Clean or Leave alone

[Hammer Gun]

Just a question for the group, I have some 10-A brass shells, in a wooden walnut case most are OK but a few are really dirty and almost black, should I clean them after all they are not pristine if they were I certainly would not touch them, and what should I use to do the cleaning asking for suggestions, Gary

[OH Osthaus]

i will clean mine in a tumbler like any other brass cartridge, but i intend to load and shoot them

if you are only going to display them - only you can answer the question, do you want them to look new - or old


i would think that Brass-O would do a good job if you only want to clean a few for display

[Dick Miller]

Gary,
Try Flitz--- a lot easier to use than BrassO, and leaves a protective coating.

[Dean Romig]

just as long as you don't use an abrasive...

My Dad was a coin collector and would soak severely tarnished coins in vinegar if I remember correctly.

[Roundsworth]

I also use vinegar to clean gnarly brass without abrasives.

[Joe Wood]

If they are just for display I suggest leaving them as is. Nothing looks more out of place than antique brass highly polished. With items such as powder flasks it literally destroys the collector value.

[Hammer Gun]

I do not want to polish them just get some of the black off so you can tell they are brass, Do you soak in vinegar overnight? Gary

[Roundsworth]

I have used vinegar to clean old brass cases that were caked with powder residue. I used a rag to wipe the crud off periodically until I was satisfied with the results. The surface of the brass will be clean, but not polished. I submerged the brass and checked on them until I figured they were not going to get any cleaner. Good Luck!

[Bindlestiff]

May I suggest that before you put them in vinegar that you test the process out on a penny or a scrap piece of copper or brass. That process may not yield what you expect.

If it is simply dirt that you want to remove, so you can tell its old brass but with an aged look, maybe a mild soap or glass cleaner will give the results you want; again - test on something disposable first.

I don't know what look you want but I have used vinegar on pennies when I was young and it will remove the dirt & grime AND any old patina as well. It will make it shine but without the high gloss a polish would give it. It doesn't look old when its done.

[Hammer Gun]

By the way I need 2 more 10-A brass shells to fill my walnut case, any body got spares? Gary