- Location
- West Quebec
Nope just the bigger Rebel..
Ultra sonic vs wet tumble with ss pins
- Thread starter julesr
- Start date
Nope just the bigger Rebel..
Used to do SS pins and now do ultrasonic. I don't care if they are shiney, just care they are clean. US is quicker (I find) and don't have to separate pins.
I became concerned that the case mouth was getting peened. It may not, but I have no concerns with the ultrasonic.
I became concerned that the case mouth was getting peened. It may not, but I have no concerns with the ultrasonic.
Lately I've been putting my own spent brass in the ultra sonic cleaner (primer in) for about ten minutes just to get any powder, etc off them before depriming and full length sizing but I make sure they're good and dry before I do it. After resizing, I trim, deburr, and chamfer the cases, then I'll throw them in the dry media tumbler for a 2-3 hours to make them look real pretty. LOL
after that I'll clean out the primer pockets really well because the media tends to get stuck in some of them, prime them, and just put them away until I want to reload them. I just do hunting and practice loads so there's a lot there waiting for the final phase even though I do like to get out at least once a week when I'm up at my cabin during the late spring and summer to shoot from hunting positions. There's probably a more efficient method but it seems to work for me but I'm more than happy to hear about a better method if you've got one. I don't own a SS cleaner and can't see myself getting one.
after that I'll clean out the primer pockets really well because the media tends to get stuck in some of them, prime them, and just put them away until I want to reload them. I just do hunting and practice loads so there's a lot there waiting for the final phase even though I do like to get out at least once a week when I'm up at my cabin during the late spring and summer to shoot from hunting positions. There's probably a more efficient method but it seems to work for me but I'm more than happy to hear about a better method if you've got one. I don't own a SS cleaner and can't see myself getting one.
This thread reads like fanboy material for the SS tumbling. But I'll toss in my own 2 cents anyway....
I started with dry and didn't like the results and time needed. I searched and found out about wet cleaning with a US cleaner around 8 years ago. I bought a smaller 1.3 liter size and still use it.
The cases come out like new on the outside and the shorter handgun brass comes out quite clean enough on the inside. Rifle casings which get de-capped before cleaning come out looking like new inside and out.
So for my use I can't see that it's worth "upgrading" to SS pin tumbling when I'm already getting my brass more than clean enough for a lot less money. And no SS pins invariably getting spilled here and there.
I started with dry and didn't like the results and time needed. I searched and found out about wet cleaning with a US cleaner around 8 years ago. I bought a smaller 1.3 liter size and still use it.
The cases come out like new on the outside and the shorter handgun brass comes out quite clean enough on the inside. Rifle casings which get de-capped before cleaning come out looking like new inside and out.
So for my use I can't see that it's worth "upgrading" to SS pin tumbling when I'm already getting my brass more than clean enough for a lot less money. And no SS pins invariably getting spilled here and there.
What are most of you guys using for juice in your ultrasonics?
I had tried some casey stuff before, lots of discoloration but it was clean enough though now I just use a bit of dish soap and a pinch of lemi shine, seems to work just as good or better. Might give the hornady stuff a try though.
My branson ultrasonic has a heater so I think that heat helps a fair bit.
I had tried some casey stuff before, lots of discoloration but it was clean enough though now I just use a bit of dish soap and a pinch of lemi shine, seems to work just as good or better. Might give the hornady stuff a try though.
My branson ultrasonic has a heater so I think that heat helps a fair bit.
Dish soap and a bit of lemi shine yes
I made a rotary tumbler myself with 1/2 inch steel rods as rollers and a 1/2 hp motor.... My drum is like 50-60 pounds full and the motor is not even starting to feel it...
I made a smaller drum but it wont roll because both rods are not driven. I need to add 2 little pulleys and a rubber strap so both rollers turn, so I could spin a smaller container for small batches.
Very useful to do batches of 1000 223 cases at a time, but not convenient for smaller runs.
I made a rotary tumbler myself with 1/2 inch steel rods as rollers and a 1/2 hp motor.... My drum is like 50-60 pounds full and the motor is not even starting to feel it...
I made a smaller drum but it wont roll because both rods are not driven. I need to add 2 little pulleys and a rubber strap so both rollers turn, so I could spin a smaller container for small batches.
Very useful to do batches of 1000 223 cases at a time, but not convenient for smaller runs.
I run the cheap white vinegar and water mix with a dash of liquid laundry detergent. The mix is done by eye to between 4:1 and 5:1 water to vinegar. I use liquid laundry detergent to aid in cutting through any oil or case lube still on the brass. And I use the laundry stuff instead of dish detergent for the lower suds level.
My US cleaner has a heater as well. I run it at 50C and like you found I believe it helps a lot. For a basket full with the brass just barely submerged a 15 minute cycle does the job. For rifle brass I don't fill it as much. Maybe half full. LIkely that, along with decapping before cleaning, is what aids in obtaining shiny like new looking brass inside and out. Again a 15 minute cycle does the trick.
I've thought a few times about buying a fruit dehydrator to aid in drying the brass. But if I plan a little further ahead a towel sitting on top of the dryer and washing machines along with a few days worth of patience is just as good. At a 15 minute cycle it doesn't take long to fill that large size old bath towel to brimming with a single layer of handgun brass.
I'd have to say though that the fruit dehydrator at $50 from Wally World would be a much better option if small kids or curious pets were around. I have neither so I only have to police myself from batting the brass onto the floor.......
I usually oven dry them at around 220-230f, a bit above boiling point(212f), but for just 10-15minutes or so. once they're up to temp they're dry usually. They usually get a few days/weeks to sit anyhow before I put any powder in.
The handgun cases still have the dead primers in them. On the off chance that something may come out and contaminate my cooking oven I won't put them in there.
I've got a retired toaster oven that I can and have used when I needed to load enough ammo for a match the next day. But it holds too few to use regularly. So Mother nature and the old "gun towel" continues to be my drying method of choice.
The reason the fruit dehydrator lures at me is the multiple trays would easily hold up around 500 .38Spl casings per batch.
I've got a retired toaster oven that I can and have used when I needed to load enough ammo for a match the next day. But it holds too few to use regularly. So Mother nature and the old "gun towel" continues to be my drying method of choice.
The reason the fruit dehydrator lures at me is the multiple trays would easily hold up around 500 .38Spl casings per batch.
