I tumble my cases in corncob and have been quite happy with the external case results, the inside on the other hand, still looks soot black. I have been toying with the ultrasonic cleaner idea but was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with different cleaner machines and the cleaning solutions used. Any feedback would be great.
Ultrasonic cleaners
- Thread starter Holleyman
- Start date
Re Ultrasonic cleaners, some swear by 'em, others swear at 'em. I am the latter. I have one and I find it doesnt do any better than the vibratory tumbler with good media.I just keep it around to clean gun parts now. In fact, the tumbler produces a much better finish if u want the mirror shine look. I prefer the clean matte so I dont tumble as long and use a coarser media but to each his own.
dB
dB
dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
I'm thinking of buying one because getting media out of 223 casings is making me want to stab my eyeballs out with a 12v cigarette lighter.
If anyone has a source/example of what you can EASILY get out of 223, please post it, otherwise, I'm hitting ebay.
If anyone has a source/example of what you can EASILY get out of 223, please post it, otherwise, I'm hitting ebay.
thanks danger, just about bought a lyman tumbler, but now i think i may get an ultrasonic one, as i will be doing alot of .223. and wondered myself about all the media in the cases.
ground Walnut shell can be bought in 50lb bags from sand blasting supply shops. It's what I use and for the most part it pours out like water. You will have the odd occasion (1 in 50?) that will require you to poke a chunk from the primer hole, but for the most part works great with .223
If your referring to the flash hole then a pick will do or just run your depriming rod way out of your die and use that.
If your talking about the media inside the case when you take them out then get an RCBS media separator, mine works like a hot damn on all my cases....including .223. 30-40 seconds of turning and all the media is out of the cases and in the bottom of the separator.
dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
Hollyman, do a websearch for ultrasonic cleaning reloading 6mmbr, there is a good post there that covers some tryouts with chemicals and results, IIRC, the author found good results with vinegar/water followed by baking soda/water to neutralize the acid.
Beltfed, I'll try and track down a sand blasting supply here, I know there is a sandblast shop near ours, they should be able to point me in the right direction. One question though, will the walnut shells work for 5.56mm casings as well? *
*D)
Beltfed, I'll try and track down a sand blasting supply here, I know there is a sandblast shop near ours, they should be able to point me in the right direction. One question though, will the walnut shells work for 5.56mm casings as well? *
*
D)
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I hear ya ,but I hate cleaing primer pockets more , I have one of them ultrasonic cleaners on the way . Its a 2.5L one and I will try the recipe off the 6mmbr site. If I can do 50 cases or more at a time I will be happy
Where did you order yours from?
Cleaners !!!!
We have 4 ultrasonic cleaners at work and a Vapour Degreaser as well , We use them for cleaning Aircraft engine parts and Bearing's , I put my Shell caseings in them quite often and it works fantastic, They are made by a Company Call ** CREST ** I don't know how much you want to spend , The smallest one we have is 8"x8" x10" deep and it cost $1500.00 new . We use Aero Dip solution in them it comes in powder form . You mix it with water , the Aero dip costs $100.00 a pound and that usually makes 40 liters of solution, So it's a costly way to clean.
We have 4 ultrasonic cleaners at work and a Vapour Degreaser as well , We use them for cleaning Aircraft engine parts and Bearing's , I put my Shell caseings in them quite often and it works fantastic, They are made by a Company Call ** CREST ** I don't know how much you want to spend , The smallest one we have is 8"x8" x10" deep and it cost $1500.00 new . We use Aero Dip solution in them it comes in powder form . You mix it with water , the Aero dip costs $100.00 a pound and that usually makes 40 liters of solution, So it's a costly way to clean.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I bought an inexpensive ultra sonic cleaner from E-Bay and I also use the formula suggested on the 6BR site. I use a 250 ML beaker and found I get the best results with cleaning 10 cases with a 10 minute cycle run time. I use a second beaker to rinse the first batch while the second batch is being cleaned. There appears to be no loss of cleaning action with both beakers in the ultra sonic cleaner.
If that sounds like low production, consider that 100 cases in a vibratory cleaner take days to clean while the 100 cases can be cleaned in 110 minutes in the ultra sonic cleaner.
Because the cases are cleaned wet, if I plan to anneal I do so at the same time. After annealing, I just shake each case off and allow it to air dry in a plastic cartridge tray.
I am generally happy with the results, but I have found that the primer pockets do not come 100% clean. That doesn't concern me because I touch them up with my primer pocket uniformer which removes any stubborn carbon deposit.
If that sounds like low production, consider that 100 cases in a vibratory cleaner take days to clean while the 100 cases can be cleaned in 110 minutes in the ultra sonic cleaner.
Because the cases are cleaned wet, if I plan to anneal I do so at the same time. After annealing, I just shake each case off and allow it to air dry in a plastic cartridge tray.
I am generally happy with the results, but I have found that the primer pockets do not come 100% clean. That doesn't concern me because I touch them up with my primer pocket uniformer which removes any stubborn carbon deposit.
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Don't like mine at all, extremely disappointed to say the least. I never expect much because I've been around long enough to know better but this thing was a big let down.
NOISY as hell
SLOW as hell
Labor intensive and the cases are wet when done.
Not my idea of an improvement.
Consider yourself warned.
NOISY as hell
SLOW as hell
Labor intensive and the cases are wet when done.
Not my idea of an improvement.
Consider yourself warned.
- Location
- AB foothills
I started using a sonicator(ultrasonic cleaning bath with heat) last week and it has worked amazingly for me so far, primer pockets and all. I have never seen my cases that clean inside and out. I never bought mine I just used the one in the lab at work. I used the same method as some mentioned above, 20 minutes - 50% Vinegar + 1 Drop Dish Soap per 8 ounces water. I did about 30 cases at a time and the nice thing for me is I did it while at work
My results looked the exact same as these:
I wont be wasting my time with a tumbler anymore, I know that for sure.
My results looked the exact same as these:
I wont be wasting my time with a tumbler anymore, I know that for sure.
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- Location
- AB foothills
Maybe my results were better than some because of the quality of the sonicator I was using or maybe because it heats as well. I know for a fact the sonicator Im using is very expensive(about $1400) and I wouldnt be buying one for my reloading room.
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dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
Got mine of E-bay ,Total was about $125 to the door
The Tank is pretty big @2.5L ,here is a picture with a 1L apple juice carton and there is a ton of extra room
It has 5 cleaning cycles 90,180,280,380,480 seconds and also has the Heat Function as well . Will give it a try tommorow after work and will try to take some befor and after pictures .
- Location
- In the middle of gopher country
IMHO,
this all sounds pretty anal.
Are we into a beauty contest or trying to achieve a 0.01" group?
No flames now, just my opinion. Whatever floats your boat works for me.
this all sounds pretty anal.
Are we into a beauty contest or trying to achieve a 0.01" group?
No flames now, just my opinion. Whatever floats your boat works for me.
