about cross-contamination to ever try it! :)

[janobles14]

you know im voting for ultrasonic. 50 bucks from harbor freight and about 2 bucks to clean 500 cases.

[dagger dog]

Lee has a litte case trimmer powered by hand kinda like pull starting an old lawn mower. it's called zip trim, you can buy a universal case holder for it and use 0000 steel wool to polish the cases. You can even use it for its' intended usage and trim your cases, then hit them with the wool. The whole thing will fit into the palm of you hand. Go to their web site and check it out!

[charadam]

If you replace the detergent with washing soda (Sodium Carbonate) (NOT caustic soda, NOT Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) ) - your results will be even better.

[Quoheleth]

Pour off solution

OK...I'll admit it...am paranoid the first time I try this, the EPA, the Harris County water board, and my MUD will all show up knocking on my door with citations.

Where to dispose of dirty cleaning solution? In the yard? Down the drain? Use the master cut-out in the back yard?

Q

[ranger335v]

The residue isn't toxic. Pour it down the drain.

[33rowdy]

Can you use minerial spirits as a cleaning solution?

[ranger335v]

Mineral spirits cleans oily film quite well. It has considerably less effect on the "dirt" on cases tho.

Use the diluted vinegar, it cuts both oily stuff AND will soften and flush off much of the powder fouling inside the cases.

[870]

ranger335v
Senior Member



Join Date: 12-03-06
Posts: 553 The residue isn't toxic. Pour it down the drain.

I hate to tell you, but the residue IS toxic.

You have lead plus other contaminants in there.

[ranger335v]

870 - well yeah, ok. I don't mind telling you, you win.

What I meant is that such toxicity to be found in a used vinegar case wash is at such a low level and the amount involved is so tiny it is irrelivant, not that it is so totally pure and harmless we could drink five glasses full each day for five years without harm.

But, a vinegar brass wash is no where near as "toxic" as most things going down a drain is it? Things like phosphate deterigents and bleach, decayed meats and vegetable matter, toe nail clippings, the wash-out from a baby diapers and doggy baths, barfed-on linens from a sick room, etc, are much more toxic than trace elements of dreaded lead from primer flash.

In fact, the term "septic" itself says it's sorta toxic but we are safe if we don't drink it, okay? If it was beyond the capacity of sewers & septic tanks to handle such things we would have to purify our used water even before sending it down a drain.

Don't get too knotted up over paniced liberals shouting "the sky is falling" at the menton of trace amounts of lead returning to the ground from which it came. It is harmless when tiny amounts of such admittedly dastardly toxins are poured into a drain made for the purposes, and which itself often contains lead. Chill out man!

[Seafarer12]

Before I got the use of an ultra sonic cleaner I just clened my cases with a brush and a bucket of vinegar, salt, and water. Ultra sonic is the way to go though.

[Luke G]

Like another posted stated try Harbor Freight, most everything they sell is on sale in store or online. Just print off the online page and they will honor it in the store. I believe my dad got one for about 20 bucks at a store in AZ. Not the greatest but it works.

[GLOCK45GUY]

Do you put the same salt vinager solution in the ultrasonic cleaners, or do you use the powder mix HF also sells?

[moooose102]

NEVER, I REPEAT, NEVER put your brass in the dishwasher!!! the spent cases have traces of lead in them. it will not simply rinse away in the rinse cycle. you WILL be putting your families HEALTH @ RISK!!

[janobles14]

Do you put the same salt vinager solution in the ultrasonic cleaners, or do you use the powder mix HF also sells?

1 part vinegar
1 part water
1 drop dish soap

then clean in baking soda and water mix to stop patina.

try here. lots of good info.
http://www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html

[ar10]

It looks like what I read in the "ABC's of Reloading". I bought the vibrator instead. :)

[moooose102]

ok, i followed the recipie to the letter. this stuff is awesome. it seems to chemically etch the brass clean. the ones i had found that had been out in the elements for some time were "stained" almost black, now they are almost pure yellow. the one thing about doing this is if you have run the brass through your vibratory cleaner, and they are nice and shiney. they won't be when you bring them out of this solution. if you like shiney brass, clean in this soulotion first, then tumble! i was going to buy some of that "iosco brass cleaner" that they sell. but i am going to stick with this, WAY less expensive!