Clean up cartridges

[crabo]

I was given a cigar box of someone's cartridge collection. It looks like the guy just asked people at the range for one of their cartridges. There is a lot of discoloration and a little corrosion on the brass and bullets.

How would you clean up this loaded ammo? I thought about throwing it all in the vibrator, but I don't want to hurt anything. After I got it clean I thought about putting something like Nu-Finish on it to keep the look.

This is a cool collection.

[Wayne Smith]

Don't worry about the vibrator - how do you think the factory ammo is so shiny? That's what they use. Of course, given the size of our vibrators I wouldn't try to do a lot at once.

[DLCTEX]

Many members polish loaded ammo and never a report of a mishap. If you have the Lee case spinner and the case holders for each caliber it is short work to spin the case with a drill and polish with a synthetic pot scrubber.

[Rock]

Sounds like a good project for Citric Acid. It removes tarnish very effectively.

[blackthorn]

If this is just a "for fun" collection, go ahead and polish them up. BUT if this is a collection with some antique value you may lose out if you mess with "times patina". Just a thought.

[MtGun44]

Citric acid on a rag will do wonders.

[crabo]

Where do you get citric acid? Squeeze a lemon?

[oneokie]

Home brewing supply house.

[dale2242]

I got mine at the local Growers Co-op. My wife found it even cheaper in the bulk food section of a major food store....dale

[hiram]

nevr dull from walmart
or an old fashioned hardware store


yes -- 'nevr dull' is spelled right

[MtGun44]

Lemishine at the grocery store works GREAT. It's a powder, mix up a pint with a 1/2 teaspoon
and you will have enough to wipe on a bunch of cases. I don't think I'd drop them in whole,
would not want water inside.

Lemishine is mostly citric acid and was the easiest to find source for me.

Bill

[swheeler]

Throw them in the tumbler and let it run until as clean as you want.