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Thor96 |
Ed's Red for cleaning brass? |
Lead | |
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Does anybody use Ed's Red to clean their brass after sizing? I must admit, it works fine for cutting the sizing lub and cleaning up the brass, but
afterwards, especially since I dipped them in Red, I wondered if this was wise, and if it would contaminate the primer. I don't think if would have been a
problem if I just used a damp rag. I have plenty of other brass and don't intend to use these lots for some time. Will they dry out? I can wash them in
acetone if necessary.
"Without our TRADITIONS, our lives would be as shaky as, as a Fiddler on the Roof." Tevye |
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Abe Normal |
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Thor96,
Ed's Red contains (depending on which version you've mixed up) several oils that could cause trouble inside the case or on the primer. I've always used a quick bath of 80 to 90% alcohol with 10 to 20% acetone. Just tossed the brass in a jug added the alcohol acetone mix sloshed everything around for a minute or so and then drained. Pat the brass dry with an old towel then hit it with a hair dryer to evaporate off anything left in the primer pockets and inside the case. Have never had any troubles with oil contamination using this method.
Abe
If everyone thought like me, I'd be a fool to think any differently! |
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Jeff7mm |
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I just wipe them off unless I have hundreds to do.
When doing them en-masse I use old bath towels. The first one has solvent or Acetone lightly sprinkled or sprayed on it, the second is dry. Just dump them in the center, fold the edges and twist it shut and give it a shake until clean, then the same thing with the dry towel. If you want to get a little fancier, have the wife stitch the edges shut until it looks like a big pillow case. Easy to dump them in the washer when they get real dirty later. I dont worry about the inside of the case very often, my tumbler gets whats going to go away unless I used black powder. With black powder I take a plastic milk jug with me half filled with water and some white vinegar added. Dump your cases in the jug and shake it, by the time you get home the residue is gone and they just need a rinse in boiling water. Then they go in the dry towel. If Im worried about the inside drying quickly or in a hurry to put them in the tumbler for polishing, I put them on a cookie tray and turn the oven to its lowest setting. One word of caution, treat that solvent soaked towel like any other flamable rag. Dont leave it near the water heater etc and store in a covered metal container in summer to avoid spontanious combustion. If you let it get really dirty the wife isnt likely to want it in her washer to leave grease stains on the next load of underwear she washes. Take it to the local laundra-mat or find a new towel at goodwill.
Diapers and politicians need frequent changing, and for the same reason
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Thor96 |
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Abe, technically, all the components in Ed's Red are petroleum or hydrocarbon base. Primary difference is the kerosene and ATF have a very high flash
point, but the mineral spirits and acetone have a extremely low flash point and literally flash dry. Mixed together, there is still a certain amount of flash
off. But is it enough to remove fear of contamination?
Jeff, the issue is not how to clean brass, but will Ed's Red cause contamination. You see, this was an experiment to see how well it cleans. In the process, I dipped the brass in a bowl 5-6 at a time and although not "soaked" in it, some Ed's Red did get in the primer pockets. There are about 150 pieces involved. My concern now is should I wash them in acetone or mineral spirits, or take a chance on Ed's Red drying out enough for it to be okay. I have them in ammo boxes now and the pockets appear to be dry after a couple of days. It will probably be several weeks before I prime these anyway. No need to work up ammo when it's too cold to go to the range. 18 degrees today in midday. As far as cleaning brass, about as good as any is gun cleaning solvent, like Hoppe's #9. I usually clean with a rag lightly dampened with Hoppe's. But since Ed's Red is much cheaper, I thought I would try this experiment. Rag? I have my sons trained. My boys go through lots of T shirts, designer and undershirts, and chunk them when they are the least worn, faded or stained. So after I started rummaging through their trash, they finally realized ole dad wants their old T shirts. One was recently married and the other one went back to college, but they are trained to bring their T shirts to dad. Shucks, I even get my wife's cotton panties every now and then. Those are very soft, good for polishing. "The nature of your faith is wrapped in the object of your faith" David Jeremiah |
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velvetnsteel |
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IMHO the Ed's Red will kill a primer..........................I've got a case soaking in it right now that I inadvertently inverted the primer, so I am
soaking it to kill it before I punch is out using the de-capper against the firing side.
I only am wondering how long to let it soak.....he he. Should be fun....................
Long live the Swedish Mauser!!
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Jeff7mm |
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I agree, I think it will kill a primer and the ATF over time would affect the powder. Glad you have the family trained too. I have the neighborhood save the
new one lb plastic containers coffee comes in. It makes a great place for ready to load brass sorted by caliber and brand. I have nearly 20 and still
collecting them.
Diapers and politicians need frequent changing, and for the same reason
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Thor96 |
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Jeff, why do you think the ATF would be any different than the kerosene? At this point, it appears the Red is evaporating, but hydrocarbon has a way of creeping, even though it may look dry. I believe I'll wash them with mineral spirits to make sure. We drink enough coffee around our house that I don't have to worry. Every morning before we even get out of bed, my wife whispers in my ear willowy "I need coffee". She's got me trained, and just like George makes Laura's coffee, I get up at 5am and make her coffee. So I've got plenty of 3 lb containers. They are great for putting around tomato plants to keep the cut worms out, and also collecting old brass picked up at the range for sale to the scrap yard. I use 3 lb butter containers for working brass. "The nature of your faith is wrapped in the object of your faith" David Jeremiah |
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velvetnsteel |
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Must be a bunch of us makes coffee for our wives. I do.............
Long live the Swedish Mauser!!
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Thor96 |
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velvetnsteel wrote:I thought I was the only one having a late life love affair. And it's legal. But hey, you're not senior. "The nature of your faith is wrapped in the object of your faith" David Jeremiah |
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velvetnsteel |
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Who's not senior? You don't have me by much, IIRC..............
Long live the Swedish Mauser!!
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Jeff7mm |
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The ATF is in the formula as a preservative. When I spill or drip Eds formula on my garage floor it leaves a residue even though I wipe it up immediately. The
wifes dryer vent is close enough that I notice lint and dust sticking to the stain.
Ed is frequently found in the Cast Bullet Assoc forum. I will ask him his opinion about any lasting residue if used on brass.
Diapers and politicians need frequent changing, and for the same reason
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SW28fan |
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Well I have a different brass cleaning method. I wipe the necks with a patch soaked in hoppes # 9 then soak them in soapy water, rinse and then soak them in
store brand diet cola for a half an hour then I rinse them and then dry them on a towel over night. I have tried putting soap in the diet coke directly but it
froams up to much.
"Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them"
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Thor96 |
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Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Paul. Now that's a process. Do you have that patented?
I've used a rag dampened with Hoppes and wipe down with a soft cloth (translate that Tshirt), but don't follow through with soapy water and soda. Someday I'll get rich and buy me a tumbler. That should give the polish too. "The nature of your faith is wrapped in the object of your faith" David Jeremiah |
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SW28fan |
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Well aside from the wiping and rinsing it does not entail much effort on my part and the brass looks like new when I am done, I was recently given a tumbler
but haven't tried it. I usually have 50 or less rifle cases to deal with and this has worked for me for several years.
"Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them"
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Thor96 |
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Paul, I didn't go with the soda treatment but did the soap. They are clean and better but not real shiny. I guess the soda does that. You didn't say
what kind of soap so I used liquid antibacterial dish soap. That's what we use in both the kitchen and the bathroom. I'm married to a Nurse and
that's the way it goes.
I wonder about putting brass through the dishwasher. That's a little meaner detergent. I wonder if it has ammonia in it. "The nature of your faith is wrapped in the object of your faith" David Jeremiah |
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