Cleaning keys.

[PLS]

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but i came across a bunch of ic keys cores today for cheap, great. Bad side, most of the keys had seen their better days. Any good tricks to cleaning brass/nickle keys ?

[ltdbjd]

A vibrating tumbler using corn cob medium with a bit of metal polish poured in works well. You can get them pretty cheap from Harbor Freight.

[PLS]

A vibrating tumbler using corn cob medium with a bit of metal polish poured in works well. You can get them pretty cheap from Harbor Freight.

Thanks man. Appreciate it. What is corn cob medium?

[PLS]

A vibrating tumbler using corn cob medium with a bit of metal polish poured in works well. You can get them pretty cheap from Harbor Freight.

Thanks man. Appreciate it. What is corn cob medium?

Scratch that, google, who would have thunk it. Thanks for the direction.

[Jacob Morgan]

For brass keys that are badly oxidized you can use brass cleaner. A handy source for it is cleaner for cartridge brass https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/Cleaning-and-Maintenance/Cleaning-Maintenance/Brass-Cartridge-Case-Cleaner.aspx Might be able to find some at the local sporting goods store.

It is normally used when reloading rifle cartridges when the brass is oxidized to the point that tumbling with walnut shells will not get the job done. A little bit goes a long way, I have had the same bottle since about the year 2000. It will not weaken brass objects. Tried some out a couple of months ago on a batch of oxidized key blanks and it took the oxidation off. Mix a cap full with some warm water and stir in the keys, let it sit for a while, then take them out, rinse, and dry. I don't wear gloves when using it, it is not that corrosive.

[GWiens2001]

...as for what corn cob medium is... it is dried, coarsely ground corn cobs. Seriously.

Gordon

[ltdbjd]

I used the tumbler to polish the brass components on a Folger Adam 1010 and key the boss wanted to make a plaque out of. That, along with buffing wheels, buffing and polishing compound, polish and wax) really made them shine.

[PLS]

You guys are the best, much appreciated. Ill upload a pic of my score when i get them done, a before and after. Got prolly 10 IC Cores and housings, A used A2 pinning kit with a box full of refills, and i kid you not couple hundred blanks..Sargent, Best, Arrow, Falcon etc with two Medeco locks $35 bucks. I said, sold.

[Silverado]

I don't have a tumbler but I do polish a lot of brass shell casings (I use them to make paracord accessories like keychains, bracelets, lanyards) by hand. I've had some ugly nasty ones that came out brand new using barkeeper's friend on a damp cloth. It's cheap but you gotta do it by hand so there's that.

[gademsky]

I am very amateur, but have been buying a lot of keys and locks in groups. Not valuable stuff, but for instance I go to estate sale....take bucket and walk around. I fill bucket with every key and lock I can find. Anything, since as beginner they are all challenging and 6 months ago I didn't know what I was buying anyway. Then I check out and pay maybe 5$ or 10$. The stuff I buy from basements and barns is filthy.

So I put everything in large spaghetti strainer and spray with degreaser, let sit a while and then rise with hot water. I might do it twice, second time using fantastic.

Then I put strainer full of stuff in dishwasher and run on hot, long cycle. Next day, I take out spread out on towel....pat dry any remaining water, spray wd40 into the lock keyways and let the stuff sit for 24 hours.

After that it is degreased, very clean and I can work with it. Found a lot of cool stuff for zero money.....and lots of locks to practice on. Some of the locks I may clean up the keyways more before I try to defeat them. Not very scientific, but at least I can put stuff on my kitchen table or computer desk with out dirt and filth.