Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
The best brass cleaning method ever is not in a Gun supplies catalog or seen in a gun shop. I sold hundreds of them in the 1970s and they still exist in rock, lapidary and kids toy stores.
It is the Lortone Solid Rubber Barrel rock tumbler that is designed to tumble rocks wet in abrasive media to make pretty rocks or jewelry. Most often seen is the small two barrel model but what you need or have them order for you is the model QT12NR a 12 pound capacity barrel that you can use walnut media or corn cobs from your local pet shop in or tide soap powder in water.
Fill the barrel 2/3rds full of brass, fill to the top with walnut hulls, add 2-3 tablespoons of cheap paint thinner on top, close and tumble. The media is effective as long as the crushing process to make them makes sharp edges on the particle stays sharp. Tumble as long as it takes to get the cleanliness you desire. Tumble the same length of time for subsequent batches. When the media becomes less effective replace it instead of adding brass cleaning chemicals.
To tumble live ammo use corn cobs. Fill the barrel half full with the ammo, fill to within an inch from the top with corn cobs add tablespoons of kerosene and tumble.
The lortone is the quiestest tumbler made because of the rubber barrel and no one that I sold them to in the 70s has said that they have died. They sell for about $135 and are so quiet you can have one in a bedroom closet.
Any brass cleaning chemical is hazardous to children that can get into just about anywhere.
The sellers of brass cleaning chemicals to newbies laugh all the way to the bank. If you see a bottle of that brass cleaning stuff look closely at the label and try to figure what the active cleaning ingredient is and if you must, get some cheaper from a chemical supply house. Make sure it is stored safely.
Brass only needs to be clean to extend the life of your reloader and weapon. Brass seen on the range that shines like mirrors is a sign that a newbie to the shooting sports is present.
Take some time to give them some needed advice and assistance from you experienced shooters.
It is the Lortone Solid Rubber Barrel rock tumbler that is designed to tumble rocks wet in abrasive media to make pretty rocks or jewelry. Most often seen is the small two barrel model but what you need or have them order for you is the model QT12NR a 12 pound capacity barrel that you can use walnut media or corn cobs from your local pet shop in or tide soap powder in water.
Fill the barrel 2/3rds full of brass, fill to the top with walnut hulls, add 2-3 tablespoons of cheap paint thinner on top, close and tumble. The media is effective as long as the crushing process to make them makes sharp edges on the particle stays sharp. Tumble as long as it takes to get the cleanliness you desire. Tumble the same length of time for subsequent batches. When the media becomes less effective replace it instead of adding brass cleaning chemicals.
To tumble live ammo use corn cobs. Fill the barrel half full with the ammo, fill to within an inch from the top with corn cobs add tablespoons of kerosene and tumble.
The lortone is the quiestest tumbler made because of the rubber barrel and no one that I sold them to in the 70s has said that they have died. They sell for about $135 and are so quiet you can have one in a bedroom closet.
Any brass cleaning chemical is hazardous to children that can get into just about anywhere.
The sellers of brass cleaning chemicals to newbies laugh all the way to the bank. If you see a bottle of that brass cleaning stuff look closely at the label and try to figure what the active cleaning ingredient is and if you must, get some cheaper from a chemical supply house. Make sure it is stored safely.
Brass only needs to be clean to extend the life of your reloader and weapon. Brass seen on the range that shines like mirrors is a sign that a newbie to the shooting sports is present.
Take some time to give them some needed advice and assistance from you experienced shooters.