Pink Brass "dezincification"?

[DizzyJ]

Sometimes my days off cost me more $$….

 

[Local Loader]

The RCBS also has a drain valve and tube to run to a bucket. You wont have to pick the unit up to change the solution out....

That is true it doesn't have a valve but it's not heavy plus I can make sure the tube is cleaned between change outs and not worry if a valve area is clean or forget to close it. Personally I think the smaller ones clean better, maybe not as many but I like quality over quantity but I try for both lol.

 

[Local Loader]

And this thread also just made me spend an extra $200 roughly.

Thanks a lot.

You know you wanted too, we just gave you the helium your wallet needed. Lol.

 

[Koda]

And this thread also just made me spend an extra $200 roughly.

Thanks a lot.

Yeah well we are even then cause you tipped me off on a certain new chronograph thats on the way... yup

...and Im probably gonna grab a sonic cleaner while its on sale at Midway. Im thinking of the RCBS...

This isnt helping me rebuild my allowance funds.

 

[DizzyJ]

You know you wanted too, we just gave you the helium your wallet needed. Lol.

I'd be lying if I said I haven't looked into them in the past. The sale didn't help either.

 

[Local Loader]

Yeah well we are even then cause you tipped me off on a certain new chronograph thats on the way... yup

...and Im probably gonna grab a sonic cleaner while its on sale at Midway. Im thinking of the RCBS...

This isnt helping me rebuild my allowance funds.

I know how you feel, I been buying things for a new ap press, lol.

 

[DizzyJ]

Yeah well we are even then cause you tipped me off on a certain new chronograph thats on the way... yup

...and Im probably gonna grab a sonic cleaner while its on sale at Midway. Im thinking of the RCBS...

This isnt helping me rebuild my allowance funds.

I bought the solution as well. Save on shipping. Which was ZERO!

 

[Koda]

That is true it doesn't have a valve but it's not heavy plus I can make sure the tube is cleaned between change outs and not worry if a valve area is clean or forget to close it. Personally I think the smaller ones clean better, maybe not as many but I like quality over quantity but I try for both lol.

I think in the end we cant go wrong with any of the brands. My pick is between the RCBS and the Hornady your recommending.
I'm not loading large batches, so a smaller unit is more practical for me. As for cleaning efficiency I would guess a larger tank would clean better spacing out the brass more for those sonic waves, or maybe changing the solution less.... ?

 

[DizzyJ]

I think in the end we cant go wrong with any of the brands. My pick is between the RCBS and the Hornady your recommending.
I'm not loading large batches, so a smaller unit is more practical for me. As for cleaning efficiency I would guess a larger tank would clean better spacing out the brass more for those sonic waves, or maybe changing the solution less.... ?

My thought as well. Less solution change for smaller batches with the ability to clean bigger ones.

 

[Local Loader]

I think in the end we cant go wrong with any of the brands. My pick is between the RCBS and the Hornady your recommending.
I'm not loading large batches, so a smaller unit is more practical for me. As for cleaning efficiency I would guess a larger tank would clean better spacing out the brass more for those sonic waves, or maybe changing the solution less.... ?

You'd think but for most of the larger units the motors are only on one side of the unit so the stuff on the far side don't get as clean. The units with multiple motor are sold $900 & up.

 

[Local Loader]

My thought as well. Less solution change for smaller batches with the ability to clean bigger ones.

Yeah I clean everything from 380acp to 300 win mag in my cleaner. 380 and 9mm I clean anywhere from 100 to 200 at a time, rifle I do 50 to 100.
One thing I do that I'm not sure if anyone else does is, I stand the cases mouth side down. I let it sit after it runs so that the residue runs out of the case and settles on the bottom, few extra minutes but less rinsing needed.

 

[Koda]

You'd think but for most of the larger units the motors are only on one side of the unit so the stuff on the far side don't get as clean. The units with multiple motor are sold $900 & up.

Well if thats the case then a larger tank will clean better than a smaller one. My budget is stuck on the entry level options so whatever I get I will just have to learn to use it within its limitations... probably find the brass count that works best for the tank size.

 

[Local Loader]

Yeah I never go by manufacturer max limits, it's like when they say you can fit 26 guns in a safe but in reality you can only fit around 16. Find what works for you and go with that.

 

[Koda]

My maiden voyage of my new sonic cleaner today met all expectations. It pretty much matched exactly the reviews DizzyJ linked to in this thread.... the only thing I was slightly disappointed in was the somewhat lack of cleaning inside the case... but it does kinda get in there and from what Ive read here I don't think it will matter. I ran a couple cycles learning its operation and then recall rob1516 saying not to do that too much or you can also leach zinc so....
Im really glad for this thread and all the advice and experience everyone offered. The sonic cleaner will work perfect for my needs and now Im tempted to buy some parts cleaning solution to clean my pistol barrels instead of the usual patch/solvent way. The sonic cleaner really does clean that fast.

 

[Local Loader]

My maiden voyage of my new sonic cleaner today met all expectations. It pretty much matched exactly the reviews DizzyJ linked to in this thread.... the only thing I was slightly disappointed in was the somewhat lack of cleaning inside the case... but it does kinda get in there and from what Ive read here I don't think it will matter. I ran a couple cycles learning its operation and then recall rob1516 saying not to do that too much or you can also leach zinc so....
Im really glad for this thread and all the advice and experience everyone offered. The sonic cleaner will work perfect for my needs and now Im tempted to buy some parts cleaning solution to clean my pistol barrels instead of the usual patch/solvent way. The sonic cleaner really does clean that fast.

View attachment 1184063

Did you stack them case month down or or just tossed them in?
Also it's a little extra step that I do myself, don't know about anyone else but I like to wipe the inside with a qtip to help dry it out and bonus helps remove any leftover residue or solution.

 

[Koda]

Did you stack them case month down or or just tossed them in?

I just tossed them in. I only had 26 rounds to clean today and for now Im a low volume reloader so I only prepared enough solution to cover the brass laying flat in the basket. I wonder now if I swabbed the inside with a qtip right after sonic cleaning it would help. A few of the brass samples were kinda cleaned inside, most still had a dark layer of carbon at the bottom.

 

[Catfishmoon]

I put some used brass in some iosso liquid brass cleaner, sloshed them around for several minutes and some turned out slightly pink around the neck area. Others turned out great.
I did a quick search for pink brass and came upon some forum discussions that pink brass is a symptom of "dezincification" where something about the acidity in the cleaning solution is too strong and leaches the zinc from the brass making the brass too weak to use anymore.

I'm like... wait wut... I sloshed them around for like a few minutes only then rinsed them off and dried them with compressed air and now suddenly the brass is unsafe to use? All over a few minutes in iosso?

View attachment 1177730

I clean my brass using an ultrasonic tank, Dawn dish soap and Lemishine. When I first started I had some pink tinted 9mm and .45 acp brass due to using to much Lemishine. I have since shot and reloaded those cases multiple times and the pink tint has become indistinguishable to my older eyes... At least in my circumstances, I found it okay to use the cases.

 

[Koda]

I have since shot and reloaded those cases multiple times and the pink tint has become indistinguishable to my older eyes... At least in my circumstances, I found it okay to use the cases.

its an odd phenomenon to me. From what I read there is little info on pink brass out there but what there is all says to not use it.
Im not experienced enough to know or take chances.

 

[Catfishmoon]

its an odd phenomenon to me. From what I read there is little info on pink brass out there but what there is all says to not use it.
Im not experienced enough to know or take chances.

The best advice to give or receive regarding reloading is to always error on the side of being cautious... Buying more brass is cheap compared to having compromised reloads.

 

[Local Loader]

I just tossed them in. I only had 26 rounds to clean today and for now Im a low volume reloader so I only prepared enough solution to cover the brass laying flat in the basket. I wonder now if I swabbed the inside with a qtip right after sonic cleaning it would help. A few of the brass samples were kinda cleaned inside, most still had a dark layer of carbon at the bottom.

This is what I get when I don't swab with stacking. Normally there cleaner, it was the worst case for stacking.

With swabbing this is what I get:

This happens when I try to clean to many at one time, lol.

Like I said I do it it help dry them and clean out any leftover there might be. Of course a good raise as well helps too.
Edit: sorry, some look a little darker than they are, couldn't get the light right.