Brass Tarnished

[ColColt]

I was breaking in(fireforming) some new 45-70 brass today along with some twice fired cases, brought them home and tossed them in the Thumler's Tumbler with nearly a gallon of tap water, couple squirts of Dawn and 1/4 teaspoon of Lemishine. After 3-4 hours they all looked like pewter instead of brass, even the new ones. I feel sure I've used that same amount of "chemistry" before without turning a tarnished color so what could have happened?

[Bayou52]

I was breaking in(fireforming) some new 45-70 brass today along with some twice fired cases, brought them home and tossed them in the Thumler's Tumbler with nearly a gallon of tap water, couple squirts of Dawn and 1/4 teaspoon of Lemishine. After 3-4 hours they all looked like pewter instead of brass, even the new ones. I feel sure I've used that same amount of "chemistry" before without turning a tarnished color so what could have happened?

Nothing seems out of the ordinary with your recipe.

Did you happen to check if there was a steel case, or other piece of metal mixed in with the brass? That could cause discoloration.

Just an idea.....

Bayou52

[ColColt]

Nothing in the tumbler except the SS pins I've always used.

[blikseme300]

Do you have a water treatment system feeding your water supply? We have very hard water where I live and I have a treatment system but when it flushes itself it allows some salt to get into the water supply. This caused exactly what you experienced. Since the episode I had I only use RO water from Watermill to clean brass.

[ColColt]

I don't have any treatment system. I've used the Tumbler to clean cases before and didn't get the results I've gotten the past couple of times.

[SouTexShooter]

I've found using my Thumler's and SS pins that every once in a while I need to run a cleaning cycle without any brass in it, just soap. Had the same thing happen, this cleared it right up.

[ColColt]

I've only used the Tumbler maybe 5-6 times...maybe that's enough for a cleaning.

[Johnny_V]

Did you happen to have any type of lube on the cases?

I use Alcohol/Lanolin mix for sizing and must rinse my cases first in Oxy Clean and HOT water to remove the residue, or my cases will come out looking tarnished....

[ColColt]

I use Imperial Sizing Wax for neck sizing put always wipe that off prior to shooting. The only lube that may have been on a certain amount of the cases was from when the bullet left the case. I use SPG. I doubt that was the problem.

[Johnny_V]

I use Imperial Sizing Wax for neck sizing put always wipe that off prior to shooting. The only lube that may have been on a certain amount of the cases was from when the bullet left the case. I use SPG. I doubt that was the problem.

This has happened to me in the past, and any type of lube residue will cause the problem you're having. Just for giggles, try cleaning all lube from the cases with alcohol and tumble them again - should come out like new.

Just trying to help.......

[ColColt]

What I did was put three quarts of water along with a couple squirts of Dawn in the Tumbler without any brass and let it run an hour. The water wasn't dirty but not what I'd call clean either. I do remember seeing bullet lube just at the mouth of the cases after firing...not all but half I'd say. I'll watch for that next time as well.

[zuke]

Any lube that need's a solvent to remove will do that