Homemade case cleaner?

shrub · 08-02-2007, 10:39 PM

I dont currentlty own a tumbler and have some cases that need cleaning. I used to use brass but i have read that it weakens the brass. Anybody have a recipe that gets the job done?

billy · 08-03-2007, 06:22 AM

ive just washed them in the sink before.
i used dawn soap.
it worked

Johnny_Revolver · 08-03-2007, 06:37 AM

I`ve used soap and water, rinse off in as hot water as you can procure, the brass will dry quicker. I even put my brass into a low oven to fully remove the curse of the water. Buy a tumbler, you can pick them up so cheap there`s no reason not to own one. I love mine.

shrub · 08-03-2007, 08:27 AM

my mothers not home today so i can use the sink lol. i plan on buy a tumbler next

JoeLee · 08-03-2007, 09:33 AM

I soak them in hot soapy water,rinse them out good,then invert them an a nail board to dry.I have also put them in a cloth bag,tying off the top,then put them in the washing machine with laundry.

shrub · 08-03-2007, 10:57 AM

i ended up letting them set in a bucket of hot soapy water for about 20 mintues then put them in another bucket and rinsed them with the garden hose until the water stoped getting soapy and they are now drying on the front porch-about 400 rounds.

alan c. · 08-03-2007, 11:34 AM

hmmmmm!! I grew up helping my dad reload hunting ammo. We always used Brasso to clean and shine.
It is a little tedious but it worked great on 7mm-mag and 44 mag cases.

RugerBob · 08-03-2007, 03:17 PM

I used to run them thru the dishwasher when there was nothing in it and didn't use any soap. Just put them in a set of my wifes old nylon stocking. Ran some the same way in the washing machine with some jeans. worked ok both ways. eventually broke down and got a tumbler. Bob

alan c. · 08-03-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrub

I dont currentlty own a tumbler and have some cases that need cleaning. I used to use brass but i have read that it weakens the brass. Anybody have a recipe that gets the job done?

Do you mean brass cleaner or a actual brass product?

OZHUNTER62 · 08-03-2007, 08:28 PM

Hi Shrub,I have a copy Nick Harvey's Practical Reloading Manual,sixth edition and find it to be a very simple and easy to use reference.
In his case preparation section he recomends washing the decapped cases in hot soapy water. Bring a vessell of soapy water to the boil and immerse and shake the cases contained in a wire basket into the water for a few minutes followed by rinsing under hot water,cases can then be hand tumbled in a large towel to remove water and left to dry in sun or dried in an oven set low 50-90 degrees celsius,I have used this method and it does clean them quite well.
I eventually convinced my children to buy daddy a case tumbler for my recent birthday.
Enjoy your reloading,

Regards.

shrub · 08-03-2007, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan c.

Do you mean brass cleaner or a actual brass product?

i ment brasso. but i read a couple post that said that the amonia in it weakens the brass or something to that affect.

alan c. · 08-04-2007, 04:47 AM

I thought so but like I said we used to hand polish some pretty potent ammo on a continuous basis and never had a problem.

gandog56 · 08-06-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrub

i ment brasso. but i read a couple post that said that the amonia in it weakens the brass or something to that affect.

It's supposed to make your brass brittle and more prone to crack. But other people say I use it all the time, nothing better. I stay away from it and just use a tumbler and Franklin Arsenal Brass Polish.

Pumpkinheaver · 08-09-2007, 10:43 PM

Dish detergent and water works pretty good. You can get a tumbler from MidwayUSA - Shooting Supplies, Reloading, Gun Parts, Ammunition, Rifle Scopes & Airguns for $30 bucks.

Jay A. · 08-09-2007, 11:35 PM

I wish I had known about soapy water. lol. I've been reloading for about ten years and never cleaned my cases at all, except that after I size the cases I wipe the lube off them, and if they're cruddy I uses some fine steel wool to get any crud off the neck, 2 seconds per case. Why would you go to the trouble of washing a tub full of cases? Sounds like a lot of work. Washing, drying, tumbling. Whew.

Deersniper · 08-10-2007, 11:41 PM

Check out IOSSO. It works. I use the Cabela's kit for tumbling. Just don't use ammonia based cleaners, it makes the brass brittle.

Lead melter · 08-13-2007, 08:17 AM

You might try half hot, soapy water and half hydrogen peroxide. This will remove the fishy smell from hands and will really help remove skunk odor.
God bless.

DWARREN123 · 08-13-2007, 11:35 AM

A tumbler with corn cob media is best, in my opinion. Really easy and does not hurt the brass. Tumblers are fairly cheap and the media lasts a long time. Cuts out a lot of time consuming work you can use in other reloading areas.

08-02-2007, 10:39 PM	#1
shrub Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Guilford Vt. Posts: 104 Trader Rating: (0)	Homemade case cleaner? I dont currentlty own a tumbler and have some cases that need cleaning. I used to use brass but i have read that it weakens the brass. Anybody have a recipe that gets the job done?

08-03-2007, 06:22 AM	#2
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 10,865 Trader Rating: (0)	ive just washed them in the sink before. i used dawn soap. it worked __________________ i'll keep an eye out for ya!

08-03-2007, 06:37 AM	#3
Johnny_Revolver Gun Liker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,200 Trader Rating: (0)	I`ve used soap and water, rinse off in as hot water as you can procure, the brass will dry quicker. I even put my brass into a low oven to fully remove the curse of the water. Buy a tumbler, you can pick them up so cheap there`s no reason not to own one. I love mine. __________________ It`s a good life, provided you don`t weaken.

08-03-2007, 11:34 AM	#7
alan c. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pasadena,Tejas - also known as Texas Posts: 3,757 Trader Rating: (0)	hmmmmm!! I grew up helping my dad reload hunting ammo. We always used Brasso to clean and shine. It is a little tedious but it worked great on 7mm-mag and 44 mag cases. __________________ God Bless. From Tejas -- formerly known as Texas. Last edited by alan c.; 08-03-2007 at 11:38 AM.

08-03-2007, 08:28 PM	#10
OZHUNTER62 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 174 Trader Rating: (0)	Case cleaning Hi Shrub,I have a copy Nick Harvey's Practical Reloading Manual,sixth edition and find it to be a very simple and easy to use reference. In his case preparation section he recomends washing the decapped cases in hot soapy water. Bring a vessell of soapy water to the boil and immerse and shake the cases contained in a wire basket into the water for a few minutes followed by rinsing under hot water,cases can then be hand tumbled in a large towel to remove water and left to dry in sun or dried in an oven set low 50-90 degrees celsius,I have used this method and it does clean them quite well. I eventually convinced my children to buy daddy a case tumbler for my recent birthday. Enjoy your reloading,Regards.

08-03-2007, 08:27 AM	#4
shrub Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Guilford Vt. Posts: 104 Trader Rating: (0)	my mothers not home today so i can use the sink lol. i plan on buy a tumbler next

08-03-2007, 09:33 AM	#5
JoeLee Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North New York State. Posts: 1,241 Trader Rating: (0)	I soak them in hot soapy water,rinse them out good,then invert them an a nail board to dry.I have also put them in a cloth bag,tying off the top,then put them in the washing machine with laundry.

08-03-2007, 10:57 AM	#6
shrub Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Guilford Vt. Posts: 104 Trader Rating: (0)	i ended up letting them set in a bucket of hot soapy water for about 20 mintues then put them in another bucket and rinsed them with the garden hose until the water stoped getting soapy and they are now drying on the front porch-about 400 rounds.

08-03-2007, 03:17 PM	#8
RugerBob Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 64 Trader Rating: (0)	I used to run them thru the dishwasher when there was nothing in it and didn't use any soap. Just put them in a set of my wifes old nylon stocking. Ran some the same way in the washing machine with some jeans. worked ok both ways. eventually broke down and got a tumbler. Bob

08-04-2007, 04:47 AM	#12
alan c. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pasadena,Tejas - also known as Texas Posts: 3,757 Trader Rating: (0)	I thought so but like I said we used to hand polish some pretty potent ammo on a continuous basis and never had a problem. __________________ God Bless. From Tejas -- formerly known as Texas.

08-09-2007, 10:43 PM	#14
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,316 Trader Rating: (0)	Dish detergent and water works pretty good. You can get a tumbler from MidwayUSA - Shooting Supplies, Reloading, Gun Parts, Ammunition, Rifle Scopes & Airguns for $30 bucks. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

08-09-2007, 11:35 PM	#15
Jay A. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montana Posts: 116 Trader Rating: (0)	I wish I had known about soapy water. lol. I've been reloading for about ten years and never cleaned my cases at all, except that after I size the cases I wipe the lube off them, and if they're cruddy I uses some fine steel wool to get any crud off the neck, 2 seconds per case. Why would you go to the trouble of washing a tub full of cases? Sounds like a lot of work. Washing, drying, tumbling. Whew.

08-10-2007, 11:41 PM	#16
Deersniper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,340 Trader Rating: (0)	Case cleaner Check out IOSSO. It works. I use the Cabela's kit for tumbling. Just don't use ammonia based cleaners, it makes the brass brittle.

08-13-2007, 08:17 AM	#17
Lead melter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 13 Trader Rating: (0)	Homemade case cleaner You might try half hot, soapy water and half hydrogen peroxide. This will remove the fishy smell from hands and will really help remove skunk odor. God bless. Last edited by Lead melter; 08-13-2007 at 08:18 AM. Reason: spelling

08-13-2007, 11:35 AM	#18
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 750 Trader Rating: (0)	A tumbler with corn cob media is best, in my opinion. Really easy and does not hurt the brass. Tumblers are fairly cheap and the media lasts a long time. Cuts out a lot of time consuming work you can use in other reloading areas. __________________ Have a nice day!