Inline FabricationMidSouth Shooters SupplySnyders JerkyLoad Data
WidenersTitan ReloadingRotoMetals2Lee Precision
Repackbox Reloading Everything
Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Leaching Zinc

  1. 07-29-2020, 08:15 PM #1
    Super Sneaky Steve
    Super Sneaky Steve is offline
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    767

    Leaching Zinc

    I think we all know what happens to brass when we leave it in our LemiShine too long. It leaches the zinc and leaves the brass looking more like copper. That's bad for our brass cases that we intend to shoot but maybe it's an advantage for us who use brass to make jackets.

    I'm not sure if there's much benefit, but suppose we left some hulls in a concentrated solution for a lengthy periods. Could we make easy true copper jackets out of scrap brass?

    Just thinking out loud here. I've got lots of thinking time trying to de-rim 50# of 22lr.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 07-29-2020, 10:36 PM #2
    Hick
    Hick is offline
    Boolit Master
    Hick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Winnemucca, NV
    Posts
    1,609
    Depends on how long you leave it. The copper shade you get from a little too long in the lemishine is not bad for the brass. The zinc removed is only in the first layer of atoms on the surface-- it does not significantly weaken the brass. I've got some nice pretty pink LC Match brass I've been reloading a long time-- But if you leave it in a long time (as in days) all bets are off.
    Hick: Iron sights!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 07-30-2020, 07:29 AM #3
    JimB..
    JimB.. is offline
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,888
    Maybe take a spent 45acp case, leave the spent primer, tumble it super shiney, stuff a bullet in it, seal the bullet in with lacquer, nail polish, or super glue, then boil it in citric acid for a few hours or a day. Case will be nice and pink on the outside, pull the bullet and see if it’s pink on the inside.

    Or do the same with 50 cases and toss them in a gallon jar by the window, replace the solution and check a case every week for a year.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 07-30-2020, 10:36 PM #4
    Hick
    Hick is offline
    Boolit Master
    Hick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Winnemucca, NV
    Posts
    1,609
    Quote Originally Posted by JimB.. View Post
    Maybe take a spent 45acp case, leave the spent primer, tumble it super shiney, stuff a bullet in it, seal the bullet in with lacquer, nail polish, or super glue, then boil it in citric acid for a few hours or a day. Case will be nice and pink on the outside, pull the bullet and see if it’s pink on the inside.

    Or do the same with 50 cases and toss them in a gallon jar by the window, replace the solution and check a case every week for a year.
    I like it! Very scientific
    Hick: Iron sights!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 07-31-2020, 12:11 AM #5
    JimB..
    JimB.. is offline
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,888
    OP might find this interesting, apparently canada cares about the dezincification of brass.

    https://www.canada.ca/en/conservatio...ion-brass.html
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules

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