VII. Reloading Information
E. Miscellaneous
5. Alternative Methods of Cleaning Brass
by Mika Jalava (mjalava@ahti.hut.fi),
Tom Harbin (ranger@eng.clemson.edu),
Warren Taylor (wtaylor@nma.mnet.uswest.com), and
David A. Horton (DHORTON@as.ua.edu)
Peter (p.) Paglia (ppaglia@bnr.ca) wrote:
Is there an alternate way of cleaning pistol brass, besides tumbling?
Has anyone has success with solvents or cleaing solutions? How about posting
some 'homebrew' secrets?
Mika Jalava: This time shortly: Drop the cases in a bottle
or a tight can. Pour on hot water, add dishwasher detergent
(the powder or liquid used in dishwasher machines). Shake, let stand
for a while and shake occasionally. Rinse well. Pour in hot water,
add some phosporic acid (I use decalcifier used in coffee machines
and steam irons). Let it stand for a while and rinse again. At
least I get very clean and shiny brass and this doesn't seem to affect
the strength at all. Much better (and cheaper) than tumbling, IMHO.
Tom Harbin: Try depriming your brass, then stand them in
a flat bottom pan with high sides. pour white vinegar over them
until thay are covered. Let them soak for about one hour. Pour
the vinegar off and save it can be used several times. wash the
cases in clean water several times. place in a low temperature
oven or turn them upside down on a towel to drain and dry.
Warren Taylor: I still tumble, but I gave up using dry
media 17 years ago. I now use a solution of Dawn dish detergent and
concentrated lemon juice. I toss the brass in the tumbler, give a
squirt of each, then top off with water (just covering the brass)
and tumble for about 15 to 20 minutes and the brass comes out
shiney new.
Now if you do not want to use a tumbler you may try swashing it around in
a plastic bucket.
After washing just rinse with water and let dry over night. I pour my
brass thru a plastic screener and shake the excess water out to help
speed the drying.
The nice thing about using the wet method to clean brass is that you don't
have to worry about clearing the media out of the cases and or flash holes
and there is no polishing compound residue to reek havoc on you carbide dies.
David A. Horton: Here's another trick I've used for a couple
of years with very good success: start by cleaning your brass in
hot, soapy water. Next, using the same container (unless it is
metal -- its preferable that you use glass), add more hot water
(as hot as you can stand to the touch), add phosphoric acid at about
a half a teaspoon per gallon, and swirl your brass.
The good thing about this method is you can tailor your acid
concentration, it cleans even powder residue from the inside of the
cases and the primer pockets, and any corrosion is highlighted by a
coppery-like look to the brass. Most of these wipe off with a finger
unless they are deeper. In such instances you should probably toss
the case.
When done, neutralize the acid by pouring in baking soda in until it
stops fizzing. After that rinse the cases in hot water again and set
them aside the dry. Sounds easy enough, huh? Well, it is. It has a
few nice features:
- the acid action is very fast, and cases will come clean
almost faster than you can stir them by hand.
- the acid action is self-limiting. You can leave the cases
in for an hour, or a week. No harm to the brass because
the acid acts only on the corrosion and residue.
- by a procees called "passivation" the brass is actually
left more resistant to corrosion after its bath.
- this process is environmentally safe
- you can actually save the solution if you'd like, just
don't neutralize it when you are finished. It will last a
good while.
I'm also toying with an even more friendly solution using citric acid
(sure smells better at the bench), but haven't found the best
mix yet. If anybody has any questions I'll be glad to address them if
you e-mail me.