Cleaning brass in bulk

[Faded]

I actually don't mind cleaning the brass, but I don't like having to do so many laps to clean 1000 cases of .223 brass. I have a small Hornady M2 tumbler and typically throw some brass in the morning, head to work for the day, throw more in the evening and change it again the next morning.

I was wondering can you use something large like a cement mixer to do 1000 .223 cases at one time?

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/mixers/1-1-4-quarter-cubic-ft-compact-cement-mixer-91907.html

[Nickaru]

I think Oak Tree Gun Club uses a cement mixer to tumble brass. The Last time I was in the parking lot of the pistol range, I noticed a loud racket (tumbling brass noise) coming from their maintenance tent. It was a tumbling cement mixer red in color as the one you had in the link, being used.

[Dark Mod]

This is a capitol idea

[ap1040]

I've also seen LAX Range use cement mixers to clean their brass. No reason why it shouldn't work unfortunately I can't afford to shoot enough to justify such a large brass cleaner.

[BajaJames83]

I found 40 min is all my brass needs in a vibratory tumbler.

[M27]

Quite a few members use that exact cement mixer with stainless media

[joelogic]

I use a mixer with Grainger corn media. Still not interested in having to dry my brass.

[Jet Setter]

You can also use the Harbor Freight 2 drum rock tumbler. I hear they work well as long as you keep them lubed and properly aligned.

http://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html

[hermosabeach]

Some one posted in the last week about using citric acid in a rotary tumbler instead of stainless steel media

The Citrix acid did a great job and the brass becomes more resistant to tarnish.

I was wondering if the citric acid and water mix would work in a cement mixer.

My local range use to reload and they used mixers. They also secured visquine plastic over the opening with a bungie cord to keep dust down

[hermosabeach]

Here is the citric acid wet tumbles thread

http://www.www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=10142452

[anyracoon]

I have a pair of Dillon's 2001 tumblers that get'er done just fine along with their big media separator. I usually put 1200 223 , 1300 45acp or 2000 9mm cases at a time.

[tiller]

You dont need a cement mixer for 1k just buy the biggest dillon tumbler and should be able to fit 1k plus!!

[bootcamp]

I use a mixer with Grainger corn media. Still not interested in having to dry my brass.

I got your idea years ago from Gio! I'm rocking it right now. I should upload a youtube vid.

[bootcamp]

As a matter if fact I did. There's about 1000 cases in there I believe....easy as pie. No washing, no drying, no 5 extra steps. Don't know what all the hype is about washing brass.....that's what the old folk used to do before tumbling was invented....people going bass ackwards....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lkZZz3k_dk

[M27]

Some one posted in the last week about using citric acid in a rotary tumbler instead of stainless steel media

The Citrix acid did a great job and the brass becomes more resistant to tarnish.

I was wondering if the citric acid and water mix would work in a cement mixer.

My local range use to reload and they used mixers. They also secured visquine plastic over the opening with a bungie cord to keep dust down

IMHO I thought that whole thread was a load of crap.

1 people who use STM use lemishine which is just name brand citric acid

2 It did not clean the inside of the cases or the primer pocket so how can he argue that the citric acid did anything. The only cleaning I saw was on the outside of the cases form the cases bouncing around on each other in the tumbler.

3 the citric acid did probably remove some brass tarnish but so does lemishine

4 the only thing I took from that thread that you can substitute citric acid for lemishine and citric acid is a little cheaper if you order it online. Even though lemishine for 50+ loads is $3.99