Chemical vs. tumble cleaning question.

[longrifleman]

I've been cleaning cases with a tumbler but am starting to get a few cases that are stained and won't clean with tumbling but seem to be otherwise sound. I have monitored other threads about chemical cleaning and I think that I may start using that instead.

So, here are some questions that might be of interest to others as well as myself. What type of cleaner works best? Isso (sp) and Birchwood Casey seem to be the most commonally available. Are there others? Any "secret recipes" that work better than commercial mixes? Any tips on what not to do? Any thoughts on how much crud is too much? Cost vs. media? Cost isn't a big concern because I am getting real tired of poking media out of the flash hole. Any concerns with brass reacting with the chemicals and deteriorating?

I'm sure I forgot something but that much info would be a big help.

 

[bfoster]

Some folks find that they obtain satisfactory results by simply immersing cases in cider vinegar prior to tumbling. How long the cases soak is a function of the degree of cleaning desired, and how finicky the handloader.

Personally, I don't find the results produced by vinegar to always be satisfactory, but it will do surprisingly well with some cases.

There is an excellent chemical cleaning process that I've often used detailed in pre-war Ideal handbooks and in Earl Naramore's Principles and Practice of Loading Ammunition, Small Arms Technical Publishing Company, Georgetown South Carolina, 1954. It was developed by Dr. Hudson, the celebrated schüetzen champion. It involves moving the cases through a series of solutions but failure to follow the procedure exactly will result in the production of instantly lethal hydrocyanic acid fumes.

If you are a careful workman, have adequate space outside in which to work, have no youngsters about your home, and are interested in the process I'll e-mail scans of the information to you.

Bob

 

[Wildalaska]

I use the Birchwood casey stuff because the noise of a tumbler makes me goofy and I hate picking media out of primer pockets...

Stuff cleans cases nicer than tumling IMHO

WildchemicalsAlaska

 

[bfoster]

Wildalaska,

The tumblers I use are all rotary rather than vibratory tumblers. While the Viking and Thumlers tumblers are indeed slower than vibratory units, they do as good a job given time, and they do their work quietly.

Bob

 

[Wildalaska]

Still have to pick out the media...

Chemical is a lot faster

WildbetterlivingthroughchemistryAlaska

 

[Frohickey]

The only drawback I see with chemical cleaning is the hassle of drying the cases after you have cleaned them. If you have a sunroom or area where you can lay out the cases while the sun dries them, then you are fine. Otherwise, you are gonna hear complaints when the SWMBO wants to bake cookies and your 200 cases of 10mm Auto are in the oven.

I think the active ingredient of the chemical cleaners is phosphoric acid, which is a very mild acid. Incidentally, phosphoric acid is also present in soda pop. If you clean cases using Pepsi/Coke, make sure you *DO NOT* drink it afterwards!!!

 

[stans]

BUuuuuurrrrrp! Now you tell me!

 

[longrifleman]

If you clean cases using Pepsi/Coke, make sure you *DO NOT* drink it afterwards!!!

Doesn't all that sugar draw a lot of flies to your ammo supply? Do you ever throw a few cases out to bait 'em in for target practice? How critical is shot placement on flies?

 

[Grump]

Continuing the thread deterioration...

WildbetterlivingthroughchemistryAlaska

I saw that movie, WildAlaska! If you're gonna have a syringe around, it's a cinch to clear out those flash holes!

I just use a decapper to knock the media out. And resizing resistance to sort .380s from 9mm...

 

[Frohickey]

Doesn't all that sugar draw a lot of flies to your ammo supply? Do you ever throw a few cases out to bait 'em in for target practice? How critical is shot placement on flies?

Rookie...

Since when have you seen dried sugar from a spilled Pepsi/Coke draw flies? Flies are only buzzing around in warm weather when you have an opened can of soda. During the fall/winter, you don't have to worry about flies buzzing around your ammo supply... only ants. Ants are easier to shoot than flies.

 

[longrifleman]

Ants are easier to shoot than flies.

So. Head shots or an anchor shot and finish em off up close?

 

[Frohickey]

So. Head shots or an anchor shot and finish em off up close?

I think head shots would be the way to go. At least for the normal sized ants.

If they are THEM-size ants, then we have ample evidence to suggest that small-arms fire would be ineffective against them. It would be time to bust out the flame-throwers.

 

[cheygriz]

I use warm (not hot) water and Tide in a Thumler's model B rotary tunbler. I wash for 20 minutes, rinse and oven dry at 200 degrees for an hour. They come out squeaky clean.

This won't remove stains from brass, but who cares? They're clean, and it's a quick, easy procedure.

And no media to pick out of the flash holes.