- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,762
- 4,488
School me on these guys.
Better easier than a tumbler?
Better easier than a tumbler?
Ultrasonic case Cleaners
- Thread starter FOTIS
- Start date
Dr. Vette
Handloader
- Apr 16, 2012
- 1,514
- 435
Still hard to get the primer pockets.
Not as good as stainless tumbling media.
Yes, I've tried both.
The stainless can be a bit of a pain to get the little rods out of some cases, usually 257 and/or 270 caliber cases. However, it gets the cases a lot cleaner than using the ultrasonic cleaner.
We have a couple of US cleaners at work that I use to clean various things. They work exceptionally well at cleaning gun parts or car parts. However, I don't use them any longer for cases.
Just my $0.02
Patrick
Not as good as stainless tumbling media.
Yes, I've tried both.
The stainless can be a bit of a pain to get the little rods out of some cases, usually 257 and/or 270 caliber cases. However, it gets the cases a lot cleaner than using the ultrasonic cleaner.
We have a couple of US cleaners at work that I use to clean various things. They work exceptionally well at cleaning gun parts or car parts. However, I don't use them any longer for cases.
Just my $0.02
Patrick
Mortis
Handloader
- Aug 3, 2012
- 367
- 0
They do clean the brass PDQ.....but they will not come out pretty & shiney.....
And it works best with primers removed.....
But any defects in the brass kinda pop out at ya that tumbling sorta polishes over...
And it works best with primers removed.....
But any defects in the brass kinda pop out at ya that tumbling sorta polishes over...
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,963
- 7,868
I bought one of the first Hornady ultrasonic cleaners. It is up for sale now. I prefer tumbling media. I do have a Thumbler tumbler and stainless media on order. It should be here shortly.
I'm curious, has anyone ever tried coarse sand as a tumbling media? In my working world, we used small "rock like" tumbling media to remove heavy burrs from small machined parts. Thought perhaps coarse sand might work too. Granted it would be a bit heavier in the tumbler bowls and MAY have an effect on the tumbler action.
What say you?
What say you?
Mortis
Handloader
- Aug 3, 2012
- 367
- 0
DaveA37":2l8l4gr3 said:
Dave.....
What you are using in the shop to deburr with is a ceramic media..... probably coarse in nature. There is a fine grade used to polish. I use a lapidary rotary thumbler to polish/deburr small copper parts here in the shop I manage.
Sand, even the fine, white sand will degrade brass thru is cutting action. One must remember that sand is basically silica, therefore, glass in it's raw form.
I've used sand in a rotary tumbler to strip rust and corrosion off steel tooling and parts that are too small to run thru a sand blasting cabinet.
Also consider the weight of sand verses standard media in a vibratory tumbler. As you mentioned, weight is great, which would probably do more damage to the tumbler then results would warrant.
Hope this answers the question.......
I didn't think the Hornady Ultrasonic cleaner worked very good on cases that had black powder fired in them. And it did not get smokeless cases shiny! I went back to my old vibratory cleaner that has crushed walnut hulls and a couple of scoops of hard , dry rice mixed in. Maybe some silica (sp.) sand mixed in would work ok also.
From what I've seen, ultrasonic doesn't polish, it cleans.. amazingly well.
For rifle cases that I want perfect, they get an ultrasonic cleaning, air dried and then run through the tumbler with some flitz to put on the shine. (This also keeps my tumbling media extremely clean..)
Now that I'm facing bulk 9mm reloading to keep my steel habit fed, I'm thinking I'll just short cut a bit and just go with the ultrasonic only.
For rifle cases that I want perfect, they get an ultrasonic cleaning, air dried and then run through the tumbler with some flitz to put on the shine. (This also keeps my tumbling media extremely clean..)
Now that I'm facing bulk 9mm reloading to keep my steel habit fed, I'm thinking I'll just short cut a bit and just go with the ultrasonic only.
- Thread starter
- #11
- Oct 30, 2004
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- 4,488
I think I will stick to my media tumblers for now.
Mortis
Handloader
- Aug 3, 2012
- 367
- 0
dlove":1m9nsdq7 said:
Drying time......
One trick I learned form another Forum is the use of denatured alcohol as a rinsing agent. Go direct from the cleaner to the alcohol, rinse thoroughly, then lay them out on a towel. They dry quickly as the alcohol evaporates and does not leave water marks.
Downside...... denatured alcohol is very flammable and area should be well ventilated.
elkeater2
Handloader
- Jan 5, 2009
- 763
- 92
Ultrasonic - I've got one (Harbor Freight) and use it, mostly to clean the inside after 4 - 5 firings. I use the Hornady solution after trying some of the home brew recipes out there. Maybe add a little Lemishine. I have one of the larger capacity units, but do smaller batches in little plastic containers holding fresh solution. The smaller container is set into the cleaner surrounded by water. I usually decap with a universal decapper and clean before resizing. I rinse in super hot water, then blow them dry inside and out with compressed air. I've got my home-made vibratory cleaner which gets a lot of use still. Don't do big batches of anything.
List of things I pay attention to:
- outside clean enough for resizing
- primer pocket buildup of crud removed when needed
- inside buildup of whatever makes it black in there gone
- trim length, chamfer, and inside neck consistency (I want a smooth bullet seating action)
- sizing with consistent, easy force; likewise, a smooth pull over expander buttons. I use the little neck/brush graphite combo for inside necks
- enough case polish that any exterior bright ring from stetch stress shows up
- finished rounds without any lube of any kind on the case exterior
So, my ultrasonic has a place in all this, but mostly for interior crud. It does work great for general cleaning of all kinds of other stuff.
EE2
List of things I pay attention to:
- outside clean enough for resizing
- primer pocket buildup of crud removed when needed
- inside buildup of whatever makes it black in there gone
- trim length, chamfer, and inside neck consistency (I want a smooth bullet seating action)
- sizing with consistent, easy force; likewise, a smooth pull over expander buttons. I use the little neck/brush graphite combo for inside necks
- enough case polish that any exterior bright ring from stetch stress shows up
- finished rounds without any lube of any kind on the case exterior
So, my ultrasonic has a place in all this, but mostly for interior crud. It does work great for general cleaning of all kinds of other stuff.
EE2
elkeater2
Handloader
- Jan 5, 2009
- 763
- 92
Does anything besides stainless steel get cases clean on the inside? Especially dry tumblers? That is the main reason I use ultrasonic today.
roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 2
I spent 40 years repairing and restoring old clocks. I had two Ultra Sonic tubs, in which brass clock parts were suspended for cleaning. Time depended on the age and size of the part, but was not more than 30 minutes. The brass came out looking like new! I then only had to rinse the parts in water and put them on an electric fan dryer, before lubing them and putting them back into the movement of the clock. The cleaner liquid had a lot of amonia in it and I would not want to use it in a small closed room.
I have no idea how this would work on cartridge cases, but my guess is that if one wanted to spring for the cost of the tub cleaner and solution, cases would some out at new looking to include the primer pockets, as all nooks and cranies in the clock parts were new appearing following the wash.
I remember that Merrit's Antiques in Pa. sold the tubs and liquid cleaner.
Steve Ashe
I have no idea how this would work on cartridge cases, but my guess is that if one wanted to spring for the cost of the tub cleaner and solution, cases would some out at new looking to include the primer pockets, as all nooks and cranies in the clock parts were new appearing following the wash.
I remember that Merrit's Antiques in Pa. sold the tubs and liquid cleaner.
Steve Ashe
Woodycreek
Handloader
- Aug 2, 2007
- 2,240
- 0
I just purchased one from Habour Freight to clean my suppressor. It's done an ok job of cleaning the inside baffle area. Still trying to get the built up carbon off of the area where the muzzle threads into the can. It has done a great job of taking the outside finish off!
300WSM
Handloader
- Dec 24, 2011
- 1,293
- 906
Fotis,
I wouldn't say better than a tumbler but, different than a tumbler for sure.
In some respects they are better than a tumbler. If you use a low brass count and run cycles with just those, you will get some amazingly clean cases inside and out. Primer pockets already clean, etc. The more cases you put in the less you will get them clean.
I wouldn't say better than a tumbler but, different than a tumbler for sure.
In some respects they are better than a tumbler. If you use a low brass count and run cycles with just those, you will get some amazingly clean cases inside and out. Primer pockets already clean, etc. The more cases you put in the less you will get them clean.
