Cleaning cases without a tumbler
- Thread starter Walter W.
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ranger335v
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- Dec 3, 2006
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Soak the cases in a 50:50 mix of water and white vinegar over night. Then rinse, spread them in a single layer and let 'em dry a day. They will be clean and that's all you need.
Griz44
Member
Avoid strong ammonia and chlorine compounds. They will make the brass brittle and shorten the life of the case. Brake cleaner can't be re-used, so that's expensive unless it's free. It may be free to you, but your boss or shop is still paying for it. My boss has a name for taking supplies from the shop. It involves Johnny Law and not working there anymore. I don't know what is in brake cleaner or the solvent, like many cleaners it may be chlorine based. A tumbler is a good choice . A decent kit with sifter, media and polish is around 45 bucks. It's cheap to feed it walnut or corn cob, one bag will do ten of thousands of cases and you can let it run at night when it won't bother anyone.
gun4funtime
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tumblers, vibratory cleaners don't cost all that much. They work great. if there was a better or easier way, there would be someone selling it and so far I have not seen it?
I cleaned my first batch last weekend. I used the vinegar recipe which can be found by searching in this forum.
The cases cleaned up well. I just used a tupperware container and gave them a good shaking. Then I dried them in the oven at a low temperature for 20 or so minutes. Household products do the job fine.
For polishing, I used a lee case holder in my hand drill. A steel wool pad with a little brasso made them shiny.
The cases cleaned up well. I just used a tupperware container and gave them a good shaking. Then I dried them in the oven at a low temperature for 20 or so minutes. Household products do the job fine.
For polishing, I used a lee case holder in my hand drill. A steel wool pad with a little brasso made them shiny.
only1asterisk
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- Jun 13, 2003
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Just washing it with hot water and a few drops of dishwashing detergent will get it plenty clean. You can dry it in the sun spread over the bottom of a cardboard box.
David
David
cdrt
Member
I posted the vinegar, water, detergent mixture on this thread a while back:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=338396
It's down at number 11. Don't leave them in it too long or they'll turn pink.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=338396
It's down at number 11. Don't leave them in it too long or they'll turn pink.
Seafarer12
Member
Midway has tumblers for 35 bucks this month.
K5mitch
Member
Vibratory tumblers (I got a Lyman 1200 pro tumbler on sale over a year ago), and corn cob media (available at your local pet store really cheap) are about the best bang for your buck IMO.
Quoheleth
Member
I did my whole lot of .38s...couple hundred...this way.
80-90% turned green.
Where before I had dirty but functional brass, now I have green crap on it. Not sure if it'll clean up or not. If not, I guess I scrap the whole lot ~ I only load mild .38 loads, but don't want to take a chance on brass that's been corroded beyond clean-up, huh?
Q
I wash mine in 50:50 water and vinegar and a few drops of dish washing soap. I rinse them in water and then soak them in a car wash/wax solution (water and a small amount of the was/wax solution).
I lay them in the sun until dry and begin to size and deprime
Works great and they stay shinny.
JRB
I lay them in the sun until dry and begin to size and deprime
Works great and they stay shinny.
JRB
Yes, buy a tumbler, you won't regret it. Lizard Litter from a pet store is a great cheap source for crushed walnut and you'll get 3-4x the material for the same price as reloading brands.
I never tried any liquid based cleaning.
I never tried any liquid based cleaning.
Fortunately it sounds as though his boss isn't so petty. I doubt any self respecting Johnny Law org has the resources or cagingas to pursue matters involving oz's of brake cleaner.
I'm pretty sure he wasn't looking for so called morale pontification and judgements but rather info on effective and prudent methods of cleaning cases.
To that end....A tumbler of walnut, pecan or corn with a brass polish or Nu Vinyl car wax works wonders. You can first soak and or agitate your brass in a bucket of Dawn Det and vinegar or lemon juice and water to initially clean.
A rinse of scalding hot water helps dry the brass very quickly.
CRITGIT
For small quantities, I use Goo Gone and a paper towel. It's petrolium based and does a good-enough job to keep from scratching your dies. It dries with no residue that will mess up your sizing lube. Instead of Brasso (contains ammonia) try Fritz if you want to pollish.
But nothing beats a rock-tumbler or vibratory for bulk. I use a rock-tumbler because it much quieter and handles heavier loads better. You can put liquids in that tumbler if you wish as well. Heck, you can use just about anything, I've heard people using cement mixers with their bmg brass.
+1 on the pet store for media either walnut or corn cob.
But nothing beats a rock-tumbler or vibratory for bulk. I use a rock-tumbler because it much quieter and handles heavier loads better. You can put liquids in that tumbler if you wish as well. Heck, you can use just about anything, I've heard people using cement mixers with their bmg brass.
+1 on the pet store for media either walnut or corn cob.
Griz44
Member
Nor was it intended that way. The comment "access to" instead of "they give me the stuff for free" is defining. It was fresh on my mind, as my son (now 28) was recently fired from his job over a partial box of rat poison. Now he has a big black mark on his record that is keeping him from getting another job paying even close to what he was making, not to mention a thousand dollars worth of lawyer and court bills. He was subsequently denied his pending CHL for the incident. Is that a high enough price to pay for a sample size portion of brake cleaner? See the snowball rolling downhill? Retrospect would be that 2 bucks worth of rat poison sure wasn't worth it. Yes, Johnny law will arrest a man for something that small. And it was "All the guys take the leftovers home" The boss came in in a bad mood, and my son got binged for something that "everyone" else does. So called morale pontification? Anyone that knows me, which you don't, would not likely use that term to describe me. No. Just a comment that if you go buy your own 5 dollar can of cleaner it could stop a lot of heartaches later. This whole conversation could just save that young man a good size chunk of this money and future. CritGit, you are probably one of the nicest guys in the world, please don't be judgmental toward me as you accuse me of being.
I apologize to all for getting off topic.
Stealing is stealing. Like Grizz44 said, boss comes in in a bad mood, someone gets in trouble. Happens all the time and has big consequences. Yep, everybody was doing it, but that doesn't matter.
Tumbler, Tumbler, Tumbler. Cheap and easy. Too much trouble any other way. Once folks use a tumbler, they never go back.
Tumbler, Tumbler, Tumbler. Cheap and easy. Too much trouble any other way. Once folks use a tumbler, they never go back.
Work aside brake cleaner is nasty stuff, avoid exposure whenever possible. I'm known to fill a fast food soda cup with brass, a couple drops of soap, 1/3-1/2 of vinegar and hot water. Swish now and then. Rinse and let dry for a few days in the morning or at the end of the day. No reason to make it too complex. Nasty chemicals and an air compressor is way way more work than you need.
I happen to be well versed on this subject. I assure you that a few squirts of brake fluid which has a value of under a dollar(12 oz) by an employee who has stated he had "access" and assumed legal access doesn't warrant termination in most civilized communities within our wonderful nation. An example of a "stealing being stealing" in the workplace would be an employee not being compensated for all time worked including the 5 mins over his lunch hour. However, Johnny Law is somewhat lax in this area for some strange reason.
The presumption of guilt in your post was a little judgemental but thanks for your explanation.
My apologies to others for wandering off topic.
CRITGIT
The presumption of guilt in your post was a little judgemental but thanks for your explanation.
My apologies to others for wandering off topic.
CRITGIT
Griz44
Member
Has anyone noticed the similar smell between brake cleaner and Birchwood gun scrubber? Are these two the same? (except for the price) When I get home tonight I am going to start looking at labels. One thing for certain, don't use gun scrubber on the plastic case slider parts on your press. You will get to buy some new parts..
Yeah! I changed over to brake cleaner as a cheaper and no less effective gun cleaner. All that stuff is potentially hazardous to gunstock finishes.
Carb cleaner is also effective but there's plenty of acetone in it so it's somewhat more volatile.
CRITGIT
Carb cleaner is also effective but there's plenty of acetone in it so it's somewhat more volatile.
CRITGIT
pistolero6869
Member
Case cleaning
I have found there is nothing that tops Lyman green corcob mix they sell Try it!
I have found there is nothing that tops Lyman green corcob mix they sell Try it!
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