10mm brass horror

[gnappi]

I have a LOT (in 5 gallon pails) of once fired 10 brass. My regular use stock was running low due to range loss (and playing around forming 9x25 Dillon brass) so I opened one of the pails and a lot of the brass ( maybe 20%) was either red or black with corrosion.

WOW!

I took a bunch and found the corrosion was easily buffed off with my bench grinder and buffing wheel but would not come off in one of my vibratory cleaners with walnut media.

A while back I bought a used cleaner which has an unknown really dusty grey  media in it and it cleaned the corrosion off totally but...

The brass came out as if it were sand blasted leaving a pale satin finish. I tumbled them again in my other cleaner and they came out pretty good. Not mirror shiny like some clean brass fans would like but usable for me.

Has anyone used a media that was so aggressive? What could it be?

Also I've not seen black corrosion b4. Red? sure but not black. I guess some sort of contaminant was in / on either the stored brass or the 5 gal. bucket.

I think I saved a lot of brass but need 2 find another storage plan.

[nhyrum]

I've seen brass turn black. I've cleaned it up in a wet tumbler with stainless chips and citric acid(aka lemi shine, et Al. Takes a bit.

Good to see another 9x25 fellow!

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[sqlbullet]

Wet stainless media would be my solution for cleaning.  Vacuum pack bags with some oxygen removing packets.

[gnappi]

Thanks! I'll look into it, but wet tumblers I've looked at cost more than it would to throw away the stained brass and buy new.

[Graybeard]

Thanks! I'll look into it, but wet tumblers I've looked at cost more than it would to throw away the stained brass and buy new.

Wet cleaning w/SSpins pays off in the long run. I've been doing it for years. As long as you don't lose your pins they last forever. A Costco size jug of Dawn dish soap and some LemiShine go a long, long, way. You can clean brass that a vibratory cleaner won't touch.

I have the Thumler's tumbler, because there weren't any others around when I bought my system. There are others, like the Frankfort Arsenal version, for under $200. I would highly recommend it for anyone, newbies and experienced reloaders, like yourself.

[oldman10mm]

I've been SS pin wet tumbling since 2015, got rid of/sold the dry media apparatus in 2017 due to non-use.

[gadabout]

I too just love the wet tumblers results. I use a Harbor Freight 50.00 unit that does the job nicely. It is small but can do most of the quantities I need. I use ss chips with it I get for real cheap on the net. Does primer pockets and all just like new from the factory. I will never go back to dry media.  Craig

[oldman10mm]

Whenever I do a batch of brass I toss in other non-weaponry household stuff. Brass, aluminum, stainless steel hinges, door latch plates, dirty pennies, plumbing small parts, drawer/door handles, disc brake SS parts, decorative fasteners. everything comes out looking brand new.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=537063&d=1634052885

https://ls1tech.com/g/picture/22765141

[gnappi]

If my tumbler were a LOT bigger I'd do the same, but now I'm thinking that throwing in some stainless bits might not take up too  much room.

[riggeek]

I too just love the wet tumblers results. I use a Harbor Freight 50.00 unit that does the job nicely. It is small but can do most of the quantities I need. I use ss chips with it I get for real cheap on the net. Does primer pockets and all just like new from the factory. I will never go back to dry media.  Craig

This is what I use as well. You only change was to make my own cylinder out of PVC. Being using this for years.


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