Cleaning Brass Cases

[Empe]

I'm getting ready to start reloading and am looking into different pieces of equipment I will need before making the purchase.
There seems to be a few ways of cleaning brass cases. One is a tumbler using some type of media such as crushed walnut shells another more expensive option is a sonic cleaner . Also I was talking to person recently who says he uses a homemade solution of dish soap ,vinegar & water . He soaks the cases in the solution rinses them off and claims it does a pretty good job.
I don't want to spend money needlessly but don't want to buy something now only to upgrade in a few months .
Am interested in hearing of your experiences and suggestions.

 

[dr. mordo]

There are several threads here about cleaning brass, at least one of which I started.

To summarize:

Cleaning with liquid works well but is very time consuming.

Rolling in a rotary tumbler with steel pins and fluid works great but is also a bit labor intensive.

Vibrating in walnut shells or corn cob is potentially a bit messy (I have not had this problem), doesn't clean quite as well, but is adequate and very easy.

 

[Sevens]

In these discussions you will often find that folks are STAUNCH in their methods and sometimes it seems like everyone that may do it differently is crazy, haha.

In the interest of brevity, I have handloaded for three decades and only been cleaning brass for the last 20yrs. I survived before I cleaned brass but I would NEVER go back. My choice is a basic vibratory tumbler, ground up corn media, three squares (3"x 3") of paper towel and a short dribble of NuFinish car polish, 3-4 hours on a lamp timer.

I do NOT clean primer pockets ever on anything and I never size or deprime before tumbling.

I will never clean brass with a sonic or any method that makes it wet requiring that I dry it. Sonic cleaned brass is awe-inspiringly beautiful, but I'll never use any method that later requires drying by any method.

This is my routine and I typically produce 10,000 to 15,000 handloads annually, 95% of which are pistol/revolver ammo.

 

[iouri]

Don't overthink it. Yes clean brass is more pleasant to handle but it's not going to shoot any better Dry tumbler or wet SS pin tumbler (more expensive) or sonic cleaner or as you've mentioned just soaking in homemade brew - any of those methods will deliver satisfactory results.

 

[webfarmer]

Been handloading since 1977 and tumbled cases since then. They come out very shiny and even better / faster these days with small amounts of liquid cleaner added. Never been attracted to wet tumbling for the time and mess. And I could care less what the "inside" of the case looks like. One big advantage with tumbling is I can reload that same brass in a couple hours after shooting. You'll get many varied answers to this just like all the other threads that covered your question. Good luck with your new hobby!

 

[Wise_A]

If you're just starting out--vibratory tumbler, crushed walnut media (either prepared reloading stuff or lizard bedding).

Why? It's the simplest, most economical solution. There's very little effort involved, and you don't have to worry about drying cases.

Good stuff to buy with your tumbler and media:

--Deep kitty-litter scoop for sifting brass out of media without a lot of pouring and hassle.
--Timer for set-it and forget-it operation.

Once you're into it a few times, you can try out the Nu Finish and mineral spirits method, or get into a rotating tumbler and pins, or however else you decide to complicate your life.

 

[BC38]

Empe, I realize you're pretty new to the site.

BUT, if you use the search function, or even browse the thread titles in the RELOADING section, you will find more information and opinions on this topic than you could ever want to take the time to read.

This topic is literally discussed in another new thread at LEAST a couple of times a month in this section and has been for the last several YEARS.

Not trying to be mean or curmudgeonly, just saying that there is a LOT of info already available on this topic, and all of it is just waiting for you to look it up and read to your heart's content.

 

[SW CQB 45]

I have been reloading since the 80s. I have always used a Thumlers tumbler and a smaller Lyman, dry media, dryer sheets and Nufinish.

I parked my reloading efforts around late 2016 in preparation for a move. *******, its been almost 2 years since I pulled on a 550 handle and wonder if I remember how to do all this.

I finally got my backyard building but need to set up the inside. I saw my two tumblers and wondered if I should invest in a wet tumbler.

after reading Dr Mordo, Sevens and Webfarmer posts....I will continue as is.

I hope to be pressing out loads this winter!!!!

 

[Twoboxer]

IMO the best bet for a new reloader is dry tumbling. Cheaper and less to learn about possible "gotchas" while you're buying new equipment and learning lots of other stuff. Can be dusty, so equipment with closed tops is best. Adding a used dryer sheet and/or tumbling outside helps too.

Frankford Arsenal and Hornady tumblers will do fine for <$50. The Frankford Arsenal Media Separator ($40) looks like it will work fine for dry and also claims to work for wet tumbling if you go that way later on.

Most ground corn, walnut media, or lizard bedding from pet stores will work fine. Corn Cob Blast Media, 425 to 1000 Nominal Dia. Micron Range, 40 lb. Bag ($35) from Grainger (or others) may well be the best and will last LONG. Least dust, cleans and polishes like the corn it is. Unlike other media it is small enough not to get stuck in your cases even if you choose to deprime before tumbling.

 

[Moe Mentum]

I use a vibratory tumbler in the winter, and wash cases with citric acid and dish soap in the summer, where I can leave them out in the sun to dry. Washing takes time, the vibratory method is faster. They don't have to be squeaky clean, just get the dirt off so they don't scratch the dies is all you need. After all, they will just get dirty again when you shoot them.

 

[imakmst]

I wash my brass in a bucket with water, dawn, and citric acid. Swirl, sit, swirl, sit, swirl, rinse, sit, rinse.

Load.

easy peasy

 

[Popeye77]

Personally a harbour freight tumbler steel pins, water,Dawn blue, touch of Lemishine. Kitchen strainer covered with piece of window screen. Pour the pins and brass in the strainer. Rinse them pick out the brass then dry them easy enough for me. Pins will last forever and don't have to fool with dry media and keep buying more.

 

[apollo99]

I just started the citric acid wash. I let my brass soak for about an hour, then rinse in hot water, then leave it out to dry for a couple of minutes. I then throw it in the vibrating tub with crushed walnuts and nu-finish for an hour. The citric acid seems to dissolve any tarnish and the walnut with the new finish shines the heck out of the brass.

 

[kbm6893]

I deprime and resize when I get back from range. When I have about 300 I tumble in walnut and car polish. I throw them into a sonic cleaner to clean inside of case and primer pocket and let sit on towel for a couple of days to dry.

It's pressing a button. The machines do the work. I like clean brass.

 

[chief38]

Been at the reloading game for many years now and I've been using the Lyman Green mix over the past 10 years (use to use Walnut shells). The Lyman Green does a much better job than the Walnut Shells did - and lasts quite a while.

The newest method is wet tumbling with stainless steel pin media and some of the Guys who are just getting into the hobby are using that. If I were just starting out I might look into that method as it produces incredible results! At this point while I am sticking with the Lyman Green and a Dillon Vibratory Tumbler, the wet method works better IMHO although requires a little more work.

 

[Mike0251]

This old range brass was wet tumbled with no stainless pins used. Only 3 squirts of Dawn detergent and 1 teaspoon of Lemmon Shine. Yes it requires drying but you see the results. Note this only took 3 hours.

 

[Bkreutz]

This old range brass was wet tumbled with no stainless pins used. Only 3 squirts of Dawn detergent and 1 teaspoon of Lemmon Shine. Yes it requires drying but you see the results. Note this only took 3 hours.

I do the same with pistol brass, except I only need 1 hour to get the same results. I let it dry in the shop for a week or so, never had a problem with moisture in over 150K rounds loaded this way. I don't understand the statement about it taking more time. The only way it takes more time is if one watches it dry.

 

[Sclays]

Have both wet and dry tumbling equipment.
Wet tumbling has worked out great.
Wet with pins will clean the heck out of a suppressor core.
Nasty job made easy.

 

[firecracker6]

Here's how I clean my pistol cases: When the old lady isn't looking, I get her colander and dump a bunch of cases in it. Next, I spray the cases with simple green while stirring with one of the old lady's spoons. Then I rinse off the cases using the kitchen sprayer --again while stirring with the old lady's spoon. I then lay the cases out on one of the old lady's towels to dry. This method doesn't really get the cases nice and shiny but it knocks off the big stuff and leads to some interesting conversations at home.

 

[jim lock]

Firecracker--Why don't you spend six dollars and buy your own colander, spoon and towel. It's alot healthier. LOL