STEP-1: Wash the dirty brass.
Brass was washed in warm tap water with liquid dishwashing detergent. Do not use detergent with ammonia added, as this can discolor the brass and if allowed to soak (or not dried out quickly) can deteriorate the brass.
While transferring brass to a suitable washing basin, obviously bad brass (pierced or severly dented) was discarded, and aluminum and steel cases were also separated to be discarded.
Mix vigorously to allow soapy water to get inside the cases, eliminate air bubbles, and dissolve any accumulated dirt. Rinse very well.
When done, my procedure is to lay the washed brass on a towel in the sun, and this dries the cases very well and fairly efficiently (and cheaply), since I live in the High Desert and sunlight is my friend.
An alternative method would be to lay the cases out on a metal pan and place them in the oven for no more than 5 minutes at about 100-125*F. Being a cheapskate, I use sunlight.
In all stages of cleaning, case handling is done in batches. It is easier this way, and the small ultrasonic cleaner used can only do about 100-150 cases at a time.
Brass was washed in warm tap water with liquid dishwashing detergent. Do not use detergent with ammonia added, as this can discolor the brass and if allowed to soak (or not dried out quickly) can deteriorate the brass.
While transferring brass to a suitable washing basin, obviously bad brass (pierced or severly dented) was discarded, and aluminum and steel cases were also separated to be discarded.
Mix vigorously to allow soapy water to get inside the cases, eliminate air bubbles, and dissolve any accumulated dirt. Rinse very well.
When done, my procedure is to lay the washed brass on a towel in the sun, and this dries the cases very well and fairly efficiently (and cheaply), since I live in the High Desert and sunlight is my friend.
An alternative method would be to lay the cases out on a metal pan and place them in the oven for no more than 5 minutes at about 100-125*F. Being a cheapskate, I use sunlight.
In all stages of cleaning, case handling is done in batches. It is easier this way, and the small ultrasonic cleaner used can only do about 100-150 cases at a time.