Anyone use Hornady Sonic cleaner for brass???

[folsoh]

Anyone use the hornady sonic cleaner for brass??

I have been using just a Lyman tumbler with walnut two different times during my reloading process.

I am thinking of using the sonic cleaner first after de-priming to clean primer pockets and save sizing die from excess grit and grime. Then later tumbling in walnut media to remove sizing lube and a final clean up on the brass. Right now I tumble my brass for a total of about 6 to 8 hours. I am hoping to cut that to 30 min then maybe two hours final tumbling.

Anyone process their brass this way???

 

[Varminterror]

I used to do basically what you describe, but I've put my Thumbler Rotary and my Frankfort Vibratory out to pasture. 99% of the time, as long as brass isn't looking too dull, I'll simply ultrasonic, then use Hornady One Shot Dry Lube for my sizing lube and not worry at all about removing it.

I use a Universal Decapping die on a single stage press to deprime, then pitch everything into the Ultrasonic; let them dry overnight and then use the dry lube for sizing so I can simply load cradle to grave once I get to the press.

I use a bit of a modified version of a recipe I stole from 6mmbr.com - what they called "Clean and Shiny," which was the most expensive (but still cheap) and longest operating.

25min of 50% vinegar & water, plus a few drops of dish soap
Rinse
10min with Hornady Ultrasonic Solution in water
Rinse
10min Hot water
Rinse thoroughly in cold water

The recipe on 6mmbr uses Birchwood Casey instead of Hornady's solution, but I got 3 bottles of Hornady when I bought my Ultrasonic machine, which will last me forever. They also do 6min under solution, instead of 10, then they do 6min each of hot water then cold water. I just rinse in cold water manually after the hot water. Front to back is right at an hour per batch. Only the fewest cases will still have powder streaks baked onto the primer pocket, none of which needs to be removed, but I generally give them a quick brushing on the prep center before priming anyway.

I have a DI canister at home and a small pump, salvaged from a lab. I'll probably buy DI water once this canister is shot instead of buying another canister to replace it.

As I mentioned - I don't use a lube I have to remove, so it saves me time. I'll do a batch of brass, get them set up in the drying rack over night, then load front to back in the morning without worrying about stopping to clean the brass again.

Vibrating for hours and hours in rice or hulls with a little polish, or tumbling in stainless pins DOES get clean and bright and shiny, but they don't shoot any better or any differently than going through the Ultrasonic cleaner, and I spend a LOT less time cleaning brass. It's a bit extra hand moving, since I have to change solutions 3 times, but they are bright and clean, inside and out. No messing with rice or hulls getting packed in my 204R cases, no pins stuck in flash holes, no powdery residue...

 

[macgrumpy]

I have the Hornady Hot Tub cleaner and I use their Ultrasonic Case Cleaner. The secret to getting shiny cases is to make sure you rinse them after you finish cleaning, I rinse them in hot water and actually rub the brass with my hands. If you don't do this then you'll get a cloudy film on the cases. I also clean my brass in a warm solution (114 degrees?) and run the cleaner for 30 minutes. If that doesn't clean the inside of the case then I'll run the brass a second time, as the solution is used it becomes less effective and you'll have to clean the brass longer. Getting the inside like new isn't all that important to me for my general duty/hunting ammo but for my precision ammo I clean the cases until they look like new. I really don't clean my brass for looks, I clean it because it feeds better through my guns, leaves less fouling, and performs more consistently.

 

[SC_Dave]

I have the 2 L Hornady Sonic Cleaner. I use Hornadys cleaning solution plus 2-3 drops of Dawn and about 1/2 of a 9mm case of Lemi Shine. I decap first. Occasionally I'll run the through 2 30min cycles but mostly 1. It's not tumbler with SS media clean but is pretty darn clean. If they are really dirty, like outdoor rang pick-up I'll soak them in a bucket with 50/50 Dawn and laundry detergent, maybe 1 table spoon to a gallon of hot water. Theirs a million billion ways to do it but the Hornady sonic cleaner works well. I also clean gun parts in it too but be sure to use the cleaner for parts and not the brass cleaner.
SCD

 

[JO JO]

If I was you I would go with the wet tumbler and stainless pins , I did the ultra sonic thing wasn't happy with it then got a wet tumbler , much better job if fact I got rid of my dry tumbler too.

 

[SC_Dave]

If I was you I would go with the wet tumbler and stainless pins , I did the ultra sonic thing wasn't happy with it then got a wet tumbler , much better job if fact I got rid of my dry tumbler too.

I'm happy with my HSC but if the OP wants them spotless and shiny every time I agree Jo Jo. They will look brand new out of a wet tumbler with SS media. But, as I mentioned I like to clean gun parts in mine. Heck get both

 

[macgrumpy]

I've never had a problem getting my brass to look like new from the ultrasonic cleaner, but then I followed the instructions and didn't start experimenting with homemade cleaning concoctions. The primer pockets and the inside of the cases come out like new for me so I've never found a need to switch to steel pins.

 

[JPDeacon]

I have used Hornady Sonic Cleaner, after dry tumbling in walnut shells and resizing/decapping, in a generic ultrasonic cleaner unit and it does a good job on the primmer pockets, I agree that you must rinse and dry cases good after ultrasonic bath. I'm happy with results. Been reloading for going on 60+ years and this is the best results I've had to date.