How I clean my brass

[Mikeinkaty]

I don't like to spend money if I don't have too.

I deliberated long and hard on this subject (at least a day). I decided that I already have a tumbler in my house - the clothes dryer. ( I live alone). So I load my brass into 1/2 gallon plastic wide-mouthed grapefruit juice jugs and strap them inside my clothes dryer using zip ties. I can do 3 jugs at a time for a max of about 600 rounds. I set the dryer on a no heat setting and let it run for a max interval, twice. About 2.5 hours total. I use Lemi Shine and Dawn soap and NO pins. This is after I have deprimed the cases. Results are excellent. Oh, I start with very hot water. The jugs are pointing toward the open door so the drum rotation will keep the lids tight. The only expense outside of electricity is the zip ties.

Afterwards I dump the brass into a large SS collendar and give them a thorough rinsing. Then dry them on a towel then use a 1500 watt heat gun to finish the drying.

[Lee in Quartzsite]

That was good for a chuckle....but I am not knocking it! Sounds like a novel idea. I have heard of people using the dishwasher to clean their guns, but I have never tried it. I recently bought a sonic cleaner to clean my brass which works pretty good. Just a pain getting them dry again. Maybe the dryer would work to get them nice and dry??!!

[JBnTx]

Originally Posted by Mikeinkaty

I don't like to spend money if I don't have too.

Wait until you see your electric bill.....

[radio11]

I'm not knocking it either, but the Frankfort Arsenal vibratory tumbler is only about $35 shipped from Amazon (maybe other sources as well). Walnut shell media is also very affordable either online or at pet stores. A bottle of NuFinish and/or odorless mineral spirits and you're rolling for a long time.

I do clean my brass in a water, vinegar, salt and Dawn solution (then allowed to dry) before I tumble. The tumbling media lasts quite a while not having to remove the dirt, carbon, etc.

Again, not a dig on the method. I applaud your ingenuity.


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[Mikeinkaty]

I am to sensitive to dust to use dry tumbling.

[Ballistic147]

I'm married so there is no way on earth I would let my wife know that I can use the dryer or the washing machine or the vacuum cleaner or the............................

[radio11]

Originally Posted by Mikeinkaty

I am to sensitive to dust to use dry tumbling.

I understand--always run mine on the covered porch.


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[jhnttrpp]

Some men shouldn't be allowed to live alone.

[fredj338]

Imo, you are over thinking this. Tbs of oemishine, gal of warm water, couple drops of dish soap. Throw in 2-3k cases, swish around for 15min, rinse, drain, dry.

[Mikeinkaty]

Originally Posted by jhnttrpp

Some men shouldn't be allowed to live alone.

Eat your heart out! 😃

[4barrel]

Why not put the brass in the jugs in a back pack and jog for 2 1/2 hours? If you had a dirt bike you could tie the jugs on the back and go down a rough road. What about a drill attached to a hamster cage? Put the jugs on your lawn mower with a blade out of balance? You have given me ideals. I have a bench grinder that is out of balance I was going to throw away. I could tie a container to the top of that. Thanks.

[Mikeinkaty]

Originally Posted by 4barrel

Why not put the brass in the jugs in a back pack and jog for 2 1/2 hours?

Cause I'm 75 years old!!

[jonnnyboy]

Brother, that is ingenuity at its finest!

I have a friend who found he had an unused and unwanted ice cream maker in the garage. He put brass, lemi-shine and hot water in it. He placed it on an angle that wouldn't leak but would tumble the brass and let it run outside for an hour. Voila! Clean brass and the neighbors think he has fresh ice cream!

[flyrobb]

Originally Posted by fredj338

Imo, you are over thinking this. Tbs of oemishine, gal of warm water, couple drops of dish soap. Throw in 2-3k cases, swish around for 15min, rinse, drain, dry.

The mix I heard of adds white vinegar and a dash of salt to the above. It's surprising how well it cleans the brass.

[Culina]

Does it clean the primer pockets or the inside of the brass? For me that is the big selling point of the SS pin wet tumble method.

[Mikeinkaty]

Originally Posted by Kurac

Does it clean the primer pockets or the inside of the brass? For me that is the big selling point of the SS pin wet tumble method.

"Clean" is a subjective thing. But so far this method has been adequate for my needs. One thing that really helps is starting out with hot water. I have my hot water tank set pretty high. I put hot water in first and let it bring the cases up to temp, then dump it out and add more. Then I put the soap and lemi shine in.

[LostintheOzone]

I'd rather run through a pit full of rattlesnakes barefoot than to use my wife's dryer to clean brass.

It sounds like a great idea, just way too risky for me.

[fccdfed]

If you ever think about a vibrating tumbler Harbor Freight has a nice 5Lb. vibator for $55 or the 18 Lb. for $165. I have used a vibrating tumbler for years on brass and metal detector finds and works great. If you keep an eye on Harbor Freight they always have sales and 20-25% coupons to bring the price dow.

[357-RevolverGuy]

This would be a great, "you might be a redneck if..." thread.

[Mikeinkaty]

Originally Posted by 357-RevolverGuy

This would be a great, "you might be a redneck if..." thread.

Don't knock it till you've tried it!

[hdwhit]

radio11 wrote:
I do clean my brass in a water, vinegar, salt and Dawn solution (then allowed to dry) before I tumble. The tumbling media lasts quite a while not having to remove the dirt, carbon, etc.

I urge that you not use salt.

Even if you rinse in hot water, it is very difficult to completely remove the salt and its residue will promote future corrosion.

[jimbo728]

Ive seen Jerry Miculeks tumbler.
It`s a cement mixer. Big plastic buckets of brass get dumped in it an then he fires it up.
Hope I didnt spell his name wrong.
Jim

[Sclays]

Jerry Miculek also uses an electric oven to dry brass after wet tumbling

[SixShooter14]

One of my brother's co-workers attached a gallon plastic jar to an old bench grinder. Loads it with brass/media...let's it run.

Works surprisingly well. For $0. He got the grinder out of a trash can on the side of the road. He's a trash truck driver.

[Bkreutz]

Originally Posted by jimbo728

Ive seen Jerry Miculeks tumbler.
It`s a cement mixer. Big plastic buckets of brass get dumped in it an then he fires it up.
Hope I didnt spell his name wrong.
Jim

That show was the inspiration for my brass cleaning method. been using it for a couple of years.

[Mikeinkaty]

Originally Posted by LostintheOzone

I'd rather run through a pit full of rattlesnakes barefoot than to use my wife's dryer to clean brass.

It sounds like a great idea, just way too risky for me.

My wife has been in a nursing home for 2-1/2 years.

[Hotshot9]

Originally Posted by fccdfed

If you ever think about a vibrating tumbler Harbor Freight has a nice 5Lb. vibator for $55 or the 18 Lb. for $165. I have used a vibrating tumbler for years on brass and metal detector finds and works great. If you keep an eye on Harbor Freight they always have sales and 20-25% coupons to bring the price dow.

Yep.. I just got the 5 gal with 20% off works great and pretty quiet and minimal dust!

[IAM Rand]

I have an old rock tumbler. I use walnut shell with brasso. 1hr later and Bob's yer uncle. If OP has an issue with dust then this would be a no go for him but it has cost me only the crushed walnut shells as I already had the tumbler and brasso.

[ACORN]

This thread is sounding more and more like an episode of the Red Green Show. All we need now is duct tape.
Keep yer stick on the ice.

[olskool]

I like it!

[federali]

I soak my brass in Lemishine & dishwashing detergent (for automatic washers) and very hot water. As I'm rarely in a rush, I allow them to air dry after rinsing, then they go into the tumbler.