Earlier this evening I was helping my wife put some dishes and stuff into the dishwasher (Yes, I'm pussy whipped, but I assure you that I don't do it often!!! ).

It occured to me that I can fit a large amount of 375H&H cases into the thingy that holds the forks and knives.

I know this won't get them totally shining and new, but at least it'll clean the worst gunk out of them???

Anyone tried this? Is there any potential downside?

Worth trying. It won't hurt the brass, but it is not likely to come out shiny either. Don't do it while Wifey-Poo is watching, though .

Btw, I just filled the dishwasher as well - just part of daily life. Beats washing the dishes by hand any old day!
- mike

I would be hesitant to try for 2 reasons...

1. Fired cases will have lead residue, and some of that might remain behind for deposition on your forks and spoons later (probably not much though)

2. Dishwasher detergent will eat up aluminum (I've loaded a dishwasher a few times myself, and gotten in trouble for putting in the wrong stuff!)...it is really quite caustic. I would not expect brass to be safe. Try it first with junk cases to be safe.

Put them in a tight mesh bag. Throw them in washing machine with a load of darker clothes. This works great, I've done it many times. Don't even think about washing them along with the old lady's panties or bras.

You never know, the old ladies panties might shine the brass up real nice....Course she might give a shiner when she finds out!

Erik,
Your wife actually helps do dishes?

Jeff

I ended up trying the dishwashing method, using a very small dash of washing powder, and it turned out reasonably OK. There were a few spots of powder residue that were still on the cases near the case mouth, but this was easily wiped off with a piece of toilet paper.

quote:

Erik,
Your wife actually helps do dishes?

Jeff

It's all a matter of discipline and training!!! I actually took some dishes and stuff out(!) of the washing machine to wash the cases! She asked if I had lost my mind, and I replied that she's known the answer to that for many years already!

However, I am blessed with an unusually understanding wife, who is used to my antics.

I've done a few loads but with no dishes, just the brass, lemon Electrasol or Cascade seem to work the best. My dishwasher has a lot of pegs sticking up and I just put a piece of brass on each peg. This may only work with the bigger brass, I'm only doing 45-70 and 45-120 brass.

I put a bunch of cases into a cloth bag with some walnut shell media, sealed it up and threw it into the clothes dryer on fluff dry (no heat). It did a pretty good job, but I broke and bought a tumbler because I didn't like to think about the cost of running the dryer for 3 or 4 hours!
Oh, yeah, it is a little noisy too.

ErikD.....get a tumbler like everyone else
Vapo

Erik,

This exact method is recommended in the A-Square reloading manual, "Any Shot You Want."

Dishwashing detergents are harmless to brass and actually contain surfactants that cause water to run cleanly off the cases (designed for clean and clear glassware, but it works!).

The cases don't come out shiny and bright, but they're clean. Put them in the oven on a cookie sheet at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple of hours and they'll be dry and fine for reloading.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
ErikD.....get a tumbler like everyone else
Vapo

Vapodag,

You're probably right. But I'm still not sure which to buy, and if a tumbler is worth it. Basically because I don't feel I need shiny, new looking cases, just clean ones.

While on the subject, do you have any tumbler preferances?


Mrlexma,

The cases actually came out pretty dry due to the drying cycle in the washingmachine, and are now (a day later) completely dry. If I'm in a hurry, I'll keep the oven in mind!

These only work on rimmed cases, works great with the 45-70 and 45-120 brass for drying, $6 at Cabelas in the cowboy/black powder reloading section...

If there is enough crud to affect accuracy, I twist the case in a wad of steel wool before resizing.

Other than that, I am not loading jewelry.


As far a men washing dishes goes, it is not as bad as the gun control imposed on us since women got the right to vote in 1920. When we get a chance, we must take that right away from them, before women voters destroy the famiily with socialism and freedom with even worse gun control.

I like the vibrating type of tumbler.

But then I deprime and tumble (I use a universal deprimer die)

Then I resize, trim and tumble.

In my house, one of us cooks and the other loads and unloads the dishwasher. It's easier to load and unload.

I tried cleaning the cases in a sink when I first got married,and after the outburst from the wife I quickly bought a cheap hornady case cleaner and have never looked back.The outside looks nice but the inside gets clean as well.NO labor involved either.Dump them in.Clean before you size and after.Good investment if you reload much and the wife won't bitch.