Cleaning brass, tumble or ultrasonic?

I never did ultrasonic, but I started out media tumbling but after a few months got a really great deal on a Frankfort arsenal wet tumbler kit. No comparison imo, the wet tumbler does an amazing job cleaning brass.
 
FoxAlpha said:
I never did ultrasonic, but I started out media tumbling but after a few months got a really great deal on a Frankfort arsenal wet tumbler kit. No comparison imo, the wet tumbler does an amazing job cleaning brass.
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JohnnyPython said:
Wet tumbling with or without SS pins is my preferred cleaning method.

No dust and cleaner than dry media tumbling.
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What do you dry them with after? oven/low?
 
I use an old salad spinner to get most of the water out of the cases. Then I lay the case out on a screen to air dry. In the summer, I put them out in the sun.
 
I use ultrasonic at this time. I bought a $50 model off of "that" auction site. It is a generic made in China thing. I think you will find they are all made in China nowadays, no matter how much $$. It will handle about 30 cases or so. The more expensive models may have more power, or a larger tank. Be careful if you go this route. Check the wattage of the unit you are interested in. If you "stuff" any ultrasonic cleaner, it will take a lot longer to clean. Found a recipe on line that uses vinegar, dish soap, Birchwood Casey brass cleaner liquid. It works well, but takes about 2 hours to do a batch. If you have other things that you want to clean, such as jewelry, eye glasses, metal whatever, then you have a machine that can take care of those things. If you are just wanting to clean brass, then I would go with the stainless steel tumbling option with a bit of a "shining" liquid. From what I have read, people are very pleased with the results. As for machinery, check out online reviews and such.
 
+one for wet tumbling, no dust, and large capacity.

No recommendations on model since mine is a diy contraption.

How many cases do you want to clean at once?
 
JaysonCraig said:
What do you dry them with after? oven/low?
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Im no reloading guru but here's my method.

Add Brass, water, SS pins, squirt of dawn and a 1/4 tea spoon of lemi shine.
Run for desired time.
Drain out turd water, rinse and repeat. Careful not to loose brass or pins yet.
Once sufficiently clear water coming out, fill 5 gallon bucket with water and with grate on drum, dump out SS pins into bucket.
Once the bulk of the pins have been shaken out, dump the brass onto a towel and I just let them air dry for a day or two. In the winter I'll leave them on top of the dryer.
 
bertn said:
+one for wet tumbling, no dust, and large capacity.

No recommendations on model since mine is a diy contraption.

How many cases do you want to clean at once?
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Ideally all of them. Or half at a time. Right now I have 1460 cases. Deprimed them this weekend. Will have 1000 more by fall. I need to stop buying match ammo. It’s stupid expensive. Kinda just working thru the beginning steps before I make the plunge on a press. Etc.
 
For now I only reload straight walled cartridges(9mm to 45/70), so I dry tumble. Don't want the extra step of drying the cases that you must do with wet tumbling.
I use a Franklin Arsenal and a Cabela's(RCBS) tumbler, with a mix of corn cob bedding(pet store) and crushed walnut(Princess Auto) media.
Adding strips of used Bounce sheets and a couple of cap fulls of NuFinnish car polish(not wax), keeps the dust to a minimum.
 
I do both. I sonic clean first, and then tumble in media and a bit of polish. Might be overkill but brass that has been fired many times looks darn close to unfired and it serves my OCD.
 
Reloadjunkie said:
I do both. I sonic clean first, and then tumble in media and a bit of polish. Might be overkill but brass that has been fired many times looks darn close to unfired and it serves my OCD.
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And I always say. "If I can't impress them with my marksmanship, I surely will, with my shiny brass."
 
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