View Full Version : Pink Brass Question
possom813
05-24-2013, 05:40 AM
I overdid the lemishine on some cases the other day and they turned out a pinkish hue.
It seems to be a common occurrence, according to the web.
Anyways, the question at hand, would there be anything dangerous or hazardous to loading and using the brass in it's pinkened state?
I only ask because my oldest daughter is just starting to reload and I think she would enjoy some .38spcl in 'pink'
JeffinNZ
05-24-2013, 05:57 AM
They're for shooting in San Fransico........
762 shooter
05-24-2013, 06:48 AM
Post #47
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?83572-Citric-acid-brass-cleaner
762
I use citric acid myself and encounter pink brass. I have read its some of the zinc coming out and can weaken the brass and shorten its life but I have not noticed a difference myself. I do not shoot max loads very often but target brass seems to last about the same number of loadings. Try leaving the brass in for a shorter time
MrWolf
05-24-2013, 05:09 PM
I had picked up about a hundred of some nasty looking 223 at the range that looked like steel - that is how bad they were. About a dozen ended up "pink" out of the lot from the citric bath. Tossed them in my scrap brass pile figuring why take a chance.
Smoke4320
05-24-2013, 05:34 PM
do not let the pink cases hit the ground .. they are liberal seeds
put them in the dark and feed them ****.. they will die a fullfilled happy life...
:) They should be just fine
DLCTEX
05-24-2013, 07:00 PM
The pink is only skin deep so to speak. If cases are corroded and not just tarnished then the brass may be weakened. Try polishing with a pot scrubber or steel wool and you will see how little the brass is affected.
The pink is only skin deep so to speak. If cases are corroded and not just tarnished then the brass may be weakened. Try polishing with a pot scrubber or steel wool and you will see how little the brass is affected.
0000 Steel Wool should take it right off it it bothers you.
MtGun44
05-25-2013, 12:29 AM
Dezincification can occur with brass corrosion (tarnish) and lemishine reverses the
oxidation process. If a thin layer of brass had corroded enough to lose a bit of zinc,
it will now be richer in copper and will look pinkish. Tumbling cleans it up, not an
issue unless there are deep pits.
Bill
khmer6
05-25-2013, 02:02 AM
I accidently did that once. And had 50# of range scrap mixed in which included steel cases and copper washed steel. Lord was that a mess. Send it through the tumbler and no issues
possom813
05-27-2013, 10:18 AM
I tell you what, I can 'accidentally' make pink brass easy as pie...
I'm trying to 'on purpose' make 10pcs of .38 for the girls to shoot, and I've tried 4 different mixes and can't get it to turn pink, everything from 2 cups of water with a teaspoon of lemishine, to straight lemon juice...
It's still the brassiest brass as that brass can be...
Shiloh
05-27-2013, 10:33 AM
They're for shooting in San Fransico........
Shame on you!!! LOL:kidding:
Shiloh
khmer6
05-27-2013, 10:45 AM
I think you need to find some rally tarnished oxidized brass for it to turn pink. I can't remember right now exactly why it turns pink, but beautiful bright brand new brass won't have a tendency to turn pink.
I tell you what, I can 'accidentally' make pink brass easy as pie...
I'm trying to 'on purpose' make 10pcs of .38 for the girls to shoot, and I've tried 4 different mixes and can't get it to turn pink, everything from 2 cups of water with a teaspoon of lemishine, to straight lemon juice...
It's still the brassiest brass as that brass can be...
blackthorn
05-27-2013, 10:54 AM
For pink brass try adding a little salt to your mix.
OverMax
05-27-2013, 11:51 AM
Well that stands to reason. A kitchen cleaner that those lady's use for cleaning. "You used on that nasty brass of yours." (<hey that's reasonable) Pinkish brass color would be a delightful color for your daughter to reload there at your bench. (no reason to worry its just a harmless light tarnish.)
O/M
I just made some pink brass. I was experimenting with my stainless steel hardware, lemishine, 409, and water. I was tumbling .223 and .44 magnum brass together. Well, I tumbled about a half hour and was called away from the shop and left the tumbler over night. When I got back, I tumbled for about an hour more, and rinsed the brass. As you know a .223 case slides into a .44 Mag. case perfectly. Those that were inside the mag cases came out pink, and those that got tumbled alone were brass...
Rooster931
05-27-2013, 10:46 PM
As stated above salt is the answer!!!! If salt is added I would bet the pink will follow. To get back to the top of this post unless they are really bad and have pits they will be fine.
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