Improved stainless steel pin cleaning

Brass cleaned by the wet stainless steel pin method often has problems with galling both on the outside where it contacts the carbide resizing die, and the inside surface when it is forced into the steel belling/powder charge die in my Dillon 550. Brass is torn from the case surface and adheres to the dies. Both the outside and inside surfaces show multiple score marks until the dies are cleaned. Sometimes it is very difficult to remove the case from the belling die.

The problem is that there is sliding of completely clean metal to metal without any type of lubricating film. A secondary operation of dry cleaning in corncob/Nu-Finish car polish after wet cleaning helped the outside surface problem, but not the inside. The sizing operation was OK, but the cases still stuck in the belling die.

To correct the problem, I substituted "Armor All Ultra Shine Wash & Wax" car wash for the usual Dawn detergent. This cleaned the brass thoroughly and apparently put a thin wax film on the brass, since in the 100+ rounds loaded the sticking and scoring problems have gone away. This is easier than using a spray lube.

Use 2 measured tablespoons of Armor All + 1/4 teaspoon of Lemishine with 1 pint less than a gallon of water (measured) so that 3 lbs. of brass can be cleaned at a time. It was a surprise when opening the tumbler that there were almost no suds, but the water was black and the cases super clean.

Armor All is available at Target and Walmart; about $5 for the large bottle.

 

I wouldn't have thought of this but I'll give it a try on the next batch I have to tumble.

Thanks!