Cleaning brass?

Dave AA · March 13, 2000, 09:28 PM

Anyone have an alternate method for brass cleaning? I mean besides a tumbler. I've heard something about vinegar & water, and I remember someone mentioning tying 'em up in a pillowcase and chucking them in the washer.
Any ideas?

bergie · March 14, 2000, 12:08 AM

A friend told me about Iosso case cleaner. He uses it most of the time now instead of tumbling unless he wants to really shine up some brass. You just pour some of the solution in a bucket, soak your brass for a while, rinse and dry. Really cleans your brass up nice, inside and out, including primer pockets, but doesn't shine it like tumbling does. Can be purchased as a kit containing a quart of the cleaner, a mesh bag, and a bucket with a lid, or you can just buy the cleaner and supply your own bag and ice cream bucket. If you can't find it locally, it is available from Cabela's.
Bergie

Robert the41MagFan · March 14, 2000, 12:46 AM

Use a Lee zip trimmer with 000 steel wool, copper brush on the inside. Clean enough! If it's nickel, just wipe.

Robert

Dr_Johnson · March 15, 2000, 11:07 AM

Well Dave I have some bad news for you nothing works as well as a tumbler. I would suggest that you get yourself a tumbler from Midway for $39 and pick up some corn comb media from your local pet store, pick up some metal poshish and never look back.

I have tried all kinds of liquid cleaning methods and none work as well as tumbling. I have tried vinager/water, dish washing soap, strong acid and water, and a number of comm. cleaners. All liquid cleaning methods I have tried clean the brass, but none will polish.

tonyz · March 15, 2000, 12:41 PM

I have a friend that uses a tire that is not on a rim, he Uses a motor that is hooked up to a set of rollers.
He puts the tire on the rollers and add's walnet medium and polish. This cleans the brass better then any tumbler or vibrator, I have seen and he can clean one h*ll of alot of brass at once.

Just wish he would make me the contraption
It Is really is neat

Tony Z

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www.vote.com

[This message has been edited by tonyz (edited March 15, 2000).]

TEXAS LAWMAN · March 15, 2000, 11:48 PM

TONYZ, I'm assuming said friend bolts together a couple of "plates" over the center hole in the tire. I'd like to see the device. Any way you could take a digital picture and post it herein?

Reg · March 19, 2000, 06:26 PM

I just use about 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water, plus a little lemon or citrus concentrate and a bit of salt (apparently gives some cutting action?). Swish it around with a soft brush, let sit for a while, swish around again. Drain, rinse and let dry.
This works really well for me. I haven't bothered purchasing a tumbler yet because this works so well.
Every time I'm tempted to go out and buy a tumbler, I end up buying bullets, powder, primers, etc instead. I probably will buy a tumbler some day, but in the meantime the above method works very well.

ellsworthtoohey · March 19, 2000, 11:10 PM

I know a cop who uses an old electric ice cream churn he found at a garage sale. His media? Uncooked rice!

------------------
"I don't believe in individualism, Peter. I don't believe that any one man is any one thing which everybody else can't be. I believe that we are all equal and interchangeable."--Ellsworth Toohey

TEXAS LAWMAN · March 20, 2000, 11:55 PM

Back in the 1970s I used hard rice in my tumbler. Really hated having to punch the rice out of the primer holes in .45ACP brass. However, it did clean the brass well.

Southla1 · March 24, 2000, 10:36 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TEXAS LAWMAN:
Back in the 1970s I used hard rice in my tumbler. Really hated having to punch the rice out of the primer holes in .45ACP brass. However, it did clean the brass well.[/quote]

I have that problem with ALL cases and corncob media. The media gets stuck in the primer flash hole. Only cure I have found is to tumble then deprime if I don't do that its back to the old pick that I made.

------------------
Carlyle

TEXAS LAWMAN · March 24, 2000, 01:34 PM

I prefer to tumble after depriming in order to remove the grunge in the primer pocket. It's not too difficult to punch the walnut/corn/rice from the hole with a Lee hand deprimer rod (or pin punch/paperclip etc) while watching TV.

ellsworthtoohey · March 24, 2000, 11:30 PM

I have a great little tool for cleaning primer pockets. It's made by Lyman, I believe.

Walt Welch · March 25, 2000, 05:10 PM

A 10 % (weight to volume) solution of citric acid was recommended to me decades ago by the NRA. It will make brass extremely bright.

I haven't used this method in about 30 years, however, as I got a tumbler! Putting a brass polish made for the purpose of tumbling, such as Dillon's, into the media helps polish the brass more, and leaves a tarnish resistant coating.

Walt

Southla1 · March 25, 2000, 11:31 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TEXAS LAWMAN:
I prefer to tumble after depriming in order to remove the grunge in the primer pocket. It's not too difficult to punch the walnut/corn/rice from the hole with a Lee hand deprimer rod (or pin punch/paperclip etc) while watching TV.[/quote]

You are totally correct on that TEXAS LAWMAN. Sometimes I do deprime first. I have a handy little pic I made just for that purpose. Looks like one of those things that a dentist uses to inflict pain in my mouth

. If I tumble first because the brass is terribly dirty and I feel that it is necessary to protect my dies, after I deprime I make a pass in the primer pocket with my RCBS primer pocket brush. If I deprime before tumbling I use the brush first then tumble. I also have a TV in my shop so we have the same idea about watching TV and cleaning flash holes. One thing though......that is better done during football season!

------------------
Carlyle

[This message has been edited by Southla1 (edited March 25, 2000).]

March 13, 2000, 09:28 PM	#1
Dave AA Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 1999 Posts: 387	Anyone have an alternate method for brass cleaning? I mean besides a tumbler. I've heard something about vinegar & water, and I remember someone mentioning tying 'em up in a pillowcase and chucking them in the washer. Any ideas?

March 14, 2000, 12:08 AM	#2
bergie Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 1999 Posts: 567	A friend told me about Iosso case cleaner. He uses it most of the time now instead of tumbling unless he wants to really shine up some brass. You just pour some of the solution in a bucket, soak your brass for a while, rinse and dry. Really cleans your brass up nice, inside and out, including primer pockets, but doesn't shine it like tumbling does. Can be purchased as a kit containing a quart of the cleaner, a mesh bag, and a bucket with a lid, or you can just buy the cleaner and supply your own bag and ice cream bucket. If you can't find it locally, it is available from Cabela's. Bergie

March 14, 2000, 12:46 AM	#3
Robert the41MagFan Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1999 Posts: 1,233	Use a Lee zip trimmer with 000 steel wool, copper brush on the inside. Clean enough! If it's nickel, just wipe. Robert

March 15, 2000, 11:07 AM	#4
Dr_Johnson Member Join Date: March 14, 2000 Posts: 34	Well Dave I have some bad news for you nothing works as well as a tumbler. I would suggest that you get yourself a tumbler from Midway for $39 and pick up some corn comb media from your local pet store, pick up some metal poshish and never look back. I have tried all kinds of liquid cleaning methods and none work as well as tumbling. I have tried vinager/water, dish washing soap, strong acid and water, and a number of comm. cleaners. All liquid cleaning methods I have tried clean the brass, but none will polish.

March 15, 2000, 12:41 PM	#5
tonyz Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Location: Wa Posts: 922	I have a friend that uses a tire that is not on a rim, he Uses a motor that is hooked up to a set of rollers. He puts the tire on the rollers and add's walnet medium and polish. This cleans the brass better then any tumbler or vibrator, I have seen and he can clean one h*ll of alot of brass at once. Just wish he would make me the contraption It Is really is neat Tony Z ------------------ www.vote.com [This message has been edited by tonyz (edited March 15, 2000).]

March 15, 2000, 11:48 PM	#6
TEXAS LAWMAN Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 1999 Posts: 304	TONYZ, I'm assuming said friend bolts together a couple of "plates" over the center hole in the tire. I'd like to see the device. Any way you could take a digital picture and post it herein?

March 19, 2000, 06:26 PM	#7
Reg Member Join Date: January 13, 2000 Posts: 54	I just use about 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water, plus a little lemon or citrus concentrate and a bit of salt (apparently gives some cutting action?). Swish it around with a soft brush, let sit for a while, swish around again. Drain, rinse and let dry. This works really well for me. I haven't bothered purchasing a tumbler yet because this works so well. Every time I'm tempted to go out and buy a tumbler, I end up buying bullets, powder, primers, etc instead. I probably will buy a tumbler some day, but in the meantime the above method works very well.

March 19, 2000, 11:10 PM	#8
ellsworthtoohey Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2000 Posts: 241	I know a cop who uses an old electric ice cream churn he found at a garage sale. His media? Uncooked rice! ------------------ "I don't believe in individualism, Peter. I don't believe that any one man is any one thing which everybody else can't be. I believe that we are all equal and interchangeable."--Ellsworth Toohey

March 20, 2000, 11:55 PM	#9
TEXAS LAWMAN Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 1999 Posts: 304	Back in the 1970s I used hard rice in my tumbler. Really hated having to punch the rice out of the primer holes in .45ACP brass. However, it did clean the brass well.

March 24, 2000, 10:36 AM	#10
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TEXAS LAWMAN: Back in the 1970s I used hard rice in my tumbler. Really hated having to punch the rice out of the primer holes in .45ACP brass. However, it did clean the brass well.[/quote] I have that problem with ALL cases and corncob media. The media gets stuck in the primer flash hole. Only cure I have found is to tumble then deprime if I don't do that its back to the old pick that I made. ------------------ Carlyle

March 24, 2000, 01:34 PM	#11
TEXAS LAWMAN Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 1999 Posts: 304	I prefer to tumble after depriming in order to remove the grunge in the primer pocket. It's not too difficult to punch the walnut/corn/rice from the hole with a Lee hand deprimer rod (or pin punch/paperclip etc) while watching TV.

March 24, 2000, 11:30 PM	#12
ellsworthtoohey Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2000 Posts: 241	I have a great little tool for cleaning primer pockets. It's made by Lyman, I believe.

March 25, 2000, 05:10 PM	#13
Walt Welch Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 1998 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 425	A 10 % (weight to volume) solution of citric acid was recommended to me decades ago by the NRA. It will make brass extremely bright. I haven't used this method in about 30 years, however, as I got a tumbler! Putting a brass polish made for the purpose of tumbling, such as Dillon's, into the media helps polish the brass more, and leaves a tarnish resistant coating. Walt

March 25, 2000, 11:31 PM	#14
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TEXAS LAWMAN: I prefer to tumble after depriming in order to remove the grunge in the primer pocket. It's not too difficult to punch the walnut/corn/rice from the hole with a Lee hand deprimer rod (or pin punch/paperclip etc) while watching TV.[/quote] You are totally correct on that TEXAS LAWMAN. Sometimes I do deprime first. I have a handy little pic I made just for that purpose. Looks like one of those things that a dentist uses to inflict pain in my mouth . If I tumble first because the brass is terribly dirty and I feel that it is necessary to protect my dies, after I deprime I make a pass in the primer pocket with my RCBS primer pocket brush. If I deprime before tumbling I use the brush first then tumble. I also have a TV in my shop so we have the same idea about watching TV and cleaning flash holes. One thing though......that is better done during football season! ------------------ Carlyle [This message has been edited by Southla1 (edited March 25, 2000).]