Cleaning Dirty/Tarnished Brass - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

ScottyPotty · 04-26-2007, 03:45 PM

I just acquired about 8K of 5.56mm brass that has been sitting a long time and is a bit/a lot tarnished.

What do you guys use to get really dirty cases clean? I normally use crushed walnut and it does a OK job, but I was just wondering if you guys had any super secrets to help with the tarnish.

BBunin · 04-26-2007, 03:51 PM

More time in the tumbler....

ScottyPotty · 04-26-2007, 04:05 PM

Ive been running them about 6-7hrs. Not long enough?

Krackels · 04-26-2007, 04:26 PM

I've been told that severely tarnished brass can be cleaned by tumbling them in volcanic sand, but I'd check into that before you try it.

You might want to try a liquid cleaner like Isso brass cleaner.

Bidah · 04-26-2007, 05:49 PM

You didn't say if you did it or not, but I add polish to my media, and that usually does the trick. I have some that just never come 'clean' and I don't worry about it.

I have heard that Iosso works pretty good as it is a liquid cleaner, but I have not tried it.

**agalindo** · 04-26-2007, 06:46 PM

Soak them in a bucket of hot soapy water and vinager. I use about a 1/2 a cup vinager per gallon and dishwashing detergent.

creekwalker · 04-27-2007, 06:51 AM

SP

+1 on the soak and wash, hot soapy water with a little agitation does wonders. Also, I’ve started adding Nu Finish car polish to my tumbler and walnut media I purchase from the pet stores, it makes a noticeable difference. Other car polishes will also work and this approach is much less expensive than buying pretreated media or tumbling media additives.

creekwalker

04-26-2007, 03:45 PM	#1
ScottyPotty XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Akron Area Ohio Posts: 680	Cleaning Dirty/Tarnished Brass I just acquired about 8K of 5.56mm brass that has been sitting a long time and is a bit/a lot tarnished. What do you guys use to get really dirty cases clean? I normally use crushed walnut and it does a OK job, but I was just wondering if you guys had any super secrets to help with the tarnish. __________________ My XD's XD9 Tactical XD40 Sub Compact XD40 Service You know, this crap happens with in-breeding. You can only hope the unfortunate, screwed up love child would take themselves out of the gene pool when they discover electrical outlets and butter knives or start huffing paint when they're 7 or 8 but every once in a while a truly magnificent specimen makes it to adulthood to display for the world just how freaking stupid they really are.

04-26-2007, 03:51 PM	#2
BBunin XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 2,029	More time in the tumbler.... __________________ . When seconds count, the police are only five minutes away. ------------------------------------ MY PARTIAL TOY LIST XD-9 5" (Production) XD-40 5" (Limited10) SA 1911 Loaded (Limited10/SingleStack) STI Spartan (Limited10/SingleStack) Kahr PM9 (CCW) KT P3AT (CCW) Remington 11-87 (Trap) Remington 870 Express (HD/Trap) Misc Rifles for fun and hunting

04-26-2007, 04:05 PM	#3
ScottyPotty XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Akron Area Ohio Posts: 680	Ive been running them about 6-7hrs. Not long enough? __________________ My XD's XD9 Tactical XD40 Sub Compact XD40 Service You know, this crap happens with in-breeding. You can only hope the unfortunate, screwed up love child would take themselves out of the gene pool when they discover electrical outlets and butter knives or start huffing paint when they're 7 or 8 but every once in a while a truly magnificent specimen makes it to adulthood to display for the world just how freaking stupid they really are.

04-26-2007, 04:26 PM	#4
Krackels XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 19,035 Blog Entries: 5	I've been told that severely tarnished brass can be cleaned by tumbling them in volcanic sand, but I'd check into that before you try it. You might want to try a liquid cleaner like Isso brass cleaner. __________________ "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." --Benjamin Franklin America's Third Parties --- Duping the Foolish and Idealistic since 1832. PA Roll Call .................... My Blog

04-26-2007, 05:49 PM	#5
Bidah XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Isolated, Montana Posts: 691	You didn't say if you did it or not, but I add polish to my media, and that usually does the trick. I have some that just never come 'clean' and I don't worry about it. I have heard that Iosso works pretty good as it is a liquid cleaner, but I have not tried it. __________________ -Bidah “The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views...which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.” The Doctor

04-27-2007, 06:51 AM	#7
creekwalker XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Middle TN Posts: 9	SP +1 on the soak and wash, hot soapy water with a little agitation does wonders. Also, I’ve started adding Nu Finish car polish to my tumbler and walnut media I purchase from the pet stores, it makes a noticeable difference. Other car polishes will also work and this approach is much less expensive than buying pretreated media or tumbling media additives. creekwalker

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