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Using brass polish Brasso on cartridge cases....pros and cons?

K

Kilroy

Well-Known Member
Hi All,

I have recently picked up a cache of Keynoch 30-06 Garand/.30 cal BMG ball ammo, all of it manufactured during 1955.

It was super cheap, but many rounds have tarnish and an odd screen offset print type look of purple dye on the cases
I cannot imagine how it got there.

I tried a series of solvents first on test cases. Mineral sprit, acetone, xylene, rubber cement thinner, soap & water, ammonia, nothing I tried
seemed to work very well on it at all.

Then I tried Brasso. I used a terry cloth face cloth ( good loop structure on the fabric ) and poured out a little on that, then rubbed the
cartridge around on the cloth.

It worked the best of any chemical tried, but people have cautioned me about it over time, as it will chemically impart it's
own kind of tarnish on the brass.

Is there any way to neutralize this effect, or is there a better brass cleaning solvent out there than Brasso?

Thanks,
Walt
 
I don't know if it will neutralize the Brasso but I used flour and dilute vinegar paste on my shells and have not had a problem with them.
 
The purple dye on the Kynoch cases is probably excess primer varnish and why they were sold off as surplus. If you are going to shoot them it makes no odds.

They are Berdan primed so I doubt if you will want to keep them for reloading.

Regards
TonyE
 
I find 'Autosol' polish very effective, messy to use but comes up with a supreior, fairly effortless finish. Try Supercheap/Repco stores.
 
What ever I use and especially with anything like brasso that seems to leave a film or residue, I carefully wash with soap and warm water afterwards and with a brush to get it out of corners. Most don't which is why you see build ups up white dried stuff on objects and it can go green too.
 
+1 on the Flitz polish. I've used another one called Maas that works good to. No go on Brasso. It will tarnish if you use it, just type of brass depends on how long, some sooner & worse than others. Also, try 0000 steel or bronze wool to remove unwanted laquer. The blue "no scrath" Scotch-Brite pads work great to. And you can try MEK (methyl ethyl ketone, mostly used to glue commercial plastics) to soften it up. If it's truly lacquer it'll help break it down & then evaporate off.

Just my two cents
 
To remove lacquer coatings i use a gasket stripping spray and enclose the shell in a ziplock bag or plastic container.the solvent doesn't evaporate straight away so does a better job.
Not really suitable for smaller shells,but certainly good for the bigger stuff.
 
On a personal note,I've never felt the urge to polish something that was never shiny in the first place!

Tony
 
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