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"Tarnished Brass?"
hermiem
Member Posts: 261 ✭✭✭
I'm a real stickler for clean brass. However, I may have messed some up. I had about 250 9mm and 38 Special cases to clean in the case vibrator. The media was probably near the end of its life cycle. I added some brass polish - as I have done many times before. I let it "mix" in the vibrator for well over 1/2 hour before I added the brass. I dumped the cases in and let it run a good 4 or 5 hours. When I was sorting the cases they came out with what I thought at first was corrosion - particularly the 38's. What it was appeared to be a thin layer of caked-on brass polish. I could scrape it off with my finger nail but it would have taken me days to do it. I changed the media in the vibrator - with no brass polish added - and let rhe machine run for a good 6 hours. It helped a bit - but not a lot. My question is if I relaod these cases as they are ("tarnished") will there be any adverse effects on the pistols, particularly the chamber? Or, should I just toss them and use other cases? I put a lot of "prep" work and time into these cases and I'd like to be able to use them if I could. Any feedback or suggestions to correct the problem would be appreciated.)
Regards,
Mike
Ps
I'd appreciate it if you could avoid telling me I'm an idiot etc. Thanks
Regards,
Mike
Ps
I'd appreciate it if you could avoid telling me I'm an idiot etc. Thanks
Comments
Affects- most will say no. Myself, I don't like unnecessary debris in my chamber. Internal or external.
Carbide dies will burnish it off. I prefer not to have light duty grinding compound in my dies or guns.
I also use a ultrasonic and run my lubed brass through it to remove the grease and gunk before sending the brass to the tumbler/vibrator.
It (removing the grease and gunk) will extend the life of your brass. I had the same issue as you with the brass polish sometime back and no longer use the additive.
I use Lyman tuffnut that has the red rouge for first run if the brass is tarnished and it might polish your corrosion off because its more agressive than most media when polishing, but case lubes will shorten it's life rapidly, (why ultrasonic or hot water is needed first), then if I want a higher polish I make a run with green corncob.
Both of these medias will have to be picked out of the primer pockets if the primers are removed before polishing. I usually leave the spent primers installed when doing the first run in the tuffnut With rouge so as it don't clog the primer pocket holes, but make sure the inside of the case is cleared before sending to the die.
I really appreciate all of these great suggestions and I appreciate it greatly.
I do have a question for all of you though. It seems that there are quite a few suggestions for the ultrsonic cleaners. I had one - the first Hornady model that came out. I sent it back because (And this may have be the wrond thing to do - but I thought that I read the instructions correctly - is that when they are done in tultrasonic cleaner you wash to residue off with water. They problem I had was that I couldn't get all of the moister out of them and the brass starte to corrode. If you could inform me the of the ways that have been working for you I may give it another try. Thanks Again! You've all been a great help!
Best Regards,
Mike
quote:Originally posted by hermiem
I'm a real stickler for clean brass. However, I may have messed some up. I had about 250 9mm and 38 Special cases to clean in the case vibrator. The media was probably near the end of its life cycle. I added some brass polish - as I have done many times before. I let it "mix" in the vibrator for well over 1/2 hour before I added the brass. I dumped the cases in and let it run a good 4 or 5 hours. When I was sorting the cases they came out with what I thought at first was corrosion - particularly the 38's. What it was appeared to be a thin layer of caked-on brass polish. I could scrape it off with my finger nail but it would have taken me days to do it. I changed the media in the vibrator - with no brass polish added - and let rhe machine run for a good 6 hours. It helped a bit - but not a lot. My question is if I relaod these cases as they are ("tarnished") will there be any adverse effects on the pistols, particularly the chamber? Or, should I just toss them and use other cases? I put a lot of "prep" work and time into these cases and I'd like to be able to use them if I could. Any feedback or suggestions to correct the problem would be appreciated.)
Regards,
Mike
Ps
I'd appreciate it if you could avoid telling me I'm an idiot etc. Thanks
In technical terms, this particular Lyman model has only 2 transducers instead of 3 that is on my Branson Lab. Grade ultrasonic. If you want to know what that means to you for general use? Nothing... Very High end for under $300
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/118839/lyman-turbo-sonic-6000-ultrasonic-case-cleaner-110-volt
quote:Originally posted by charliemeyer007
Put cases in boiling hot water add some Dawn or Tide, let soak, stir. Rince with hot tap water, toss on some newspaper let dry for a day in the sun. Retumble to your desired finish.
Carbide dies will burnish it off. I prefer not to have light duty grinding compound in my dies or guns.
not a good idea to try and dry brass with live primers[:I]
Another good reason to buy a tumbler and use stainless steel media.........
+1.....only way to go. I use real bp in both of my Sharps and the tumbler/pin combo is the best way to go, and in the long run, probably the most economical.
I do not shill for this product. Husband brought it home from for Autozone, I don't shill for them either. I don't use home made snot. I wonder if that works as well as store bought stuff................