Brass storage question

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Guitarmageddon

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This may sound dumb, but I tend to be OCD about small details so I was wondering about this. I don't yet reload, but I save all the 38/357 I fire with the intentions of doing it eventually. I keep it separated in 2, 5 gallon buckets right now. Would it be adverse to long-term store the brass on my apartment balcony until I got around to reloading? Would moisture potentially getting in/a lot of heat/cold cycles be harmful or deform the brass to make it more difficult to load again? The buckets are covered with plastic lids as well. Thanks for the input.
 
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Heat and cold have no effect on brass. What will cause corrosion problems is water. As long as you are using the typical heavy 3-5 gallon commercial buckets with the snap-on lids, and you are judicious about replacing the lids firmly there will be no problems at all. Those buckets are the closest thing to ideal storage for brass that there is!
 
I think the moisture and humidity would be more of a concern than the heat and cold cycles. You will see a lot of oxidation with the brass stored under those conditions. May not hurt anything tho. You will need a good brass tumbler when you start reloading.

If you could get your hands on some those military ammo cans with good seals, add a couple 10 gram silica gel packs to each one, that would be a better way to go.
 
The moisture will tarnish it.Moderate tarnish will clean up in a tumbler,but the darker brass won't come clean.Might be worth trying barkeepers friend on that stuff though.
 
Good call on the silica packets I didnt think of that. Ill throw one in each. Thanks
 
Would it be adverse to long-term store the brass on my apartment balcony until I got around to reloading?
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As others have mentioned, it will do no permanent damage. It will cause it to darken and potentially stain.

I know I wouldn't store my brass outside. I do wonder if you don't have room to store it inside now, how are you ever going to find room for reloading equipment, powder, bullets, primers, loaded ammo and everything else that reloaders seem to accumulate?
 
I keep my cleaned and prepped brass in Ziplock Freezer Bags. They seal air and water tight and aren't very expensive.

BTW, I've tried just about every cleaning method out there and IMO there is NOTHING that can do the job a Thumlers Tumbler with stainless steel pins can do. While they are NOT cheap I now consider the money spent on a vibrating tumbler and an ultrasonic as money flushed down a toilet. Picked up 500 once fired 38 special cases at a local gun show last night for 25 bucks and just finished cleaning the last batch of those 500 cases and every single case looks brand spanking new factory fresh.
 
well ... your talking about "eventually" getting into reloading.
may as well start picking up some odds and ends.
a case tumbler, walnut media and some nu finish to clean up your stash might help you feel better about what your putting into storage.
 
jepp2 said:
As others have mentioned, it will do no permanent damage. It will cause it to darken and potentially stain.

I know I wouldn't store my brass outside. I do wonder if you don't have room to store it inside now, how are you ever going to find room for reloading equipment, powder, bullets, primers, loaded ammo and everything else that reloaders seem to accumulate?
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I have room in a closet, just wouldve rather kept it elsewhere, thats all.
 
I am lucky enough to have the room for storage. I have a LOT of brass, and it is ALL cleaned and ready to load. Much of it is in 41/2 gal buckets, (mostly new brass) with lids-- Some is in 2 gal buckets with lids-- other brass is stored in some containers from COSTCO that Sarah's dental chews come in. They have removable labels and are see thru-- a small sticky on the inside will let me know for sure what is inside. I am also OTT on detailing my brass. Just the way I am. :) Had I not the room, I would make room INSIDE, at least. JMHO. :) Lacking a cat the past few years, I now get my pails here. Cheap, and delivery is great! :) Oh yes, I discovered many years ago the square pails work better for me than round. :)

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-18093/Pails/2-Gallon-Square-Pail
 
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J. R. WEEMS said:
I am lucky enough to have the room for storage. I have a LOT of brass, and it is ALL cleaned and ready to load. Much of it is in 41/2 gal buckets, (mostly new brass) with lids-- Some is in 2 gal buckets with lids-- other brass is stored in some containers from COSTCO that Sarah's dental chews come in. They have removable labels and are see thru-- a small sticky on the inside will let me know for sure what is inside. I am also OTT on detailing my brass. Just the way I am. :) Had I not the room, I would make room INSIDE, at least. JMHO. :) Lacking a cat the past few years, I now get my pails here. Cheap, and delivery is great! :) Oh yes, I discovered many years ago the square pails work better for me than round. :)

2 Gallon Square Pail S-18093 - Uline
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Thanks for the advice. I see you're about an hour north of me. Save some room on the die for a new guy huh? :D
 
Outside, moisture will be created in the buckets from the heating and cooling.
 
scooter123 said:
I keep my cleaned and prepped brass in Ziplock Freezer Bags. They seal air and water tight and aren't very expensive.
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Same here. As long as they are dry when sealed in the bag they will stay that way forever. Also, it's a good idea to avoid sudden temperature changes, especially from very cold to very warm. To demo this put a piece of metal outside in below zero temperatures, then bring into a warm house and watch the moisture form.
 
If you're going to store it for a long time, don't clean it first (or just wash the dirt off it but don't polish the tarnish) the tarnish is the way brass protects itself, it's a layer of oxidation which prevents deeper oxidation, every time you polish brass, it exposes a clean layer that will start to oxidize immediately. When you decide it's time to reload, then tumble or polish the brass and it will look brand new. (I'm a big fan of the stainless steel pin polishing method)
 
I use mostly the gallon size freezer bags with the info written right on the bag, I also use the smaller chlorine tablet buckets after washing out all the chlorine. Cooky tins and the list could go on and on. Frank
 
Like Zimmerman said, "...keep it in a cool, dry place..."
 
Any issue with using a rotary tumbler for cleaning brass? Is walnut shell the best media for this kind of tumbler? Or is a "gentler" media - like corn cob - better for this type?
 
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BC38 said:
Any issue with using a rotary tumbler for cleaning brass? Is walnut shell the best media for this kind of tumbler? Or is a "gentler" media - like corn cob - better for this type?
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I prefer the rotary tumbler, I think it does a more thorough job of cleaning. Walnut media is mostly for removing heavy dirt, corncob is for polishing the brass. And a little polish does wonders to helps rejuvenate tired media.
 
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