Do you guys think it's bad to use Brasso to clean brass with? I've been putting some on a rag and cleaning my rifle brass with it,but I read on another site that it was bad to use it because it contains ammonia,and some guys said that it is all they use. I'm new to reloading and was wondering what you guys think about using it.
Cleaning Brass With Brasso.
- Thread starter hotdog
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DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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Yes, Brasso contains ammonia and can cause deterioration of the case if one is not cautious. However, for severely tarnished brass, I should think that judicious use of Brasso followed by immediately cleaning with hot, soapy water, followed by a rinse in clear water would not be seriously detrimental to the brass. I don't think that I would make this a practise, as cleaning each piece of brass in this fashion each time it is used would rapidly become tiresome.
Before I used a tumbler (which can be purchased quite cheaply) I often rinsed my brass in hot water with a little dish-washing soap. I have also put small amounts in a bag and dropped it in a top loading washing machine. Whilst this did not make the brass shiny and bright, it did clean off residue and other crud that might have adhered to the case. I occasionally polished tarnished brass with Flitz. However, I found it just as beneficial to wipe each piece with a soft, absorbent cloth.
It would be interesting to read your assessment of the condition of your brass after you cleaned it with Brasso. How many loadings did you get? What was the general condition of your brass? Did you observe any thinning of the brass?
Before I used a tumbler (which can be purchased quite cheaply) I often rinsed my brass in hot water with a little dish-washing soap. I have also put small amounts in a bag and dropped it in a top loading washing machine. Whilst this did not make the brass shiny and bright, it did clean off residue and other crud that might have adhered to the case. I occasionally polished tarnished brass with Flitz. However, I found it just as beneficial to wipe each piece with a soft, absorbent cloth.
It would be interesting to read your assessment of the condition of your brass after you cleaned it with Brasso. How many loadings did you get? What was the general condition of your brass? Did you observe any thinning of the brass?
- Thread starter
- #3
I've only cleaned my brass with it a couple of times,so I haven't noticed any bad side effects yet. It will leave swirl marks on the brass. I have been using a tumbler,but haven't been shooting many rounds lately,so I just cleaned them with Brasso. The necks are all that need to be cleaned,and it will take all the powder residue off. I think I will try something that doesn't have ammonia in it because I don't want to find out the hard way that it's not good for my rifle brass. I would hate to have a 300 win.mag or 7 mm mag. case rupture on me.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,508
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It is no fun! Avoid it if you can.
G
Guest
Guest
No... I have brass that I loaded with 10x's with no problem. It's fine.
It's only removing tarnish.
It's only removing tarnish.
- Thread starter
- #7
The thing with Flitz is that it cleans quick, what is hard is getting the Flitz and the detritus it has lifted off the surface cleaned off afterward. It will take some rubbing. When I clean a stainless barrel with Flitz it takes a few minutes to wipe all the residue off with a rag.
With a case I have solved that and have a way to get the residue off quickly and leave the shine. I am one of the few who use the Lee Zip Trim attached to a piece of 2x4 and locked in my bench vise where I trim and chamfer
spread the Flitz
and then just hold a rag against it and spin and it will shine up in a jiffy
clean the inside of the necks
apply a little mica and I can do about 50 cases in 45 minutes
With a case I have solved that and have a way to get the residue off quickly and leave the shine. I am one of the few who use the Lee Zip Trim attached to a piece of 2x4 and locked in my bench vise where I trim and chamfer
spread the Flitz
and then just hold a rag against it and spin and it will shine up in a jiffy
clean the inside of the necks
apply a little mica and I can do about 50 cases in 45 minutes
big rifle man
Handloader
- Dec 21, 2005
- 850
- 0
I' ve used brasso for many years in my tumbler and have had no problems. I tumble a wide variety of cases including a batch of 30.06 cases that I've loaded 8 times and I've found no problems. A good friend of mine that runs a table at gun shows tumbles all his brass with brasso and has never had a problem. I've tried a number of other polishing products but always come back to brasso as it works the best. Dr. Mike, your soap comments are very interesting. For really dirty brass I deprime with a universal deprimer and then place the brass in a bucket with a half gallon of hot water, a cup of white vinegar and an ounce of dishwashing liquid (preferably dawn) and agitate for approximately 15 minutes. Boy does that work.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,515
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woods,
Thank you for your excellent post and tutorial.
JD338
Thank you for your excellent post and tutorial.
JD338
G
Guest
Guest
big rifle man":1fc7p0qb said:
I'm gonna do that!!
- Thread starter
- #12
I copied this guys post from another site about using anything with ammonia in it. I'm new to reloading and just don't want to use something that will get my son or me hurt.
A bit demanding to ask to be directed to the "study" isn't it? Go to NRA's Handloader's Guide. Any one of them starting with the 1969 edition and those that followed. They cover their contacts,and the tests for cleaning brass, with Frankford Arsenal and caution that ANY brass cleaning material which contains ammonia seriously weakens brass. Ammonia will leach the zinc from the brass making it more brittle.
I've only used it a couple of times on my brass. I would put some on a rag and rub it on,then take a clean rag and wipe it off. It cleans real good,but you won't get the shine that woods has on his brass. I bought a can of Never Dull today and tried it on some brass,it will shine your brass up nice,but you have to do one case at a time.
A bit demanding to ask to be directed to the "study" isn't it? Go to NRA's Handloader's Guide. Any one of them starting with the 1969 edition and those that followed. They cover their contacts,and the tests for cleaning brass, with Frankford Arsenal and caution that ANY brass cleaning material which contains ammonia seriously weakens brass. Ammonia will leach the zinc from the brass making it more brittle.
I've only used it a couple of times on my brass. I would put some on a rag and rub it on,then take a clean rag and wipe it off. It cleans real good,but you won't get the shine that woods has on his brass. I bought a can of Never Dull today and tried it on some brass,it will shine your brass up nice,but you have to do one case at a time.
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,439
- 913
Try this, it's faster and does a great job.
Just chuck up a case as above (I use a Sinclair case spinner in a cordless drill) and just hold a piece of OOOO steel wool against the brass. You can clean brass to a shine from the mouth to the case holder in just a few seconds. Use an old neck brush with a little more steel wool and you can clean the inside of the neck at the same time.
Just chuck up a case as above (I use a Sinclair case spinner in a cordless drill) and just hold a piece of OOOO steel wool against the brass. You can clean brass to a shine from the mouth to the case holder in just a few seconds. Use an old neck brush with a little more steel wool and you can clean the inside of the neck at the same time.
