Cleaning sizing lube from case.

salzo

Can I throw my resized cases into a tumbler to clean the sizing lube- or do I have to sit there and wipe them off by hand?
Thanks

dcloco

Medium corn cob media works rather well for the purpose you need.

Highball

Yup..The above post nailed it. Give them one last visual, afterwards...wearing light or latex gloves. Check for splits, anomilies...and cob in the flash-hole.

JustC

if the lube is water based, then you can use 1/3 white vin and 2/3 boiling water. Throw the cases in and shake them around for a few min, then dry.

Highball

The drying process has always bothered me. As in..how to do so without leaving small drops inside the case.

Cubslover

quote:Originally posted by Highball
The drying process has always bothered me. As in..how to do so without leaving small drops inside the case.


Wipe them all out with a paper towel. The inside of your cases will be spotless

JustC

use filtered water, rinse vigourously, dry on an oven rack with the door just propped open on low temps. The only spots left would be any minerals from the water, which will have no effect on internal volume or the powder itself. At least I havn't had any issues of degraded powder up till now. The RCBS lube is water based, so the boiling water and some vinegar dilute is quickly.

one thing I will do is to make sure I dump the water while it is still very hot and come back with more boiling water to final rinse,..keeping the cases very hot so the lube stays diluted.

If I use Imperial die wax, I will tumble them to be sure. I always tumble if I have turned the necks since the mandral introduces a LOT of lube to the inside necks and shoulders.

BHAVIN

I use Dillon spray lube. It is an alcohol and lanolin mixture. I rinse my cases in very hot water when done. I shake them out then I let them dry in a towel shaking them once and awhile for an hour or two. Then I dump them into corn cobb media and add a little rubbing alcohol for about 1/2 an hour leaving the lid off for evaporation. Clean, dry and no lube.

salzo

Thanks very much for the replies!

deadeye46

I also use my tumbler with the corn-cob media to clean the lube off of the brass.It just shortens the life of the cleaning property of the media.Make sure you clean out the primer pocket and flash hole before reloading though.Just my .02

jonk

I use a tumbler sometimes, but if I've sized a LOT of cases, boil them in an old deep frier basket in a pot on the stove with some water and dish detergent; then dunk them in a bath of hot clear water a few times to rinse. Then I pour out the cases, let them cool, upend them to dump out any water, and put them back in the basket in the oven on about 175-200 for an hour or two.

Sometimes I also use a propane torch on the base of the case; if you heat it just until the water flashes off, I have found it doesn't anneal or do anything to the brass. Downside is it is one at a time that way.

RustyNail

Salzo--What kind of cases are you working with?

mbsams

Geeez, what a fandango - I just givem a quick wipe. Its real quick and the wife wont let me use the oven anyway

Highball

I quote: just givem a quick wipe. Its real quick

Works unless you are doing a thousand or so at a time.

Plus one other thing. Without alcohol on that rag..you are leaving a thin coat of lubricant on that case.

One procedure for test-firing a re=barreled rifle is to lightly lube a factory round and fire it. This in effect makes a 'Blue Pill' load..increases back-thrust on the bolt to simulate a 70-75,psi overload.
ANY amount of lube left on a case increases pressures.