LEMI-SHINE Alternative?

[GRUMPA]

OK I need someone to chime in on this one. I've done a search in this section of the forum and came up with 4 options but they refer to the ultra sonic type method (mainly).

I have the high speed thumbler tumbler and it came with the lemi-shine stuff along with the stainless media. Although it works fantastic and I only use like 1\4 tsp of the stuff at each use, sooner or later I'll have to get some more of it.

Living very remote (28mi from town) the local grocery store doesn't stock it all the time(if ever). Anyone ever try something else that worked just as well?

Just looking ahead here for that down the road supply...

[bpratl]

I found some at my local Wallmart...to my surprise.

[GRUMPA]

I found some at my local Wallmart...to my surprise.

Well for me that would be about a 116mi round trip (next town over) which for me I never go that far for nuttin. Just curious about alternatives.

[Alby]

Navel jelly and hot water works but it is more expensive than lemi-shine. Works on the same principle.

[Cranium]

http://www.amazon.com/Lemishine-Supe.../dp/B003TP7CIG

[Longwood]

Well for me that would be about a 116mi round trip (next town over) which for me I never go that far for nuttin. Just curious about alternatives.

You can go online and buy anything Walmart sells - which is much, much more than what they have in the stores - and they will deliver it to your your local store for free or to your door for a small shipping fee. They even have several types,makes and models of gun safes.

[Roundnoser]

Bar Keepers Friend brand. "Copper Glo" is the product. Cleans brass casings amazingly well!

[Longwood]

I put a tablespoon of Lemishine in my ultrasonic cleaner a couple of days ago and when I noticed it was barely working and very slow I went back to the Greased Lightening that A&M cleaning products makes..

[edsmith]

Just wondering, wouldnt citric acid do the same thing as lemi shine.

[pressonregardless]

Bar Keepers Friend brand. "Copper Glo" is the product. Cleans brass casings amazingly well!

Jon, tell us more about this Bar Keepers Friend "Copper Glo". How do you use it? Does it clean inside dirty brass well?

[Roundnoser]

Jon, tell us more about this Bar Keepers Friend "Copper Glo". How do you use it? Does it clean inside dirty brass well?

Honestly, you won't believe it until you try it. Once you do, you'll be a believer!

I take my really dirty brass (the stuff with oxydation spots on it), and place it in a plastic container. Then add the Copper Glo (it is a white liquid. Contains some fine abrasives and citric acid.), so that it coats all of the brass. Using your hand, mix it around in the brass really well. After a minute or so, pour cold water on the brass. this will nuetralize the citric acid. Once the Copper Glo is cleaned off, dry the brass then polish in your tumbler. Comes out factory new!

[MtGun44]

Yes, the active ingredient in Lemi-Shine is citric acid. SAFE and will not harm the brass,
actually converts the oxidized brass back to metallic brass, not removing it.

In a rural area, ask at the canning supply place. Citric acid is added to some jams
and maybe other foods when home canning. If you can find it at a good price go for
it.

Of course, a capful of NuFinish car wax in a tumbler with fine cut corncob will make the
brass just absolutely amazingly nice in a hurry. I am quite serious, that even if you
have been tumbling brass for decades (I had been) you will be amazed and pleased
at the far superior results with a capful of NuFinish (orange bottle) car wax.

Bill

[Roundnoser]

Yes, the active ingredient in Lemi-Shine is citric acid. SAFE and will not harm the brass,
actually converts the oxidized brass back to metallic brass, not removing it.

In a rural area, ask at the canning supply place. Citric acid is added to some jams
and maybe other foods when home canning. If you can find it at a good price go for
it.

Of course, a capful of NuFinish car wax in a tumbler with fine cut corncob will make the
brass just absolutely amazingly nice in a hurry. I am quite serious, that even if you
have been tumbling brass for decades (I had been) you will be amazed and pleased
at the far superior results with a capful of NuFinish (orange bottle) car wax.

Bill

Nu Finish, huh?! I'll have to try that! How long will a bowl of Nu Finish-treated media last?...same as other polishes?

[BD]

Stellar Solutions, in McHenry, Illinois manufactures passivation chemicals for the stainless steel industry. Their product Citrisurf 77 is concentrated citric acid sold by the gallon, or in five gallon pails. It's about a ph of 1, so a little should go a long way. A gallon might be several lifetime supplies.

Six months ago I knew very little about this subject. I've had to learn fast as I have about 65,000 lbs of stainless steel structure to passivate in the next two months. As soon as I crack one of these five gallon jugs I'll take a couple ounces home and try it on some brass. Should be starting this week.

BD

[noylj]

Still seems like a lot of work for no more than bragging rights.
You can talk to your store manager and he might put in an order for you. Unless it has a short shelf lie, you might order a case and use it for more than tumbling brass.

[azjohn]

Here's a little reading on citric acid.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=83572

[7of7]

Just wondering, wouldnt citric acid do the same thing as lemi shine.

That is what I use.. picked it up at a micro-brew supply store.. a whole pound of it.. cleans really really nice..

[MtGun44]

Roundnoser -
NuFinish treated corn cob seems to last longer, I add a new capful every two or three batches.

The brass comes out super shiny and waxed slick, you'll be tickled at how nice it is, and much
quicker.

Drop a paper towel torn into strips (they tear perfectly in one direction) into the tumbler and
the towel will pick up most of the dirt, but it seems like with NuFinish I don't need to do this
any more. Also, Granger's online has the perfect corncob size for about $25 for 40 lbs or so, really
great deal and does NOT clog the primer flash holes like the corncob and walnut that I had
been using.

Bill

[cajun shooter]

I will say one thing about Lemi-shine and that is be very careful with it. I was going to just tap the side of the container to add it to my model B and much more than what is needed went into the brass. The brass was 44-40 nickel that had been fired with BP. When it was time to remove and rinse, my brass was no longer shiny nickel. My brass had about 50% of the nickel missing. 64 and still learning about taking short cuts when I should have taken time to measure. I cook a lot of Cajun food and we don't measure anything but just add till it is right. You have to be careful and measure this when cleaning nickel brass.

[Roundnoser]

Roundnoser -
NuFinish treated corn cob seems to last longer, I add a new capful every two or three batches.

The brass comes out super shiny and waxed slick, you'll be tickled at how nice it is, and much
quicker.

Drop a paper towel torn into strips (they tear perfectly in one direction) into the tumbler and
the towel will pick up most of the dirt, but it seems like with NuFinish I don't need to do this
any more. Also, Granger's online has the perfect corncob size for about $25 for 40 lbs or so, really
great deal and does NOT clog the primer flash holes like the corncob and walnut that I had
been using.

Bill

Bill,

Grainger has two grit sizes listed for the 40 lb. corn cob media. 20/40 grit = $27.20 and the 14/20 grit = $26.15. Which size did you purchase?