Cleaning up Brass Castings

[ZigsawPuzzle]

I'm currently building my first rifle from scratch and I've been putting off cleaning up the brass castings I had shipped from Track of the Wolf because good lord are they ugly, holes and bumps and things all over. Is this just a job for a file and several evenings of work or are there secret tricks to making these things shine?

 

[64Springer]

Files, sandpaper and elbow grease is the only way.

I only bought one raw casting/trigger guard from Track.

And I'll tell you this, a barber pole is straighter than that thing was.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I saw off the large casting gate/sprue, dremel grind the remnant almost down to the part surface then file flush. A disc sander can be helpful in removing parting lines. Just go easy with the power tools. As in woodworking, its easier to remove material than to put it back on. Yes, you will become very familiar with your files and abrasive paper.

 

[ZigsawPuzzle]

Files, sandpaper and elbow grease is the only way.

I only bought one raw casting/trigger guard from Track.

And I'll tell you this, a barber pole is straighter than that thing was.

It is as I feared... thank you for the reply! Funny you mention that, the trigger guard I purchased from them was as crooked as can be, though bending it to shape wasn't the worst.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Files, sandpaper and elbow grease is the only way.

Amen, Bro.

 

[akroguy]

Yeah, those things are fugly. Cross cut files for roughing down, then single cut mill files to profile and smooth then abrasive paper/steel wool/compound. A set of jewelers files (harbor freight is fine) are great for the corners and tight angles.

 

[CuNosecap]

If you can find it, emery cloth works best on these curved parts. The cloth backed abrasives can be torn in to strips then used like a "shoe shine" cloth. All this after the tedious filing though.

 

[64Springer]

ACE Hardware sells emery cloth.

Not cheap though.

 

[ZigsawPuzzle]

Thank you all for your responses! I think I've got some filing to do this weekend, might take the work outside so I can listen to the chickens and the trees. There's a bit of zen to filing away, eh?

 

[Appowner]

Been staring at one myself for several weeks now. As the wife would say it doesn't appear like the cleaning fairies are going to take care of it for me so I'd best get on it myself.

 

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

Get a secretary! Every good businessman has his secretary do the filing for him.

I think I have more files than Carter has little liver pills.

 

[FlinterNick]

I'm currently building my first rifle from scratch and I've been putting off cleaning up the brass castings I had shipped from Track of the Wolf because good lord are they ugly, holes and bumps and things all over. Is this just a job for a file and several evenings of work or are there secret tricks to making these things shine?

I would use a smooth file on brass then sand with 120 and 150, lubricate the sand paper with mineral oil. Small fine files also work very well.

 

[Sean E Bug]

for anybody coming along that wants to build a gun a wax cast part is a lot easier to clean up than a sand cast one.

 

[54ball]

I'm currently building my first rifle from scratch and I've been putting off cleaning up the brass castings I had shipped from Track of the Wolf because good lord are they ugly, holes and bumps and things all over. Is this just a job for a file and several evenings of work or are there secret tricks to making these things shine?

A selection of files and hours and hours of work.
I really think rough castings are good for a new builder because they teach important skills, patience, filing working with things out of square and making them work

Now a $20 butt plate took days and days and days to make a usable piece. The $38 buttplate was ready to rough fit the stock out of the box. It took less than 10 minutes to make it ready for candleling or fine fit.

If you count the time, there’s no economy in really rough castings especially if they are “common”.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I take it down to 400 grid, then use Brasso and finer paper until it looks like furniture.

 

[ZUG]

I suggest that you buy wax cast parts and forgo the sand cast stuff if you can. If you use a file then buy a new file and use it ONLY for brass. I prefer to use different shapes of wood sticks 1/2" X 1/2" to 1" wide and about 10 to 12 inches long. I use double stick tape to apply different grits of wet/dry silicone paper or aluminum oxide cloth to half of the stick the rest is used as a handle - like a file handle. When the abrasive gets dull I just replace it with a new piece. Saves on dulling your expensive files.

 

[Pete G]

Sharp cabinet scrapers are the secret. No other tool will put a concave surface on the inside of a trigger guard.