home brew brass cleaner

AL45 · March 15, 2013, 08:20 PM

Just tried a brass cleaner consisting of about a gallon of boiling water and 1 tablespoon of citric acid. I let it soak for about 10 minutes, stirred it for a couple of minutes and the brass came out pretty clean. A few pieces had a slight pink tinge on them but overall good results.

jepp2 · March 15, 2013, 08:44 PM

If you are interested in a more proven recipe go here.

chris in va · March 16, 2013, 12:24 AM

I'll be honest...having started with the vinegar/salt and water cleaning method, I got fed up with having to rinse and dry the cases and got a Harbor Freight vibratory cleaner and haven't looked back.

buck460XVR · March 16, 2013, 10:46 PM

The pink tinge means your solution is a tad too acidic.

AL45 · March 16, 2013, 11:39 PM

buck460xvr, I was thinking that was the case. Some had the pink on it and some didn't. I was able to remove it with a scotch pad.

david_r · March 16, 2013, 11:44 PM

Try 1/4 tsp/gallon and go up/down from there.

March 15, 2013, 08:20 PM	#1
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 754	home brew brass cleaner Just tried a brass cleaner consisting of about a gallon of boiling water and 1 tablespoon of citric acid. I let it soak for about 10 minutes, stirred it for a couple of minutes and the brass came out pretty clean. A few pieces had a slight pink tinge on them but overall good results.

March 15, 2013, 08:44 PM	#2
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	If you are interested in a more proven recipe go here.

March 16, 2013, 12:24 AM	#3
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I'll be honest...having started with the vinegar/salt and water cleaning method, I got fed up with having to rinse and dry the cases and got a Harbor Freight vibratory cleaner and haven't looked back.

March 16, 2013, 10:46 PM	#4
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	The pink tinge means your solution is a tad too acidic.

March 16, 2013, 11:39 PM	#5
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 754	buck460xvr, I was thinking that was the case. Some had the pink on it and some didn't. I was able to remove it with a scotch pad.

March 16, 2013, 11:44 PM	#6
david_r Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 131	Try 1/4 tsp/gallon and go up/down from there.