Budget Brass Cleaner Solution

Euro

Euro

Regular
Rating - 100%
22   0   0
So after which talk in the other thread about how clean is your brass, I wanted to try the "homemade solution" I saw online. This was only a test sample so I used five brass of 9mm. It was placed in a cheap Dollarama container that holds 3 cups. I will note that most of my primer pockets were pretty clean so I didnt even clean them but one of the samples was cleaned using a primer pocket cleaner as it was very dirty.

It uses the following:

2 cups - boiled water
1/2 - vinegar (probably try 1/4 next time)
2 - drops of dish soap
1 - dash of salt

I basically gently shook the container for five minutes in the tub. Rinsed for about 1-2 minutes. Leave in oven for 30 minutes (150c/302f, probably overkill). So if you're in the position I am and just don't want to get a tumbler but have everything else, this works very well to clean your brass. All I really want is to clean the brass so it doesn't mess with my dies. I would love to have a stainless steel tumbler but just not willing to pay $300.00 at the moment. I'm hoping this helps some people out that are in my position and just can't buy the stainless steel but really don't want toe dry tumbler.


------
2nlz1w7.jpg


------
5cwo6v.jpg


------
6ftri9.jpg
 
Range membership - $300
Shadow 2 - $1300
Ammo - $320
Spending 10 minutes to wash 5 cases by hand because you're too cheap to buy a wet tumbler - PRICELESS!!!

lol, I'm just bustin' your balls.
 
People have used these wash with vinegar and dishsoap in a bucket then dry in an oven methods for decades. It works fine. But a tumbler for using crushed walnut that you dump your brass into and walk away from also works very well. Get some walnut from a pet food store for cheap compared to buying "tumbking media" for$$$ and you will have media for years. The stainless pin cleaning system is nice, but it's relatively new. People were getting brass clean long before that.
 
4n2t0 said:
Range membership - $300
Shadow 2 - $1300
Ammo - $320
Spending 10 minutes to wash 5 cases by hand because you're too cheap to buy a wet tumbler - PRICELESS!!!

lol, I'm just bustin' your balls.
Click to expand...

Haha! It really is, but it's just my purchase list has some others things in it and a tumbler is close to the bottom for now. I'll load more brass now, the 5 was just a sample. I'll use a big bucket next time and load 100-200
 
If any of you live near a princess auto store, they sell 50 lbs bags of crushed walnut shells for 14.99- 19.99. We used the same stuff in the patch to seal drill holes.

One bag.... 10 year supply!
 
Just buy a regular tumbler and a bag of media (corn cob or walnut). They really aren't that expensive and it makes things so much simpler. You don't need a stainless tumbler, they may be nice but your brass doesn't need to look like brand new brass, you just need to get the crud off and a dry tumbler doesn't have a long drying stage.
I throw my brass in and walk away for a couple hours and it's done, just pull it out and wipe it off with a towel to get the dust off before running it through the sizing die. I don't tumble it again after sizing either, just prime it and load it after inspecting the primer pocket and flash hole to make sure they are clear of debris.
I think that just like most other things these days people are reading too much on the internet and being convinced they need to spend more than they really do in order to get satisfactory results.

You're also going to need a power trimmer, an electronic scale/powder dispenser, and rifles and pistols in at least six more cartridges to reload for to justify all the money you've spent on reloading equipment :p
I actually bought the Frankford Arsenal power trimmer/case prep center and the RCBS Chargemaster combo and it truly was money well spent, but I happen to prep brass in batches of 1000 when doing 9mm, 45acp and 223 though so it's almost a necessity.

Results from keeping things simple and just a simple tumble, size, trim and load. No special stages, no special magic tricks, no annealing, no turning necks.
That's 5 shots and this load has proven to be repeatable in my 223 bolt rifle.
View attachment 116679
The Vortex is gone and it now wears a Trijicon Accupoint 5-20x50
Factory Remington 700 with carbon fiber barrel in AICS chassis.
View attachment 116681
 
Last edited:
Homemade Firearm Cleaners & Lubricants
http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm

Chemical Case Cleaning Solutions

While tumbling cases in an abrasive media provides the best finish, extremely dirty cases can be decapped first (using a non-sizing die) and then washed in one of the following solutions. The final rinse in soapy water helps prevent tarnishing. All of these methods were approved by Frankford Arsenal and will not weaken your brass.

A 5 percent solution of citric acid (available from your drugstore) and warm water for about 10 minutes. If your water is very hard increase the amount of citric acid. You can add some Dawn™ or Cascade™ dishwasher liquid soap (which does not contain ammonia--be careful some do), 409, or Awsome to the solution for extra grease cutting ability. Follow with a rinse in hot soapy water (Ivory™ works well) and allow to dry. Don't overuse the citric acid or the brass may discolor.

A solution of 1 quart of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of salt. Soak with some agitation for 15 to 20 minutes and follow with a rinse of soapy hot water and allow to dry.

A solution of 1 quart of water, 1 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup laundry or dishwashing detergent, 1/8 cup salt. Soak with some agitation for 15 to 20 minutes and follow with a rinse of soapy hot water and allow to dry. This may leave brass with a slight pinkish cast which will disappear with a short tumble in media.

Military arsenals use a heated 4 percent sulfuric acid dip with a little potassium dichromate added. The solution is heated until bubbles rise slowly without it boiling and the cases are dipped into it for 4 -5 minutes using a basket of copper screening or plastic. A final rinse using plain hot water is followed by hot water with Ivory™ soap in it and the cases are left to drain and dry. Because of the use of heated sulfuric acid this method is probably impractical for home use but is given here to show what can be safely used.

Cases which have been fired several times and which show signs of carbon build up internally can be rinsed in straight paint & varnish makers (P&VM) naphtha available at any paint store. Decap, soak for 5 - 10 minutes, drain, allow to air dry and then tumble as usual. Cases will be sparkling clean inside and out but not any shinier.
 
I have found that rotary tumblers can be used without stainless media for results nearly as good without the hassle of separating media from cases. Using a good detergent (I use Tide "pods"), the cases come out clean and shiny on the outside, but the insides and primer pockets (if de-primed) are not as clean as with stainless pins.

For me, the main appeal of wet tumbling is the cleanliness of the process compared with dry tumbling.
 
tjhaile said:
I have found that rotary tumblers can be used without stainless media for results nearly as good without the hassle of separating media from cases. Using a good detergent (I use Tide "pods"), the cases come out clean and shiny on the outside, but the insides and primer pockets (if de-primed) are not as clean as with stainless pins.

For me, the main appeal of wet tumbling is the cleanliness of the process compared with dry tumbling.
Click to expand...

A whole Tide pod per tumbler drum?
 
Dish soap works better than laundry soap for cleaning grease and carbon residue.

I use a similar mixture (water, dish soap, salt, vinegar) but I boil it on the stove and drop the dirty brass in, let it boil 5-10 mins, remove brass rinse with clean hot water, and dry.

My mixture is
3 liters water,
1 liter vinegar,
2 tbsp salt,
2 tbsp. Sunlight dish soap.

The boiling vinegar can give off some strong gases, use ventilation like maybe in your garage.
 
Last edited:
MET said:
These are great idea's for those who might live in an apartment and don't want to or can't run a regular tumbler indoors !
Click to expand...

Should have added that also! I can't be tumbling for hours, especially with the louder tumblers out there.
 
Euro said:
Should have added that also! I can't be tumbling for hours, especially with the louder tumblers out there.
Click to expand...

Yeah, plus it isn't real smart to tumble inside ones house, yes I have done it many times years ago but very dirty and not good shiat for anyone including pets to breathe in.
 
Last edited:
Stevo said:
A whole Tide pod per tumbler drum?
Click to expand...

Yes, a whole Tide Pod. The amount of detergent you need will likely vary with the hardness of your water, but I find that I need to use more than the typical amounts recommended.

Too much detergent makes for extra rinsing, but too little turns your brass uniformly black.
 
I am going to try this devils brew - going to pick up the most ugly/dirty/stepped on brass next time at the range.

btw
Range Membership $280
600 rounds $500 - two scopes $720 - a co-axe press $350 two sets of dies $125
3 pounds of powder $150

one Coyote = priceless
 
This one is better

Boiling (or as hot as you can get) water
3 Tbs of citric acid per liter. (food preservative) doesn't harm the brass, 5 pounds for $12 on Amaz...
and a squirt of hand soap or dish soap
Tumble with a stick or what ever you have (will also work wonders in wet tumblers)

The brass will start to shine in 30 second to a minute leave it longer to get it really shiny

The only problem I saw with this is that it gets so squeaky clean that it sticks to the dies. I used to dump them when dried in a crushed walnut tumbler for an hour (longer more shine) with a cap full of Nu-Finish, it got rid of the sticky problem and brass came out like this

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom