Cleaning brass without a tumbler

M

mylesrom

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I have one, but my friend doesen't. What are you guys using to clean brass if you don't have a tumbler. I want to pass it on to him.
 
Before I got my tumbler I used synthetic steel wool, grade 00, readily available at most auto parts stores, does a nice job of polishing.
 
Before I got set up with my gear I was cleaning with Birchwood Casey liquid case cleaner, it doesnt polish the brass but it cleans it squeeky clean!
bigbull
 
Before I got mine, I went through a bunch of home brewed cleaners, and was never satisfied.
Then I made my own tumbler.
I took a small plastic pail, glued a yogurt tub in the bottom of it for an agitator, and bolted a fan on the bottom of the plastic tub.
I cut one blade off the fan.
Shook like the devil, and worked really well, but, you couldn't leve it alone for more than a half hour or so, because the fan would overheat, and start to smoke.
Got a Lyman Turbo Tumbler. Trashed the home made junker.
 
If he is as cheap as Red Green as in the Red Green show, he can use an old drier throw in some cleaning media with his brass and run on delicates. If woman can't find you hansom, might as well as find you handy.
 
gpracer said:
Before I got my tumbler I used synthetic steel wool, grade 00, readily available at most auto parts stores, does a nice job of polishing.
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X2!
Works great for rifle brass.
 
A friend of mine has an old small cement mixer (5 gallon) with an electric motor - has a floor stand and is actually very quiet - great setup. Only thing is it doesn't have the vibratory thing going on, just that slow continual turning on an angle - still tumbles it, just doesn't shake the crap out of it.

And it holds a whack of brass!!:dancingbanana: 3,000 to 5,000 .38 special would be my guess.

Best of all - it was free - he found it lying in the scrap heap on the farm.
 
A large jar of hot water and a package of KOOL-AID (I use lime as it is not a sickly smelling) don't add any sugar , it is the citric acid in the mix that does the work. Put your brass in there, shake them up good , then let them sit for for a couple of hours. But like any WET process you have to make sure they are really dry before loading. For that, I have put them in a pie plate and set them raised over a heat register in the winter and in the summer I have placed them in a mesh bag or nylon stocking, tied a big knot and hung it from the dryer door with the brass inside and the knot outside the door, an hour at high and they are dry. You can buy citric acid powder at the drugstore and some super markets but KOOL-AID is cheaper and if it doesn't work as well as you would like, no big expense. It will not remove really bad stains on the brass but will clean them up pretty good.
 
How about a little CLR from crappy tire. Same a ISSO (sp) brass cleaner.
For those using steel wool, I have a few thousand .308 cases I need cleaned, can I sent the to you for cleaning
 
Never Dull from CT.

It works the best. It is found in the automotive car polish section. Just pull a little piece out of the can and wipe the cases down then wipe with a clean dry cloth. Perfect for at the range while sitting waiting for the gun to cool down between groups. Beats the steel wool trick and cordless that I did for years. Comes out like it was new in a matter of seconds.

Thanks to Keith Skerjdal (Kodiak) for the tip.


Calvin
 
Mine is concentrated lemon juice, hot water from a kettle and a few drops of dishwashing detergent, left to sit overnight then a hot water rinse in the morning.
 
Ground corn cob #2 medium and for a polishing agent I use PEAK foam and it works like a charm. One pass around your loaded tumbler every third load keeps brass clean and bright. No film or residue and easy application. Its available at most Canadian Tire stores.

Make sure you get the foam...the cream might be a little tougher to apply:p

Cheers,

O'Kelly's Boys
 
O'Kelly's Boys said:
Ground corn cob #2 medium and for a polishing agent I use PEAK foam and it works like a charm. One pass around your loaded tumbler every third load keeps brass clean and bright. No film or residue and easy application. Its available at most Canadian Tire stores.

Make sure you get the foam...the cream might be a little tougher to apply:p

Cheers,

O'Kelly's Boys
Click to expand...


What is this stuff, I've never heard of it?
 
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