just picked one up today got the solution at the same time just wondering how you guys like this one ???? or not seems to have good reviews . is there a homemade solution that works i would like to no what works best???? thanks. hound13
hornandy lock and load sonic cleaner
- Thread starter hound2013
- Start date
I have the 2L one. Works great for me, brass comes out fairly clean and shiny, its not that noisy, and it's quick. I've been using the hornady solution for my brass. Also have some of the gun cleaner solution too, haven't tried it out yet though.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
I got a sonic cleaner form ebay and use the hornady brass cleaning solution. My brass looks like new 95% of the time.
I bought one nearly 3 years ago.
It usually sits idle.
It's too small to clean full sized pistols and it doesn't clean brass as well or as economically as SS pins and a wet tumbler do.
I'll be buying a bigger sonic cleaner as soon as I build my new gun room.
It usually sits idle.
It's too small to clean full sized pistols and it doesn't clean brass as well or as economically as SS pins and a wet tumbler do.
I'll be buying a bigger sonic cleaner as soon as I build my new gun room.
- Location
- Banana Republik of Kebekistan
Ha-ha, you buy then ask... should be the other way around 
The One Shot brass solution works fine, make sure to respect the dilution instruction. Not cheap but you don't need much. Can't tell about home brew, never tried but some seem happy with it. Few threads on that if you look for them.
I have been using the Hornady u/s cleaner for 3 years without issues. Because of heavy volume, I bit the bullet last year and invested in stainless steel tumbling - never looked back. Still use the u/s cleaner for small batches.
* My main issue with the u/s cleaner is stubborn carbon deposits. Some heavily carbonised pistol range brass will need up to 8 x 20 minutes cycles to completely clean. I found myself sorting the very dirty brass as separate batches. Waste of time.
** Work far better with small batches. Bigger loads will take longer and cases closer to the transducer will clean better than those away from it.
*** While ending with clean cases, they never will be as shiny as those coming out of a dry/vibratory tumbler. Corn cob or walnut shells with a bit of liquid polish is simply the best for shiny brass. Absolutely not required but many wanting shiny brass will dry tumble their cases after u/s cleaning.
Have fun reloading and be safe doing it.
The One Shot brass solution works fine, make sure to respect the dilution instruction. Not cheap but you don't need much. Can't tell about home brew, never tried but some seem happy with it. Few threads on that if you look for them.
I have been using the Hornady u/s cleaner for 3 years without issues. Because of heavy volume, I bit the bullet last year and invested in stainless steel tumbling - never looked back. Still use the u/s cleaner for small batches.
* My main issue with the u/s cleaner is stubborn carbon deposits. Some heavily carbonised pistol range brass will need up to 8 x 20 minutes cycles to completely clean. I found myself sorting the very dirty brass as separate batches. Waste of time.
** Work far better with small batches. Bigger loads will take longer and cases closer to the transducer will clean better than those away from it.
*** While ending with clean cases, they never will be as shiny as those coming out of a dry/vibratory tumbler. Corn cob or walnut shells with a bit of liquid polish is simply the best for shiny brass. Absolutely not required but many wanting shiny brass will dry tumble their cases after u/s cleaning.
Have fun reloading and be safe doing it.
LordEvilPepper
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Under a rusty barge in BC
here is my take from the lyman ultrasonic I owned
I can't stand the sound. That hi pitched wine drives me up the wall, anywhere in the house
Dirty brass takes 2 hours in 8 minute intervals (the max run time for the unit) and about 3 solution changes (requiring you to run a 5 minute cycle empty to set it up. then at leaste one run in straight water, otherwise over about a couple weeks you will find the brass has developed a "scale" from the solution You can't just turn it on and walk out of the house and come home to clean brass.
Now It does work, you get amazing looking brass. But for the hassle, spending an extra $50-70 up front and getting a SS tumbling setup is a much better option.
I can't stand the sound. That hi pitched wine drives me up the wall, anywhere in the house
Dirty brass takes 2 hours in 8 minute intervals (the max run time for the unit) and about 3 solution changes (requiring you to run a 5 minute cycle empty to set it up. then at leaste one run in straight water, otherwise over about a couple weeks you will find the brass has developed a "scale" from the solution You can't just turn it on and walk out of the house and come home to clean brass.
Now It does work, you get amazing looking brass. But for the hassle, spending an extra $50-70 up front and getting a SS tumbling setup is a much better option.
heavenIsAlie
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Abbotsford
used a US cleaner before buying my SS and hated it. the SS is much better
I did have good luck using the US to clean small pistol parts though. I would have used it on a slide as well but it simply wasnt big enough
I did have good luck using the US to clean small pistol parts though. I would have used it on a slide as well but it simply wasnt big enough
From what I'm reading the Hornady cleaner isn't that good compared to what I'm using at present.
Mine is a small .75 liter size model that I only use for cleaning brass. I use a mix of 3 parts water, 1 part vinegar and a small dash of liquid laundry detergent. My handgun and rifle brass is clean and shiny inside and out after a 4 minute run. The handgun brass still has some darkness inside because I don't deprime and I put a lot of brass in at the same time. But it's more than useable for handgun reloading. The rifle brass is deprimed and I only do about 20 cases at one go. So they come out looking literally like new.
So perhaps try the home brew solution first. If that doesn't work out well then try using a smaller batch of brass in one go. If that doesn't work out then I can only think that the transducer isn't strong enough to get the solution moving well enough.
The brass comes out and gets a thorough rinsing in clean water. That avoids any discolouration appearing later on.
Mine is a small .75 liter size model that I only use for cleaning brass. I use a mix of 3 parts water, 1 part vinegar and a small dash of liquid laundry detergent. My handgun and rifle brass is clean and shiny inside and out after a 4 minute run. The handgun brass still has some darkness inside because I don't deprime and I put a lot of brass in at the same time. But it's more than useable for handgun reloading. The rifle brass is deprimed and I only do about 20 cases at one go. So they come out looking literally like new.
So perhaps try the home brew solution first. If that doesn't work out well then try using a smaller batch of brass in one go. If that doesn't work out then I can only think that the transducer isn't strong enough to get the solution moving well enough.
The brass comes out and gets a thorough rinsing in clean water. That avoids any discolouration appearing later on.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
I got a Hornady and it takes at least 20min to clean not-so dirty brass with the One Shot solution.
I have the 2L, it works well for clean brass. I use a home made solution. I noticed that a lot of the recipes for cleaning solution used a TON of dish soap. How much grease do some of these people have on their brass???
Does it make your brass shiny? Not really. But it's easy and quick.
1500 mL water
2 mL Lemi Shine
2 mL dish soap
De-gas for 2 minutes
No heat
Run for total of 25 minutes
This cleans up even corroded and dirty found-on-the-range brass.
Does it make your brass shiny? Not really. But it's easy and quick.
1500 mL water
2 mL Lemi Shine
2 mL dish soap
De-gas for 2 minutes
No heat
Run for total of 25 minutes
This cleans up even corroded and dirty found-on-the-range brass.
I use some Lagostina pot cleaner in my US, three eight minute cycles and they look like this.
http://s302.photobucket.com/user/basher81/slideshow/Ultrasonic Cleaning
The top rounds are the after shots. the last picture is a comparison to a factory round.
http://s302.photobucket.com/user/basher81/slideshow/Ultrasonic Cleaning
The top rounds are the after shots. the last picture is a comparison to a factory round.
I think quite a few places stock it, but I got mine from Canadian Tire, somewhere in the household cleaning / dishwashing type aisles. Comes in a yellow and green canister. Pretty cheap if I remember correctly.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Canadian tire has it. Looks like this
http://3.bp.########.com/-UNM6roFNaAw/TkrD6wuGyiI/AAAAAAAAAEI/_zspEacI4-s/s1600/lemi_shine_logo.jpg
Yep CT has it. Generally though, they just don't know they have it !
Just bought the 2 liter mod. Saturday.
Put in 90 308 brass.
Ran 3 20 minute cycles due to the fact that the primer pockets where not coming clean.
Cleaned everything else just fine.
I found it very quiet.
Shouldn't have to, but I had to wipe the primer pockets clean when done.
We shall see how it does next time.
Brass had been used at least ten times and I had only cleaned the outsides and the primer pockets.
SRSA311
Put in 90 308 brass.
Ran 3 20 minute cycles due to the fact that the primer pockets where not coming clean.
Cleaned everything else just fine.
I found it very quiet.
Shouldn't have to, but I had to wipe the primer pockets clean when done.
We shall see how it does next time.
Brass had been used at least ten times and I had only cleaned the outsides and the primer pockets.
SRSA311
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
I do it and it works alright but when I don't put any in I get the same result.
When I do my brass before putting it in the cleaner I use steel wool on the necks and use the primer pocket cleaning tool to clean the pockets. My brass looks like new when its done.
