Cases tarnished while drying

[Macross]

Just getting my first batch of 9mm brass prepped after first fire. I got a sonic cleaner and used 1lt water, 250ml white vinegar, table spoon of dishwashing liquid and salt solution. Cases came out sparkling like new. I rinsed in lots of water, and then soaked in clean water with some bicarb soda to neutralise the acid. Final rinse and then placed in the sun to dry.
When I came back an couple of hours later, the cases had tarnished and looked terrible. Oil slick looking or similar to case hardened steel like marks all over them. Where did I go wrong, or should I be doing something post rinse to keep them from tarnishing like that?

[Oldbloke]

I use the same system but only interested in cleaning them. Mine tarnish a bit too but I've never worried about it. If u want bling u will probably need to by or make a tumbler.

[Wm.Traynor]

I really don't have an answer to the tarnishing problem, which my cases do not exhibit. In my ultra sonic I use 50/50 white vinegar and demineralised water plus a tsp of Shower Power. Wipe off case lube before U S. Hose cases thoroughly afterwards. Dry externally by laying them side by side on a towel, then throwing another towel over them before rolling the whole thing under the flat of my palm. Put them in the fan forced oven for ten minutes at below 100C.
Cannot see why the OP is having trouble. There really is not much difference between our methods except that I don't even use baking soda.
Good Luck mate

[in2anity]

Instead of salt, try using citric acid. And also, if you dry them by hand, kind of like chamoing a car, you won't get the tarnishing. It means nothing though, (the tarnishing). These days i just wipe my comp brass down with white spirits to get any residue off the outside, and that's it - ready for recycling. You can clean the inside of the necks also - but for field-positional, sling shooting this step is insignificant.

[Rwd22]

The only time I had tarnish marks on brass was when I was testing out something different. I gave this particular batch a bath in mineral turps to remove sizing lube and then gave them a hit under the hose, came back an hour or so later and there was quite a few marks on them. Haven't investigated further whether it was the turps or the tap water that did it. But I just run everything through the dry tumbler only now, with rifle brass I tumble first, lube and deprime/size, trim, deburr and then tumble again for another 20-30mins to get rid of the lube. Pistol brass I just dry tumble then onto the loading process.

[Macross]

After some more google'ing and replys here, I figured out what was going wrong. The tray I was laying them in the sun on had soapy residue on it still causing the cases to have tarnish marks all over them. I redid the batch with citric acid substituted, rinsed, dried off on towel, then into the oven on low for 20 mins. Problem solved. Thanks for suggestions guys.

[Rwd22]

After some more google'ing and replys here, I figured out what was going wrong. The tray I was laying them in the sun on had soapy residue on it still causing the cases to have tarnish marks all over them. I redid the batch with citric acid substituted, rinsed, dried off on towel, then into the oven on low for 20 mins. Problem solved. Thanks for suggestions guys.

Glad you got it sorted mate, I spotted you collecting brass yesterday Tested out the first 9mm reloads yesterday and ran a few more through today, certainly alot more cost effective.

[deanp100]

I went through all the same problems trying to get them to stay shiny. I am using a wet tumbler with stainless ball bearings . I tried various acid solutions and turned some pink, some cleaned beautifully and tarnished in minutes, some didn’t clean enough. Eventually found a sweet spot with less citric acid, some wash and wax car wash and a slightly longer tumbling time. Dump,them on a towel after rinsing, quick rub dry and then leave them in the sun and all is well again.

[Stix]

I went through all the same problems trying to get them to stay shiny. I am using a wet tumbler with stainless ball bearings . I tried various acid solutions and turned some pink, some cleaned beautifully and tarnished in minutes, some didn’t clean enough. Eventually found a sweet spot with less citric acid, some wash and wax car wash and a slightly longer tumbling time. Dump,them on a towel after rinsing, quick rub dry and then leave them in the sun and all is well again.

Are you willing to share the actual recipe you use...ie-quantities of ingredients..?...

[in2anity]

Not that anyone is asking, but IMO shooters generally go overboard with their brass cleaning. A quick wipe down on the outside is enough to expose the splits, and ensure they cycle O-K. A touch of sizing wax to FLS, then wipe em again. Granted the carbon build up might be a little hard on your expander, but you can always scrape the mouth with a q-tip if you're so worried about your die. Anyway, if you use the collet die there's no scraping motion, only clamping - then no messy lubing at all required. And carbide dies in a straight-wall bypasses washing also, for the most part at least - just wash occasionally when they become super grotty.

[deanp100]

I went through all the same problems trying to get them to stay shiny. I am using a wet tumbler with stainless ball bearings . I tried various acid solutions and turned some pink, some cleaned beautifully and tarnished in minutes, some didn’t clean enough. Eventually found a sweet spot with less citric acid, some wash and wax car wash and a slightly longer tumbling time. Dump,them on a towel after rinsing, quick rub dry and then leave them in the sun and all is well again.

Are you willing to share the actual recipe you use...ie-quantities of ingredients..?...

Sure, I use the the cheap Chinese 3kg Barrel wet tumbler. In a full barrel of liquid I put two capfuls of turtle wax car wash and wax detergent, just under a level teaspoon of citric acid , probably 2/3 of a teaspoon and then tumble for 40 minutes. Thr citric acid is the thing that changes everything. Too little and nothing happens, too much and they turn pink. I even tried a phosphoric acid I use for metal cleaning and the cases were clean and shiny in minutes, but were pink( zinc stripped out) and tarnished before my eyes as they dried.
I am wondering if a bit of clean sand with the mix might buff them nicely as well.
Cheers
Dean

[deanp100]

Not that anyone is asking, but IMO shooters generally go overboard with their brass cleaning. A quick wipe down on the outside is enough to expose the splits, and ensure they cycle O-K. A touch of sizing wax to FLS, then wipe em again. Granted the carbon build up might be a little hard on your expander, but you can always scrape the mouth with a q-tip if you're so worried about your die. Anyway, if you use the collet die there's no scraping motion, only clamping - then no messy lubing at all required. And carbide dies in a straight-wall bypasses lubing also, for the most part at least - just FLS occasionally.

I have being reloading for nearly 40 years and I cleaned my first case a year ago. Why, because it gives me something gun related to,do, and shiny ammo looks better. Looks are important for the modern hunter.

[in2anity]

I have being reloading for nearly 40 years and I cleaned my first case a year ago. Why, because it gives me something gun related to,do, and shiny ammo looks better. Looks are important for the modern hunter.

I respect that. In the wise words of Bill Murray, "Life is so damn short. FFS, do what makes you happy." My brass is a dying breed, I try not to get too emotionally attached

[Wm.Traynor]

Fair go chaps! I'm not emotional; Really. Just wanna get my cases clean and I don't think a rag is all that efficient

[in2anity]

Fair go chaps! I'm not emotional; Really. Just wanna get my cases clean and I don't think a rag is all that efficient

That’s true WM. I’m consuming give or take 25 per/week shooting club, it’s just part of my routine to wipe and inspect my weekend’s brass - I do it in front of the box normally, along with most other steps, spread over a few days. I lube/FLS only when ejection becomes too weak and intolerable, about every 5th for the Enfield action, 3rd/4th for the higher pressure 223. To each to their own; I get it’d be annoying to wipe 150 pistol cases by hand

[Macross]

After some more google'ing and replys here, I figured out what was going wrong. The tray I was laying them in the sun on had soapy residue on it still causing the cases to have tarnish marks all over them. I redid the batch with citric acid substituted, rinsed, dried off on towel, then into the oven on low for 20 mins. Problem solved. Thanks for suggestions guys.

Glad you got it sorted mate, I spotted you collecting brass yesterday Tested out the first 9mm reloads yesterday and ran a few more through today, certainly alot more cost effective.

Yeah it was great to get on the range again. Sorry if I didn't say gday inside. I didn't see you come in after saying hi in the car park but I kinda got into a zone... already reloaded all that lovely brass I picked up. OMG... im a brass goblin!

[Bugman]

Don't shoot 9mm any more but when I did, all I cleaned them with was a tumbler with dry medium and ran it for about 4 hours. Nice and shiny and then stored them in a plastic bucket with and air tight lid. Stayed shiny for quite a few days. Each of us here has their own way, hopefully you will find what works for you.

[TassieTiger]

I put a few drops of baby oil in with my tumbling recipe, not enough to be able to see, feel or impede the process - but, I’ve never had tarnishing either...

[Stix]

I put a few drops of baby oil in with my tumbling recipe, not enough to be able to see, feel or impede the process - but, I’ve never had tarnishing either...

Tumbling with baby oil...

Are you on the wrong forum again mate...?...

[TassieTiger]

s**t. Yeah. Dam. It’s easy to do. “Enough gun” on one window and “enough kink“ on the other...but - tumbling in amongst the plastic sheets with some baby oil ? About as much fun as you can have with ya...errr. New cases. Buy new cases. Out.

[Rwd22]

After some more google'ing and replys here, I figured out what was going wrong. The tray I was laying them in the sun on had soapy residue on it still causing the cases to have tarnish marks all over them. I redid the batch with citric acid substituted, rinsed, dried off on towel, then into the oven on low for 20 mins. Problem solved. Thanks for suggestions guys.

Glad you got it sorted mate, I spotted you collecting brass yesterday Tested out the first 9mm reloads yesterday and ran a few more through today, certainly alot more cost effective.

Yeah it was great to get on the range again. Sorry if I didn't say gday inside. I didn't see you come in after saying hi in the car park but I kinda got into a zone... already reloaded all that lovely brass I picked up. OMG... im a brass goblin!

Haha, all good mate, I had to see the boys at the gun shop so by the time I got up there you were packing up. What press set-up have you settled on? I reloaded my first couple hundred on a single stage, picked up a cheap Lee progressive press yesterday, just awaiting dies to get it operational, I wanted to jump at a Dillon 750, but thought I'd start on a smaller scale