Which Lemi-shine product?

[Bashby]

I have seen lots of recommendations for Lemi-shine to clean brass in an ultrasonic cleaner, but when I went to buy some I see they have a LOT of different products. Which one do I want for cleaning brass in my ultrasonic cleaner?

[marlin39a]

Try the Citric Acid, sold in the canning section. Much cheaper.

[rondog]

The granular Lemi-Shine, looks like kosher salt.

[fast ronnie]

Citric acid. Amazon, 2 pounds for about $10. Wife also uses it for drying fruit. Two years and still haven't used it all.

[oconeedan]

So what do you do, what is the mix ratio of citric acid to water?
Do you use the same thing for cleaning gun parts?
I may be getting an ultrasonic cleaner .

[blackthorn]

Spend some time and read the second from the top "sticky" in this sub-forum.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

So what do you do, what is the mix ratio of citric acid to water?
Do you use the same thing for cleaning gun parts?
I may be getting an ultrasonic cleaner .

I don't use a ultrasonic cleaner.
I use a crockpot for Hot bath to remove tarnish and passionate the brass cases.
I use 3 tblsp of pure Citric acid powder per gallon of water.

Once the solution is spent, it starts to turn color, I don't remember if it's blue or green, anyway, once it gets that color if no longer is effective with Brass...Then I've used that spent solution to treat raw steel, it gives it a flat black color like gunblue, but you'll also see some copper color mixed with the flat Black, like the start of copper electroplate finish.

[Shawlerbrook]

I use the same thing as rondog. Got it at Wallyworld and for as much as I use it ain’t that expensive.

[jaysouth]

Don't waste your money on Lemmishine. Here is a supply for several years for ten bucks Works great

https://www.amazon.com/Milliard-Citric-Acid-Pound-VERIFIED/dp/B00EYFKM32/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=citric+acid&qid=1581209805&sr=8-4

[RKJ]

I read here that someone was using Dollar Tree Lemon juice so I tried it, it works like as charm. I believe its 20 oz for $1.00. Just a squirt and there you go. You might try it and see if you like the results.

[kevin c]

Another vote for citric acid. A scant couple of level teaspoons plus 1 1/2 tablespoons of car wash and wax in a FART full of brass and hot water. The few times I used Lemishine I ended up with a film on the brass, probably from the non citric acid ingredients.

[Bashby]

I went with the citric acid. I’ve run a few batches through my Harbor Freight USC and they look pretty good. Since these are range pickups, I am cleaning them before resizing. Is that what most people do or resize first.?

ETA: 14.8 oz was a little under $5.

[kevin c]

Some decap (and size) prior to wet cleaning to clean to primer pockets (though I think SS pins are needed to really clean them out) and for faster drying. I clean (with primers in, since the state of the pocket doesn't matter in my application) and resize and decap afterwards. Like you, my brass is from an outdoor range, and I'd like to not scratch up my dies (I only have a combination size and depriming station on my SDB).

[762 shooter]

Liquid Citric acid is what you pay megabucks for to clean your coffee machine. I buy bulk.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OZFECU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

762

[iomskp]

I pretty much do what every body else does 1 teaspoon of citric acid powder per litre of hot tap water and about 1/2 a teaspoon of dish washing liquid total no more than 1/2 a tea spoon and the brass comes out bright and shinny.

[Shawlerbrook]

Decap first with Universal decapper then clean and resize after that.

[whisler]

+1 on this /\ /\ /\.

[Bashby]

I cleaned them first, then when I was sizing& decapping I noticed 5-10% were pretty dirty inside, so I sorted those to run through the USC again. Some of them had a white film that I assume was from the citric avid... maybe I used a little too much. I think I should have rinsed them with hot water after cleaning.

[trapper9260]

I get my citric acid from the armish store it is cheaper then the regular store.

[fcvan]

I'm another one who uses lemon juice. I decap and wash brass with Dawn. I don't like dirty brass in my clean press. Pistol or rifle, I do a second wash with Dawn and lemon juice. I strain but do not dry my brass, it goes straight into the tumbler with ground walnut. Soap water gets reused until it gets too green from the zinc/copper, or too dirty from removing the sizing lube.

Polishing media gets a tablespoon of Turtle Zip Wash every now and then. The zip wash leaves a thin wax coating, just enough to seal the pores, not enough to effect the clambering/firing. Brass/media is dry and the brass shiny like new in an hour. Brass gets loaded, and looks shiny and new longer than factory sitting in a box.

I didn't buy the factory mind you, brother bought me some 308 when I first got the rifle. 5 years later, the factory is brownish, my reloads are not. My (now 3 308s) have never seen factory from me, previous owners, not me. Factory, shudder the thought, is just a twinge inducing thought.