RCBS Ultrasonic Case Cleaner

I never tumble 2nd time. I have single stage so after I size I use the old tee shirt I have on my lap to wipe the case; how much time does it take? MAYBE 5 min per 100 total.

Yes, I understand progressive can't do this.

I have a commercial USC that I only use it for cleaning parts. And only for parts that are a PITA to clean.

The cleaners that clean brass does not really need the US to work.

I clean brass with a cheap HF sonicating bath. It's fast, 15 to 20 minutes, works well, but still a PITA because of the need to dry the brass. I just set it out on the hot Texas sun. The brass is clean inside/out, but not sparkling like new brass. No dust to deal with, but I have to deal with my dirty homemade citric acid solution. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

I have 2 tumblers, 1 US Cleaner, and a 2 tub rock cleaner setup.

I still use the Tumbler substantially more often than the others.

I suggest save some cash, get what is proven, media is cheaper.

good luck
Dan

I have been thinking of going this route for a while now, much cheaper than the RCBS. https://www.amazon.com/Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Professional-Industrial-Cleaning/dp/B07HRG3YCH

I have a Harbor Freight Special. You might see that same model with all sorts of other name brands on it. Like Lyman. It works great for brass. It is much cheaper. Doesn't polish of course. I find myself using it more for cleaning parts. All sorts of parts from car parts, to gun parts, and even chain saw parts. Use it to clean my tools after working on stuff. Excellent at degreasing cosmoline encrusted bolts. Did I mention that I also does brass?

https://www.lymanproducts.com/turbo-sonic-2500-case-cleaner
Half the price of the RCBS and I've been using it (on occasion*) for many years.

That Amazon Deal sure looks interesting though



*
(very) occasionally since walnut/dry is still the most convenient/practical.
UltraSon does get that last bit of BP primer pockets residue if/when/infrequently
absolutely req'd

I decap with a Harvey Deprimer Tool, wet tumble in a FART with steel pins and dry in a dehydrator :https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017KSBYHC/ref=twister_B072K11C4S?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I sort, inspect and decap while watching TV.
It takes a while to tumble and dry but only about 20 minutes of my time, the rest is the tumbler and dryer working while I do something else. It's not fast but I don't do it at the last minute either.

You won't eliminate any of your steps no matter what tumbling method you use.

I have wet, US and dry tumblers and I seldom use US for anything other than whole gun and gun parts cleaning and wet is such a time consuming PITA that I only use it for match or hunting loads.

Also if you choose wet or US its easier to remove case lube by dry tumbling.

My process for wet/us is:
Dry tumble for 15-20 so crud does not go into the press.
Decap using universal decaper.
Wet/US using your favorite cleaning solution
Dry cases
Resize
Tumble lube off in corn cob

Lyman at about $146 and Harbor Freight at $79.

You can get the Lyman a lot cheaper than $146.00. I've heard a lot of complaining about the Harbor Freight models leaking and new owners would take them apart and put gasket sealer around the stainless tube and put them back together before even using them.
My Lyman has never leaked a drop.

MEHavey said:

That Amazon Deal sure looks interesting though

Click to expand...

I've been looking at the same one. It should be three time as powerful as the Lyman and it's look alike. I believe it has 3 transducers in it.

I've been waiting for my Lyman to die but it just keeps going and doing a good job so I will just keep using it.

The problem with the small Lymans like in the pictures above is they are really to small to clean pistols in.
The two units your looking at, that RCBS, and the bigger Lyman in your link are both twin transducer models and have larger tanks than the smaller Lymans in the picture above.
All these brand name and no name US units are made in china, if you look hard enough you can find all the brand name ultrasonic cleaners twins, including the Hornady hot tube. The only one I haven't see knocked off yet is that $1400.00 Lyman professional model, and I'll bet it's out there somewhere, I just haven't found it yet.

Mine hasn’t leaked. The stainless tub on mine is a single piece. Never leaked a drop. It has become part of my collection of well used items. If it ever bites the dust, I will certainly get a bigger one.

dh1633pm said:

Mine hasn’t leaked. The stainless tub on mine is a single piece. Never leaked a drop. It has become part of my collection of well used items. If it ever bites the dust, I will certainly get a bigger one.

Click to expand...

The Chinese may have addressed that, they supposedly leaked around where the tub lip sat on the plastic frame and would leak down into the transducer and corrode everything up down in there, from dumping them out, then they would prematurely fail. That was years ago.
I like ultrasonic cleaners, you don't get all the dings on the case mouth like you do in a Rotary tumbler.
i paid $99.00 for my Lyman 10 years ago.
Before Covid 19 you could still find them for $119.00 once in a while.

I don't mind them for cleaning brass. But where they really shine is cleaning parts and stuff. They do get the brass very clean, quickly, but don't really shine the stuff. Not that it matters.

I have the three, cabelas regular dry tumbler, hornady ultra sonic and frankford wet tumbler.

After useing the frankford wet tumbler I retired the other two.
Dry just doesn't do it for me.
If I will be useing water I want my brass to shine like new.
I have so much brass I tumble a batch, put them on my drying racks, hit them with a air hose and let them dry out in the sun for an afternoon or inside a couple of day to get 100% dry.

I have enough drying racks that hold over 2,000 pieces of brass.
I have a butt load of brass for every caliber in the house.

I have the referenced US.
IMHO, it's best used for parts cleaning. (Does an admirable job on BCG's, rimfire / PCC blow-back actions)
Brass?,, Meh,,,, not so much,,,,
Why?
Doesn't matter if its a BCG or a cartridge case, you'll still need to put a little elbow grease into it afterwards to get the scum off.
(Kinda like a 'touch-free' Car Wash vs hand washed. Get's most, but not all)