40 grit for brass cleaning
I have tried the over priced shell media and child's play sand. Both take forever to clean and clog up primer holes. So for the heck of it I tried some 40 grit abbrasive blasting media. This stuff is heavy so I only used 60% of the amount that I normally would use.
Results...
Slightly dirty cases/no lube = cleaned in 15 minutes.
Moderately dirty cases/with lube = cleaned in 35 minutes.
Don't tumble the brass too long in the grit or your brass comes out a pewter color. Also, don't handle this stuff with your bear hands because it acts like fiberglass on your skin.
Results...
Slightly dirty cases/no lube = cleaned in 15 minutes.
Moderately dirty cases/with lube = cleaned in 35 minutes.
Don't tumble the brass too long in the grit or your brass comes out a pewter color. Also, don't handle this stuff with your bear hands because it acts like fiberglass on your skin.
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Hmmm. Soudns like an option, but the only questions I might have are: Does the abrasive stuff score the brass to the point it becomes rough on dies or firearm chambers? And, because of the abrasiveness is it wearing brass off of the inside and outside of the case walls faster than corncob or walnut media ever could? (Ie; changing case dimensions, loosening case tension on the seated bullet and/or making cases weaker than what is expected with a "standard" media?)
You may be on to something, let us know how they hold up for several reloadings. [:)]0 -
Didn't you just post about this, like, 10 days ago?
I'll ask now what I asked then- vibratory or rotary tumbler?0 -
I didn't see the first post, I guess others had the same types of concerns about the media damagaing the cases. The speed of the cleaning as described makes it almost sounds like a sandblaster is working on the brass.
Personally I'll pass. I'm not in a hurry to clean the cases, it takes 90 minutes to 2 hours or so to do them to my satisfaction. I just put it on the bench in the garage and let it run. I've never had an issue with damaged cases using plain old walnut hulls (and a touch of case cleaner in it) for thousands of pistol and a few hundred rifle cases over the past 7 years or so.0 -
Just "for the record":DO NOT USE SAND OR OTHER EXTREME ABRASIVES TO CLEAN BRASS. It WILL imbed in the brass ruining both it and the dies and possibly the firearm's chamber if you get that far. 0 -
+1 on Mobuck. Silicon Carbides can leave a fine coating (you can't see it) that "will" ruin your dies if used enough. I also assume it will hurt your chambers based on working with numerous "grit types" over the years in manufacturing processes. 0 -
If your aim is to minimize cost of media, check out the price of a 25 lb bag of white rice. I little brasso in it works wonders. 0 -
why not throw it in a vibrating cleaner and walk away for a few hours?? I will let mine run for 5-6hrs while I go about my business. It's not a job that requires oversite,..kinda like the old......" a watched pot, never boils" thing.
I would never run 40 grit anything on my brass or around my dies.0
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