Lemi Shine: Which kind for SS wet tumbling?

[P51D]

Which type of Lemi Shine are you having good shiny results with?

I got a Frankford Arsenal SS wet tumbler for Christmas. I've seen some pictures here of fantastic results with wet tumbling, many using Lemi Shine in the solution. I'm getting good-to-great results, but not quite as shiny as some I've seen on this forum. I'm using Lemi Shine "Machine Cleaner" meant for washing machines, dishwashers, etc. I'm using 1/4 tsp Lemi Shine in 1 gal water, 1 tsp Dawn or Armor All car wash&wax, 5 lbs. of SS media, and about 3 lbs of 5.56 brass. I think I got the recipe here on THR. Even tumbling for 3 hrs, results are not as shiny as some I've seen here.

Thinking I might be using the wrong type of Lemi Shine, I checked their website and they make a LOT of different products: dishwashing, appliance, household, laundry, etc.. Which type are you all using and having good success with?

Don't get me wrong; since using this method my brass has never been cleaner, inside and out, primer pockets and all. Heavily tarnished range brass cleans up wonderfully. I have brass that ultrasonic, or dry tumbling with NuFinish and a bit of mineral spirits won't clean up; SS wet tumbling is the TICKET for that.

Now I just want the SHINE.

P.S. - I know that getting brass super clean and shiny is not required, and probably won't make any real difference in terms of group sizes, etc.. But like many of you, I like it super clean and shiny!!

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm using Lemi Shine Detergent Booster...one .45ACP case full...in the same tumbler.

On first read, it sounds like you aren't putting in enough cases. It sounds like it is half empty, the capacity of the tumbler is 1k cases, how many is 3 lbs?

 

[243winxb]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=708100&page=2 Citris

 

[Gillie Dog]

LemiShine

They sure have a lot of different products now. A few years ago it was two products as I remember. A powder and a liquid.

What most folks used from the start and what STM sold was the "Original" Lemi Shine Super Concentrated Dishwasher Detergent which is just citric acid when I had it tested in the lab where I worked. There is a guy who did a long drawn out, very scientific test (s) and the results are posted online which he believed it was citric acid.

Anyway I use the Lemi Shine Super Concentrated Dishwasher Detergent when I run out of bulk citric acid. Search the web and you will find citric acid pretty cheap.

GD

 

[243winxb]

http://lemishine.com/all_products/ Check the MSDS on them . Looks like the Booster or Rinse would work. May
Be others?

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I use the original Lemishine (super concentrated) in the 12 ounce container. They sell it online at Walmart for around $5.00. It only takes a .380 case worth Lemishine added to 3 1/2 quarts of water, a "squirt" Ajax dishwashing liquid and quart container worth of brass. I have been using the same bottle for almost 3 years and I have cleaned several thousand cases.

 

[gillmeister692]

Use Lemi Shine® Original.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Or, you could go to a women's hobby store like Hobby Lobby and pay a couple bucks for a tub of Citric Acid, which is the same thing. It also works well with removing rust and corrosion from dies and other metal parts.

 

[mahansm]

I noticed in your original posting that you were using 1 tsp of detergent or Armor All Car Wash. Assuming tsp is teaspoon, that might not be enough. I've been getting very good results with 1/4 tsp of Lemi Shine and either 1 tbsp (tablespoon) Dawn or 2 tbsp Armor All mixed with 5 lbs pins, one gallon water, and the tumbler 1/3-1/2 full of brass (Thumler's model B).

 

[Beanie-Bean]

I use the Lemishine that looks like sugar or salt. Not sure which version of LS it is, but here are the numbers for my loads:

1 gal H2O
5 lbs SS pins
5 lbs brass
3 tbsp Armor All wash n wax
1/4 tsp Lemishine
2 hrs for previously cleaned brass, 3 hrs if dirty range pickup is included

If you keep cleaning the same brass, you'll find that a single run for 2 hrs is all you need to keep them looking like they came from Jared the galleria of jewelry.

 

[P51D]

THANKS, all! Yes, it looks like I'm going light on the Dawn or Armor All (I use one OR the other). I was concerned about too many suds but I will amp it up a bit and see how it goes. Gonna look at Hobby Lobby too, and other sources you've recommended for citric acid. THANKS! P51D