Clean Brass

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Kurt
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Clean Brass

Post by Kurt »

Last winter I got some new 3mm ball ceramic media because my old Daves slant cut 3/8 ceramic was just sticking in the cases so I replaced it with these little balls and they do a fine job inside and out even the primer pockets get a good cleaning except for the very outside edges.
This media I tumble a lot less than the old stuff and the brass looks like it was polished.
This load was in the tumbler for 55 minutes
I also have some 4mm in the second tumbler but the 4mm is a little to big and it makes the brass look like brushed not polished but the cases are clean.
IMG_0911.jpeg
IMG_0910.jpeg
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mike herth
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by mike herth »

The inside doesn’t look as clean or polished as the outside. Mine don’t either, there must be a way. Or maybe it really doesn’t matter.
bryany
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by bryany »

Kurt, I use the little round stuff for my bottleneck brass from 223 and up. My Dave Mauer stuff is still working fine for the straight wall brass and I have some older Sagebrush media handy if it wears out.

If I am traveling very far for a match, at least my ammo will look good!

Bryan
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Kurt
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by Kurt »

Bryan,
If the ammo looks good it will shoot good. :D
I have used Daves media I think since maybe 07 I don't remember when I got it and I won't throw it away it's good stuff, it has cleaned many cases.

Mike,
It will get the inside clean also but it needs more time than 55 minutes.
I shot these rounds yesterday and I had these cases in the tumbler with the timer set for 2 hrs and it was still running when I cleaned it out.
The inside came out bright.
IMG_0919.jpeg
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JonnyV
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by JonnyV »

I think the missing ingredient is the stainless steel pins…
Woody
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by Woody »

Or maybe it really doesn’t matter.

For years, I only rinsed then spun a brush inside the mouth and rinsed again. Over a short period of time my brass took on a dark patina. The staining did not affect accuracy at all. When my eyesight was better, I shot numerous master scores in both target rifle and silhouette. I now use ceramic in both my Thumbler's and RCBS tumbler. My brass is shiney but not my scores.

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kenny sd
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by kenny sd »

Where did you get the 'little round balls'? they look interesting...Ken
Kurt
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by Kurt »

On Amazon Kenny.
Sphere Polish Ceramic Tumbling Tumbler Tumble Media Non-Abrasive (3mm)
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Nuclearcricket
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by Nuclearcricket »

IMHO, there are several factors to consider when looking for clean shiny cases on the inside. The big one is the size of your case. Open fat cases like 44-40 and 45-70 give the media lots of room to move around inside and give things a good scrubbing. Smaller cases like 30-30 and 38-55 they don't have so much room to move around. That being said, the small balls like Kurt has started using will most likely do a better job on the inside of the smaller diameter cases if for no other reason than they have room to move around more.
The fact that primer pockets are not spotless is a relatively small issue. A primer pocket brush will quickly solve that problem.
Something else I have found, and this may be just an issue with me, but what and how much soap you use can make a difference. In the past I have tried different dish soaps, and I have not been happy with them. Maybe I was using too much, I just don't know. I do know that when I gave simple green a try, things took a definite turn for the much better. Some Lemi Shine also helped.
Since I have started shooting some smaller cases I think come pay day I will order a container of the 3mm balls and give them a try for the smaller cases. I am thinking I will be happy with the outcome and very happy that the little balls will not stick in the cases.
Sam
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kenny sd
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by kenny sd »

Thanks Kurt.
ordered 5 pound's (two 2.5 containers) from Amazon
$42.
I like the idea it clean inside and doesn't stick inside like the 'bar' type I'm using. and they may come out with a higher polish.

ok. it's been two minutes. let me go see if it's delivered at my door yet!
Ken :lol:
Kurt
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by Kurt »

Sam,

These 3mm do a fine job but I think the 2mm would be better for my .222 and all the brass I use. I almost got the 2mm but those are close in diameter to the flash holes that I thought that they might be a problem sticking in the hole.
I run two tumblers one is the Rebbel Supreme, it's like the tumblers tumbler but it has roller bearings instead of nylon bushings. I wore out two tumblers tumbler. I also have a Frankford Arsenal tumbler that has a larger barrel and it gets used the most but it takes 5 pounds of this ball media. But I can clean 200 cases of the .44-90 bn brass in one load in it.

I think your right with the soap. Dawn I have used in the past and it did fine but if you get to much in the foam gets thick and it degrades the cleaning.
I started using Cascade dish washer packs and a little Lemishine. When I dump the cleaned cases in a screen on a 5 gallon bucket I don't throw the dirty water away. I let the bucket fill almost full and keep reusing the solution over and over straight and maybe once or twice a year I will slowly drain the settled cleaner into another pail and dump the inch of mud settlings on the bottom.
I don't do this for economy it just works better then the concentrates you buy.
The dirty water settles over night and the next time I dip a coffee can in the bucket to clean the brass it's clear like it has never been used and you see the results in my photo's above.
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Nuclearcricket
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by Nuclearcricket »

Kurt, at first I was thinking you were full of it about the 2mm balls getting stuck in the primer hole, but before I fired up my fingers and proved to everyone I am an idiot I went and checked, Yeppers your right a very good chance of the 2mm balls getting stuck and thats never a good thing.
As to your reuse of your cleaning solution, my feeling are that the concentrate packs contain way more soap stuff than what you need to fill a tumbler. With the volume of brass your running it only makes sense to reuse the solution.
Yes I agree with you on the dish detergent foaming up, that is just more mess than we need. Like you I am now running a Rebel tumbler, I have the high speed model, not my choice but what was available. It does a good job.
With the simple green, there is little to no foam and it seems to hold the solids in suspension in the water and its quickly and easily washed away. After I wet tumble my brass, I just toss it in the vibrator with coarse walnut hulls to dry them and give a bit more polish. For me that system works. My walnut hulls come from Harbor Freight as a blast media, 24 pounds for about $30. I don't think I will have to buy any more for a very long time.
I have some used brass coming sometime in the next week or so. Depending on how it looks I may post before and after pics of it. It is nickel plated brass that has been through an ultrasonic so we shall see.
Sam
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powderburner
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by powderburner »

It seems that when the water level is above the media it does not clean as well as when the water is just under the surface. And I see the 40s don’t get near as clean inside as does the 45s and 50s.
The 3mm balls might just be the ticket.
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kenny sd
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by kenny sd »

trick.
I use a squirt of dawn, a splash of white vinegar, in my Frank. tumbler.
3 hours, and that's probably too much time.

I then dump everything in a steel kitchen drainer. the big style with the holes. the thingy you use to drain the spaghetti
pick out and wash the cases as I do, then spray the media with water until clean. let dry. When dry I put them back in the tumbler using a
large funnel. (your local auto store)

I made a foot square plywood piece and 3 inch nails spaced correctly to hold the cases upside down to dry.
works for my 40 70 SS cases very well.
vikingsword
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Re: Clean Brass

Post by vikingsword »

I'm still using stainless pins myself, but am going to check out the ceramic media offered by Shilo, but after I'm done tumbling I use my screened clarifier from my gold panning outfit, has about 3/16 stainless square opening wire mesh and is made to fit the top of a five gallon bucket, helps you rinse the brass while you wash out the pins without losing anything.
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