Removing “black” for case necks

There are certainly some interesting products here that I never thought of using to clean necks. But, in the end, it is hard to beat a piece of 000 or 0000 steel wool for economy, speed and results. The stuff lasts a looooog time and if you wrap a little on a bore brush you can clean excess residue from the inside of the necks too.

alf said:

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Yes, and a can of this stuff will last a long time. It has a number of uses, I use it on the anything steel or brass that has a polished finish on it. I've been asked at the range how I get my cases looking so good. It's all a matter of what works for you. Spin your case, run the cloth over the case neck and shoulder, then while it is spinning use a soft cotton cloth to wipe off access. I've never tried the "0000" steel wool, however I am certain that it will work also; I know it works on copper pipe before soldering. And......no matter what you use, the wooden dowel does a really nice job spinning the cases as you apply whatever method that you want to use.

I used a metal polishing compound on a rag and worked like a champ.

crittrgittr said:

Is there a way to remove the black from a case neck after tumbling your brass? If this is a repeat could you please share the link?

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I use a K&M case turning tool, with a shell holder for the cases to be cleaned, in a drill motor and a nylon pad sprayed with "Windex with Vinegar" and turn the brass in the drill motor, while holding the pad around the brass and clean the whole brass including the neck which has the black on it. I do this prior to F.L. or Nk. sizing and depriming the brass so as not to get the dies dirty inside. then I place them in the tumbler with corn cob media for 4 - 6 hrs. They look like new brass when finished, except for the inside of the brass. Some benchrest shooters I know use a wet tumbler with stainles steel media. the inside and outside, including the primer pocket is like new brass. you have to seperate the media and solution and rinse and dry the brass then.

Glitz. Makes your brass shine ! But time consuming. I do it while watching a hunting show.

Beardeddeer91 said:

On the out side 0000 steel wool will take it off and polish the brass. If you're talking the inside, a case neck brush will usually work fine, but I don't worry about the inside as long as the brass has been cleaned.

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If any black after tumbling I usually use the waded brass cleaner in a can, similar to military stuff. Holding the wad on neck usually only takes a few turns.

Kansaswoodguy said:

The 0000 steal wool does work very well especially when used in conjunction with these Lee case trimmers
You order case trimmer cutter lock stud and the case length gauge shell holder for your caliber. Chuck it up in a drill spin the brass holding the 0000 steel wool against the case to clean it up works great is really the ticket for low volume shooters no need at all for a tumbler or sonic cleaner.


https://www.midwayusa.com/product/476992/lee-case-trimmer-cutter-and-lock-stud

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012838679/lee-case-length-gauge-and-shellholder

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agree with this thread. Do exactly this. Gave my tumbler away

I used very fine steel wool for a long time on case necks before sizing or tumbling. I found Krazy Kloth cleaning rags to actually work better and faster. They wipe the carbon fouling right off without much effort and you don't end up with a big pile of steel wool fibers all over your work bench. I now use the Krazy Kloth before starting my case prep for removal of carbon fouling. Give it a try and you will be surprised at how well it works.

Tumbling with corn cob media and polishing compound gets the entire outside of my rifle cases very polished. The inside, not so, but I use a final alcohol cleaning after trimming and the blackened interior has never affected accuracy.

walnut shells is all I use. Never have a problem.

Switch to stainless pins and wet tumbling and you'll never have this issue. Wish I'd have switched years ago. Brass looks brand new inside and out when it's done.

Killertraylor said:

Switch to stainless pins and wet tumbling and you'll never have this issue. Wish I'd have switched years ago. Brass looks brand new inside and out when it's done.

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What do you use for the wet media? Soap, water or a brass cleaner? Curious...

Ss pins, some lemishine and a few drops of dawn. Tumble for 2 hours. Works great. I keep a peice of 0000 In my ammo box's so after each firing at the range I just touch up the necks as I inspect the cases. That's an old habit of Mine