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Amonia & Brass????

drawn
Why is amonia a no no as a media charger?

I have some really nasty 45-70 brass and the plain media isn't cutting it and was contemplating adding some Brasso or Mr Metal which both have Ammonia and remember this was some sort of no no so here I am at the Box of wisdom to ask why???

Thanks Drawn
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • jonk
    I have been told that it softens and weakens brass over time. If you want to clean natty ratty brass, chuck it into your drill using Lee's lock stud and polish with steel wool soaked with regular, ammonia free polish. Also, if you boil it in water with a bit of coffee pot cleaner like dripit it will clean right up.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • fergusonmorse392
    I HAVE A TUMBLER, THAT I CAN USE WATER IN, I USE A LITTLE JOY DISH SOAP, 1/4 CUP OF LEMMON JUICE, CLEANS THEM VERY WELL. YOU MIGHT TRY AN EMPTY MILK JUG AND SHAKE IT UP WITH THIS MIXTURE. RINSE AND AIR DRY.
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  • Iconoclast
    If you live anywhere near a dairy farm, there are (very) mildly acidic cleaners made for their milk lines which do a great job on seriously tarnished / stained brass. Alternatively, contact your county / state agriculture department. I have a friend who's a big bore ammo collector (20mm to 300mm shells) and this is what he uses on his specimens as the first stage of restoring them to 'as new' condition. I've used it on some smaller ammo / shells and it has worked well for me.

    Another alternative is to put some brass polish in with your media when tumbling . . . but this will contaminate the media such that the particular batch shouldn't be used for anything except really ugly material.

    In either case, a good rinse with hot water and thorough drying should follow.

    Follow-up note: if I am drying a large amount of brass after such treatment, I put it in the oven for a while at 250. Faster & more reliable than air drying or a Klintoon comb.

    Edited by - Iconoclast on 07/18/2002 08:48:01
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  • leeblackman
    I usually add a small amount of Brasso to my tumbler media, helps get that little extra shine, and haven't really noticed any reduction in life since I've been doing so.



    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

    The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !
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  • Tailgunner1954
    Soak that brass for a hour in a bucket of Cider Vinager, stiring occasionaly. Than rinse with clear water. Use a hair drier, or set them out in the sun to dry.
    Cheap, easy, and effective. The vinigar can be reused many times.
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • joeaf1911a1
    Tailgunner 1954: I do the same thing, using white vinegar for cleaning my 10 and 12 ga brass shells. And like you said, then rinse with warm water and let dry. Works for me. Have also used brasso
    mixed with "brand X rice" and let dry, then used it for tumbling
    .308 brass with no harmful results. However, as the farmer said when he kissed the cow "everybody to their own thing".
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  • JIM STARK
    I believe I once used some Lyman "media charger" just pour 2 or 3 ouncesof the liquid in a bowl full of media and it kind of supercharged the cleaning /polishing effects of the media.. Don't even know if they still make the stuff..I'll see if I can find some..

    Edited by - JIM STARK on 07/18/2002 17:49:32
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  • 101AIRBORNE
    In response to the original question...Brass is a copper alloy in which zinc is the alloying element. Ammonia contains chlorides which attack zinc. I also have used most of the above cleaning methods and have never had a case failure. 101
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  • drawn
    Cool I'll be sure to not get any on the ZINK.

    Thanks All Drawn
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  • SP45
    I have used most of the methods as well. I also bought ceramic media for special ocasions. I am familiar with a commercial reloader who sells literally millions of rounds of ammo per year and he uses brasso mixed with corn cob. He has a wire barrel that holds about 800 pounds of media and adds brasso by the gallon. He says that this is a safe practice. Just remember that if you use something really abrasive you may weaken the cases.
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