RotoMetals2WidenersInline FabricationLee Precision
MidSouth Shooters SupplyTitan ReloadingReloading EverythingSnyders Jerky
Repackbox Load Data
Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Colored Brass?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    185

    Colored Brass?

    Color coding brass,
    Making the .204 Ruger stand out from the .223 Rem brass, or so the idea goes...

    We know that too much 'Lemi-Shine' turns brass 'Rose' (pink), but there are other colors you can make brass...
    Anyone else do this?

    I ran into this some years back, and some of it works better than others,
    https://chestofbooks.com/reference/H...-Coloring.html

    I recently ran into this, but haven't had time to try much of it.
    https://www.sciencecompany.com/-W160.aspx

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    rancher1913's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    plains of colorado
    Posts
    3,646
    cant say I have ever needed to color code brass, different calibers are evident by size to me. I do color code loads by PC, reds are warm, blues are cool, and greens are normal
    if you are ever being chased by a taxidermist, don't play dead

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    5,279
    Leave it in blackland dirt and let it rain on it and you can’t make it shine again.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    185
    Red clay is pretty rough on brass too...

  5. #5
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    2,911
    I'd be afraid of weakening the brass

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    118
    https://www.sciencecompany.com/Patin...-Copper.aspx#5

    Gets expensive and takes some effort.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    The Pacific NorthWet
    Posts
    3,877
    Sharpie Markers, not permanent but work short term.

  8. #8
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    2,911
    Maple leaves

  9. #9
    Boolit Master

    avogunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Northern Va
    Posts
    722
    Birchwood Casey makes this stuff called "Brass Black". When I had a .30 Carbine Ruger Blackhawk, I used it to mark the brass intended for that to keep separate from the others (the pistol chambers required a precise trim length). Anyway..... kinda like pan lubing, I would stand some cases in a shallow bowl/pan, pour the brass black in to a level about a third of the way up the case. The stuff will chemically change the brass where touching to a deep black color so it was easily identifiable.
    Semper Fi

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    South Central PA
    Posts
    760
    Quote Originally Posted by Mr_Sheesh View Post
    Sharpie Markers, not permanent but work short term.
    Probably the safest way so as not to weaken the brass. In my opinion of course.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master

    mdi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So. Orygun
    Posts
    7,239
    I have some brass I want to keep separate from brass of the same caliber. I very rarely shine/polish any brass, just good and clean, but that brass that I want to keep separate I tumble longer to get that virgin looking shine (My Garand brass shines ). Easy to tell Garand brass from "normal" 30-06 brass...
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  12. #12
    Boolit Master




    bruce drake's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Brownsburg, Indiana
    Posts
    4,231
    I like Avogunner's suggestion to mark the brass for specific rifles/pistols. I may start doing that for the rifles I have multiples of to segregate the brass for each I have one Lee Enfield with a very sloppy chamber that requires necksized brass for any brass life and the other has a much cleaner chamber.

    Bruce
    I Cast my Boolits, Therefore I am Happy.
    Bona Fide member of the Jeff Brown Hunt Club

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    185
    I don't have 'Micrometer vision', so when I'm p-dog hunting the .204 Ruger gets mixed in with the .223.
    I stain my .223 brass brick red so it stands out from the .204 brass, makes it easier to sort.

    As for 'Weak' brass, I stay away from long soaks in concentrated acid.
    Something like Dykem Blue or Red works pretty well but will polish off eventually, and if you do a lot it can get expensive.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master trapper9260's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    3,413
    Have anyone try to boil the cases in walnut out side hulls.Like you would get from English walnuts that you grow and take the outside shell and ground it up and boil the cases in it to try to dye it? There is some cases I would like to have a different color of the same brass.
    Grmps I use maple leaves to dye my traps. How long dose it last on brass?
    Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check