Cleaning brass

Edward429451 · April 26, 2012, 07:15 PM

I love doing things on the cheap. My friend got all set up to tumble brass with that new stainless steel media and dishsoap. He's got about 300 bucks in it with the tumbler and media. Not real bad when you consider that the media is reusable so it will even out in the long run.

I still want to do it cheaper than that. Someone posted about using a treadmill and a bottle, and a broomstick tied off to the risers in front. I tried that but didn't have much luck. I wound up using 2 X 4s and had a workable system in about 10 minutes.

I am using Gatorade bottles. I had bigger bottles but either they leaked, or were so smooth inside that it would not circulate the brass enough to be able to clean them. The Gatorade bottles are molded plastic which have indentations in them which grabs and holds brass very well. These drink size bottles hold an acceptable amount of brass. 50 45/70s, or 100 45 Colt. I have another bigger Gatorade bottle now and as soon as I drink it, my capacity to clean brass will go up. No dust! No dirty toxic dry media! Everything is captured in the water. It faster than dry media too.

The thing I hated most about dry media was that it did not clean the inside of the case well, and left media dust in the cases that had to be rinsed out or wiped out with a Q-tip. My wood contraption to hold the bottles on the treadmill is fitted tight to hold bottles, and pulls of easy so the mama can use the treadmill if she wants.

Brian Pfleuger · April 26, 2012, 07:57 PM

Genius!

(Seriously. No joke. Impressive ingenuity.)

Don P · April 26, 2012, 08:22 PM

Just curious as to why you are concerned about cleaning the inside of the case?

4runnerman · April 26, 2012, 09:01 PM

Brian AKA Peet-congrats on the position. Good for you

Ethan.G · April 26, 2012, 09:02 PM

hahahaha that was me!! glad i could inspire and i gota say, much more elegant then mine. exactly what media are you using?

im using corncob with brass polish and i love it on pistol cases but i might be looking for something else for my 30.06

10 acre woods · April 26, 2012, 10:29 PM

so factoring in the cost of the tread mill how much do you have in that thing.

Edward429451 · April 27, 2012, 02:04 AM

My media is that stainless steel media (that I borrowed from my friend).

Cost? Well, I wont count the Gatorade bottles. The 2 X 4 was about 3 bucks, and the treadmill was about...free, so all in all it's a good deal. I expect I'll have to buy my own media eventually.

(My friend with the fat wife gave up on the treadmill but it stressed her to see it and not use it.) Get that thing outta here!

g.willikers · April 27, 2012, 12:55 PM

Just about every other garage sale seems to have a cheap treadmill.
There's lots of couch potatoes among us.
Wonder if there's a way to shorten the treadmill, since it's way too long, now, for the intended job.

serf 'rett · April 27, 2012, 12:59 PM

Love it! Comes with adjustable speed control, too.

gwalchmai · April 27, 2012, 01:00 PM

That's a pretty good system. You could make it even better by putting the bottles in your mother-in-law's trunk. Then as she drives around town she'll provide the motive force for the polishing.

serf 'rett · April 27, 2012, 01:03 PM

For really shiny brass. Add some Lemishine. It will adjust the pH downward.

Edward429451 · April 27, 2012, 03:01 PM

Haven't had a chance to pick up some Lemi shine yet, but judging from my friends brass and how much shinier it is than mine, I need it.

Yeah, I love that adjustable speed control. It lets me get it at just the right speed. Too slow takes to long, and too fast wont clean at all.

Cleaning the inside of the case is very important to me because My dry tumble walnut media would leave red abrasive dust in my cases that I do not want to send down my bore. wiping it out with a Q-Tip added an extra step and extra expense to get it out. This SS media leaves it squeeky clean, like virgin brass.

Do you think PH down for a fishtank would work as a polish? Acids acid, right?

bfoosh006 · April 27, 2012, 03:26 PM

Love it ! Thats using your brain and thinking outside the box !..... although, I am going to stick with my tumbler.... LOL

That darn thing takes up to much room.....

serf 'rett · April 27, 2012, 03:42 PM

I read about the Lemishine being used most often. The Lemishine drops the pH into a acid range. I don't know if the fish tank stuff will lower the pH as much. Vinegar would probably work or lemon juice, maybe even Coke.

One part of the equation is cost of the pH adjuster material. I tumble with a small 3 pound Thumbler, with a capacity of 150 9mm or 100 40S&W cases. I only use three pinches of the Lemishine per barrel. I have tumbled over 20,000 pistol cases and have just about finished off my second bottle of Lemishine, so the Lemishine is economical. I suspect the fish tank stuff is more costly and the vinegar stinks.

bfoosh006 · April 27, 2012, 03:46 PM

Lemishine link...

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/34...emi_Shine.html

More links...

http://www.google.com/search?q=Lemis...x=&startPage=1

Edward429451 · May 1, 2012, 01:04 PM

It doesn't really take up extra room. It's the mommas and has a place. I'm using it more than she does now though!

April 26, 2012, 07:57 PM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Genius! (Seriously. No joke. Impressive ingenuity.) __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley Last edited by Brian Pfleuger; April 27, 2012 at 08:24 PM.

April 26, 2012, 08:22 PM	#3
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Just curious as to why you are concerned about cleaning the inside of the case? __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

April 26, 2012, 09:01 PM	#4
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	Brian AKA Peet-congrats on the position. Good for you __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

April 26, 2012, 10:29 PM	#6
10 acre woods Member Join Date: December 1, 2011 Location: the commie state of il Posts: 73	so factoring in the cost of the tread mill how much do you have in that thing. __________________ 9 out of 10 armed robbers agree that you should not own guns or conceal them. The other 10% stole the survey. Some times heaven is knowing you can send someone straight to hell.

April 27, 2012, 12:55 PM	#8
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Just about every other garage sale seems to have a cheap treadmill. There's lots of couch potatoes among us. Wonder if there's a way to shorten the treadmill, since it's way too long, now, for the intended job. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

April 26, 2012, 09:02 PM	#5
Ethan.G Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2012 Posts: 127	hahahaha that was me!! glad i could inspire and i gota say, much more elegant then mine. exactly what media are you using? im using corncob with brass polish and i love it on pistol cases but i might be looking for something else for my 30.06

April 27, 2012, 02:04 AM	#7
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	My media is that stainless steel media (that I borrowed from my friend). Cost? Well, I wont count the Gatorade bottles. The 2 X 4 was about 3 bucks, and the treadmill was about...free, so all in all it's a good deal. I expect I'll have to buy my own media eventually. (My friend with the fat wife gave up on the treadmill but it stressed her to see it and not use it.) Get that thing outta here!

April 27, 2012, 12:59 PM	#9
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Love it! Comes with adjustable speed control, too. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

April 27, 2012, 01:00 PM	#10
gwalchmai Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2001 Location: outside the perimeter Posts: 333	That's a pretty good system. You could make it even better by putting the bottles in your mother-in-law's trunk. Then as she drives around town she'll provide the motive force for the polishing.

April 27, 2012, 01:03 PM	#11
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	For really shiny brass. Add some Lemishine. It will adjust the pH downward. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

April 27, 2012, 03:01 PM	#12
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Haven't had a chance to pick up some Lemi shine yet, but judging from my friends brass and how much shinier it is than mine, I need it. Yeah, I love that adjustable speed control. It lets me get it at just the right speed. Too slow takes to long, and too fast wont clean at all. Cleaning the inside of the case is very important to me because My dry tumble walnut media would leave red abrasive dust in my cases that I do not want to send down my bore. wiping it out with a Q-Tip added an extra step and extra expense to get it out. This SS media leaves it squeeky clean, like virgin brass. Do you think PH down for a fishtank would work as a polish? Acids acid, right?

April 27, 2012, 03:26 PM	#13
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Love it ! Thats using your brain and thinking outside the box !..... although, I am going to stick with my tumbler.... LOL That darn thing takes up to much room.....

April 27, 2012, 03:42 PM	#14
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	I read about the Lemishine being used most often. The Lemishine drops the pH into a acid range. I don't know if the fish tank stuff will lower the pH as much. Vinegar would probably work or lemon juice, maybe even Coke. One part of the equation is cost of the pH adjuster material. I tumble with a small 3 pound Thumbler, with a capacity of 150 9mm or 100 40S&W cases. I only use three pinches of the Lemishine per barrel. I have tumbled over 20,000 pistol cases and have just about finished off my second bottle of Lemishine, so the Lemishine is economical. I suspect the fish tank stuff is more costly and the vinegar stinks. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

April 27, 2012, 03:46 PM	#15
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Lemishine link... http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/34...emi_Shine.html More links... http://www.google.com/search?q=Lemis...x=&startPage=1

May 1, 2012, 01:04 PM	#16
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	It doesn't really take up extra room. It's the mommas and has a place. I'm using it more than she does now though!