How to clean brass w/o brass tumbler ?

DefaultPeanut

DefaultPeanut

Member
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Location
Abbotsford BC
I have about 1200 .223 cases that I need to clean. Problem is that I don't have a brass tumbler. I was thinking some brass polish for the outside and a spiral wire brush for the inside. No clue on how to clean the primer pocket tho...
 
A strong solution of Hot water and CLR will do the trick. Do it in the shed or somewhere ventalated, it stinks a bit. Spread them out out on a towel to dry. Decap your brass afterwards and use a primer pocket cleaning tool. Have fun.
 
A cement mixer is what I used for about a year, until I finally bought one. Pour the brass and corn cob grit, add a little bit of liquid car wax. Let it spin in the mixer for about 4-5 hour, voila clean brass.
 
Throw it all in a paint can with some crushed walnut and take it to Canadian Tire........
Tell the monkey working in the paint department to "mix it" up for you on their shaker machine for 10 minutes or so......:)
 
Hitzy said:
Throw it all in a paint can with some crushed walnut and take it to Canadian Tire........
Tell the monkey working in the paint department to "mix it" up for you on their shaker machine for 10 minutes or so......:)
Click to expand...

HAHAHAHA Done tomorrow!

What about a nice 10 gal. pail and some green diamond sand media ?
 
Birchwood Casey makes a brass cleaning solution. It doesn't come out quite as shiny as tumbling but it gets it pretty clean. That's what I would use. I can't imagine having to clear 1200 flash holes of walnut or corn cob media. That would take me days using my bent paper clip flash hole clearing tool. ZM
 
Check out the article over on 6mmbr about using an ultrasonic cleaner very informative and interesting. It is an alternative to the typical media we currently use. The cases come out spotless.
 
I have to suggest buying a tumbler. I can't recall what I paid for mine back in 2003, but this is a key peice of equipment on my loading bench. I tumble every round. 3 hours before resizing and 1-2 hours after to remove the lube. The corn cob media seems to last for a long time and I reload quite a bit. I change the corn cob media when I start to notice little spots of gunk showing up on the shoulders or in the extractor groove.
 
Before I could afford a tumbler (too busy spending money on brass and bullets), I used to clean mine in a large pail that contained nothing more than water, a little Dawn, and some citric acid powder. I got my citric acid at the drug store.

I basically let my brass sit for a real long time between my periodic pail shaking. When finished I just strained and let air dry for a good while.
 
Since almost all .223 is fired from a S/A, it stands to reason it is almost always picked up off the ground. To rid the problem of dirt you need a tumbler. Simple soap and water washing will help but a tumbler is way less work.
Carry on!
 
KOOL-AID with hot water no sugar will clean up your brass. The active ingredient is the citric acid . To dry put in a nylon stocking put a big knot in it ,then hang it from your dryer door with the knot outside the door and the brass inside but not being tumbled. A rinse in soapy water before the KOOL-AID will remove the soot and dirt.
 
A tumbler is well worth the money you will spend on it. I'd rather spend an hour watching TV than an hour wiping cases.

A media separator is a great tool too. I use the RCBS one and that plus the tumbler make cleaning cases a snap. Throw a dryer sheet into the bottom of the separator to keep the tumbling media from sticking to everything from static.
 
I also say get a tumbler...

You can find them for well under $100, and they will save you hours of time.

SOmeone suggested one for $70, that sounds like a good deal, get one and never look back.
 
I am with Gatehouse and the others... for about $70 (what I paid for mine) get a tumbler, you will save yourself hours and hours of time. I have found 2 hours in the tumbler before sizing and 1/2 hour after for bright shiny brass.

To your original question.. I've heard of guys putting their brass in the dishwasher. Can't tell you if it works or not though

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