oops! brass turned green!

slushee

slushee

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So I went shooting on the weekend and all the snow covered brass got put into a zip lock baggie. I just opened it up tonight, and its all green from sitting in the water!!!!!

I put it into the tumble for about 45 mins with some polish stuff, but its still looking pretty ugly. Will it eventually get all cleaned off or have I just learned another expensive leason?
 
Brass is a wonderful metal, the green "patina" that it has taken on only affects the metal surficially and on outdoor fixtures serves as a protective layer against the elements. Like others have suggested; a good tumbling will do the job.
 
The g/f will be turning on the tumbler sometime this morning while I am at work (she's so good to me), but if its not cleaned up when I get home, I'm gonna immerse them in vinigar!

Thanks for the recomendations!

Some days I feel like a :stfun00b: :redface:
 
slushee said:
The g/f will be turning on the tumbler sometime this morning while I am at work (she's so good to me), but if its not cleaned up when I get home, I'm gonna immerse them in vinigar!

Thanks for the recomendations!

Some days I feel like a :stfun00b: :redface:
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Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!!!

A vinegar bath will ruin the brass. If you must use vinegar use a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water, and don't leave them in the vinegar for more than 5 minutes. Follow with a good rinse in a solution of water with say a tablespoon of baking soda to neutralize the vinegar, followed by a rinse in clean water.
 
I was pretty sure baking soda and vinegar did this
volcanoeruptsb6.jpg
 
Boomer said:
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!!!

A vinegar bath will ruin the brass. If you must use vinegar use a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water, and don't leave them in the vinegar for more than 5 minutes. Follow with a good rinse in a solution of water with say a tablespoon of baking soda to neutralize the vinegar, followed by a rinse in clean water.
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Is there a definitive source that states vinegar will ruin brass?? I haven't got around to using a tumbler yet,so I use a vinegar/lemon juice bath in a huge salad bowl. The ratio of hot water must be 4:1 or better, and I rinse completely with soapy water and 2-3 changes of water. No baking soda used.

My brass has been fine so far...unless it isn't completely covered in liquid. Then it gets the most bizarre color to it, Dr Moreau's Island kind of brass.
 
Vinegar does not ruin brass. There was an old article from the 60's from the (NRA I believe) that had a recipe that uses 50/50 water and vinegar and a dash of liquid dish washing soap. I've used it many times over the years to clean up grungy brass.

I let it soak for about 30 minutes, rinse it well and then tumble for a couple of hours.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
Is there a definitive source that states vinegar will ruin brass?? I haven't got around to using a tumbler yet,so I use a vinegar/lemon juice bath in a huge salad bowl. The ratio of hot water must be 4:1 or better, and I rinse completely with soapy water and 2-3 changes of water. No baking soda used. My brass has been fine so far...unless it isn't completely covered in liquid. Then it gets the most bizarre color to it, Dr Moreau's Island kind of brass.
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It sounded to me like Slushee was going to dunk his brass in full strength vinegar and allow it to air dry, in which case the brass would be ruined. Baking soda neutralizes the vinegar and eliminates any risk of corrosion. It sounds like you are using a very mild vinegar to water solution, and that the multiple rinses resolve any potential problem.

I often clean with an ultrasonic cleaner using a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. I clean the brass in the vinegar solution for two cycles, followed by a cycle in the baking soda solution, then a fresh water rinse. If I don't get the brass into the baking soda solution quickly enough, discoloring will occur.

If the brass is exposed to full strength vinegar and allowed to air dry, the corrosion is so extreme that the cases will be fused together.
 
Boomer said:
It sounded to me like Slushee was going to dunk his brass in full strength vinegar and allow it to air dry, in which case the brass would be ruined. Baking soda neutralizes the vinegar and eliminates any risk of corrosion. It sounds like you are using a very mild vinegar to water solution, and that the multiple rinses resolve any potential problem.

I often clean with an ultrasonic cleaner using a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. I clean the brass in the vinegar solution for two cycles, followed by a cycle in the baking soda solution, then a fresh water rinse. If I don't get the brass into the baking soda solution quickly enough, discoloring will occur.

If the brass is exposed to full strength vinegar and allowed to air dry, the corrosion is so extreme that the cases will be fused together.
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Thanks for getting a little more depth there. Had me worried for a second.....:D
 
Boomer said:
It sounded to me like Slushee was going to dunk his brass in full strength vinegar and allow it to air dry...

If the brass is exposed to full strength vinegar and allowed to air dry, the corrosion is so extreme that the cases will be fused together.
Click to expand...

I have on a few occasions soaked brass in full strength vinegar. Sometimes for as long as a couple of days. Then I rinse in clean water and lay them out to air dry. I have only had problems if the brass is not fully immersed. Any brass that is at or close to the surface will corrode at an accelerated rate. Any that is well below the surface (say, 20mm or so) has been fine.
 
50/50 vinegar and water bath. Heat the solution up as it works faster. Rinse with copious amounts of fresh water. I then immense brass in boiling water for a couple mins. as it will dry quickly after removal.
 
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