Tumbling old, dirty brass?

[UpTheIrons]

I didn't want to hijack 1KPerDay's thread on washing brass, as my question is a bit different, so here's a new thread:

The range where I do my brass pickups has a significant 'drift' of old brass, some of it several years old. The owner has said that if I can figure out a way to pick it up and get it (relatively) clean, I can have it. This stuff runs from .22 LR up to .30-06 and everything in between, pistol included. I'd like to clean it up just enough to get the dirt out of the cases so that I can take it to the recycler.

Any suggestions on how to do this? It seems easy enough to scoop it up with a shovel or some such and give it a cursory shake or two in a strainer basket to knock the loose dirt off, but I'm thinking of putting it in the vibratory tumbler for a short time to get the dirt out of the cases.

Should that be done with the bare brass alone? Should I use some sand instead of the usual tumbling media? Am I just dreaming that this will even work at all?

When the brass/dirt is dry, the dirt comes out fairly easily, but when it is wet, it is a real mess. I've picked up some after a rain, and it is a lot of work to get those cases clean, especially bottlenecked rifle cases. It's nowhere near that much work when dry.

This is easily 75-100 pounds of brass, so I'm not sure I want to invest that much time into washing it all before I head to the scrap yard.

On a related note, has anyone ever tried to recycle steel or aluminum cases?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

 

[Sunray]

"...take it to the recycler..." Doesn't pay unless it's very large weights. Reloading it isn't a great idea either. You know nothing about it.

 

[jcwit]

You're looking at approx. $1.50 a lb for scrap brass. I think I'd just hose it down in buckets. With only 100 lbs you're looking at less than $175 max.

 

[LiveLife]

Use front-loading commercial laundromat washer, a little detergent and some quarters and your dirt/mud filled troubles will be washed away.

 

[UpTheIrons]

I know I'm not going to get much for it (scrap prices have been running $1.40-$1.50/lb lately), and there's no way I'm going to reload any of this stuff, so I was just curious if anyone had any ideas on how to clean it up a little.

I may take a handful of it in as-is and see what they'll give me for it. The same with the steel and aluminum. I may also have a Redneck moment (hey y'all, watch this!) and do a small batch in the tumbler with and without sand to see what happens - if anything. Of course, if it ever decides to rain again, that will ruin that idea.

All this range is used for now is CHL shooting tests and the occasional Texas DPS training session. The only brass I'd reload from here is the stuff dropped from those courses, as they use factory loads for everything.

 

[griff383]

You wouldnt happen to be near Florence would you?

 

[UpTheIrons]

You wouldnt happen to be near Florence would you?

Depends what you mean by close. I'm south of San Marcos, so the big, bad Austin metro area is in the way.

 

[1KPerDay]

"Only" $175? That's $175 in free money.

 

[UpTheIrons]

"Only" $175? That's $175 in free money.

Yep! So what if it takes $250 worth of time/water/electricity to get that free money, right?

I don't necessarily mind the stuff I'd have to do to reclaim the brass - washing, tumbling, etc. - as it is a good reason for me to get out and move: desk driving is taking it's toll at 40, and this is cheaper than the gym. I just don't want to spend tons of time doing it.

 

[Jenrick]

If all it's going to do is be recycled I'd say just put it in buckets and hose it down. If you want it any cleaner then that, buy a couple mess laundry bags and go to the laundry mat.

A rotary tumbler will knock all that junk off, and out of the case. I use one for that reason. Once fired brass from a tac class tends be to in rougher shape then picked up from the range floor.

-Jenrick

 

[1KPerDay]

Yep! So what if it takes $250 worth of time/water/electricity to get that free money, right?

ha haaa!

 

[1SOW]

If you or a (good) friend had a cement mixer, that would do the trick.

A bucket and hose with a nozzle will work.

 

[evan price]

The aluminum cases will contain brass primers- so the scrap guys will call it mixed metals and won't want it as aluminum. I put the aluminum and steel cases in with loads of mixed scrap metal like junk cars or appliances etc. and just take sheetmetal prices for it (right now running about 12 cents a pound).
As far as washing the dirt off- if it's not clean you won't get clean price for it. (duhh, right?) but the amount of time spent cleaning it might not be worth the payback or wear and tear on your equipment. Get a bunch of old 5-gallon buckets, then mix up some laundry detergent in hot water, then dump the brass in the buckets about 1/4 bucket of brass then add enough soap solution to cover the brass to about half the bucket full. Every couple days stir up the brass real good, or pour from a full into an empty bucket. The agitation and detergent will soften up the dirt and it might get clean enough.

Failing that, find a junked clothes dryer that will still spin. A couple shovels of fine sand and a batch of brass will do wonders but willl finish off the dryer pretty quickly.

 

[Quoheleth]

Make it a kids' project (I'm serious). Y'all go pick up the brass (wear gloves) and then a weekend project. Show them how to put it in buckets and slosh it around. Let them go with you to the scrap yard. Split the money with the kids or use it as a family fund --- day-trip to San Antone, something special for Christmas, etc.

Q

 

[LiveLife]

find a junked clothes dryer that will still spin. A couple shovels of fine sand and a batch of brass will do wonders but willl finish off the dryer pretty quickly.

How about using a cement mixer and sand?

 

[buzzg]

Quick, and easy. Get a few gallon jugs of cider vinegar and a plastic 5 gallon container. Dump in the brass, cover it with the vinegar. Let it sit for 5-15 minutes, stir it around with a stick, scoop it out rinse with a garden hose and you're done. If you have two plastic containers you can put hardware cloth over the one with the brass and drain the vinegar into the empty and add more brass to that. I've done it this way for about 5 years. Works great. I reload mine and it's bright as new. You can reuse the vinegar many times.

 

[UpTheIrons]

Thanks for the last few ideas. I wasn't planning on brightening up the brass, but if it helps the recycler folks better identify it, the vinegar might be an option.

Q, we do usually make it a family affair - picking up the brass, anyway. Looks like we may have to expand the operation!