Cleaning brass cases in vinegar

bartlet33

bartlet33

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Red Deer, Alberta
I read somewhere that washing brass with a mixture of salt, vinegar, soap and water works for removing dirt and some tarnish on brass cases.
So I tried it with some range brass and it actually works. The heavy tarnish
remains but the rest is removed and this method cleans the inside quite well.

Nice hot water, throw in a cup of vinegar, tablespoon or so of salt and your favorite cleaner. Who would have thought. This method does not however shine the cases so a tumble in walnut and corn cob media works well to finish the job.

I wonder if anyone else has tried this?
 
I always use the water/soap/vinegar solution and works very well to remove the sizing lube and to give it a bit of a sparkle, but not as good as tumbeling. After washing them off I stand them in the reloading block upside down so the cases drains and I give them a good blast with an old hairdryer I picked up from Value Village to dry out the primer pockets. I then remove the cases, empty any water from the loading block and then place the cases right side up and give them another good blast from the hair dryer. Once you get the brass hot the heat will evaporate any moisture and I'm good to go.
 
Most recently I've been using citric acid. Two teaspoons to a quart of boiling water in a plastic 5 gal plastic bucket. Amazing how well it cleans brass.
 
Vinegar works well 50-50 with hot water. Dry cases in the oven at 250 degrees F for 30 mins. Keep salt away from brass unless you like the green patena of oxidized brass.
 
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Available at crappy tire... works wonders.
 
burnt_servo said:
rinse with methyl hydrate then blow dry with compressed air ( the stuff in a can for cleaning computers works if you don't have a aircompressor. )
Click to expand...

Problem is I clean em before depriming. So with the primers still intact and the small case mouth suction, and air pressure keep the water from dripping out of the cases. Even when turned upside down the water will not come out. I have since bought a tumbler so I dont care now.
 
I've used water and vinegar to clean my BP brass and rifles for several years. Works like a charm. Sometimes I can purchase Windex with vinegar - instead of ammonia - and it works well too.
 
When I was using the Ultrasonic, I used the 50% vinegar solution, plus a touch of Lemi-shine (Can.tire has it), and it worked really well. The only thing was, I had to neutralize the vinegar immediately by dumping the load into a soda solution ASAP. Even 1 or 2 minutes in the open air would oxidize the brass.
 
I used to use vinegar in my ultrasonic cleaner, but now I just use powdered electric dishwasher detergent and hot water, followed by a rinse in a bucket. No more neck or primer pocket scrubbing!
 
burnt_servo said:
rinse with methyl hydrate then blow dry with compressed air ( the stuff in a can for cleaning computers works if you don't have a aircompressor. )
Click to expand...

Cautionary note here. We used to use this stuff(canned compressed air) at a Mill where I worked for the electronics. The old stuff was fine but they put a bitter flavoring agent in it now (some brands) to stop people from Huffing/inhaling the propellant to get a buzz. Don't buy this stuff as it gets into the air and you will ruin the flavour of your lunch. No smell but leaves bad taste in your mouth just from breathing. Cmon... ask me how I know this.:(
 
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