I got several pounds of 38 cases. Some of them have a very stubborn lube on them. It appears to be sizing wax. A lot of it. I tried cleaning with Dawn, and I tried rubbing alcohol. Neither worked.
I don't tumble my cases, so that is out.
What solvent should I use to get these cases clean? Is gasoline out of the question?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by Charlie Horse; 08-26-2023 at 11:01 AM.
Id the wax is dried out and old it may take a soaking to remove it. I would try acetone soak over night then rinse in fresh.
You might try putting some cases in a old pan containing water and boil them for a while to ser if the heat will soften or release the gunk. If not add a little dawn to see if that cuts it. Might also try using a rag with some kerosene on it to wipe the too. It that works you could soak them a while the wash with soapy water to get the kerosene off. I'd even try gas. I grew up using it to clean car parts and it didn't hurt anything. But I did not smoke either.
Steve,
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Zepp - Citrus Degreaser…
My main way of cleaning skanky cases, is in an old stainless pot on the stove with boiling water and auto-dish detergent. Grease, wax, carbon -- it all comes off. jd
It seems that people who do almost nothing, often complain loudly when it's time to do it.
Give them a swish with Denatured Alcohol. (Home Depot or Lowes sells it by the gallon) It will strip wax...and will evaporate quickly.
redhawk
The only stupid question...is the unasked one.
Not all who wander....are lost.
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acetone
Put them in the silverware holders, and run them in the dishwasher.
Hot water and soap first . If that doesn’t work, try the solvents. I still remember from my college organic chemistry classes.... like dissolves like .
^^^this^^^Originally Posted by Shawlerbrook
For a solvent, gasoline works pretty well. Just keep your hands out of it.
In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.
OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
EVERYONE!
Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.
As a final resort, methyl-ethyl-ketone. (MEK at Home Despot).
Don't breathe the fumes. I mean REALLY don't breathe the fumes.
Cognitive Dissident
Acetone or lacquer thinner, then wash with Dawn and water. Use extreme caution with solvents.
NRA Life 1992
My avatar is almost a dead ringer for my little buddy Chico. Six pounds of mean that thought he was a Pit Bull. Miss that little guy.
I use that spray CRC Brakleen Brake and Parts Cleaner. The chlorinated kind. I save the liquid after I've poured the shells into a funnel on a glass bottle; slosh later cleaned shells in it and pour them into the funnel again with a final spray after most has dripped off. The chlorinated stuff takes up a lot of grease and oil before it gets saturated, and (of course) I'm always adding some fresh with the final spray.
To be honest, I would use gasoline, outside, in a safe area, no smoking or ignition sources. Then save, pour back into gas can, to use for the lawn mower or pour it into a cars/truck gas tank. The lube isn't going to hurt an engine, and gasoline is about the cheapest solvent you can buy.
As case in point is mineral spirits. I just 2 weeks ago paid $10 USD for a QUART! I remember the last time I bought it, it was less than that for a gallon. I use it in the vibratory tumbler, so it is what it is.
So, even at $4 USD a gallon, gasoline is being my brass and case de-lubing solvent. And it also isn't wasted, but still used in an engine.
Just use some sense, gasoline is both lighter and heavier then air and is easily ignited. So be safe.
45_Colt
I'd heard various residues from washing parts can foul spark plugs or a catalytic converter.
I use gas for washing parts, and have another container of it for a rise if needed.
When the dirtier one gets really nasty, I pour it on fire ants or the really big weeds.
As cheap as it is I just don't put it back in a vehicle.
In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.
OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
EVERYONE!
Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.
Gasoline is my #1 hard parts cleaner. However it doesn't work very well on wax. Try gas first, if it doesn't cut the crud it's probably a wax. For wax, boiling water with a bit of dawn.
Ammonia takes wax off of floors. Probably most of us have forgotten that or have never waxed a wood floor. If it is wax that's probably the cheapest solution.
Wayne the Shrink
There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!
Not to hijack, but if you have ever lived in Uncle Sam's house you have waxed a floor. Likely more than once!
+1 ^^^this^^^
Tractor Supply carries it.
Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.
Ammonia causes season cracking of brass cartridge cases. Its a big no no'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season_cracking
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