I didn't get 40 rds of brass cleaned off after resizing. With the heat and humidity we have had lately the brass looked awful. Last night I wiped them clean with Brasso and a dry rag. Should I be worried about any residue from the Brasso? Do I need to use acetone or something else? Thanks

Years ago I cleaned a lot of brass with brasso.....I'm told not to do this but I did it a long time ago and never had any problems with it at all.

If you're concerned just wash them in soap and water and dry in the sun outside.

Throw them in a five gallon pail and agitate a few minutes.

Thanks That's what I will do.

I am neither a metallurgist nor a chemist.......it is however said....products that contain ammonia (Brasso does) tend to make brass brittle. Chemical reaction I believe. This would be an undesirable trait in reloading brass. I have also tried it with no ill effects.

If the suggestion that ammonia makes brass brittle is accurate then it is doubtful that rinsing brass in water will change this trait.

Under no conditions pour Brasso or any other ammonia based cleaner into your tumbling media. Ammonia causes "season cracking" which effects a number of metals. Cartridge brass (which is 70% Cu and 30% Zn) is one of the weakest alloys in this respect. In time brass exposed to wet ammonia will split or failure. Season cracking occurs when the material is highly stressed and subject to corrosive atmospheres or liquids. Believe it or not, bird poop on a brass prop will cause season cracking! Cartridge cases have lots of residual stresses; are work hardened each time you size them, they are highly susceptible to season cracking. I recommend for those cases which you tumbled with brasso, take those cases and wash them in hot water to dissolve any traces of ammonia that are left. If you are interested in a broader discussion of corrosion and metals see http://www.npl.co.uk/ncs/docs/stress.pdf

Ammonia worsens "season cracking" which some types of brass are subject to. Cartridge brass (CDA 260 which is 70% Cu and 30% Zn) is one of the weakest alloys in this respect. It is also subject to dezincification which is what happens when the brass is dissolved and only the copper is redeposited. You see this as copper spots on the case. Season cracking doesn't happen if the zinc content is at or below 15% but you need the high zinc for the tensile strength in cartridge brass. Season cracking occurs when the material is highly stressed and subject to corrosive atmospheres or liquids. After forming, cartridge cases have lots of residual stresses.

The easiest way to clean tarnished brass is with a mixture of houshold vinigar and salt ,put the casses in for 5 mins and rub clean with a rag ,then rinse imediatly in clean water.