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Post by Furhvstr on Sept 10, 2009 22:12:22 GMT -6
A couple of months ago I got all energetic and prepared a bunch of brass for the fall and have been waiting on powder to finish up. Pulled the stuff out today and this is what I found. All the 223 that is corroded has been primed and the rest not. The stuff that was wrapped with the blue towels is fine along with the block of 25-06 Ak. that was uncovered. Must have been from the powder stored in the cabinet?  Because the 223 is primed and the rest is not??? All cartridges went through identical prep including polishing in the tumbler.   |
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Post by irnhdmike on Sept 11, 2009 12:33:11 GMT -6
is it corroded or mouldy?
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Post by Schrader on Sept 11, 2009 15:11:39 GMT -6
We try not to leave any brass out and exposed...it seems to start corroding very fast. We keep brass stored in plastic baggies. Dont know why it would be just the stuff thats primed...perhaps its dissimilar metal corrosion between the primers and the cases?
Schrader
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Post by northof50 on Sept 11, 2009 20:00:21 GMT -6
The tumbler material walnut hulls ? must have be hydrophilic and absorbed some moisture before you used it. Does it smell like mold ?
Inside the cases is there the same? Q-tip the walls to see.
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Post by redsnow on Sept 11, 2009 20:50:03 GMT -6
Not sure why it corroded/molded? It only takes a second to prime a case, I'd never do that untill I'm ready to dump the charge and seat a bullet. Naked primers exposed to air, dust, etc, you're asking for misfires. If they were mine, i'd chamber & fire the primers, knock them out, tumble them again, and start over. Sorry to hear that.
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Post by Furhvstr on Sept 12, 2009 11:37:34 GMT -6
Definatly oxidation. Looks just like copper flashing you would see near the coast or an old case you might find out in the woods.
Never intneded to leave them primed but I ended up being out of powder and it has taken till know to get some.
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Yodog
Skinner...
I'll make the last dirthole trowel you'll ever need.
Posts: 82
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Post by Yodog on Sept 12, 2009 23:45:30 GMT -6
I've left em' primer for a couple years, never had that problem. You do have great taste in dies though.
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Post by Furhvstr on Sept 13, 2009 14:36:42 GMT -6
So TWO days ago I set some fresh cases in my problem cabinet. First view is a wide shot showing both cabinets. The cabinet on the left is where I store much of my loaded ammo. The one on the right is where I am having trouble.  This is a pic of the left cabinet. The brass upper right is the identical to the brass I put in the right cabinet and was set out at the same time. The fireball cases are new never fired. The 6 BR (lower right) was loaded 9 years ago and has been in that cabinet for four years.  This is what the brass looks like after just two days. There is definately a light-medium chemical odor when you first open the cabinet. I added the three brass on the right just for contrast for the picture.  |
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Post by FWS on Sept 13, 2009 17:43:00 GMT -6
I'm thinking that there is some form of electrolysis occurring in that cabinet.
I see that on boats where brass is in proximity but not neccessarily touching dissimilar metals or electrical wiring, like there's enough of an electrical charge to cause a reaction.
See it on non-marinized electronics on boats too.
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Post by flatlander (Jeff Yancy) on Sept 13, 2009 21:55:52 GMT -6
How impressive!!!  |
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Post by lb on Sept 14, 2009 11:18:55 GMT -6
large craft in salt water maintain zinc plates, attached to the hull to prevent electrolysis which can render all metal on board to crystalize and become brittle and worthless. I don't think it has anything to do with Mercer's problem?
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Post by FWS on Sept 14, 2009 11:52:47 GMT -6
lb, that's only one example of electrolysis, there are many others since electrolysis is a chemical reaction in metals from an electrical current.
I'm wondering if the washer/dryer is in close proximity and there might be a vapor that gets into the cabinet and causes a reaction on the brass with the slightest electrical current and causes oxidation.
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Post by makete on Sept 15, 2009 11:30:42 GMT -6
Whats to the left of the left cabinet? Laundry soap, bleach?
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Post by redsnow on Sept 15, 2009 20:15:13 GMT -6
Think I might've figured out your problem? where are the cabinets, basement/garage? I think you're trying to compare brass/ammo that's been stored in a plastic box, sealed shut and inside a cabinet, ...to brass that's sit in a loading block for a while. The brass in the load block is getting lots more air/h2o.
I'm sure all your die boxes have a bag of silica gel inside, you'd think that'd help reduce h20. What's the junk left of the books? Don't have anything up there corrosive do you?
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Post by Furhvstr on Sept 15, 2009 20:33:11 GMT -6
Guys I have set up a test by seperating the contents of the cabinet and sealing them with a few brass inside some plastic tubs. I am CERTAIN that the powder is what is causing me grief.
My reloading area is in the garage.
There is NOTHING caustic, oxidizers or anything else anywhere in my garage.
Give me a few days and I will put this thing to rest.
Thanks for all the interest, ML
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Post by SteveCraig on Sept 15, 2009 23:01:27 GMT -6
In a few days you will be in AZ at the SWFH Convention. It is going to be a good one!
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Post by Furhvstr on Sept 21, 2009 8:07:20 GMT -6
Sooooo, Here is a pic of the brass in the cabinet after 5 days with all the powder removed:  And here is a pic of the two tubs I seperated the powder into and added a few pieces of virgin brass and left closed for the same amount of time.  Here is the can that I am assuming has caused the problem. No, the powder has never been on a trip to the moon or a nuclear test site or any other scenario. It is simply just another can of powder sitting on a shelf next to a bunch of other powders for many years like most of us all have at home somewhere. When I opened it a very fine dust or "smoke" rose up and out and the entire contents had rust throughout. I could not detect any strange odors but that does'nt mean that there weren't any as I have a very cold nose. I have returned all the IMR powders excluding this one to the tub with another virgin brass to make sure the problem has been removed. Will let you know. Take Care, ML.  |
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Post by trappnman on Sept 21, 2009 9:11:32 GMT -6
how very interesting!
sounds like you got it narrowed down- good troubleshooting techniques............
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Post by SteveCraig on Sept 21, 2009 17:57:04 GMT -6
Heck,
You ought to see his trouble shooting on bobcat cages! The man is a caging machine!
Glad you found the problem Mercer.
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Post by Chamacat on Sept 24, 2009 6:58:12 GMT -6
Yep...I have never in my life seen a can of powder that has a rust to it...I like alot of have powders stored...some powders are shelved for months on end...So..if I'm understanding this senerio correctly.the powder is in a sealed container..then somehow when whatever comes into contact with the brass it causes oxidation or whatever reaction to the brass case...Is there anyway that humidty could be a part of problem?....Carl
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