Just started loading my own .308 rds, now I have some brass to clean. Other than making the brass shiny, does a tumbler do a good job of cleaning the inside? I really don't care about the exterior being shiny, just as long as they are clean. I haven't even considered the ultrasonic route. Just looking how others do it. Thanks.
Is a tumbler worth it?
- Thread starter EC
- Start date
jcuffe6240
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Alberta
Hey zuke, What sort of setup do you have to get them that clean?
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Clean is clean... Just depends how much time and effort you want to put into it.
I polished many cases inside and out with a scotch brite and .30cal bronze brush with the case chucked into my Lee trimmer on a cordless drill... Worked just fine for 100rnd batches but you notice it's a chore when you double the workload with a semi auto.
Looked at a vibratory cleaner but not a fan of the mess they make and the odd chunk of media wedged into the flash hole.
Ended up buying a lymann ultrasonic unit.... It cleans brass very well inside and out but doesn't polish it like a media unit so if scratches bother you and you insist on factory looking brass then look elsewhere!
Also take note if your doing your homework on ultrasonic, many recipes floating around on the net for home brew cleaning soloutions... I tried em all... Some work, like vinegar and soap! Others leave white powder in cases no matter how well you rinse, like lagostina metal cleaner! I recently tried some Hornady case cleaning soloution from the store and it's well worth the $20!
My .02
I polished many cases inside and out with a scotch brite and .30cal bronze brush with the case chucked into my Lee trimmer on a cordless drill... Worked just fine for 100rnd batches but you notice it's a chore when you double the workload with a semi auto.
Looked at a vibratory cleaner but not a fan of the mess they make and the odd chunk of media wedged into the flash hole.
Ended up buying a lymann ultrasonic unit.... It cleans brass very well inside and out but doesn't polish it like a media unit so if scratches bother you and you insist on factory looking brass then look elsewhere!
Also take note if your doing your homework on ultrasonic, many recipes floating around on the net for home brew cleaning soloutions... I tried em all... Some work, like vinegar and soap! Others leave white powder in cases no matter how well you rinse, like lagostina metal cleaner! I recently tried some Hornady case cleaning soloution from the store and it's well worth the $20!
My .02
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Shoot better? No... Chamber/cycle better? Yup... Dirty brass makes for a sticky chamber in my M14... Not enough to stop it but you can feel it.
Another vote for the SS media and Thumler Tumbler. Used brass comes out looking better than brand new. no 
The brass I posted was cleaned with SS media,Dove dishwashing soap and Lemmishine a hardwater additive to help it all along.
No special mix's or formula's.Water,soap,Lemmishine.Dat's it.
Here's a pic of the base of the last one.
No special mix's or formula's.Water,soap,Lemmishine.Dat's it.
Here's a pic of the base of the last one.
I am also using the SS media method and I really like that it cleans the primer pockets and the inside of the cases, saves cleaning the primer pockets by hand later and also makes it easier to see into the cases when checking for powder. I went onto the snipershide. com forum and under the reloading section there is a Stainless Steel post that usually is on the first or second page. On that forum you can request the contact info for the guy that came up with this method, great guy with lots of info. (just tried the web site and I am having some trouble at the moment getting just a blank page so hopefully it will be back up soon or it is just my computer)
The web site stainlesstumblingmedia.com has the stuff as well but is not the guy that did all the research and testing to come up with it.
As long as you don't lose any of the SS pins it will last for ever and when your brass is dry you don't have any fine powder left on the brass like you do with the dry vibratory methods.
The web site stainlesstumblingmedia.com has the stuff as well but is not the guy that did all the research and testing to come up with it.
As long as you don't lose any of the SS pins it will last for ever and when your brass is dry you don't have any fine powder left on the brass like you do with the dry vibratory methods.
Its not just about making the brass shiny, it removes the lube off the cases once resized.
having that said, if you help it along by using a brass brush and primer hole reamer, it nets results that much faster.
Some of those pics look like brass was pulled out of a swamp. I toss it in the brass-salvage pile when it looks that bad.
having that said, if you help it along by using a brass brush and primer hole reamer, it nets results that much faster.
Some of those pics look like brass was pulled out of a swamp. I toss it in the brass-salvage pile when it looks that bad.
Thanks!!
