dennishoddy
Moderator
I got 20lbs for 34 bucks including shipping. If thats tumbling quality, its a total bargain :blink:
How do you clean your brass?
- Thread starter jtischauser
- Start date
Jefpainthorse
Fill in the Blank
Be careful of those brass cleaners...
"Brasso" and some similar commercial products harden brass... and can lead to split cases. I cannot cite any online sources... but have read this over the years and most of my older reloading buddys have been aware of this for years.
When I started reloading (and I don't now) I used a half gallon plastic jar (like they pack commerical mustard in) and would toss it in the clothes dryer with a load of sheets. Seemed to work good with the walnut shells and other stuff we could buy as media. You just have to make sure the twist on top stays twisted on... B)
dennishoddy
Moderator
That is cheap if it's the same stuff. Sure would be nice to compare it.
Ok I pulled up my order
2MVR5 Blast Media,40 Lbs,Corn Cob,20/40 Grit $23.60
Looks and works the same as the Frankford Arsenal stuff I used at a fraction of the price. Different grits are available which equate to different size granules. I picked it up at the Tulsa store.
2MVR5 Blast Media,40 Lbs,Corn Cob,20/40 Grit $23.60
Looks and works the same as the Frankford Arsenal stuff I used at a fraction of the price. Different grits are available which equate to different size granules. I picked it up at the Tulsa store.
Ksmirk
Well-Known Fanatic
Anderson Equipment carries blast equipment, I just got 50# for $20 the other day then my tumbler crapped out :angry: you can get different sizes and they have corn cob also. Later,
Kirk
Kirk
Jrabbit771
Well-Known Fanatic
I put it in the tumbler first thing...I let it go a few hours. Then I take it out and de-prime and resize. I then throw it back in the tumbler to get the lube, etc off. Just have to check all the primer pockets when you pull it out...some of them will have some media stuck in the primer pocket. Someone might of already mentioned this....is so....here it is again ...lol
drmitchgibson
The white Morgan Freeman
I use corn cob media for 20 minutes to overnight. I've been able to rejuvenate the media using Goof Off, citrus Pledge, and dryer sheets to absorb the dust. It's amazing. If I'm cleaning 300+ brass, I let the tumbler run at least an hour. Just bought a lamp timer for it, too, so I can set it and forget it. Sounds like a TV commercial!
aeropb
Well-Known Fanatic
Some old lyman turbo tumbler I bought a few years ago. I've been using the same corncob media forever. Even though its dirty it still gets cases shiny. And I toss in a few strips of cut up dryer sheets.
Jackary
Well-Known Fanatic
Reviving an old thread to see if anyone has had any more experience with the sonic cleaners. Also wanting recommendations on sonic cleaner or tumbler. I am looking at the one of the tumblers from the link Wall posted at the beginning of the thread.
jeffhughes
Well-Known Fanatic
Sonic cleaners aree good, but they don't get the brass super shiny.
I use a cement mixer with fine walnut shells and NuShine car wax. The mixer was 135 from Harbor Freight, and I can run 4000 9mm cases at a time. I also run the completed rounds after loading, makes them look like new....
I use a cement mixer with fine walnut shells and NuShine car wax. The mixer was 135 from Harbor Freight, and I can run 4000 9mm cases at a time. I also run the completed rounds after loading, makes them look like new....
Dustin Cantrell
Well-Known Fanatic
I've started using an ultrasonic cleaner. I use probably four to five parts water and one part distilled vinegar with a heaping teaspoon of Lemishine. Run it a few times and then run it with distilled water and some baking soda. Then I spread the cases out on a towel to dry. They're not as shiny as tumbling but they're clean and that's what matters. Primer pockets and inside the cases are much cleaner with the ultrasonic. I may start tumbling for an hour after that process. The corn cob media with a bit of Nu Finish seems to give the cases a slight coating that reduces tarnishing in storage.
scubor2
S.L.C.G.A.
Thumbler tumbler and 45 minutes does the trick. Much better than my media tumbler. Just some water, Cascade liquid dishwashing soap and cream of tartar.
Jackary
Well-Known Fanatic
Thinking of going with the Thumler Tumbler A-R12
dennishoddy
Moderator
Got a RCBS ultrasonic cleaner for Christmas.
Does a great job cleaning brass, but like was already said, it cleans it, but doesn't make it shine. I used Dawn dish soap and lemishine.
Used a kitchen colander to shake the majority of the water out of it, and let it set for awhile and put in the corn cob to get a mirror shine.
I add some turtle wax swirl and scratch remover to make it really shine. IMHO as long as you use a car polish on occasion, it doesn't matter what brand.
WARNING!! DO NOT clean a blue'd gun in the ultrasonic cleaner!
I suspect the lemi shine, but it totally took the blue off of the M&P upper. Grey metal now.
I was going to get it hydrodipped or something anyway, but this just accelerated the decision.
Mentioned this to a couple of other guys at work that reload and use ultrasonic cleaners, and they all reported screwing up the finish on their guns doing the same thing I did. I did a ton of research on other gun forums, and never saw a reference to this prior to trying it.
Does a great job cleaning brass, but like was already said, it cleans it, but doesn't make it shine. I used Dawn dish soap and lemishine.
Used a kitchen colander to shake the majority of the water out of it, and let it set for awhile and put in the corn cob to get a mirror shine.
I add some turtle wax swirl and scratch remover to make it really shine. IMHO as long as you use a car polish on occasion, it doesn't matter what brand.
WARNING!! DO NOT clean a blue'd gun in the ultrasonic cleaner!
I suspect the lemi shine, but it totally took the blue off of the M&P upper. Grey metal now.
I was going to get it hydrodipped or something anyway, but this just accelerated the decision.
Mentioned this to a couple of other guys at work that reload and use ultrasonic cleaners, and they all reported screwing up the finish on their guns doing the same thing I did. I did a ton of research on other gun forums, and never saw a reference to this prior to trying it.
Dustin Cantrell
Well-Known Fanatic
I put the frame of my CZ in the ultrasonic cleaner. I had read about possibly damaging finishes. For the frame I just used hot water and some liquid Froglube squirted in. The finish (basically paint) bubbled on a spot of the frame. I figured most of the finish damage was due to acidity or chemicals in the solution. I think in my case there was a very small impurity in the finish and the ultrasonic action lifted it from the frame. The spot is small, and I was wanting to get it refinished eventually but it will move that project up in priority.
dennishoddy
Moderator
I had a thread on this and Mitch suggested using motor oil.
Should have went that way I guess, but its going to look badass when I get it done in hydrodipped or ceracoated, or what ever. . (I hope)
Should have went that way I guess, but its going to look badass when I get it done in hydrodipped or ceracoated, or what ever. . (I hope)
I used a vibratory tumbler for a year.
There was always carbon in the cases when done and in the primer pockets..and the dust.
Not that dust in the garage is a deal breaker ..but it will slowly transfer to other equipment like dies.
So i built a pin tumbler from scrap or other peoples trash.
A treadmill was a doner for the dc motor and rollers and drive mechanism.
A file cabinet was used for the housing..but anything will work.
I used a 2 quart V8 bottle for over a year..and now have this larger Welches container..
Those are not perfectly round...they have indents for holding and this agitates the brass well.
The pins are various size copper wire i cut with Wiss snips.
I have not used my vibratory in a long time.
This is quicker and more efficient .
1/8 TEASPOON lemishine a few drops of dawn or palmolive and hot water.
Rpm is 90-120 the way i have it set up.
Zero carbon in the cases or the primer pockets.
total cost was the duct tape i have on the roller, to keep things rolling and aligned.
There was always carbon in the cases when done and in the primer pockets..and the dust.
Not that dust in the garage is a deal breaker ..but it will slowly transfer to other equipment like dies.
So i built a pin tumbler from scrap or other peoples trash.
A treadmill was a doner for the dc motor and rollers and drive mechanism.
A file cabinet was used for the housing..but anything will work.
I used a 2 quart V8 bottle for over a year..and now have this larger Welches container..
Those are not perfectly round...they have indents for holding and this agitates the brass well.
The pins are various size copper wire i cut with Wiss snips.
I have not used my vibratory in a long time.
This is quicker and more efficient .
1/8 TEASPOON lemishine a few drops of dawn or palmolive and hot water.
Rpm is 90-120 the way i have it set up.
Zero carbon in the cases or the primer pockets.
total cost was the duct tape i have on the roller, to keep things rolling and aligned.
Attachments
technetium-99m
Mighty Righty
Cement mixer is the only way to go.
DC4OU
Well-Known Fanatic
I think Thumbler's Tumbler model B is the way to go. Super clean new brass in no time without the dust.
