Flitz Metal Polish (Liquid) - Safe to use?

[RavenVT100]

I recently picked up some Flitz metal polish, Barcode 65925 04587, at my FFL in their reloading section. It's this liquidy stuff in a white plastic bottle with a greenish color. I tried it out on about 100 rounds of various types in some lizard bedding (walnut). To put it bluntly, it completely obliterates any of the tarry residue on the necks of military surplus cases and it's far and away better than the Frankford Arsenal Cleaner/Corncob stuff I was using earlier.

Problem is, I don't know if this stuff contains ammonia or an ammonium based chemical that could weaken the brass. Is anyone familiar with Flitz? The container has brass tumbling instructions on it, but you never know. I also don't want it to adversely affect primer or powder performance.

 

[cdrt]

Found this description on the internet:
FLITZ LIQUID METAL POLISH Contains no ammonia or abrasives. Safely cleans, polishes and protects: Brass, copper, silver plate, sterling, chrome, stainless steel, nickel, bronze, gold, aluminum, pewter, factory gun bluing, painted surfaces. Removes: Tarnish, rust, water stains, oxidation, fingerprints, graffiti.

So it should be okay for brass cases.

 

[SASS#23149]

I"ve been using it for several years.Cleans up my smoky/cruddy 45colt cases really nice.
I use a capful about every third tumbling and just let 'er run a while.

 

[RavenVT100]

Here's the problem. Flitz makes several different products. Some contain ammonia, some don't. I'm trying to get a definitive indicator that my product has no ammonia or ammonium oleates.

 

[DragonFire]

It is somewhat of a urban legend about using products containing ammonia on your brass cases.

It is true that ammonia affects brass, but during the "normal" tumbling process, you are only exposing your brass to a tiny ammount of ammonia for a relatively short period of time. You should see no affect on your brass.

If you do a search on the forums, you should find a thread where this has been discussed in great detail. I believe one member gives the data to prove this.

 

[RavenVT100]

I appreciate the info, Dragonfire.

However, I'm still interested in whether or not this product contains ammonia.

 

[JoeHatley]

The regular Flitz metal polish works fine, but they also make a polish especially for tumblers. I bought mine at Midway. My brass has never been cleaner.

Joe

 

[DragonFire]

If you check their website, I believe you will find that it does.

 

[RavenVT100]

I think you're right. Ugh.

Well, the batch of brass that I left in the cleaner overnight (and that's been sitting there all day today) is probably scrap. I'm not going to take chances with a case head separation. I'm going to try to connect my barcode to an MSDS sheet just to make sure, but it's not looking good.....

EDIT:

Just called the company that makes it. They told me that the liquid metal polish is the exact same product as their brass tumbler media additive, it's just relabled to market to the sporting goods industry. It contains no ammonia or ammonium oleates (sp).

 

[ReloaderFred]

Flitz is one of the best brass polishes on the market, albeit more expensive than the others. I've used it for years, but lately have switched to less expensive polishes, due to the volume of tumbling I've been doing.

The thicker Flitz polish that comes in a tube is ideal for polishing steel sizing dies that begin to scratch, particularly rifle dies. I've restored a couple of dozen sizing dies with it for myself and others.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[RavenVT100]

Okay, more info on Flitz. The MSDS sheet can be viewed here. As indicated, it appears to contains no ammonia.

That's really great, because it cleans very well.

 

[Hikingman]

Been using Flitz (over a year, now) from the gun store, whew, no comparison to the residue left by turtle wax that I ended up givin' away. Go FLITZ!

 

[20nickels]

Does anyone use it to clean their firearm? I've read the more you use it on the same places the easier it is to clean due to it's polishing properties. Feedramps? Cylinder throats?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Flitz is all I use to polish feed ramps. I use the 1/2" bullet shaped felt tip in my Dremel and Flitz. It only takes a couple of minutes to produce a mirror finish. It can also be used to polish chambers, but I've only done it on revolvers, since most pistol chambers are "generous" anyway.

Hope this helps.

Fred