Green/Blue crust on brass?

noobert · December 19, 2008, 08:20 PM

i left some brass in a box and when i pulled it out, it had this turquoise crust on it. any ideas?

will hunt 4 food · December 19, 2008, 08:26 PM

It is corrosion, If it has pitted the brass throw it out. It can cause a weak spot.

noobert · December 19, 2008, 08:28 PM

are you sure? i have a bunch of other brass in the same box that are perfectly fine. i read that it can be cat urine, any idea?

tom234 · December 19, 2008, 11:43 PM

The turquoise crust is verdigris.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdigris

10 Spot Terminator · December 20, 2008, 07:20 AM

If I were you I would start by giving the cat a taste of his own medicine

That being said Take any good case cleaner or if you dont have any a little comet cleanser on a soft cloth and remove the tarnish. It has to get pretty bad to do any damage to the cases. After you clean them check them in good light with a magnifying glass and just be honest with yourself. If the affected areas cleaned look or feel rough then dont shoot them. if they have very light stains on them I myself wouldnt worry. I have saved many bullets in my day. It was common for many older fellers such as myself to put ammo in fancy leather gunbelts or leather hip cases and they were bad about turning cases green if left in them for long periods of time . I never knew anyone to scrap those rounds , just clean em and shoot em

December 19, 2008, 08:20 PM	#1
noobert Junior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Posts: 2	Green/Blue crust on brass? i left some brass in a box and when i pulled it out, it had this turquoise crust on it. any ideas?

December 19, 2008, 08:26 PM	#2
will hunt 4 food Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 19	It is corrosion, If it has pitted the brass throw it out. It can cause a weak spot.

December 19, 2008, 08:28 PM	#3
noobert Junior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Posts: 2	are you sure? i have a bunch of other brass in the same box that are perfectly fine. i read that it can be cat urine, any idea?

December 19, 2008, 11:43 PM	#4
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	The turquoise crust is verdigris. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdigris

December 20, 2008, 07:20 AM	#5
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	If I were you I would start by giving the cat a taste of his own medicine That being said Take any good case cleaner or if you dont have any a little comet cleanser on a soft cloth and remove the tarnish. It has to get pretty bad to do any damage to the cases. After you clean them check them in good light with a magnifying glass and just be honest with yourself. If the affected areas cleaned look or feel rough then dont shoot them. if they have very light stains on them I myself wouldnt worry. I have saved many bullets in my day. It was common for many older fellers such as myself to put ammo in fancy leather gunbelts or leather hip cases and they were bad about turning cases green if left in them for long periods of time . I never knew anyone to scrap those rounds , just clean em and shoot em