Cleaning brass? Recommendations please

[wildfowler.250]

Happy New year!


So as title really. I’ve got a lot of now once fired brass that I’d like to reload. What would folk on here suggest? Realistically I’ll probably do around 100 cases in 1 bulk lot and that’ll last me ages if that makes any difference?


Thanks!

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

In my case i got an ultra sonic ultra cheap said make an offer so i did, off the bay two boxes crystals £1 each 1 bottle cheap washup liquid can get 25/30 cases in at a time do a couple of hundred in a couple of hours dry em off bright as buttons. done me a few seasons now. probably cost so far £10 for leccy and £1-50p for crystals and wash liquid i,ve used so far. some ice cream tubs with kitchen roll in bottom job done. atb

 

[Border]

Depends how dirty they are. My stuff unless it's been rolled in the mud just gets a wipeoff with a cloth and fine wire wool around neck and shoulder to remove any soot. As you can tell I'm not anal about squeaky clean brass

 

[Miki]

Happy new year to you too.

Where are you ?
I have a wet/tumble cleaner if you want to pop round for a cup of tea.

 

[dodgyrog]

My pal tumbles my brass with pins - great result whilst I wait and free tea and biccies thrown in. They come out glittering.

 

[GGG]

Been using one of these for over two years now (circa 30,000 cases cleaned and pins still going strong), very quick, and excellent results.
Only problem is, your pals find brass everywhere that needs a quick clean

 

[Alantoo]

Depends if you want them clean or actually shiny.

I have had my smallest groups from cases which were not "cleaned"...just Lee collet neck sized and the primer pocket scraped out with a Lyman hand turned primer pocket cleaner.

Hands on...

a wipe with an Autosol cloth while rotating in the drill for trimming.

Hands off...most efficient if you are doing preparation of cases one day ready for a loading session later.

Ultra sonic is very quick, I do a couple of honey jars full at a time (around 25 cases in each) in ten minutes, they obviously need to be thoroughly dried,

Wet tumbling, same applies re. drying as per U/S but added disadvantage that they will be rumbling away for ages.

Dry tumbling also ages of rumbling away in the background.

All tumbling/rumbling need careful checking to ensure no media stuck in primer flash hole.

Simplest...chuck in the washing machine tied in a pillow case.

Alan

 

[Loki]

Hi

I use a citric acid solution, a teaspoon in about a pint of warm water, couple of 10min runs in an Ultrasonic Cleaner, rinse off in clean water, air dried.

L

 

[Alantoo]

Hi

I use a citric acid solution, a teaspoon in about a pint of warm water, couple of 10min runs in an Ultrasonic Cleaner, rinse off in clean water, air dried.

L

I use a similar dilution of citric acid with the addition of a few drops of washing up liquid, and do a soda bicarbonate rinse to kill the acid and then a clean water rinse.

I dry them on a tray on the night store heater.

Alan

 

[Loki]

Hi Alan

Ahhh yes, the recipe does need washing up liquid (there are others to Fairy) - I have the US equivalent -Lemi-Shine - sorry that slipped me.
Re soda bi-carb - long while back now but cant rem what the concensus on Castboolits Forum was and whether to use or not - 30odd pages of the chemical side of things got too much...!

L

 

[Jon Smith]

LEM reminds me that I have to put this machine together! Got motor / inverter / magnets waiting!

 

[Alantoo]

Hi Alan

Ahhh yes, the recipe does need washing up liquid (there are others to Fairy) - I have the US equivalent -Lemi-Shine - sorry that slipped me.
Re soda bi-carb - long while back now but cant rem what the concensus on Castboolits Forum was and whether to use or not - 30odd pages of the chemical side of things got too much...!

L

My use of Soda Bicarbonate is just a hangover from pickling stuff in the workshop...depending on the intricacy of the object it would either be clean water rinsed or a touch of alkali to sort out any crevices which were possibly harbouring acid.

With these cartridge cases and as we are using such weak solutions I wouldn't be worried either way. Especially given we are on spring water here which is pretty Lime-y.

In the 30 odd page discussion, did the use of dishwasher rinse aid come up? I have often wondered whether that might help dry the cases with no water marks...they easily rub off through handling when loading, but curiosity demands...

Alan

 

[Bishop0798]

Homemade wet tumbler with tablespoon of lemon juice (Morrison’s own) tiny bit of lemon fairy.

 

[finnbear270]

Any media?, Primer pocket condition?

 

[Bishop0798]

Homemade wet tumbler with tablespoon of lemon juice (Morrison’s own) tiny bit of lemon fairy.View attachment 119377

There just as shiny inside /outside with clean primer pockets I use s/s pins then dry them in a halogen oven on 70oc for about 40mins.

 

[finnbear270]

How about a pic or two of the home made kit?

 

[Bishop0798]

I clean 223 6.5x55 and 30-06 all come out the same I just use different size drums which I made out of black sewage pipes and connectors

 

[Bishop0798]

It’s outside in man cave will take some in a bit for you lol

 

[Bishop0798]

 

[Bishop0798]

Pictures as requested