Thread: Cleaning brass...

Greetings All,
Being a low tech handloader by inclination I follow the low tech route.
1. First don't let your brass get too dirty in the first place.
2. Next I deprime using a Lee punch and base set and clean the primer pockets with a small screw driver. This is done on a separate bench from my press to keep the gritty residue away from the press ram.
3. Next the outside of the case necks are given a spiff up with steel wool to remove burnt powder residue. If you have not mastered step 1. yet you may need to attend to the rest of the case with the steel wool. A quick polish with a Chux cloth finishes the job. This step is also done on the previously mentioned separate bench to keep the steel wool fibers away from the magnetic damper on my beam scales.
4. As part of case lubrication, wiped on with fingers, the inside of the case neck is given a quick clean with a strip of Chux wound around an old bore brush with a light touch of case lube from the fingers mentioned previously. This eases the passage of the expander button.
That is my method at the moment. Please note I said at the start it was low tech not low OCD.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings All,
Being a low tech handloader by inclination I follow the low tech route.
1. First don't let your brass get too dirty in the first place.
2. Next I deprime using a Lee punch and base set and clean the primer pockets with a small screw driver. This is done on a separate bench from my press to keep the gritty residue away from the press ram.
3. Next the outside of the case necks are given a spiff up with steel wool to remove burnt powder residue. If you have not mastered step 1. yet you may need to attend to the rest of the case with the steel wool. A quick polish with a Chux cloth finishes the job. This step is also done on the previously mentioned separate bench to keep the steel wool fibers away from the magnetic damper on my beam scales.
4. As part of case lubrication, wiped on with fingers, the inside of the case neck is given a quick clean with a strip of Chux wound around an old bore brush with a light touch of case lube from the fingers mentioned previously. This eases the passage of the expander button.
That is my method at the moment. Please note I said at the start it was low tech not low OCD.
Regards Grandpamac.

Hi GPM

Are you not concerned about lube contaminating the charge (I'm assuming lube at neck won't make it to primer which would be my next thought...)?

Originally Posted by davetapson

Hi GPM

Are you not concerned about lube contaminating the charge (I'm assuming lube at neck won't make it to primer which would be my next thought...)?

I use a dry powder neck lube.
Also I tap the case a couple of times mouth down and a couple of times base down to reduce
The amount t of graphite, brass trimmings and primer debris left inside.

Originally Posted by davetapson

Hi GPM

Are you not concerned about lube contaminating the charge (I'm assuming lube at neck won't make it to primer which would be my next thought...)?

Greetings Davetapson,
Sorry for the late reply, just spotted your post. I was concerned about contamination early on when using a more liquid case lube. I used to clean the neck inside with a dry Chux strip. Since I changed to a wax lube I found I was able to minimise the amount used and have encountered no problems. I just give the Chux a light brush with my fingers after lubricating a case. The dry media mentioned elsewhere in this thread would be just as good and possibly better.
Regrads Grandpamac.