Thoughts on these? (Ultrasonic cleaner and mini tumbler)

[TruthTellers]

Hey all, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the Hornady LNL Ultrasonic Cleaner and the SmartReloader Scout Tumbler. Here's links to the two items:

https://www.natchezss.com/lnl-sonic-cleaner-7l-110-vt.html

https://www.natchezss.com/m737-scout-tumbler-110v-limited-edition.html

I'm not planning on using the tumbler to clean brass, maybe a little, but I'd like to know how well this little guy does when cleaning brass. My plan for it is to do powder coating and I think to coat lead bullets it is plenty big enough for the job.

The Hornady sonic cleaner I will use to clean brass, handguns, black powder revolvers, etc. I'd like to know how well it cleans brass and pistol barrels.

 

[rcmodel]

From all the horror stories I have heard about SmartReloder products??

Run away, as fast & far as you can!!!!

rc

 

[CptnAwesome]

Idk but I just found my first tumbler. I trust your judgement RC but for $20 I'll give it a try. Whenever it craps out on me I won't even care. No-one else has this tumbler in stock, were they discontinue or something?

 

[rskent]

Some people love sonic cleaners. I can't figure out why.

Cheep tumblers. I guess.

I can't remember what I payed for my Lyman.
It's been running so long I can't even remember when I got it.
Buy once cry once.

 

[JohnMc]

TruthTellers,
I got a Harbor Freight sonicator for about $60 (used a coupon, they're about $80 otherwise)
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-95563.html
It works well for small batches of cases. The primer pockets come out clean if they are oriented down. However, when I got a nice gift card last fall, it went for a Frankford stainless pin tumbler. The sonicator will do other jobs too, so getting a Harbor Freight one made the pain small, but it's no longer a primary reloading tool.

 

[LiveLife]

Idk but I just found my first tumbler. I trust your judgement RC but for $20 I'll give it a try. Whenever it craps out on me I won't even care. No-one else has this tumbler in stock, were they discontinue or something?

I am with rcmodel. No, I would not try even for $20. I would spend $15 more and get a FA tumbler or $29 more for Berry's tumbler with 2-3+ times the capacity.

SmartReloader M737 Scout Tumbler 110V Limited Edition

- 1.5 qt. capacity
- Fits 300 9mm

300 9mm cases is not much capacity ... Not to mention their horrible return/warranty policy - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=10141226#post10141226

FA tumbler has 600 9mm case capacity for $35 with clear top for easy viewing of cleaning/polishing progress but filling the bowl to capacity will really slow down the tumbling action - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/587176/frankford-arsenal-quick-n-ez-case-tumbler-110-volt

I usually put around 800 9mm cases in my Berry's tumbler as that amount don't slow down the tumbling action much (listed capacity is 1000 9mm cases which will slow down the tumbling action) and 20-30 minute tumble in fine grit walnut/NuFinish will clean/polish my brass enough to reload.

Berry's tumbler is $49 and made in USA (all except for motor) with clear top and has more quieter/powerful motor than FA tumbler with inline on/off switch - http://www.eabco.net/Berrys-Model-400-Tumbler-_p_14144.html

 

[HiVelocity]

tumbler?

I tried the sonic cleaner, great for jewelry; NOT brass, sorry. Why clean 20 pieces at a time? Takes forever.

Buy what you will ultimately end up with later on; this item:

http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/

I took brass so black you couldn't see the headstamp and tumbled it in the stainless media per their instructions. It came out looking like virgin brass fresh out of the bag. BTW, I bought the Frankfort Arsenal tumbler kit [$150ish through WalMart on line, yeah] and never looked back. They advertise that you can easily tumble 1000 .223's with great results.

HV

 

[ROAshooter]

"I'm not planning on using the tumbler to clean brass, maybe a little, but I'd like to know how well this little guy does when cleaning brass. My plan for it is to do powder coating and I think to coat lead bullets it is plenty big enough for the job."

.........

 

[weaselfire]

Harbor Freight here. Both a sonic cleaner and a dual rock tumbler with stainless pins. Both work well as intended, but the sonic cleaner gets used for gun parts far more than brass.

Jeff

 

[TruthTellers]

So no one here has ever used the Hornady LNL ultrasonic cleaner?

 

[macgrumpy]

I have the Hornady Magnum ultrasonic cleaner



It's a different model but I can show you how well it works for me.

These cases were cleaned using Hornady's own liquid cleaner, a temperature setting of 95 degrees and 50 cases at a time were cleaned for about 60 minutes (one continuous cleaning for 60 minutes rather than two 30 minute cleanings).

I clean my cases and then rinse them in hot water and dry them (using compressed air, a towel, or rinse in acetone, depending on how fast I want them to dry) or just put them in a storage box. The real secret is to rinse them in hot water because the cleaner is similar to dish soap and it leaves a dirty, dull film on the cases if you don't rinse them.

I used a standard tumbler for years but decided to use something different because I didn't like the tumbler media getting stuck in the flash hole and I didn't like how quickly the cases would start to come out looking dull. I didn't want to use stainless steel pins because I didn't see the advantage to having to use metal pins and a liquid since an ultrasonic cleaner just used a liquid.

 

[dh1633pm]

I have both. I bought the ultrasonic to clean stuff not brass, but I couldn't help be temped by it. It worked great. Still use the tumbler and stainless pins, but in a pinch the ultrasonic sure was fast. Works better with hot water than cold.

 

[TruthTellers]

I used a standard tumbler for years but decided to use something different because I didn't like the tumbler media getting stuck in the flash hole and I didn't like how quickly the cases would start to come out looking dull. I didn't want to use stainless steel pins because I didn't see the advantage to having to use metal pins and a liquid since an ultrasonic cleaner just used a liquid.

As I do my research, I don't care for wet tumbling w/ SS pins either. I think it produces the cleanest and shiniest brass, but compared to ultrasonic cleaners they take a long time from start to finish. Once the 2+ hour tumbling is finished, the pins have to be separated from the brass and the brass dried while for ultrasonics you just dump the brass in the water and add solution and when the cycle is done after 30-50 mins, you take the brass out and dry it.

Not saying wet tumbling is bad, but it's not for me.

 

[Tusker10mm]

Sonic cleaners

I did a lot of research before picking a Lyman cleaner--- WHY????????? Well a number of years ago I was getting a lot of brass from an H&K facility close by. I had decided to get the Lyman, although my source of that brass had faded, as all good things do. a couple days after it came in I discovered a 3 41/2 gallon buckets of brass that I had never got around to cleaning up and putting away. In three days or so I cleaned all that brass up that would of taken me 3 months in the old way. I was sold. It is now used to clean my daily used brass from the range when I get out, which is 3/5 days in good weather. Since I work ahead of myself, and reload in the Winter, I never run short. From most of the reports I have read that were negative I figure people just were not following instructions. :banghead:

 

[TruthTellers]

I did a lot of research before picking a Lyman cleaner

what model?

 

[rcmodel]

I gave up wet cleaning brass in 1960 something.

I ain't got time for drying wet brass after I clean it.

At one time I had a 2"x6"x4' board with at least 400 finishing nails driven in it to hang wet cases mouth down to drip-dry.

Then I discovered walnut, corncob, and case polish.

Wet cases?
Never more!!!

rc

 

[Tusker10mm]

That would be the 2500 from Midway $113.00 + shipping

 

[macgrumpy]

Trying to air-dry cases is definitely slow but there are better ways.

• Heat them - an oven, hair dryer, or an annealing device.
• Drop them in a chemical that displaces water and then evaporates quickly - I use acetone, once removed from the liquid the cases are dry in just a couple of minutes.

 

[Tusker10mm]

I use a small fan with the air directed right on the brass some 12/15 inches away-- they dry fast enough--

 

[TruthTellers]

Drying brass is simple. Use a big bread pan or make a pouch from aluminum foil, dump the brass in, and place in oven on lowest setting for 20 mins.

 

[Terlingueno]

Some people love sonic cleaners. I can't figure out why.

Cheep tumblers. I guess.

I can't remember what I payed for my Lyman.
It's been running so long I can't even remember when I got it.
Buy once cry once.

I subscribe to the "buy once, cry once" thing. So I bought a Thumlers...

 

[ROAshooter]

"Drying brass is simple. Use a big bread pan or make a pouch from aluminum foil, dump the brass in, and place in oven on lowest setting for 20 mins."

How many times have you tried this???

 

[Gtscotty]

I got the Hornady 2L ultrasonic cleaner because I had just moved cross country, was living in an apartment, and didn't want to disturb the downstairs neighbors with my tumbler. It worked fine on brass, but now that I'm not living above anyone, I've gone back to the tumbler, it's just easier, and i think works better. I have been meaning to try the ultrasonic cleaner on my wife's jewelry though....

 

[sl33py]

I tumble my brass, and use my decent (lab model used on ebay) Ultrasonic for cleaning guns and other things.

I got the big 18lb HF tumbler and it's a BEAST! cleans a ton of brass in one go. Quiet too, which is nice.

 

[Hondo 60]

If you're gonna get 'em wet, might as well REALLY get 'em clean.
with a coupon (you can almost always find a 20% coupon) this is what I have.

Takes longer than dry tumbling, but the brass comes out looking brand new.
Also found small 1 & 2 lb bags of steel pins for tumbling media

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=dual+tumbler

http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Ste...&sr=8-3&keywords=stainless+tumbling+pins+1+lb

The "Brass Shine" that comes with the pins didn't work too well for me.
Lots of folks use a very small amount of dish soap & lemi-shine.
I think that works GREAT.