Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Howdy All; A Grandpa(My Dads side) told me many years ago that back in the day he used to dump his brass from shooting Buffalo in a "Tin Can" and pour in the old strong coffee tighten the lid of and let it soak . Shaking it some as it cooled the next day he would throw it in a mesh bag and into the creek for the morning then lay it out to dry in the sun on an old tanned hide. Said it was the ideal way to clean brass used with real Powder. Over the years I have often thought of trying it, just never happened. Then this year reading my mothers Dad's journal he mentions using the same way to clean his brass in an entry dated May 4 1874. So this past weekend I dumped all my brass from the first days shooting into my coffee pot with my left-over coffee from the morning and turned the burner on under and heated it up for a while on "low" while I cleaned my guns. I shock it up some as it cooled and let it sit till morning,then I rinsed both the pot and the brass. Put on some new coffee and put the brass outside of the camper on a towel on the table in the sun to dry while I shot the second day. Best job of brass cleaning I have ever seen, short of wire brushing and soaking in anything else. You my wish to try it. Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chaps, SASS #5925 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'd think about buying a new coffee pot now. And for the same reason I wouldn't put dirty gun parts or brass in my dishwasher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okiepan Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'm in on trying this , been using vinegar and water mixture in a bucket , But since it is documented to the time period of 1874 I'm IN , now I got a reason to burn some powder and make some smoke , Thanks for the great information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I wouldn't reuse the pot to make coffee but use some dedicated container. I'm wondering how well it'd work in a sonic cleaner? I'm thinking recycle the old grounds and make a full pot. Dump it in the sonic cleaner and run it a cycle or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie T Waite Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 My great grandfather used to say they used old coffee for a great many things beside drinking, I vaguely remember something about brass and and anything they wanted to shine up. I also remember he said they had used old strong coffee to change the color of leather/buckskin and sometimes shirts after they became stained. I'm game to try it on some of my brass. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 "Cuppa joe for me, and one for my brass." Gotta try that. Good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 For those that don't wish to use your coffee pot for this, Don't... Just use your old the stronger the better coffee in Whatever jug you normally use. I have used coffee for the past two weeks and it works better than using my old mix of Vinegar and water. I used it on some brass that was badly stained (forgotten from last years shooting)coffee and a squirt of "Sunlight" dish-soap, dried in the sun thrown in the tumbler for 6 hours ,,,, look almost new ... As an aside one of my Granddads brothers used PEE instead of Coffee ,,, haven't tried that yet . Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Nelson Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 As an aside one of my Granddads brothers used PEE instead of Coffee ,,, haven't tried that yet . Urine was used for centuries as a cleaning and bleaching agent. It even whitens teeth (According to the Smithsonian Institution's web site. I haven't tried it myself.) The active ingredient is ammonia. You probably don't want to use it to clean brass too often, because ammonia can weaken it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 I haven't tried Urine on either my teeth or my Brass and don't intend to !!! But I thought I would mention it's use on brass by my Granddad's youngest brother, as a matter that might be of intrest. Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Nelson Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I haven't tried Urine on either my teeth or my Brass and don't intend to !!! But I thought I would mention it's use on brass by my Granddad's youngest brother, as a matter that might be of intrest. It'll do when there's nothing else available. That's handy to know. You can also use it to make an ingredient in black powder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Urine was used for centuries as a cleaning and bleaching agent. It even whitens teeth (According to the Smithsonian Institution's web site. I haven't tried it myself.) The active ingredient is ammonia. You probably don't want to use it to clean brass too often, because ammonia can weaken it. Actually it makes the brass very brittle and hard to the point of the case cracking instead of expanding in the chamber when the round is fired. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Howdy, Something new to try. If anyone used a coffee pot to clean fired brass I would give the pot a good scrubbing and fill it and boil with water once or even twice. The tiny bit of lead that might be left couldn't be of real concern. Or maybe its an excuse to get a new pot? If you are concerned I bet a doctor or pharmacist could give some sort of test that would indicate lead. Seems trivial. I would think the lead is in the coffee grounds not the metal pot. Best CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 The Urine was an ASIDE not the main focus !!! And yes it Would harden the brass if over used... But coffee will not harm your brass but it sure gets the crud off ... I wish I knew how to post pictures of before and after(probley not worth the effort to learn how for this old boy) Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 What if you drink a pot of strong coffee then urinate on your brass? 34MTG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Maker-Wright Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Shameless, Assassin-Teasing post deleted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 how about drying old coffee grounds and use that to tumble/vibrate brass? free too!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barleycorn, SASS #76982 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Or you could just keep it simple and tumble in a brass tumbler, with brass cleaning media. 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 but you couldnt impress people with your frugalness,,,,, and it would be "green" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 Don't think either Grandfather had a Tumble or a long enough extension cord ,,, wait they didn't have electricity out on the Northern Plains then either,,,, shucks... Coffee plumb works so it is a option... Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Howdy, Thanks. I have an old Army buckle and I just dropped it into my morning coffee grounds. Could be interesting. Best CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Rich Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Leave it in there till yer wife finds it and tell that's all that is left of a cowboy that fell in. kR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Stevens SASS#55996 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 but you couldnt impress people with your frugalness,,,,, and it would be "green" I don't know if "impress" is the word I would use....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 confuse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 This morning I set a brass 10 gauge hull in about 3/4" of yesterday's coffee. I check every so often. Nothing yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Howdy, The buckle brightened up some. Might be better overnight? It has a lot of details so I don't want to brush it hard. All that's left of an ol cowboy, Goodun pard. BEst CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Hombre Sin Nombre Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 For those that don't wish to use your coffee pot for this, Don't... Just use your old the stronger the better coffee in Whatever jug you normally use. I have used coffee for the past two weeks and it works better than using my old mix of Vinegar and water. I used it on some brass that was badly stained (forgotten from last years shooting)coffee and a squirt of "Sunlight" dish-soap, dried in the sun thrown in the tumbler for 6 hours ,,,, look almost new ... As an aside one of my Granddads brothers used PEE instead of Coffee ,,, haven't tried that yet . Jabez Cowboy Just remind me not to use any of your granddad's brothers' brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 Pard any of his Sven's brass remaining will likely be found in Denmark along with his Sharps ,66 and Colts... His Sharps is a match for the one I got from my Granddad,the three Brothers ordered rifles using the same specs. Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Rich Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Had some really green brass sittin in a coffee can from a bunch I bought a couple years ago so I added some coffee yesterday. The green was gone last nite. I will look later today to see if some of the stain is gone from the cases. kR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Maybe I'm using the wrong brand. This 10 gauge hull set on its base in 3/4" of day old coffee for over 24 hours. There is some brighter area but I suspect it's more from taking it out and drying it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coyote, SASS #63736 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Don't know about coffee but I found a new solution for BP brass (APP) at the range this AM. Pepsi & Gatorade!! Yup, when I got there to test a coupla' guns and some ammo I discovered I didn't have my jug of soapy water so I looked around in the truck & found an empty Gatorade bottle. Had a 1/2 full can of Pepsi so I poured it in. Ya' shoulda' seen the bubbles & fizz when I dumped in the 1st casings! Time I got through the 1st 100 rounds I had to add some liquid and all I had was Gatorade. Back home I dumped them in the sink, rinsed & dried them and the whole bunch is really shiny inside & out. Whodda' thunk? Whatever works in a pinch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Howdy, Ive heard of Coke removing rust from stuff. Best CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Red OToole, #48939 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Since I know and shoot with Coffee (SASS #7008), I know he NEVER cleans his brass....unless Shotgun Boogie makes him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 Well there we have it,,, Cowboy chuckles. A Cowboy that shoots with Coffee ,,, most use Guns... Well there we have It shoots with Coffee but don't clean brass... Another use fer Coffee. Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTH-PACIFIC,SASS #59402 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 went and tried the coffee not worth the trouble gator ade and coke i under stand from the acid effect i know we used bug juice to clean brass on ships.soaked fire nozles .came out bright cetric acid works wonders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Howdy, Just a note to any one using any sort of strong acid for cleaning metal. Make sure you really flush all ALL A_L_L of the acid from the metal. It might start eating metal if you don't. You want to clean it not eat it up.... right? Best CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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