Cleaning Brass

1SOW · December 29, 2007, 06:06 PM

I'm not a reloader...yet. I have 1000's of rounds of 9mm range brass.
Is there a practical (time & $) way to clean brass chemically?
I shoot 9mm pistol 200+/- rounds/wk and with the cost of ammo NEED to start reloading. I don't have a lot of money to invest.

perley03 · December 29, 2007, 06:15 PM

I would pick up a case tumbler/cleaner. Alot of people use walnut media, or you can get the cleaning media but its more expensive. There are some going on ebay for cheap, here is a good one you might be interested in.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RCBS-case-tumble...QQcmdZViewItem

tomh1426 · December 29, 2007, 07:39 PM

hears a chep kit http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...853&hasJS=true

rrp · January 7, 2008, 09:18 PM

I've used a cleaning kit called IOSSO but I really didn't like it as well as using the tumbler. It's a chemical you soak the brass in for a short time and then rinse with water. It seemed to leave a different finish to the brass when I used it. I may be too fussy, but I like new looking ammo when I load.

Conservadude · January 7, 2008, 09:29 PM

I like using a vibratory cleaner with the chemical-treated walnut shell (green mix, not the red rouge stuff) from Lyman for initial cleaning, then plain corn cob after sizing ...looks just like factory-new after that. The green walnut shell cleaning leaves the brass really clean but without the 'factory new' shine, but after sizing and cleaning with the corn cob stuff it looks great. I feel no temptation to go with a liquid cleaner at all, but those that live in apartments or other situations where the sound of a vibratory cleaner or tumbler would be irritating might be able to justify it. For "clean but not pretty", there's always the dishwasher as well (for rifle ammo, poke on case onto each vinyl wire.)

Brian

gandog56 · January 8, 2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

I've used a cleaning kit called IOSSO but I really didn't like it as well as using the tumbler. It's a chemical you soak the brass in for a short time and then rinse with water. It seemed to leave a different finish to the brass when I used it. I may be too fussy, but I like new looking ammo when I load.

I tried it too, and also did not care for the dull finish it left on the empties. I went back to the tumbler for that high gloss brass shine.

The Lovemaster · January 8, 2008, 09:37 AM

I think the best use of Iosso is on old and tarnished brass. It will get rid of the tarnish but leave the case a funky pinkish orange color. Then you run it through the tumbler like a normal case and it's all good.

GuateShooter · January 10, 2008, 03:36 PM

I used tumbler with corn media and media polish, its cheep, and the brass come clean after 1 1/2 hour. I clean 1000 rouns in 3 hours.

VonFatman · January 11, 2008, 01:31 PM

Yep, a tumbler is the way to go IMHO...I use an Midway/Frank. tumbler and find with crushed walnut (petco or petsmart) and a bit of Dillon polish the darn thing works great.

I also blow the walnut dust out of the crushed walnut before I use it and I put a dryer (anti-static) sheet in the bowl (cut up into 2-3" squares) to pull the dirt and dust out of the mix each and every load.

Bob

Ozzieman · January 11, 2008, 11:07 PM

Over the long haul it’s also the cheaper way to go.
I would not suggest a tumbler at all, they work but take twice as long.
I would like to make a suggestion to every one that reloads, when working with any type of case cleaner be it chemical or vibrator, once you have the brass clean, when you open the cleaner put an air filter mask of some type on. Some of the worse lead fumes that you can get are from the dust that comes from cleaning cases.
Do your self a favor and get a painters mask when working with a case cleaner.

C17A · January 14, 2008, 11:47 PM

In loading 1000's of rifle and pistol loads, I only wash the cases to clean them. I have a vibratory cleaner, but have given up using it. I don't bother having the brass shiny bright, only clean. The vibratory cleaner leaves media stuck in the primer flash holes and leaves the brass dusty. The risk of lead poisoning from the dust, mentioned by Ozzieman, is real.

This info is paraphrased from the NRA reprints:
First deprime using a Lee decapper and base.
Dump brass into a plastic bucket and add hot water until level is a few inches above the brass.
Add a squirt of dishwashing liquid and a glug of white vinegar.
Agitate and stir well for a few minutes.
Drain and rinse 2 or 3 times with hot water.
Brass will be clean down to bare metal. The vinegar has a mild acidic effect that does not harm the brass.
Drain and set brass out on a towel in the sun to dry, or in the oven at low (under 200F degrees) heat.

I can process several hundred cases at a time this way. Also, at every step of the way, inspect cases for defects such as cracks or splits, and discard them.

December 29, 2007, 06:06 PM	#1
1SOW Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: South TX Posts: 269	Cleaning Brass I'm not a reloader...yet. I have 1000's of rounds of 9mm range brass. Is there a practical (time & $) way to clean brass chemically? I shoot 9mm pistol 200+/- rounds/wk and with the cost of ammo NEED to start reloading. I don't have a lot of money to invest.

January 7, 2008, 09:18 PM	#4
rrp Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: west central Wi Posts: 300	cleaning chemical I've used a cleaning kit called IOSSO but I really didn't like it as well as using the tumbler. It's a chemical you soak the brass in for a short time and then rinse with water. It seemed to leave a different finish to the brass when I used it. I may be too fussy, but I like new looking ammo when I load.

January 8, 2008, 09:37 AM	#7
The Lovemaster Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 416	Iosso I think the best use of Iosso is on old and tarnished brass. It will get rid of the tarnish but leave the case a funky pinkish orange color. Then you run it through the tumbler like a normal case and it's all good.

January 11, 2008, 01:31 PM	#9
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	Yep, a tumbler is the way to go IMHO...I use an Midway/Frank. tumbler and find with crushed walnut (petco or petsmart) and a bit of Dillon polish the darn thing works great. I also blow the walnut dust out of the crushed walnut before I use it and I put a dryer (anti-static) sheet in the bowl (cut up into 2-3" squares) to pull the dirt and dust out of the mix each and every load. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 11, 2008, 11:07 PM	#10
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	vibratory cleaner is the way to go. Over the long haul it’s also the cheaper way to go. I would not suggest a tumbler at all, they work but take twice as long. I would like to make a suggestion to every one that reloads, when working with any type of case cleaner be it chemical or vibrator, once you have the brass clean, when you open the cleaner put an air filter mask of some type on. Some of the worse lead fumes that you can get are from the dust that comes from cleaning cases. Do your self a favor and get a painters mask when working with a case cleaner.

December 29, 2007, 06:15 PM	#2
perley03 Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: The Woods, Maine Posts: 25	I would pick up a case tumbler/cleaner. Alot of people use walnut media, or you can get the cleaning media but its more expensive. There are some going on ebay for cheap, here is a good one you might be interested in. http://cgi.ebay.com/RCBS-case-tumble...QQcmdZViewItem

December 29, 2007, 07:39 PM	#3
tomh1426 Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2005 Location: Youngtown Arizona Posts: 1,135	hears a chep kit http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...853&hasJS=true

January 7, 2008, 09:29 PM	#5
Conservadude Member Join Date: December 13, 2004 Location: Knik, Alaska Posts: 65	I like using a vibratory cleaner with the chemical-treated walnut shell (green mix, not the red rouge stuff) from Lyman for initial cleaning, then plain corn cob after sizing ...looks just like factory-new after that. The green walnut shell cleaning leaves the brass really clean but without the 'factory new' shine, but after sizing and cleaning with the corn cob stuff it looks great. I feel no temptation to go with a liquid cleaner at all, but those that live in apartments or other situations where the sound of a vibratory cleaner or tumbler would be irritating might be able to justify it. For "clean but not pretty", there's always the dishwasher as well (for rifle ammo, poke on case onto each vinyl wire.) Brian

January 10, 2008, 03:36 PM	#8
GuateShooter Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Guatemala Posts: 137	I used tumbler with corn media and media polish, its cheep, and the brass come clean after 1 1/2 hour. I clean 1000 rouns in 3 hours.

January 14, 2008, 11:47 PM	#11
C17A Member Join Date: November 23, 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 37	In loading 1000's of rifle and pistol loads, I only wash the cases to clean them. I have a vibratory cleaner, but have given up using it. I don't bother having the brass shiny bright, only clean. The vibratory cleaner leaves media stuck in the primer flash holes and leaves the brass dusty. The risk of lead poisoning from the dust, mentioned by Ozzieman, is real. This info is paraphrased from the NRA reprints: First deprime using a Lee decapper and base. Dump brass into a plastic bucket and add hot water until level is a few inches above the brass. Add a squirt of dishwashing liquid and a glug of white vinegar. Agitate and stir well for a few minutes. Drain and rinse 2 or 3 times with hot water. Brass will be clean down to bare metal. The vinegar has a mild acidic effect that does not harm the brass. Drain and set brass out on a towel in the sun to dry, or in the oven at low (under 200F degrees) heat. I can process several hundred cases at a time this way. Also, at every step of the way, inspect cases for defects such as cracks or splits, and discard them.