brass cleaner

G

GTM

Guest
I'm probably the only person that never knew this. I had several hundred range picked up .223 cases. They were not stepped on or lawnmower hit.
It was tarnished and dirty. I had been wusin corn cobb midia with long running time and average results.
I was at a gun store not long ago and a long range shooter told me about this.
Use 3 to 1 lemon juice and water with a little dish washing liquid. I removed the corn cobb midia from my viberating cleaner and added the water lemon juice. Then dropped in about about 50 pices of brass. It was clean in a few minutes. We poured the mixture through a wire basket and save the mixture to use again.
We rinced the brass with clear water and shook out what water we could then spread them out on an old cookie sheet. It went into the oven at 175 for about 20 minutes. Let it cool and reload or store in in ammo cans.
 
Lemon juice contains ACIDS

Cleaning brass can be done with acids or ammonia. However, both of these attack the brass chemically and will eventually weaken the brass. Some use vinegar which like lemon juice is acidic. Lemon juice contains citric acid, acetic acid, and other fruit acids. I do not wish to weaken my brass which is under thousands of pounds of pressure so I just clean with corn cob and wash with a safe cleaner.

best, nrb
 
Liquid Cleaner

Try the IOSSO liquid. You can buy it as a kit (Solution 1qt, Mesh bag, and Bucket) for about 25$.Or just the solution in 1qt or gal. sizes. It is reuseable also.
 
nrb said:
Cleaning brass can be done with acids or ammonia. However, both of these attack the brass chemically and will eventually weaken the brass.
Click to expand...
Most commercially available brass cleaners contain phosphoric acid - or another acid. Phosphoric acid is a fairly aggressive substance, yet it is considered safe for use with cartridge brass in the concentrations found in cleaners.

Citric acid is also safe for use with brass. In the Navy, it is standard practice to clean brass firehose nozzles using concentrated "bug buice" (a kool-aid type drink).

Under no circumstances should ammonia containing cleaners be used for cleaning cartridge brass. This is because it results in a peculiar form of corrosion called stress corrosion cracking. not all such cracks are visible either - some are microscopic, but can still fatally weaken a casing.
 
http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm#Sizing

Chemical Case Cleaning Solutions

While tumbling cases in an abrasive media provides the best finish, extremely dirty cases can be decapped first (using a non-sizing die) and then washed in one of the following solutions. The final rinse in soapy water helps prevent tarnishing. All of these methods were approved by Frankford Arsenal and will not weaken your brass.

* A 5 percent solution of citric acid (available from your drugstore) and warm water for about 10 minutes. If your water is very hard increase the amount of citric acid. You can add some Dawn™ or Cascade™ dishwasher liquid soap (which does not contain ammonia--be careful some do), to the solution for extra grease cutting ability. Follow with a rinse in hot soapy water (Ivory™ works well) and allow to dry.
* A solution of 1 quart of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of salt. Soak with some agitation for 15 to 20 minutes and follow with a rinse of soapy hot water and allow to dry.
* A solution of 1 quart of water, 1 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup laundry or dishwashing detergent, 1/8 cup salt. Soak with some agitation for 15 to 20 minutes and follow with a rinse of soapy hot water and allow to dry. This may leave brass with a slight pinkish cast which will disappear with a short tumble in media.
* Military arsenals use a heated 4 percent sulfuric acid dip with a little potassium dichromate added. The solution is heated until bubbles rise slowly without it boiling and the cases are dipped into it for 4 -5 minutes using a basket of copper screening or plastic. A final rinse using plain hot water is followed by hot water with Ivory™ soap in it and the cases are left to drain and dry. Because of the use of heated sulfuric acid this method is probably impractical for home use but is given here to show what can be safely used.
 
Asa Yam
Is Brasso safe? I have used it in my walnut shell media to aid in cleaning but have heard it makes the cases brittle.
Waterboy
 
Lynn,

Brasso has ammonia in it. While others report no problems with it, it only takes one failed rifle case for bad things to happen. My advice: Don't do it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top