What do you use for cleaning your brass by hand?

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TrevorW

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The title says it all , I was just wondering what people use for cleaning brass by hand as I do not have a tumbler yet!! I tried some scotchbrite but it made my brass look shiny but kinda scratched looking!!
 
0000 steel wood - available at the bottom of the cleaning supplies rack in your local CT... or maybe in the paint dep't. That's what I use. I chuck them up in my drill using my Lee lockstud, trim, chamfer and deburr and then polish.
 
If you just want to clean the necks, grab a wad of Nev'r Dull and give them a few twists. It get's them clean enough to shoot again. A few more turns and they can get super shiny.

Flitz or Autosol work, but can take a little longer.

Although it's nice to have immaculate brass with a high polish, it's not necessary for accurate loading.

Good luck! SD
 
clean brass

I clean my brass very quickly and cheap.
1. Put dirty brass cartridges in wifes sink and add one once sunlight detergent,add half cup of white vinegar , then add hot water.
2. Let the brass sit in the sink for 20 min, then stir with old rag for few min.
3 . Rinse until water is clean
4. Put more clean water in with brass and add one tbs of baking soda to neutralize vinegar , stir for 5 mins, then thoughly rinse.
5. Put brass in towel to get partialy dry and the I place brass on cooky sheet and place in warming oven ,set at 100 degrees f. for 11\2 hrs . Brass looks new.
I have a dillon tumbler and very rarely use it .
 
A little orange clean on a rag while im turning them for trimming and chamfering. Similar to aletheuo, i also use 0000 steel wool with a little moovit for the really dirty ones.
 
While it is aesthetically pleasing, bright, shiny brass is not necessary for quality reloads.
If you ever attend a benchrest match, you will likely see some guy shooting incredible groups with loaded ammo where the necks are black as coal, and have not been cleaned for many firings.
Don't get me wrong, I tumble my brass occasionally, since it does get to looking a bit ratty after a while. But between tumblings, all I do is carry a small bit of 0000 steel wool and clean off the necks after firing.
Nice thing about a tumbler, is it is working while you are doing something else. I often tumble overnight, since I hate listening to the tumbler while I am loading. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Primer pocket uniformer will do a great job the first time... but then after that it doesn't matter. As long as the flash hole isn't plugged and you can still seat 'em flush it doesn't make enough of a difference in accuracy unless you are into BR. I don't clean mine anymore unless I'm really wanting some more time to myself as a make-work project.
 
Detergent and vinegar works fine. But the best and by far fastest is phosphoric acid. It attacks anything onthe brass but not the brass itself. It doesn't get it buffed shiny but clean enough for the non anal reloader. Definately quicker and I'd say quite a bit better than vinegar.

I've tried to find alternate sources but the easiest place to get it is at Canadian Tire,
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/PoolsAccessories/PoolChemicalslAccessories/PRDOVR~0813367P/Spa%252BStain%252BPrevention%252BSolution.jsp?locale=en

A table spoon or two in some hot tap water, dunk the brass, let it sit for 3-5 minutes then give it a good rinsing. It actually works within a minute but I just give it a little longer. Spread your brass out and let it dry. Simple and easy, I don't even bother with the tumbler anymore.

Citric acid is supposed to work just as good but I haven't tried that yet. Supposed to be able to get that a wine making stores.
 
jonnyboy said:
Tried the white vinegar thing, still doesn't get the primer pockets clean, any ideas on what will??
Click to expand...

Primer pocket cleaners ;) Click on link below

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,26637,26992,27095,27178&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=primer+pocket+cleaner&cp=15&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=606

I use the third solution method below for cleaning really dirty cases below and then place them in my case tumbler.

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), to the solution for extra grease cutting ability. Follow with a rinse in hot soapy water (Ivory™ works well) and allow to dry.
* 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.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm#Solutions
 
Another issue , Gunslinger, what exactly is that phosphoric acid in CT. I was in my local CT and there was lots of pool cleaning stuff, nothing said phosphoric acid on the label. I could not get the link you supplied to work. Thanks in advance, Jon....
 
davidd said:
I clean my brass very quickly and cheap.
1. Put dirty brass cartridges in wifes sink and add one once sunlight detergent,add half cup of white vinegar , then add hot water.
2. Let the brass sit in the sink for 20 min, then stir with old rag for few min.
3 . Rinse until water is clean
4. Put more clean water in with brass and add one tbs of baking soda to neutralize vinegar , stir for 5 mins, then thoughly rinse.
5. Put brass in towel to get partialy dry and the I place brass on cooky sheet and place in warming oven ,set at 100 degrees f. for 11\2 hrs . Brass looks new.
I have a dillon tumbler and very rarely use it .
Click to expand...

x2 but without the oven. I let em air dry for a couple days.
 
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