Cleaning Brass

Dustin0 · March 27, 2009, 08:11 AM

What is the best way to clean your brass. I dont not have a tumbler, yet.

Dingoboyx · March 27, 2009, 08:13 AM

unless you want to do alot of polishing by hand..... (they clog up the dishwasher)

Muzza

**Shane Tuttle** · March 27, 2009, 08:19 AM

Take a 5 gallon bucket, throw some Dawn/Palmolive dish soap and water in, and agitate by hand for a couple of minutes and rinse thoroughly.

This will clean the brass just fine. It just won't polish them, that's all.

Dingoboyx · March 27, 2009, 08:24 AM

But using any method with water, you have to make sure they are REALLY dry before you reload them.

Alot of work, get a tumbler/vibratory brass cleaner.... they arent that expensive and well worth the cost

Muzza

Dustin0 · March 27, 2009, 08:30 AM

Ill get a tumbler in a week or two. Just wanted to know what to do for this weekend.

Edward429451 · March 27, 2009, 09:47 AM

I used to use wooden dowels of the proper size to go into the case, chucked up in a cordless drill and some 0000 steel wool. Slow but effective.

jal5 · March 27, 2009, 12:24 PM

Wash them as described then put them in some sort of bag, jeans leg cutoff works fine with a small dab of auto polish and close off both ends of the jeans leg with zip ties and run them in the clothes dryer with the towels as they are drying. come out nice, clean, shiny and no cost.

Joe

Mr Odd Six · March 27, 2009, 12:28 PM

Back in the 50s before tumblers

they would lube, and size them, then stand them upright in a pan of gasoline for 4-5 days. Then air dry them.

My ole man did it this way until the 70s.

James R. Burke · March 28, 2009, 11:05 AM

No doubt get the tumbler. There are alot of good one's out there to choose from. I got the RCBS when I first started out about sixteen years ago. Never had a problem with it, and I use it alot.

rk219 · March 28, 2009, 09:17 PM

Definitely get a tumbler, it'll make your life a lot easier.

Dave R · March 28, 2009, 10:10 PM

If $$ is a problem, get a rock tumbler. That's what I use.

But I cleaned by hand for a while before I got the tumbler. Cleaning by hand works fine.

March 27, 2009, 08:11 AM	#1
Dustin0 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2008 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 701	Cleaning Brass What is the best way to clean your brass. I dont not have a tumbler, yet.

March 27, 2009, 08:13 AM	#2
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Get one unless you want to do alot of polishing by hand..... (they clog up the dishwasher) Muzza __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

March 27, 2009, 08:19 AM	#3
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 9,443	Take a 5 gallon bucket, throw some Dawn/Palmolive dish soap and water in, and agitate by hand for a couple of minutes and rinse thoroughly. This will clean the brass just fine. It just won't polish them, that's all. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

March 27, 2009, 08:24 AM	#4
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Good idea tuttle8 But using any method with water, you have to make sure they are REALLY dry before you reload them. Alot of work, get a tumbler/vibratory brass cleaner.... they arent that expensive and well worth the cost Muzza __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

March 27, 2009, 12:24 PM	#7
jal5 Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 419	Wash them as described then put them in some sort of bag, jeans leg cutoff works fine with a small dab of auto polish and close off both ends of the jeans leg with zip ties and run them in the clothes dryer with the towels as they are drying. come out nice, clean, shiny and no cost. Joe __________________ We live in the greatest country on Earth- always be thankful!

March 27, 2009, 08:30 AM	#5
Dustin0 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2008 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 701	Ill get a tumbler in a week or two. Just wanted to know what to do for this weekend.

March 27, 2009, 09:47 AM	#6
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	I used to use wooden dowels of the proper size to go into the case, chucked up in a cordless drill and some 0000 steel wool. Slow but effective.

March 27, 2009, 12:28 PM	#8
Mr Odd Six Junior member Join Date: March 17, 2009 Location: Washingrad not DC Posts: 133	Back in the 50s before tumblers they would lube, and size them, then stand them upright in a pan of gasoline for 4-5 days. Then air dry them. My ole man did it this way until the 70s.

March 28, 2009, 11:05 AM	#9
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	No doubt get the tumbler. There are alot of good one's out there to choose from. I got the RCBS when I first started out about sixteen years ago. Never had a problem with it, and I use it alot.

March 28, 2009, 09:17 PM	#10
rk219 Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Posts: 28	Definitely get a tumbler, it'll make your life a lot easier.

March 28, 2009, 10:10 PM	#11
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	If $$ is a problem, get a rock tumbler. That's what I use. But I cleaned by hand for a while before I got the tumbler. Cleaning by hand works fine. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).