Cleaning Brass Molds

[PJEagle]

Has anyone used an ultrasonic cleaner to clean their brass molds? I thought it might be best to ask first instead of ruining a good NOE 4 cavity mold. Thanks for your help.

[John Boy]

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/ultrasonic-cleaning-tips-for-brass.6896677/

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

"Cleaning" a brass mold is not wise.

Removing tinned on alloy is a totally different thing, if that is what you are trying to accomplish?
...and a ultrasonic machine will not do that.

[USSR]

Cleaning a brass mold? What's to clean? Been using mine for years "uncleaned".

Don

[GregLaROCHE]

I don’t have any brass molds, but would tend to think you wouldn’t want to clean them that much. A seasoned surface is more what you should be looking for, not a overly shiny one. Brake cleaner and/or dish detergent I think should be enough. That’s what I use for my steel and aluminum molds and don’t see why it should be any different for brass.

[USSR]

PJEagle,

On second thought, if you are talking about a brand new, straight from the factory mold (it wasn't clear from your post), then scrub it with an old tooth brush and hot, soapy water to remove any oils. Then, place it in the oven with the temp up to no more than 400 degrees and heat it up, followed by letting it cool down. I do this a couple times to a brand new mold to give it a slight patina.

Don

[DHDeal]

I do use my ultrasonic to clean my new molds. I only do it when they are new right before I start heat cycling them. I find that it gives them a really clean surface for that first casting session. I don't use the ultrasonic more than that first time on my molds though.

Like PC, it seems many do things their own way to get a similar result. Who's right? I don't know, but what I do is right for me. I feel hot water and a few drops of Dawn is gentler than solvents (though I'm not scared of solvents) and does a good job of getting any left over oils out of a new mold regardless of whether it's brass or aluminum.