Case prep

[Tom Ruley]

I Annealed some 30-06 brass and was going to clean next, but I read about using citric acid to clean the tarnish off. I couldn't find citric acid at Wal-mart but I found it at an Amish general store, First, It is a white powder, isn't it? Second, How do I use it? Third, I've always used RCBS case lube or Vaseline, what do others use?
Thanks
Tom

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Tom,

The RCBS later soluable lube works find for me, and has for years.

The Vaseline might be good, haven't tried it, but would be the dickens!!!!!!!! to clean off.

STP is a very good lube if you need to do some heavy cast forming, but really really hard to clean up from.

Imperial Sizing Wax is good for case forming. A little goes a long long way! Not bad for clean up. AFTER I tried it, put the STP away.

There is a whole post on one of the forums about making case lube and what they use, but you'd need to be sizing thousands of pieces of brass to make the hazzle worth the effort.

Don't know about the citric acid, but stay away from anything with amonia as part of the mix.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[edler7]

The citric acid a lot of people are using is Lemi Shine. You will find it at wal mart in the dishwasher soap section. It comes in a yellow container. Yes, it's a white, crystaline powder. I soak my cases in 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water for an hour or so, then dry in the oven set on warm (< 200 degrees). If you have a wife, your mileage may vary on using her oven to dry brass.

I use Imperial sizing wax for any case lube needs. Can't be beat.

[Sonnypie]

LemiShine looks like dis:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31%2BVT7u4ZJL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

I happened to find it at our local food market as well. (Albertson's)

I use 1/4 tsp in a load of brass in SS tumbling.

Wow, here some links to citric acid (http://www.google.com/search?q=Citric+acid&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a), too.

[DLCTEX]

Citric acid works better when the solution is heated. I use an old crock pot. Rinse well with water after a 15 min. soak.

[paul edward]

Been using it for years. Citric is a very mild acid. It helps to mix with hot water. If you leave the cases in this solution too long, they will look a bit red.

It helps to degrease the cases first. I use a teaspoon of TSP (tri sodium phosphate) in a quart of water. Dish soap also works.

First step is to remove spent primers. I use a home made depriming tool, but Lee sells a universal depriming die for a pittance.

[azjohn]

A little reading here on citric acid.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=83572