Should have asked my wife

cw308 · May 29, 2017, 11:25 PM

I've been cleaning my brass with a rotary tumbler, stainless steel pins, Dawn detergent & Lemshine. When I asked my wife why don't you use Dawn in the dishwasher, she said Sun dishwashing detergent works much better. It works better in my tumbler to. Brass comes out squeaky clean.

Chainsaw. · May 30, 2017, 07:49 AM

Dawn in the dishwasher would fliid the kitchen in bubbles!!

cw308 · May 30, 2017, 08:16 AM

Chainsaw, I ment at the sink not in the dish washer. That's why she keeps me out of the kitchen. Anyway the Sun did work better then the Dawn.

Chainsaw. · May 30, 2017, 10:40 AM

Lol!! Well, ask me how I know about the bubbles and you'll know why I avoid the kitchen too!

Nick_C_S · May 31, 2017, 11:37 AM

I've never tried dishwasher detergent. Maybe I'll give 'er a whirl.

When I first got my Frankford Arsenal rotary tumbler, I used Dawn n Lemi-Shine.

For whatever reason, I got mixed results. Being careful and consistent with my proportions, the brass came out everywhere from bright white-yellow, to tawny orange-yellow (per batch; not individual piece variance). It was frustrating because there was no rhyme or reason to it - sometimes shiny - sometimes tawny. And nickel plated always came out dull and smoky-gray.

Then I tried RCBS ultrasonic cleaner, and the brass comes out perfect every time. Nickel still comes out dull gray though.

I have since learned the trick to nickel plated brass: Use luke warm water and just five drops of Dawn only (no Lemi-Shine). Comes out silver shiny.

cw308 · May 31, 2017, 10:43 PM

Nick_C_S
I also had problems from time to time. What seemed to stop the different shades , I add the water, detergent & lemShine first. Mix an then I add the brass. When I dropped the brass into the tumbler then added the water, Dawn & LemShine. I think the dawn & Lemshine settled on the brass making the color change.

JeepHammer · June 3, 2017, 02:56 PM

Funny! My wife said the same thing!

Dawn gets the really nasty/sticky machine gun goo off milbrass better, and the foam carries off more dirt.

Sun works better on cleaner brass, the stuff comes from civilian ranges and hasn't been fired through a machine gun.

I often use Dawn on the initial wash, after rinse the second wash I use Sun.
Sun leaves way less water spots when I air dry.

cw308 · June 3, 2017, 08:52 PM

JeepHammer
What would we do without them. I'm pretty lame in the kitchen, almost popped a vain in my head trying to open a jar when she took the jar, tapped it on the counter top a few times unscrewed the top and gave me THAT LOOK.

JeepHammer · June 5, 2017, 12:31 AM

Mine just spent the better part of 2 days sorting brass!
Got to love a flower child sitting on a blanket sorting out dented brass form the first quality!
Managed to cook porkchops & gizzards, make milk gravy and fried hominy.

Good weekend for me, but at some point I'm going to get dragged to some chick flick or crafts show that takes all day.

May 29, 2017, 11:25 PM	#1
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Should have asked my wife I've been cleaning my brass with a rotary tumbler, stainless steel pins, Dawn detergent & Lemshine. When I asked my wife why don't you use Dawn in the dishwasher, she said Sun dishwashing detergent works much better. It works better in my tumbler to. Brass comes out squeaky clean.

May 30, 2017, 07:49 AM	#2
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Dawn in the dishwasher would fliid the kitchen in bubbles!! __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

May 30, 2017, 10:40 AM	#4
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Lol!! Well, ask me how I know about the bubbles and you'll know why I avoid the kitchen too! __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

May 31, 2017, 11:37 AM	#5
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,619	Just my experience. I've never tried dishwasher detergent. Maybe I'll give 'er a whirl. When I first got my Frankford Arsenal rotary tumbler, I used Dawn n Lemi-Shine. For whatever reason, I got mixed results. Being careful and consistent with my proportions, the brass came out everywhere from bright white-yellow, to tawny orange-yellow (per batch; not individual piece variance). It was frustrating because there was no rhyme or reason to it - sometimes shiny - sometimes tawny. And nickel plated always came out dull and smoky-gray. Then I tried RCBS ultrasonic cleaner, and the brass comes out perfect every time. Nickel still comes out dull gray though. I have since learned the trick to nickel plated brass: Use luke warm water and just five drops of Dawn only (no Lemi-Shine). Comes out silver shiny. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

May 30, 2017, 08:16 AM	#3
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Chainsaw, I ment at the sink not in the dish washer. That's why she keeps me out of the kitchen. Anyway the Sun did work better then the Dawn.

May 31, 2017, 10:43 PM	#6
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Nick_C_S I also had problems from time to time. What seemed to stop the different shades , I add the water, detergent & lemShine first. Mix an then I add the brass. When I dropped the brass into the tumbler then added the water, Dawn & LemShine. I think the dawn & Lemshine settled on the brass making the color change.

June 3, 2017, 02:56 PM	#7
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	Funny! My wife said the same thing! Dawn gets the really nasty/sticky machine gun goo off milbrass better, and the foam carries off more dirt. Sun works better on cleaner brass, the stuff comes from civilian ranges and hasn't been fired through a machine gun. I often use Dawn on the initial wash, after rinse the second wash I use Sun. Sun leaves way less water spots when I air dry.

June 3, 2017, 08:52 PM	#8
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	JeepHammer What would we do without them. I'm pretty lame in the kitchen, almost popped a vain in my head trying to open a jar when she took the jar, tapped it on the counter top a few times unscrewed the top and gave me THAT LOOK.

June 5, 2017, 12:31 AM	#9
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	Mine just spent the better part of 2 days sorting brass! Got to love a flower child sitting on a blanket sorting out dented brass form the first quality! Managed to cook porkchops & gizzards, make milk gravy and fried hominy. Good weekend for me, but at some point I'm going to get dragged to some chick flick or crafts show that takes all day.