less health-hazardous brass cleaning method?

[johngalt]

I've been reloading for a little over 10 years now, and cleaning the brass is probably my least favorite chore in the process. I have been using dry corn cob media in a Lyman Turbo 1200 vibrator.

I do it outside, but it is still an extremely dirty chore. I take precautions, such as immediately throw all the clothes I was wearing in washer and take a shower, but I am concerned that the media and dust is still contaminating everything. I don't much want to handle dirty media any more.

I'm wondering if there is a wet method that is less messy, especially if it would mean no more separating the brass from the media. I guess the downside would be waiting for the brass to dry.

 

[DWalt]

Many use a citric acid solution, but it doesn't get the brass really shiny like tumbling. A product called Lemi-Shine is sold in supermarkets for use in dishwashers, and it is nothing but citric acid with an anti-caking agent added. About a heaping tablespoon in a gallon of water will do it. Some feel a squirt of liquid dishwashing detergent like Dawn helps the solution. Soaking time is not critical. I usually let cases soak overnight.

 

[johngalt]

Many use a citric acid solution, but it doesn't get the brass really shiny like tumbling. A product called Lemi-Shine is sold in supermarkets for use in dishwashers, and it is nothing but citric acid with an anti-caking agent added. About a heaping tablespoon in a gallon of water will do it. Some feel a squirt of liquid dishwashing detergent like Dawn helps the solution. Soaking time is not critical. I usually let cases soak overnight.

Do you just let the brass soak in a bucket? Do you rinse it after the soak?

I don't care if the brass isn't shiny, I just want to be able to handle it without contaminating everything and not scratch up the dies.

 

[Wise_A]

You're greatly overestimating the problem. Throwing your clothes in the wash? The hell are you doing, emptying the tumbler out over your head?

*If you're pouring the whole thing out, don't. Get a kitty-litter scooper, a deep one, to get the brass out of the tumbler. You can either shake them out one at a time by hand, or use a media separator (worth it).

*Cut down the dust by adding 2-4 tablespoons of mineral spirits to the media. While you're at it, a dab of Nu Finish shines up brass really nice.

*De-dust your media a little bit by running some used dryer sheets in them.

*Get some powder-free nitrile gloves for reloading. Handy for gun-cleaning, too. Gets you out of a lot of hand-washing.

 

[Warren Sear]

Tumbling brass won't hurt you. PERIOD.

 

[arjay]

Barkeepers friend in a bucket of water.Swish em around awhile and let it sit for an hour.Rinse them off a couple of times and dry in the sun.If you want more shine,tumble for a bit in clean media

 

[JagmanFL]

I bought a tumbler from Harbor Freight. It's small, but works great. It gets my brass really clean. I can tumble roughly 100 cases of .45 a.c.p. or 200 rounds of 9mm. using stainless steal media. I put in my dirty cases, the stainless steal media, a pinch of Lemi Shine and a few drops of Dawn dish soap and fill it with water. Seal it and tumble it for around 4 hours. When finished, I separate the cases from the media and put the cases on a towel out on my porch overnight. 100% dust free.

 

[Pondoro]

What Arjay said: Rinse first then tumble. Don't drink the rinse water.

 

[max503]

I won't use a tumbler due to the dust produced. Instead I use the warm water, lemon juice, salt, and dish soap method. The lead stays contained in the solution and goes down the drain.

 

[cgt4570]

With all the unhealthy things I've done by choice or had to do to make a living over the years (was a Nuclear Power Operator for years, just like Homer Simpson), the last thing I'm worried about is reloading hazards!

 

[Jackcpat]

Tumbling

If you're only dry tumbling add a cap full of Nu-Finish. That will stop the dusting. I universal de-cap then wet tumble with stainless media, dawn, and lemon shine , size, trim then dry tumble with Nu-Finish.

 

[SMSgt]

I think you're being overly concerned also. I use pet cage walnut media and scoop the cases out with my hands. I keep my hands away from my face and wash them afterwards.

 

[reddog81]

I just use hot water and a little soap. Any carbon or tarnish that remains acts as a lubricant. I've purchased once fired brass that was tumbled until it was shiny and much harder to size using the old steel sizing dies I prefer.

 

[DWalt]

Do you just let the brass soak in a bucket? Do you rinse it after the soak?

I don't care if the brass isn't shiny, I just want to be able to handle it without contaminating everything and not scratch up the dies.

I let the cases sit overnight then pour off the citric acid solution. You don't need to pour the solution down the drain as it can be re-used for a long time. I store mine in 3L soda pop bottles. I do rinse the cases under a faucet, I use a Spaghetti strainer to do that. Then spread the cases out over a towel to dry.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I also use the Stainless Steel pins and a drum tumbler. There is a little Lem a shine and dish soap in the hot water. I let tumble for 1 to 2 hours, separate and rinse with hot water to help speed drying. If you de-cap first (I size at that time also) it cleaned the primer pocket to like new! If you use standard dies and need to lube cases, it cleaned off the lube also.

I had a couple of hundred cases (mostly 45-70 and all brass 12 gauge) that were stained black from Black Powder loads dumped in water after firing, Some had been black like this for 20 years. It only took 3 or 4 hours to give them a like new appearance!

All the liquid goes down the toilet with a flush, and that mess is gone. Rinse the pins after every few batches or when doing black powder cases every batch and they last for as long as you don't lose them!

Ivan

 

[Regaj]

Not to light off another anxiety for you (the OP), but you probably absorb more airborne lead in a single indoor range session than you do in a year's worth of reloading.

And whatever you do, don't take up bullet casting!

Which is not at all to make light of a very serious problem. Lead exposure can be deadly.

Alas, we now live in a world inundated with anxious worry. Everything is a threat. And there's a compulsion to protect ourselves - or have the government do it for us - from anything that might hurt you.

Empirical evidence would suggest that with a bit of common sense, shooting and reloading - and tumbling brass - is perfectly safe. You can bring your tumbler back inside.

The bad news is you're going to die. The good news is that it isn't going to be because of your shooting hobby.

 

[HorizontalMike]

You're greatly overestimating the problem. Throwing your clothes in the wash? The hell are you doing, emptying the tumbler out over your head?

*If you're pouring the whole thing out, don't. Get a kitty-litter scooper, a deep one, to get the brass out of the tumbler. You can either shake them out one at a time by hand, or use a media separator (worth it).

*Cut down the dust by adding 2-4 tablespoons of mineral spirits to the media. While you're at it, a dab of Nu Finish shines up brass really nice.

*De-dust your media a little bit by running some used dryer sheets in them.

*Get some powder-free nitrile gloves for reloading. Handy for gun-cleaning, too. Gets you out of a lot of hand-washing.

I agree with HALF of what is suggested, but not the other half. I do pour the entire media into a very large dedicated salad bowl (yes turn the tumbler upside down).

Then I use a spaghetti strainer (litter strainer is fine), to separate the brass from the media. I actually put the brass back into the tumbler without the media and run it for 15-30sec. This further knocks out +99% of remaining media in brass. After that, I remove the brass and clean out the boxer hole.

Why do I pour ALL of the media out of the tumbler?
When I return the media to the tumbler, I carefully pour it back into the tumbler. NOTE - this leaves a thin film of spent powder at the bottom of the salad bowl that I can remove with a paper towel. IMO, this actually "partially" cleans the media, extending the media's life.

 

[MJFlores]

What exactly is the concern here? Is it lead? If you shoot plated bullets, the only residue you could get into the air is burnt powder and burnt primer residue. Are either all that bad for you?

 

[BE Mike]

What exactly is the concern here? Is it lead? If you shoot plated bullets, the only residue you could get into the air is burnt powder and burnt primer residue. Are either all that bad for you?

Actually most primers used in reloading contain lead styphnate. I would first advise the OP to get his lead blood level checked as a base line. I then would use latex or similar gloves during the tumbling operation. When pouring out tumbling media, he might want to use a 3M mask with the appropriate filter. I also use DeLead hand cleaning products. My lead levels have been very low. Of course there is the issue of having lead dust in your reloading area. There are HEPA vacuum cleaners that can help there.

 

[old&slow]

I use a 50 / 50 mix of Nu-Finish car wax & odorless mineral spirits
( about a 1/3 of a shot glass) with crushed walnut hulls. Don't notice any dust. Plus the vibrator cleaning is gone in the garage.

For a sorter I have a 5 gallon & a 2 gallon plastic bucket. The 2 gal. has a bunch of holes drilled in the bottom just a bit smaller than the dia. of a 9mm case.

I reload and shoot quite a bit, mostly outdoors. Last time my lead levels were checked I was still good..