What's the best way to clean brass without a tumbler?

[ironSY395]

Not looking to get a tumbler at this time because im not fully ready to start reloading so what would be the best way to clean brass in a 5 gal bucket?

 

[ljk]

cheapo Ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight would be your best bet.

 

[Mephitical]

You don't have to be ready to reload to start cleaning brass. If you plan on getting a tumbler at some point, I would get it now and start cleaning and separating your brass. IMO it's better to start reloading when you're ready instead of starting to clean your brass.

 

[pdg45acp]

Scotch Brite by hand works on small batches. It's a pain to do a large volume that way though.

 

[red_zr24x4]

Soak it in vinegar. Swish it around some, pull it out ,rinse in water and let dry.

 

[voodoo304]

Vinegar with a small amount of Dawn dish soap.
Also, search YouTube. There's tons of cheap ideas on there.

 

[Double T]

How to clean your brass for reloading with Jerry Miculek - YouTube

Seems like a good way to do a crap load...

 

[ironSY395]

How to clean your brass for reloading with Jerry Miculek - YouTube

Seems like a good way to do a crap load...

Holy mothers of shells that was a lot of brass and to do it a cement mixer is awesome

 

[atalon]

Vinegar or Simple Green let it soak and swish it around occasionally. Probably use blue or green Scotch Bright pad or sponge with attached pad.

 

[Fishersjohn48]

I use broilet braper.

 

[hps]

I use Simple Green and hot water. Roll around and let soak for a couple hrs. works GREAT!!!

 

[ironSY395]

I use broilet braper.

huh?

 

[Broom_jm]

It depends on what you mean by "clean", but for rifle cases that I'm trimming to length with a Lee Cutter system, I use 0000 steel wool to brighten up the neck and shoulder. Since I've already got the case chucked up in a cordless drill, I just spin it and hold the steel wool around the case. Makes those key areas really shiny so I can see any defects.

Other than that I don't mess with making cases sparkle; they really just need to be free of debris to reload 'em.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I did the Simple Green and hot water thing once.

I went to Von Tobel and bought a 5 gallon bucket with a lid. Dumped in the hot water and Simple Green, stirred with paint stick and then dumped in the brass. I put the lid on and let it sit for a couple of hours as I was doing laundry and running errands. I grabbed it by the handle and shook it a couple of times.

 

[ironSY395]

I did the Simple Green and hot water thing once.

I went to Von Tobel and bought a 5 gallon bucket with a lid. Dumped in the hot water and Simple Green, stirred with paint stick and then dumped in the brass. I put the lid on and let it sit for a couple of hours as I was doing laundry and running errands. I grabbed it by the handle and shook it a couple of times.

And that seemed to do the trick? thsnks again and woot woot im at 50 posts

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Yes, but I think I let them soak overnight.

My tumbler is much quicker and leaves them much more shiny.

My Frankford tumbler was $40 and runs like a sewing machine (I may have the only one). I put in the deattached garage because of potential dust hazard.

 

[danmdevries]

I actually tossed a handful (200ish) into a mesh bag and ran it through the wash with my ratty/shop towels before I got a tumbler. Cleaned enough of the dirt off the cases, didn't leave em shiny but clean enough to load my first batch. After I learned the basics, I ordered a tumbler. A cheap vibratory tumbler should really be on your purchase list along with press, dies and components. But, like you I didn't know if I wanted to put another $50 into a hobby I wasn't sure I would stick with.

 

[sloughfoot]

Unless brass gets dropped in the mud and has real dirt on it, it rarely needs cleaning before resizing. That little bit of black carbon that might be on it is soft and cannot hurt anything. Pistol brass goes directly from the range to the carbide resizer, unless it has mud that needs to be cleaned off first.

i use simple green to clean off the resizing lube after resizing rifle brass. I think that is important. Shiny brass is not important.

 

[dleak]

just from past experience (BAD) i could not in good conscience recommend you use ANY method that gets your brass WET ... im sure others have done it these ways without issue, not so lucky here ...

 

[whippo]

just from past experience (BAD) i could not in good conscience recommend you use ANY method that gets your brass WET ... im sure others have done it these ways without issue, not so lucky here ...

if your issue was it was wet when you loaded. that is easily fixed by 1-2 hrs in the oven on the lowest setting I.e. 170deg