Cleaning brass

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BOB FRONSEE

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Hi, I've looked and seen online a lot of different cleaners, even homemade ones, and I was wondering what people here like to use.

Thanks
Bob
 
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VIBRATING TUMBLER

...which contains crushed untreated walnut particles. You'll need a screen, which fits over the center stem, to separate the cases from the walnut.

When cleaning black powder fouled cases, I used a rock tumbler ("Thumler Tumbler") with ceramic particles, & a low suds liquid cleaning agent. Makes the brass look like factory new, but is very labor intensive compared to a vibrating tumbler.

Best Wishes in your choice, Hank M.
 
Youtube has many videos on Cleaning brass. There is no rule on how clean brass must be. Some people don't clean it at all. Very bright and shiny like factory new does not last long.
 
I use an old Thumblers Tumbler and lizard cage bedding (crushed walnut). Gets cases as clean as I need them to be.
 
I've tried them all over the last 50 years .
Wet tumbling is effective but I didn't care for the water mess and the need for complete drying ...just time consuming ...So I'm back with Treated Walnut Shell media from Midway , a big vibrating bowl type case tumbler w/ top and a big plastic colander (strainer) to separate cases out .
I also have a rotary Thumbler's Tumbler but the vibrating unit is faster , easier to use and the clear top lets you keep an eye on the brass without stopping and undoing several wing nuts to get the top off .

I tend to take the easy way to do things ...some like to do things the hard way ... they both work ...So...
You pays your money and you take your choice !
Gary
 
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Wet tumble, no pins. I use a very small bit of Lemi-Shine, a small amount of dishwashing soap and hot water. Works well for me, but I am not doing precision rifle loads, just handgun loads for the range.
 
I also have tried various methods since the 70's. I have found the brass does not need to be super shiny, just clean. I also like easy and cheap. For the last 20 or so years a vibratory tumbler with ground corn cob and a tablespoon of car polishing compound every 3 or 4 batches.
 
I use a rock polishing tumbler with water and stainless steel pins with Lemi-shine, which is basically citric acid.
After 2 hours the brass is very clean, then I put it in the sun to air dry, then sift the ss pins from the brass in a sieve.
 
There are dozens of ways to effectively and safely clean brass for reloading. When I started 30+ years ago, I bought a Lyman Turbo 1200 vibratory cleaner. It still works, I guess it will at some point wear out. I always used crushed corn cob. Add in a little liquid metal polish and the brass comes out clean and shines almost like new. A used clothes dryer fabric softener sheet can also be added and it will trap a lot of dust.
 
Some clean with the primer in or out.......
however I like to remove the primer but then it also adds the step to check the primer hole to make sure it is not plugged with an object, before adding a new primer.

I am a corn or walnut man with my equipment, for now.
I don't need them "Brand new" like the wet style , that some use.
 
Need to add that getting brass "perfectly clean" will cause the brass to stick in sizers, leading to using case lube, even with carbide dies.
Guns and ammo do not have to be surgically clean, and a little residual polish from the media on brass is a good thing.
 
I use a Lyman and a Dillon vibrating unit with walnut media in the Lyman and corn cobb in the dillon. I put three tablespoons of Brasso in the Lyman and four tablespoons of Nu Finish in the Dillon. Also have a thumblers Tumbler with walnut and Nu Finish for those I want to really shine.
 
I have the baby Lyman Turbo 600.
Don't think they are made any more but it is still going strong after 35 years.
Just big enough for 50 cases which is my standard loading project.
I use the walnut shell with rouge powder media and every load add a few drops of Flitz tumbler media additive.
That keeps the dust down and brightens things up even more.
I throw away the media roughly every ten or so loads.
Don't really keep track but when I can see it getting blacker, it's time to go.
I got the replacement bowl and screen for the 1200 to decant the job into and separate the brass.
Good luck and have fun with whatever you choose.
Handloading offers so many variables to play with you can be occupied for life.
 
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