How well do ultra sonic cleaners work? I use my tumbler and it works well, but obviously not on the inside of cases. I tried the liquid solution but, even with lots of rinsing, I didn't like the result as well as tumbling. So, have been wondering about the ultra sonics. What has been your experience?
Ultra sonic cleaners
- Thread starter Sniper66
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griff383
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I tried a few different solutions and while the Hornady stuff works pretty well its rather expensive. I tried a long squirt of dish soap and ran with heat 3-4 cycles allowing time to soak in between. They came out pretty clean inside and out, with most of the primer pockets being 90-95% clean. There was no shine on them but there wasnt hardly any carbon either. I put them in the tumbler with some NuFinish and they came out gleaming almost as good as SS media.
I was very satisfied with the results I got from the dish soap and will continue to use this method with rifle brass especially my match grade and hunting stuff.
I was very satisfied with the results I got from the dish soap and will continue to use this method with rifle brass especially my match grade and hunting stuff.
nastynatesfish
Member
I've got the Lyman and it works pretty good. I use their solution only a bit stronger than what they recommend. I do tumble first then wash. They come out pretty nice, I just don't care for the drying part. You have t run your brass a couple hours ahead of load time if your gonna let them sit and dry.
ranger335v
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I bought an Ultrasonic for cleaning small mechanical things but tried it on cases too of course; maybe a couple hundred. Went back to the vib tumbler, it does plenty good and does it with MUCH less mess and personal attention.
After we wipe off the outside and check inside for dirt or stones all the rest is cosmetics anyway.
After we wipe off the outside and check inside for dirt or stones all the rest is cosmetics anyway.
NeuseRvrRat
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dump the wet brass out on a towel and pat them dry. throw them in a mesh lingerie wash bag (couple bucks at walmart). sandwich a corner of the bag in the clothes dryer door. throw that towel from earlier in the dryer, too. run it on delicate for about 20 mins. pull them out and go load em.
dragon813gt
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They work well with a citric acid solution. Combined with a vibratory tumbler I prefer them over the SS pins. They do require more attention if your unit has a timer. But the advantage is not having to separate pins from the brass. I'm also able to clean more in the same amount of time compared to SS pins.
I only use an ultrasonic for new to me rifle brass. And it's only done once. After that's it's just normal trips in the vibratory tumbler.
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I only use an ultrasonic for new to me rifle brass. And it's only done once. After that's it's just normal trips in the vibratory tumbler.
Brought to you by TapaTalk.
john16443
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Tom, I use an ultrasonic cleaner and vibratory tumbler in combination with each other. Even though the overwhelming consensus is that pistol brass primer pockets don't need to be cleaned, that doesn't work for me. I saved up my pennies for a Hornady Magnum sonic cleaner that will handle well over 200 45ACP or 300 9MM cases in a single cleaning. Smaller would be OK, but my weekly volume is anywhere from 300 to 500 rounds per week. Run a continuous 30 minute cycle, rinse, pat dry with a towel, toss into corn cob tumbler for an hour. What comes out is like new shiney brass inside and out in A LOT less time than just tumbling in media or using the stainless steel pins. Overkill, probably, but I like the results.
Consider combining the processes you mentioned in your initial post. Use a solution of Dawn and Lemishine to soak the cases for several minutes with some agitation, rinse, pat dry with a towel, and tumble for an hour. Add some NuFinish (break up the clumps before adding brass) to the media and you'll have decent results inside the cases.
Consider combining the processes you mentioned in your initial post. Use a solution of Dawn and Lemishine to soak the cases for several minutes with some agitation, rinse, pat dry with a towel, and tumble for an hour. Add some NuFinish (break up the clumps before adding brass) to the media and you'll have decent results inside the cases.
Small Hornady unit for me with lemishine and dish soap. ~150 40SW/run. Rise and set on a towel in the sun. Not bling, but only takes 5 min or less of my time, rinsing and sorting. When you see all the gunk in the bottom of the pan, you know it's been working. The HF unit didn't work for me. If you uniform rifle cases (once), the PP come out clean.
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