BRASS CLEANER??
- Thread starter MARKZERO
- Start date
Bob_Atl
Well-known member
An easy way to start is case tumbler with magic rice ..
Don't laugh at the rice, it is way better than walnut grit for two reasons.
Rice doesn't build up fine dust - anywhere,
and it shows when it needs to be changed out by turning from white to gray.
Picked this up from a www-forum where a guy tested a few rice types & said this was the best.
I had used walnut grit for several years and am done with it..
This set-up is perfect for your stated volume.
Don't laugh at the rice, it is way better than walnut grit for two reasons.
Rice doesn't build up fine dust - anywhere,
and it shows when it needs to be changed out by turning from white to gray.
Picked this up from a www-forum where a guy tested a few rice types & said this was the best.
I had used walnut grit for several years and am done with it..
This set-up is perfect for your stated volume.
Plant.One
Well-known member
how much do you currently shoot, on average, in a year?
i can almost promise once you start reloading you'll probably double that. at least.
i'd plan for some expansion so you should do the buy once, cry once thing is my point.
the ultimate clean is going to come via stainless tumbling. right now, i think the best value is going to be the frankford aresenal kit. if you've got time to watch and wait these typically can be had for under $140 and ive seen them as low as like $120 IIRC.
http://a.co/d/5vtQkb2
the lyman is newer to the market, and is running around $140 right now but i havent seen a ton of real world reviews on it yet that i can recall.
http://a.co/d/ckiyQ9o
dont worry about using any of the fancy cleaning mixes they sell for this stuff.
get you a bottle of Lemi-Shine from walmart for about $5 and a $2 bottle of Dawn and you've got enough cleaning agent to last you 5+ years. start at 1/4 tsp of lemi-shine and reduce by half until you get unsatisfactory results, then bump it back up just a bit. you'll want about 1-2 tbsp of dawn.
I'm currently using a 0.5cc (1/10th tsp) scoop for my tumbler of the lemi-shine, but my tumbler only holds 5 lbs of brass (just under half of what the frankford will). i Suspect i could go less, but i'm not getting any spotting anymore, so life is happy.
about 90-120 mins in that mix will get you brass that shines, and no primer pockets to clean as the pins get in there and clean that for you too.
HTH
i can almost promise once you start reloading you'll probably double that. at least.
i'd plan for some expansion so you should do the buy once, cry once thing is my point.
the ultimate clean is going to come via stainless tumbling. right now, i think the best value is going to be the frankford aresenal kit. if you've got time to watch and wait these typically can be had for under $140 and ive seen them as low as like $120 IIRC.
http://a.co/d/5vtQkb2
the lyman is newer to the market, and is running around $140 right now but i havent seen a ton of real world reviews on it yet that i can recall.
http://a.co/d/ckiyQ9o
dont worry about using any of the fancy cleaning mixes they sell for this stuff.
get you a bottle of Lemi-Shine from walmart for about $5 and a $2 bottle of Dawn and you've got enough cleaning agent to last you 5+ years. start at 1/4 tsp of lemi-shine and reduce by half until you get unsatisfactory results, then bump it back up just a bit. you'll want about 1-2 tbsp of dawn.
I'm currently using a 0.5cc (1/10th tsp) scoop for my tumbler of the lemi-shine, but my tumbler only holds 5 lbs of brass (just under half of what the frankford will). i Suspect i could go less, but i'm not getting any spotting anymore, so life is happy.
about 90-120 mins in that mix will get you brass that shines, and no primer pockets to clean as the pins get in there and clean that for you too.
HTH
Bob_Atl
Well-known member
The guys I shoot with at the club range use the water method.
It requires the brass to be dried afterwards, an extra step (1).
End product looks the same, exception being if you de-prime before cleaning the brass
then the primer pockets are cleaned better with the little steel rods.
Then again that requires early de-priming which is an extra step(2) from a full re-size die with decapper (normal die).
All I'm saying is the dry method, done well, is easier, costs less and is adequate for a start-up.
It requires the brass to be dried afterwards, an extra step (1).
End product looks the same, exception being if you de-prime before cleaning the brass
then the primer pockets are cleaned better with the little steel rods.
Then again that requires early de-priming which is an extra step(2) from a full re-size die with decapper (normal die).
All I'm saying is the dry method, done well, is easier, costs less and is adequate for a start-up.
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
Simple Green,vinegar and hot water will clean your brass. Just shake it in a small container for a couple minutes and rinse with hot water, if the primer pockets have been reprimed 2-3 Times I will use pocket brush in a cordless drill during the soak time. This a cleaning step only, I have a stainless pin setup for large batches and if I want new brass shine. I deprime before cleaning and sizing.
DannoBoone
Active member
Originally Posted By: MARKZEROJust setting up my loader and was wondering which brass cleaner to pick up, I know there is a few on the market, but need some advice, reloading will not be in mass numbers.
Thanks,
MARKZERO
A lot depends on how many cases you will be reloading each year.
Over decades, I've tried various methods of brass cleaning but
nothing cleans better than stainless steel pins in a rotary
tumbler. They usually come out shinier than new. Remove primers
first and most of the primer pockets have little or no residue.
If you don't believe you will need to clean hundreds of cases
at a time, this works very well for me:
https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html
Using both drums, I can clean 50 .22-250 or .243 cases at a
time. I just ordered the pins and lemi-shine (only need a small
pinch for each drum along with a couple drops of Dawn)on line.
The pins are expensive, but they will last longer than any of
us will be alive....no media to buy ever again. A large hand
full of pins and 25 cases are covered with water. If you have
hard water, it may be a good idea to use distilled water.
After 2-3 hours of tumbling, the solution gets rinsed, then
dumped into a RCBS media case separator. A few turns and most
of the pins are out. I leave it opened to air dry for a week.
Once dry the rest of the pins are easily spun out.
I did get a Frankford Arsenal tumbler last year but just have
not shot enough to use it.
P.S. Prior to getting the media case separator, I put the brass
in a cookie pan and placed in the oven for a couple hours on a
the lowest setting.
Thanks,
MARKZERO
A lot depends on how many cases you will be reloading each year.
Over decades, I've tried various methods of brass cleaning but
nothing cleans better than stainless steel pins in a rotary
tumbler. They usually come out shinier than new. Remove primers
first and most of the primer pockets have little or no residue.
If you don't believe you will need to clean hundreds of cases
at a time, this works very well for me:
https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html
Using both drums, I can clean 50 .22-250 or .243 cases at a
time. I just ordered the pins and lemi-shine (only need a small
pinch for each drum along with a couple drops of Dawn)on line.
The pins are expensive, but they will last longer than any of
us will be alive....no media to buy ever again. A large hand
full of pins and 25 cases are covered with water. If you have
hard water, it may be a good idea to use distilled water.
After 2-3 hours of tumbling, the solution gets rinsed, then
dumped into a RCBS media case separator. A few turns and most
of the pins are out. I leave it opened to air dry for a week.
Once dry the rest of the pins are easily spun out.
I did get a Frankford Arsenal tumbler last year but just have
not shot enough to use it.
P.S. Prior to getting the media case separator, I put the brass
in a cookie pan and placed in the oven for a couple hours on a
the lowest setting.
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Once again, I'm Old School. I use a regular tumbler with media in it. Usually buy the Lyman media with rouge in it. Then I add some type of metal polish. Either Mothers chrome polish or just an automotive type but not a lot of either. It doesn't take very much. I put the brass in the tumbler today, take it out tomorrow about the same time of day. Thats just me, shorter times are up to the individual. Brass comes out very nice and shiny and ready to size and load. No rinse, no oven, no soap or lemon shine. Works for me so I don't see the need for all the other.
204 AR
Well-known member
I'm still old school also. The Lyman rouge works good like pyscodog said. I shoot ar's suppressed, so my brass is filthy, and guess what? It's gonna look filthy next time too. I run them 2 or 3 hours usually then load them. They aren't usually really shiny but shiny brass doesn't shoot better IME.
Another old school. I got a couple of feed sacks full of corn cob and walnut for cheap from a commercial reloader years ago, neither was treated. I dislike the rouge and the dust that goes with it.
I add a couple of capfuls of new finish to a new bowl full of media.
FYI, if you want the carbon out and shiney brass inside and out, add a capful or two of mineral spirits. It wakes up the polish and the wax.
Yes with some media it may cake, but I hand inspect EVERY case I reload. Buddy blew up an XP years back in 6.5-284, there was media crammed into part of the action. He said he inspected, but I highly doubt it, or he missed one.
I add a couple of capfuls of new finish to a new bowl full of media.
FYI, if you want the carbon out and shiney brass inside and out, add a capful or two of mineral spirits. It wakes up the polish and the wax.
Yes with some media it may cake, but I hand inspect EVERY case I reload. Buddy blew up an XP years back in 6.5-284, there was media crammed into part of the action. He said he inspected, but I highly doubt it, or he missed one.
Bob_Atl
Well-known member
Yah, last Wed one of my club range buddies LAR 308 hung up on a hand-load.
He uses the wet method with little steel rods.
Finally found one little steel rod where it shouldn't have been - he didn't know how it got there - right ??
Hand-load process inspection is mission critical !
He uses the wet method with little steel rods.
Finally found one little steel rod where it shouldn't have been - he didn't know how it got there - right ??
Hand-load process inspection is mission critical !
Brad Phillips
Active member
Old school dry for me. I pick up brass at the range sometimes and clean stuff before I give it to guys that I know can use it.
I have thought about going wet when my old orange one finally wears out. Could get away from the dust, but the there are more stages that have to be done.
I have thought about going wet when my old orange one finally wears out. Could get away from the dust, but the there are more stages that have to be done.
As I mention, I put a cap full or two of mineral spirits in. Knocks the dust down some and still flashes off the cases. I was told a couple of years ago it would kill my primers. Odd, been using it since the mid 80's and never had a problem.
If you leave the lid on it will stay damp looking for several days. Last batch you do take the lid off for a while and it will flash off pretty quick.
Another thing with old media. I was throwing it in the trash for years. Buddy wanted it. He melts down old candles from garage sales and stirs in media and saw dust from pine. He uses it for fire starters.
If you leave the lid on it will stay damp looking for several days. Last batch you do take the lid off for a while and it will flash off pretty quick.
Another thing with old media. I was throwing it in the trash for years. Buddy wanted it. He melts down old candles from garage sales and stirs in media and saw dust from pine. He uses it for fire starters.
I tried the mineral spirits. Guess I didn't read the instructions well enough. Way to much spirits and my media to soaking wet and all my brass id full and I'm using a screw driver to dig it out. Looks like its gonna be an all day job. Guess if and when I get this mess cleaned up, I'll go back to the way I was doing it.
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI tried the mineral spirits. Guess I didn't read the instructions well enough. Way to much spirits and my media to soaking wet and all my brass id full and I'm using a screw driver to dig it out. Looks like its gonna be an all day job. Guess if and when I get this mess cleaned up, I'll go back to the way I was doing it.
Nah, just leave the lid off and let it run. The mineral spirits will evaporate.
Ain’t no thang.
Nah, just leave the lid off and let it run. The mineral spirits will evaporate.
Ain’t no thang.
Originally Posted By: fw707Originally Posted By: pyscodogI tried the mineral spirits. Guess I didn't read the instructions well enough. Way to much spirits and my media to soaking wet and all my brass id full and I'm using a screw driver to dig it out. Looks like its gonna be an all day job. Guess if and when I get this mess cleaned up, I'll go back to the way I was doing it.
Nah, just leave the lid off and let it run. The mineral spirits will evaporate.
Ain’t no thang.
Well, it is a "thang". Most of my brass is full of media and its compacted so hard I'm having to did it out. I emptied the brass from the media, dumped the media then put the brass back in the tumbler and ran it without media over night. Some of the packed media has came out but I still have a BUNCH that hasn't. So I'm in the garage digging it out with a screwdriver. Part of me says "cut your loss" and just go buy more brass. The tight azz part of me says "get back in the garage and clean the brass".
Well, a couple hours with a screw driver and all is well. Don't think I'll try that again any time soon.
Nah, just leave the lid off and let it run. The mineral spirits will evaporate.
Ain’t no thang.
Well, it is a "thang". Most of my brass is full of media and its compacted so hard I'm having to did it out. I emptied the brass from the media, dumped the media then put the brass back in the tumbler and ran it without media over night. Some of the packed media has came out but I still have a BUNCH that hasn't. So I'm in the garage digging it out with a screwdriver. Part of me says "cut your loss" and just go buy more brass. The tight azz part of me says "get back in the garage and clean the brass".
Well, a couple hours with a screw driver and all is well. Don't think I'll try that again any time soon.
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