OzFclass

I just bought a Lyman Ultrasonic 1200 cleaner and yes, i admit its amazing . But the container of cleaning liquid cost quite a lot. I assume it can be used many times , but..

Does anyone have any favourite formulas for home made cleaning solutions ??

thanks

Hi Andrew, type 'internal case cleaning' in search and this is the first post which was in 2006. There are a few home recipes there.

Post subject: Case CleaningPostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:26 am
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Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 12:04 pm
Posts: 344
Location: Busselton Rifle Club:West Oz
Still seeking to find a reasonably priced ultrasonic cleaner.
If someone could guide me in the right direction please.
Doesn't need to be a huge setup so long as it has been tried and works.
Thank you.

Regards

Rob Alman

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OK found
http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/How-to-Make- ... 465/g.html
they say :
Brass Cleaner
Gun owners who use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean their brass reloading cases swear by the following formula for a cleaning solution:

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
A dash of dish soap
While some gun enthusiasts claim to get good results from using a pure vinegar solution and omitting the water, this practice can leave a dark patina on brass cases. Using a solution of half vinegar and half water seems to be equally effective at cleaning the metal without the unattractive patina.

macguru wrote:OK found
http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/How-to-Make- ... 465/g.html
they say :
Brass Cleaner
Gun owners who use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean their brass reloading cases swear by the following formula for a cleaning solution:

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
A dash of dish soap
While some gun enthusiasts claim to get good results from using a pure vinegar solution and omitting the water, this practice can leave a dark patina on brass cases. Using a solution of half vinegar and half water seems to be equally effective at cleaning the metal without the unattractive patina.

Way too strong!!!!
Use 10% white vinegar & water solution for one cycle. Rinse well & follow with a cycle of a 5% solution water & bicarbonate of soda. Rinse well & dry cases with a hair dryer, do not use the oven!!!!
Keith H.

I use the Hornady solution. You need to degas it before running a batch of brass. I've been very happy with the results. Here is a link....

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... r-results/

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

I went through the whole "home cleaner is cheaper experience" but cases always tarnished quicker and were left with water spots even when drying them, I tried a number of recipes including a few strengths of vinegar.

The off the shelf fluids are the best, not only do they do a better job, they don't require 2nd and 3rd runs to neutralize acids etc.

I am with Frank, the hornady stuff is brilliant, I've just bought some lyman stuff to see how it goes.

Jason.....

I like the lyman stuff. It's diluted a lot so the bottle lasts quite a while. And if it's getting a bit low, I pour the used solution into a 2L coke bottle and let it settle a few days. All the shit sinks to the bottom and you can use it again.

jasmay wrote:I went through the whole "home cleaner is cheaper experience" but cases always tarnished quicker and were left with water spots even when drying them, I tried a number of recipes including a few strengths of vinegar.

The off the shelf fluids are the best, not only do they do a better job, they don't require 2nd and 3rd runs to neutralize acids etc.

I am with Frank, the hornady stuff is brilliant, I've just bought some lyman stuff to see how it goes.

Jason.....

I do not have tarnishing or water spotting with my method! You will get tarnish with vinegar mixtures that are too strong or where the acid action is not "stoped" after cleaning. The carb soda cycle prevents the water spotting & stops the tarnishing by "stoping" the acid action of the vinegar which is the main cause of tarnishing. Mixing soap with the vinegar solution only neutralises the vinegar which is the main cleaning agent. By all means use the proprietary solutions I am sure they work very well.
Keith H.

I use a very similar method to Keith and get great results too
I also tumble after the cases are dry to give a nicer even finish

Pete

I've tried vinegar solutions and HATE the smell of it in my garage. I use Birchwood Casey Case Cleaner and a squirt of dish washing liquid with excellent results. It's cheap and lasts a long time with out being aggressive on cases or needing a neutralising run. Just a quick rinse under running water.

My understanding of vinegar solutions is that the vinegar works by acid etching the zinc component out of the brass leaving a higher copper %. That doesn't sound ideal to me. I stand to be corrected as this is only what I've heard on the grape vine.

DenisA wrote:I've tried vinegar solutions and HATE the smell of it in my garage. I use Birchwood Casey Case Cleaner and a squirt of dish washing liquid with excellent results. It's cheap and lasts a long time with out being aggressive on cases or needing a neutralising run. Just a quick rinse under running water.

My understanding of vinegar solutions is that the vinegar works by acid etching the zinc component out of the brass leaving a higher copper %. That doesn't sound ideal to me. I stand to be corrected as this is only what I've heard on the grape vine.

If it smells you are using it too strong. Etching will only occur with STRONG mixtures & by not "stopping" the acid action correctly. I suggest you "burn" the grapevine, as is often the case rumours can be misleading.
As I have said if the commercial cleaners work for you & you don't mind buying them, then by all means use them, but there are satisfactory alternatives which was what the theme of this thread was. I am not suggesting that what I use is superior to the commercial products, just a viable alternative. Not all of us live near a stockist of the commercial products!!!
Keith H.

I don't care for vinegar or the bought products .

I use a couple of tea spoons of cream of tartar (you find it with the bicarbonate soda ect in the supermarket )
I also use a little dish washing detergent.

It dose a great job of cleaning the cases and dose not corrode the brass.

As for the rinse process ...
I place all the cases in a mesh kitchen drainer and rinse under cold water.

To dry...

I fill a stainless mixing bowl with metho .
I dunk the wet cases in the metho and give them a little shake shake.

After draining I roll the metho soaked cases out on a towel and try dry in about 30 seconds with no water marks.

I put the metho back in the bottle for next time and the times after that

KHGS wrote:If it smells you are using it too strong. Etching will only occur with STRONG mixtures & by not "stopping" the acid action correctly. I suggest you "burn" the grapevine, as is often the case rumours can be misleading.
As I have said if the commercial cleaners work for you & you don't mind buying them, then by all means use them, but there are satisfactory alternatives which was what the theme of this thread was. I am not suggesting that what I use is superior to the commercial products, just a viable alternative. Not all of us live near a stockist of the commercial products!!!
Keith H.

Hi Keith, I'm sorry if you felt I was challenging your advice, I wasn't. Your right in saying that the OP asked for home made cleaning solutions. I thought its worth mentioning the Birchwood Casey as its only $15 a bottle and lasts a very long time. Its readily available from the Qstore and other places who will send it out. At $15 a bottle, I keep a couple of spare bottles in my cupboard.

I would hazard a guess that the amount of money someone would spend on vinegar and baking soda to clean the same number of cases that a $15 bottle of Birchwood Casey would clean, would cost similar and involve more stuffing around.

https://q-store.com.au/collections/clea ... er-16fl-oz

Just changing the mood of this thread a little . A top Champion shooter just recently told me about ultrasonicly cleaning ur cases before annealing, to remove all carbon from the necks , inside and out!

I thought to myself "why , what good would that do ? "
On the weekend I got out my drill and Map torch ( yep I know , still doing it the old way!) in a darkened room and started annealing my 08 cases.

Saw why the top shot said about cleaning the necks ! I could see hot spots developing on different spots on the necks ! This would causes varying tension and expansion around the neck and lost of accuracy as the bullet yawed ! Anyway I fixed the problem another way , so all good !

Was just interesting!

One thing I personally don't like about ultrasonic cleaning is the feeling when seating the bullet.
The pill feels so much smoother entering the dirty brass.

But I am not a clean rifle/clean case guy anymore.
Dirty brass and only clean my barrels every 100-200 rounds