Brass cleaning
- Thread starter bryan h
- Start date
Plant.One
Well-known member
when i have to do a batch of 204 i'm gonna try them in my ultrasonic this time around.
last batch i ran was in stainless, and i ended up with way too many that were packed almost solid with pins. They'd get in and not be able to get out of the necks easily.
i cant say for sure if this was just a case of too much pins to too little brass (i was only doing ~150 pcs, but its all i had at the time) or what, but it was a giant PITA and i spent almost a half hour de-pinning them.
for everything else (223 and up) i've not had a problem like this.
last batch i ran was in stainless, and i ended up with way too many that were packed almost solid with pins. They'd get in and not be able to get out of the necks easily.
i cant say for sure if this was just a case of too much pins to too little brass (i was only doing ~150 pcs, but its all i had at the time) or what, but it was a giant PITA and i spent almost a half hour de-pinning them.
for everything else (223 and up) i've not had a problem like this.
All I use anymore is hot water and a little Lemi Shine after de-priming the cases. 35 years ago I spent a lot of time and energy making cases shiny, not anymore. I just want them clean. It seems no matter how hard you try you just can't get all the dust, grit or pins off or out of the brass, even with an air compressor.
Plant.One
Well-known member
i wish that frankfort tumbler was available when i made the jump to Stainless tumbling.
with its large capacity, and the timer built in, along with the easy open ends for the tumbler bin... that seems to be *the* tumbler for our purpose these days, at least when it comes to stainless media wet tumbling.
with its large capacity, and the timer built in, along with the easy open ends for the tumbler bin... that seems to be *the* tumbler for our purpose these days, at least when it comes to stainless media wet tumbling.
DannoBoone
Active member
Originally Posted By: bryan hWhat's your thoughts on ultra sonic vs stainless steel media for 204 and up size brass.
Hands down, stainless steel media. I've used both and the SS has
always done a better job...makes it look better than new brass.
Haven't had the problem of the media jamming in Tac20 or .204R cases,
but I use a RCBS Rotary Case and Media Separator (on sale now at
MidWay USA, I see) after a rinse. I tumble them every few hours for
a few turns until they are dry. Any stuck pins apparently let go
during this process.
Hands down, stainless steel media. I've used both and the SS has
always done a better job...makes it look better than new brass.
Haven't had the problem of the media jamming in Tac20 or .204R cases,
but I use a RCBS Rotary Case and Media Separator (on sale now at
MidWay USA, I see) after a rinse. I tumble them every few hours for
a few turns until they are dry. Any stuck pins apparently let go
during this process.
DannoBoone
Active member
Whether it is T316, T304, or whatever, they probably all use the same
grade. I would go with whoever is the least expensive for product/
handling/shipping.
grade. I would go with whoever is the least expensive for product/
handling/shipping.
dan brothers
New member
Hey 1Fox.... what is your cleaning process... I might try that
You guys are going to laugh at me, but try about half an hour in lemon flavored Kool-Aid, followed by an hour or so in the tumbler with corn cob. Won't get much cleaner than that unless you are anal about primer pockets, and they make brushes for that.
STM seems to be the latest rage, but as has been discussed previously, QC on diameter of pins leaves something to be desired, and each one that sticks needs to be thrown away as it is too small. Becomes pretty time consuming.
STM seems to be the latest rage, but as has been discussed previously, QC on diameter of pins leaves something to be desired, and each one that sticks needs to be thrown away as it is too small. Becomes pretty time consuming.
Originally Posted By: dan brothersHey 1Fox.... what is your cleaning process... I might try that
Its really pretty simple. I use 2 plastic coffee cans with lids. I de-prime all my cases anymore before washing even if I load on one of the Dillons,I hate primer grit. Plus its a good way to inspect cases. I put about a heaped teaspoon of Lemi Shine in the bottom of my coffee can marked Lemi Shine, the other is marked rinse. I fill a pyrodex measuring cup of the wifes with about a quart of water and microwave it to just boiling then pour into the can with the Lemi Shine. Add the brass and cover the can with the lid. I set it on an old carpet to retain the heat as long as possible. When the liquid cools down enough to get your hands into it I pick up each case and give the primer pocket a good twist with a Q-Tip to get them clean and put in the empty can. After I get them all I put them back in the warm Lemi Shine and slosh a little and leave set until the liquid is cool. From there I give them 2-3 clear water rinses then shake out and lay on a newspaper to dry. It gets them clean with a light shine but not blinding shiny. Has been working well for me for years now, the vibratory cleaners haven't been out for a long time. Had an old service rifle match shooter tell me many years ago that he always put his de-primed empties in a pan on the stove and brought them to a boil with dish washing detergent to clean them. He said it was his way of annealing after every firing to control neck cracking and shoulder spring back. I never quite believed that but he shot excellent scores and I don't ever remember him cracking a neck. Lemi Shine is dish washing detergent and costs about $2.60 at Wal-Mart. Good luck if you try it.
Its really pretty simple. I use 2 plastic coffee cans with lids. I de-prime all my cases anymore before washing even if I load on one of the Dillons,I hate primer grit. Plus its a good way to inspect cases. I put about a heaped teaspoon of Lemi Shine in the bottom of my coffee can marked Lemi Shine, the other is marked rinse. I fill a pyrodex measuring cup of the wifes with about a quart of water and microwave it to just boiling then pour into the can with the Lemi Shine. Add the brass and cover the can with the lid. I set it on an old carpet to retain the heat as long as possible. When the liquid cools down enough to get your hands into it I pick up each case and give the primer pocket a good twist with a Q-Tip to get them clean and put in the empty can. After I get them all I put them back in the warm Lemi Shine and slosh a little and leave set until the liquid is cool. From there I give them 2-3 clear water rinses then shake out and lay on a newspaper to dry. It gets them clean with a light shine but not blinding shiny. Has been working well for me for years now, the vibratory cleaners haven't been out for a long time. Had an old service rifle match shooter tell me many years ago that he always put his de-primed empties in a pan on the stove and brought them to a boil with dish washing detergent to clean them. He said it was his way of annealing after every firing to control neck cracking and shoulder spring back. I never quite believed that but he shot excellent scores and I don't ever remember him cracking a neck. Lemi Shine is dish washing detergent and costs about $2.60 at Wal-Mart. Good luck if you try it.
Originally Posted By: Doubless STM seems to be the latest rage, but as has been discussed previously, QC on diameter of pins leaves something to be desired, and each one that sticks needs to be thrown away as it is too small. Becomes pretty time consuming.
You only have to toss pins once they stick, and they only stick in 264 Dia necks. Not a biggie once worked out.
You only have to toss pins once they stick, and they only stick in 264 Dia necks. Not a biggie once worked out.
Nonnieselman
Member
I tumbled some 223 brass yesterday and this is what i figured out finally.
15# of pins, about 800 pieces of 223 Cases, shot of dawn, shot of lemishine for 3 hours on bottom.
no pins, about 1000 pieces of 223 cases, shot and half of dawn, shot and a lil more of lemishine, and 45 minutes on top.
Here is what im using.
6" Sanitary SS pipe, with 3 agitators.
30 RPMS
15# of pins, about 800 pieces of 223 Cases, shot of dawn, shot of lemishine for 3 hours on bottom.
no pins, about 1000 pieces of 223 cases, shot and half of dawn, shot and a lil more of lemishine, and 45 minutes on top.
Here is what im using.
6" Sanitary SS pipe, with 3 agitators.
30 RPMS
SlickerThanSnot
New member
Originally Posted By: NonnieselmanI tumbled some 223 brass yesterday and this is what i figured out finally.
15# of pins, about 800 pieces of 223 Cases, shot of dawn, shot of lemishine for 3 hours on bottom.
no pins, about 1000 pieces of 223 cases, shot and half of dawn, shot and a lil more of lemishine, and 45 minutes on top.
sorry but it is not really jumping at me. so what did you figure out?
15# of pins, about 800 pieces of 223 Cases, shot of dawn, shot of lemishine for 3 hours on bottom.
no pins, about 1000 pieces of 223 cases, shot and half of dawn, shot and a lil more of lemishine, and 45 minutes on top.
sorry but it is not really jumping at me. so what did you figure out?
Rusty Black
New member
My recipe...I deprime first....1 table spoon table salt,1 cup of vinegar,table spoon of dish soap,mix with hot water.Mix soapy solutions around...place brass in and mix brass around and let sit for 30 mins..Mix brass around three times,after an 1.5 hours,rinse with hott water and dry for a day dumping all water out and dry for a day in a warm spot n a old towel.Works good for me!
Rusty Black
New member
My recipe...I deprime first....1 table spoon table salt,1 cup of vinegar,table spoon of dish soap,mix with hot water.Mix soapy solutions around...place brass in and mix brass around and let sit for 30 mins..Mix brass around three times,after an 1.5 hours,rinse with hott water and dry for a day dumping all water out and dry for a day in a warm spot on a old towel.Works good for me!
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