cleaning brass

[JO JO]

Just wanted to share, I tried the lemi shine thing it really works,
I deprimed "universal decapper" soaked and shaked brass 15 min or
so rinsed and pat dry on towel, tossed in tumbler media only no additive
what I noticed
1. much shorter time in tumbler
2. media doesn't get as dirty
3. case much cleaner inside and primer pockets
seems like the lemi shine wash did the cleaning and tumbler did the
shining.
I had been wanting to try the lemi shine wash before tumble and it is
a difference, necessary not really just wanted to try it.

 

[carbine85]

Which Lemi Shine are you using and how are you doing it?

 

[jack44]

I tried that didn't work for me so I went to pet smart and bought some lizard litter works good.

 

[45lcshooter]

Remember you are taking metal, and putting it in a solution that in theory, eats metal.

I didn't jump on the wet tumble band wagon, because who looks inside the case while reloading, unless your pumping out 1000's of rounds every day or week-how hard is it to take a pocket primer brush to the pocket. Don't get me wrong, wet tumble/metal rinse has its place in reloading. But i just don't think it was intended for brass. Ive cleaned up dies, very well in my tumbler and in a solution.

Ohhh with your lizard media, cut up some dryer sheets, the dryer sheets attract dirt and keep the media cleaner a lot longer. I threw in 2 trap setters for trapping season, it looks like the guy had them outside for the last 10 years. Put them in with my lizard media and tumbled for a few hours. Came out looking like real metal again, and threw away dryer sheets that were rust colored brown.

Just my .02 of not the biggest fan of wet solutions

 

[tackbustr]

Can I clean my brass w/ a brass brush vs a tumbler ??

Hello...tackbustr down in Texas here... I am starting up reloading after a 30 yrs

I have a question on cleaning my brass... inside and outside cheaply
I only reload .38 special wad cutters and can not afford a tumbler...

(will get one down the road as finances allow)

Is there another method I can use for cleaning the outside and inside of my brass...any suggestions/recommendations are welcome...

Thanks for your help !!

tackbustr

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Wash in dish soap and let air dry.

 

[Centurian22]

Tackbustr: check out this thread by yours truly:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=692818

Ultrasonic cleaning on the cheap. Machine costs $25-$35 on amazon with free shipping and the cleaning solution can be home made for about $2-$3 per gallon (which will last several batches).

 

[Potatohead]

that lizard stuffs the bomb!

 

[LeftyTSGC]

Quick wash:


Brass Cleaning Solution:
1 Quart Hot Water
1 Cup Vinegar (white cleaning vinegar works good)
1 Tablespoon DishSoap
1 Tablespoon Salt

Place on contents in container, agitate brass every couple of minutes, only need 15 minutes of soak time. Rinse Very Very Well. Dry brass.

This cleans the brass raw and shinny, recommend you tumble after they dry to keep shine and help thru dies.

I normally clean before i deprime so i only run clean brass thru my dies, but you can tumble in walnut to quick clean to deprime and them wash. This is cheaper than any solution you can buy.

 

[frankenstein406]

2 gallons hot water in a 5 gallon bucket with half cup or less of lemi shine seems to clean up range brass pretty good. Supposedly you can reuse it to but haven't tried yet.