Low cost options for cleaning brass
- Thread starter xandi
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Cheapest of all - 5 gallon bucket filled with car wash soap and a dash of Lemi Shine. If you use the car wash soap that also contains wax, it keeps the brass from tarnishing. Use a laundry bag and soak, dunk, swirl, etc. then flush with clean water.
You'd be surprised how clean it gets the brass. Not shiny like running through a tumbler but certainly clean enough to reload. Depriming before washing helps to clean better.
You'd be surprised how clean it gets the brass. Not shiny like running through a tumbler but certainly clean enough to reload. Depriming before washing helps to clean better.
Depends on your definition of low cost, but I use a vibrating tumbler I bought at Bass pro and walnut lizard bedding from petsmart. The tumbler was $49-59 ?? on sale I think. It's been a while. I originally had a harbor freight tumbler but it quit a few days after the short warranty ran out. Wasted money.
Three or four years! Son, there are faster methods that would spare you the giant propane bill. 
But seriously, if you use the simple cold detergent and citric acid method (Lemishine is just an expensive form of citric acid) you can further save yourself the cost of a bucket by putting a plastic milk jug into service (after the milk is gone). The handle makes it easy to shake. Citric acid cheap is here.
But seriously, if you use the simple cold detergent and citric acid method (Lemishine is just an expensive form of citric acid) you can further save yourself the cost of a bucket by putting a plastic milk jug into service (after the milk is gone). The handle makes it easy to shake. Citric acid cheap is here.
603Country
New member
I’ll just stick with my Harbor Freight vibratory tumbler and their crushed walnut. Works great and is quite inexpensive. I’ve had it for years.
I also use a bucket of water with Dawn dish soap. Usually let them soak over night or longer, and agitate several times during the soak.
I de-prime before the wash. Dump the brass and soapy water into an old dishwasher utensil basket to separate the brass from the water. Rinse a couple times with hot water, and dump the brass on to a bath towel for a quick shake. Spread the brass out on the towel in front of a fan, dehumidifier, or heat source for drying.
Not as clean as a polish, but plenty good. I do that even if I am going to polish since it takes less time for polishing and increases the media life.
I de-prime before the wash. Dump the brass and soapy water into an old dishwasher utensil basket to separate the brass from the water. Rinse a couple times with hot water, and dump the brass on to a bath towel for a quick shake. Spread the brass out on the towel in front of a fan, dehumidifier, or heat source for drying.
Not as clean as a polish, but plenty good. I do that even if I am going to polish since it takes less time for polishing and increases the media life.
If you just want clean, Doyle has given good advice.
If want some shine, get a vibratory tumbler and use either walnut or corn cob media. I got a Frankford Arsenal vibratory tumbler from Amazon for less then $40. I use untreated media that I get from midsouthshooterssupply.com for about the same cost a buying pet litter and trying to re-purpose it.
If you do decide to use pet litter, make sure it is 100% walnut or corn cob and not simply "walnut-based" or "corn cob-based" since those litters use other material can can stick inside your cases.
A "jewelry grade" shine is not compatible with "cheap", so I'l stop there.
If want some shine, get a vibratory tumbler and use either walnut or corn cob media. I got a Frankford Arsenal vibratory tumbler from Amazon for less then $40. I use untreated media that I get from midsouthshooterssupply.com for about the same cost a buying pet litter and trying to re-purpose it.
If you do decide to use pet litter, make sure it is 100% walnut or corn cob and not simply "walnut-based" or "corn cob-based" since those litters use other material can can stick inside your cases.
A "jewelry grade" shine is not compatible with "cheap", so I'l stop there.
JeepHammer
Moderator
I would go with volume of brass needing cleaned...
For a range day once in a while (if you aim), a half gallon jar, soap, water, and shake for about 10 minutes.
Half gallon mason jar is fine for sighting in hunting rifles or some well aimed shots.
Range blasting day just to hear noise, better get a drive of some kind for your mason jar or 1-2 gallon bucket.
10,000 a day, big box store cement mixer, soap, water.
Don't confuse cleaning with polishing or coatings.
Wash to get crud off, dry media to polish, wax for coating.
(Wax is not metal polish no matter what the label says)
For a range day once in a while (if you aim), a half gallon jar, soap, water, and shake for about 10 minutes.
Half gallon mason jar is fine for sighting in hunting rifles or some well aimed shots.
Range blasting day just to hear noise, better get a drive of some kind for your mason jar or 1-2 gallon bucket.
10,000 a day, big box store cement mixer, soap, water.
Don't confuse cleaning with polishing or coatings.
Wash to get crud off, dry media to polish, wax for coating.
(Wax is not metal polish no matter what the label says)
FrankenMauser
New member
Soap, water, and some scrub brushes.
That's as cheap as it gets.
For added efficiency, the citric acid mentioned above helps. If you don't want to order online, or aren't sure just how much you're getting in an "8 oz" or "16 oz" package, try your local bakery supply shops if you're in a fairly large city. They usually sell it by the pound (in ounces -- up to 50 lb bags) for very reasonable prices ... and it's food grade.
That's as cheap as it gets.
For added efficiency, the citric acid mentioned above helps. If you don't want to order online, or aren't sure just how much you're getting in an "8 oz" or "16 oz" package, try your local bakery supply shops if you're in a fairly large city. They usually sell it by the pound (in ounces -- up to 50 lb bags) for very reasonable prices ... and it's food grade.
Half gallon plastic orange juice jug. 1 lb of stainless steel pin. Water just covers the brass. A squirt of simple green or two. Roll the closed jug for about 300 times. Rinse and separate. Each time I can clean up to 100 30-06 sized rifle brass.
I have been doing this for many years with the same jug and stainless steel pins. My poor man wet tumbling method. Works well for what I need.
-TL
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
I have been doing this for many years with the same jug and stainless steel pins. My poor man wet tumbling method. Works well for what I need.
-TL
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
FWIW and just an aside; I reloaded for 12 years before I got a tumbler. I would wipe each case with a solvent dampened rag as I inspected it. No ruined dies, no scratched chambers, and I could spot all defects. I also used a method much like this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHrkCR_CEEI. (I normally don't like or recommend YouTube for anything)...
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Low Cost Brass Cleaning
Go to harbor freight and get a tumbler.
Go to the feed store and ask about crushed walnut bird litter.
Go to Walmart and get some car polish.
Combine, shake well
May not be commercial quality polish but will clean cases of dirt and buff them off.
You may want to wash them as a final step and leave them in a hot car for a few days to dry.
Go to harbor freight and get a tumbler.
Go to the feed store and ask about crushed walnut bird litter.
Go to Walmart and get some car polish.
Combine, shake well
May not be commercial quality polish but will clean cases of dirt and buff them off.
You may want to wash them as a final step and leave them in a hot car for a few days to dry.
Yep. Good basic method. Inexpensive too. I never tried a dehydrator, just Mama's oven (when she wasn't home
)..."...also contains wax..." That you do not want on your cases. Plain white vinegar works, followed by a hot tap water rinse and 15 minutes on a cookie sheet in mikld's mom's oven(we don't live there. snicker.) set on the lowest setting. And another 15 minutes cooling time.
Really cheap is a clean rag and vinegar in front of the TV.
What you're cleaning off is carbon. Doesn't take a lot of cleaning. And cases do not need to be shiney.
Really cheap is a clean rag and vinegar in front of the TV.
What you're cleaning off is carbon. Doesn't take a lot of cleaning. And cases do not need to be shiney.