Wet pin tumbling using Cascade Complete Citrus Breeze

Status
Not open for further replies.
Spade5

Spade5

Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
171
Location
Houston, TX
I tried this on a whim. Figured it supposedly cleans baked on food and leaves your dishes sparkling clean so why not brass.

I was using Dawn with a little Lemishine but no mater how much I rinsed it or how I dried it after about a day it would tarnish and would have some sort of residue spots.

I understand that having brass that looks shiny and new does nothing as far as making it feed or shoot better but if I am going to go to all the trouble of cleaning it, why not have it look good.

I have only used this a couple of times and am very pleased with the results. It has Dawn and citric acid in it and apparently the anti-spotting does something as well. I do use hot water to make sure everything dissolves. It is a lumpy liquid out of the bottle.
 
I dried it after about a day it would tarnish and would have some sort of residue spots
Click to expand...
Car wash and wax seems to handle this problem well
Wash and Wax + Citric acid.
*(whatever flavor wash and wax is on sale, brass get what car gets, Armor All, Turtle, Blue Coral, etc)
 
Last edited:
I've tried numerous mixtures and concoctions over the years with varying results. I've settled on the standard Dawn / Lemishine mixture but added a liquid car wax soak after rinsing the Dawn off. I have a five gallon bucket with the car wax mixed with water that I let the brass soak in for five minutes then rinse with water and dry. I think just using the Dawn mixture leaves the brass too clean and allows it to tarnish soon after tumbling. I also started using the SS chips from Sleeping Giant Brass instead of the pins. They seem to clean as well as the pins but take less time. I'm not saying what's right or wrong just saying what works for me.
 
Spade5 wrote:
I was using Dawn with a little Lemishine but no mater how much I rinsed it or how I dried it after about a day it would tarnish and would have some sort of residue spots.
Click to expand...

My experience with a detergent and citric acid was that I would get about six to nine months of shiny brass before it started to noticeably tarnish. Were you using any other ingredients in your tumbling mixture?
 
We all have our magic potions for cleaning brass. Thanks for sharing yours with the group. Glad you got good results.
 
Dudedog said:
Car wash and wax seems to handle this problem well
Wash + Wax + Citric acid.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is what I use too!
The brass tarnishes because its so clean that it has no protection. I've dropped the Dawn in favor of ArmorAll wash and wax. It leaves a protective coating that stops the tarnishing. Probably any wash and wax would work.
 
I have tried many wet tumbling processes and cleaning mixes because I want my brass to look like Starline new. I found that Armor All car cleaner and wax didn't get the brass as clean as Dawn/Lemishine/and 2 teaspoons of Cream of Tartar. An hour and a half tumbling with SS pins in this mixture and cold water make the brass sparkle. I spin the cleaned cases in cold water and a table spoon of Lemishine to rinse and separate the pins. I then empty the water and pins and spin the cases again in the separator to remove most of the water. After removing them from the separator, I place them on a towel, then cover them with a second towel and roll them around between the towels. This dries them enough that they will not spot. If I am not in a hurry to reload, I will leave them layed out on the towel for another day or 2 to completely dry.

If I am in a hurry to reload or want them to stay looking new for months, I will tumble them for an hour in a dry vibrator with a few squirts of Dillon Case Polish, Nu Finish, or my favorite, Flitz Brass Case Polish. Add a few pieces or paper towel or dryer sheets as well. The cases come out ready to load same day or they will remain looking like new until I am ready to load. I have ziplock bags full of brass that I cleaned using this method over a year ago and it looks just like it cam out of the tumbler.

The last part is an extra step but if you want your brass to look new for any extended period of time, the polish is the only trick I have found.

Cheers!
 
After removing them from the separator, I place them on a towel, then cover them with a second towel and roll them around between the towels. This dries them enough that they will not spot. If I am not in a hurry to reload, I will leave them layed out on the towel for another day or 2 to completely dry.
Click to expand...
This is how I dry as well.

For dry case tumbling Flitz Brass Case Polish works well, good stuff, It and corn cob will make really shiny brass.


I'm not saying what's right or wrong just saying what works for me
Click to expand...
I would say there are lots of "right" ways. The only wrong way would be something that damages the brass.

When I started reloading before I had a tumbler I just soaked brass in a bucket of soapy water for a couple days.
Would go by every now and then a stir it.
Dump and rinse. It did not come out shiny but was clean enough to load.
 
Ruger 15151 said:
I have tried many wet tumbling processes and cleaning mixes because I want my brass to look like Starline new. I found that Armor All car cleaner and wax didn't get the brass as clean as Dawn/Lemishine/and 2 teaspoons of Cream of Tartar. An hour and a half tumbling with SS pins in this mixture and cold water make the brass sparkle. I spin the cleaned cases in cold water and a table spoon of Lemishine to rinse and separate the pins. I then empty the water and pins and spin the cases again in the separator to remove most of the water. After removing them from the separator, I place them on a towel, then cover them with a second towel and roll them around between the towels. This dries them enough that they will not spot. If I am not in a hurry to reload, I will leave them layed out on the towel for another day or 2 to completely dry.

If I am in a hurry to reload or want them to stay looking new for months, I will tumble them for an hour in a dry vibrator with a few squirts of Dillon Case Polish, Nu Finish, or my favorite, Flitz Brass Case Polish. Add a few pieces or paper towel or dryer sheets as well. The cases come out ready to load same day or they will remain looking like new until I am ready to load. I have ziplock bags full of brass that I cleaned using this method over a year ago and it looks just like it cam out of the tumbler.

The last part is an extra step but if you want your brass to look new for any extended period of time, the polish is the only trick I have found.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Cream of Tarter is just another slightly acidic additive. it is less acidic than citric acid. Lemon juice or vinegar will substitute for it.
But folks want to use Lem Shine when they can buy pure citric acid in bulk is beyond me.?

Wonder when Heloise will have some Hints on making fluffy egg whites.:)
 
Ruger 15151 said:
I have tried many wet tumbling processes and cleaning mixes because I want my brass to look like Starline new. I found that Armor All car cleaner and wax didn't get the brass as clean as Dawn/Lemishine/and 2 teaspoons of Cream of Tartar. An hour and a half tumbling with SS pins in this mixture and cold water make the brass sparkle. I spin the cleaned cases in cold water and a table spoon of Lemishine to rinse and separate the pins. I then empty the water and pins and spin the cases again in the separator to remove most of the water. After removing them from the separator, I place them on a towel, then cover them with a second towel and roll them around between the towels. This dries them enough that they will not spot. If I am not in a hurry to reload, I will leave them layed out on the towel for another day or 2 to completely dry.

If I am in a hurry to reload or want them to stay looking new for months, I will tumble them for an hour in a dry vibrator with a few squirts of Dillon Case Polish, Nu Finish, or my favorite, Flitz Brass Case Polish. Add a few pieces or paper towel or dryer sheets as well. The cases come out ready to load same day or they will remain looking like new until I am ready to load. I have ziplock bags full of brass that I cleaned using this method over a year ago and it looks just like it cam out of the tumbler.

The last part is an extra step but if you want your brass to look new for any extended period of time, the polish is the only trick I have found.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Ruger what is your mixture, and what does the Cream of Tarter do?
 
I use heat to dry my tumbled cases. I have my own dedicated baking tray that I use. In the Summer I'll leave the tray outside in the Sun, usually on the tongue of my 4 wheeler trailer. In the Winter it goes in the oven set at 200º for 20-30 minutes.

My Wife made me a bag from a towel, kind of like a pillow case. I'll dump the wet cases into it and give them a shake rattle and roll to get the water out of them. Then onto the baking tray.

I mentioned having my own baking tray. This is for a couple of reasons. Health concerns are one of them. My way of avoiding heavy metal or lead poisoning. Probably not a serious threat in this case but........ And I have discovered that it promotes domestic tranquility!
 
So, does anyone know if this damaged the brass, or just made it less aesthetically pleasing?

Based on what people are saying in this thread, I have two guesses about what caused it:

1) Too much Lemishine (seemed like I used the same amount as always).

2) Too much time in the tumbler (this may be the issue - I ran it for an hour or two, but then I didn't get home to empty it for a few more hours).


Do you guys think I have ugly and safe brass, or dangerous and ugly brass?
 
Termite I said:
I also started using the SS chips from Sleeping Giant Brass instead of the pins. They seem to clean as well as the pins but take less time.
Click to expand...

How much trouble have you had separating the two after cleaning? I find using pins a nuisance, as some get stuck in the case, and even some in flasholes.
 
coloradokevin said:
So, does anyone know if this damaged the brass, or just made it less aesthetically pleasing?

Based on what people are saying in this thread, I have two guesses about what caused it:

1) Too much Lemishine (seemed like I used the same amount as always).

2) Too much time in the tumbler (this may be the issue - I ran it for an hour or two, but then I didn't get home to empty it for a few more hours).


Do you guys think I have ugly and safe brass, or dangerous and ugly brass?
Click to expand...

Did you man to post this in your other thread??

How do you, did you dry the cases??
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/wet-tumbling-brass-strange-discoloration.846486/
 
Rule3 said:
Did you man to post this in your other thread??

How do you, did you dry the cases??
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/wet-tumbling-brass-strange-discoloration.846486/
Click to expand...

Ha... I did. I didn't even realize I mixed up the two threads.

By the way, to answer your question, I dry in an oven on very low heat. But, the discoloration was obvious as soon as I pulled them out of the tumbler. I think it's an issue of having been in the tumbler too long, or having had too much Lemishine.

My apologies to the OP for accidentally 'jacking his thread with mine!
 
Kevin Rohrer said:
How much trouble have you had separating the two after cleaning? I find using pins a nuisance, as some get stuck in the case, and even some in flasholes.
Click to expand...
The first pins I used were 0.041" diameter and I'd get two pins stuck in the flash hole on about 25% of the 223 cases I was cleaning. I then tried 0.047" pins and the problem went away on the flash holes but they get stuck sideways in 6.5 Grendel case necks. I still use the 0.047 pins occasionally, never on 6.5, but most of the time I use the SS chips now. So far I've never had any chips in the cases after doing the following. I still check every case before reloading them. After draining the dirty solution I use a RCBS media separator to remove the media from the brass then rinse the brass until no soap bubbles are present. Next I soak the brass in a five gallon bucket filed with Wash & Wax ( brand doesn't seem to matter ) for around five minutes then rinse with water until all bubbles are gone then I roll them in dedicated towels until all water on the exterior of the brass is mopped up and let air dry.
 
Ruger 15151 said:
Are the SS chips magnetic? If so, what is the best source for them?
Click to expand...
I bought the chips from Sleeping Giant Brass. Yes they are magnetic. They were up front telling buyers that there are steel chips mixed in that will rust and to remove the rusted clumps as you find them. I've never bothered removing them and have not seen any negative results. I think after a couple minutes of tumbling it all gets worn off and goes down the drain with the carbon. I'm hoping with enough use they will completely dissolve and I won't have to worry about them any more :). I don't remember the name of the other source for chips but read that they coat them in some kind of oil that you'll want to remove before using on brass.
 
Use Armorall Wash and Wax. Can tumble as long as you want and rises clean with no spots and no discoloration or tarnishing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
Curious About Wet Tumbling Using Dishwasher Pods?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
Click_Here
C
GSPKurt
  • Locked
Wet Tumbling Issue
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
Faret
F
R
  • Locked
Wet Tumbled , not Bright and shiney!
Replies
13
Views
5K
RonnieT
R
coloradokevin
  • Locked
Wet Tumbling Brass - Strange Discoloration
Replies
19
Views
3K
Toprudder
Toprudder
Ruger 15151
  • Locked
Preventing Tarnishing after wet tumbling in SS media?
2
Replies
45
Views
12K
Decoy80
D
Back
Top