Tumbler vs. Ultrasonic Case Cleaners
- Thread starter grey
- Start date
Tumbler I would buy an ultra vibe 18 by thumblers. Still made in the USA or I would look for an older model that is not made off shore. Tumblers are less money now than 25 years ago because they are made poorly now. The one I recommended is around 225 us dollars for a mid size tumbler. Myself in the long run I think you might like to have both kinds they each have different strengths. Ultrasonic and tumbler.
brass goes into the tumbler before the primers are removed. If its done with primers removed, the media can get stuck in the flash hole, and needs to be picked out. The ultra sonic cleaner is best used after primers are removed so it cleans the primer pocket as well. To get a high shine on the brass a person would use a tumbler, and brass can go straight from the tumbling process to the reloading process. When you use an ultra sonic cleaner, the brass needs to be dried. The brass is clean, but does not shine after being in the ultra sonic cleaner.
some people want really shiny brass, other people just want it clean.
I have both, and use both.
The way I do it is: tumble it when it comes home from the range, then resize . then into the ultra sonic cleaner to get any lube off the cases. then trim cases etc before reloading
some people want really shiny brass, other people just want it clean.
I have both, and use both.
The way I do it is: tumble it when it comes home from the range, then resize . then into the ultra sonic cleaner to get any lube off the cases. then trim cases etc before reloading
No system is perfect, and what works for one person might not be the ideal solution for someone else. Having said that,I like (and use) the rotary tumblers with Stainless Steel Media. The brass comes out looking like it is new. My second choice would be an Ultrasonic cleaner, and my last choice would be a regular vibratory cleaner using walnut or corncob media.
- Location
- Fort St John BC
SS tumbling is by far the best IMO. Ultrasonic has the benefit of also being able to clean gun parts but doesn't clean cases nearly aswell. And regular tumbler is worse then both in my opinion unless You run it for a long time and like cleaning primer pockets.
Pros
They clean primer pockets and inside and outside of case
Makes them nice and shiney
Cleans very quickly
Media lasts forever You never need to buy new media
Cons
Cases must dry before reloading (food dehydrate speeds that up alot)
Occasionally a SS pin might get stuck in flash hole. Only has happened to me 2 times
Initial cost is higher then a standard tumbler but similar to ultrasonic
Pros
They clean primer pockets and inside and outside of case
Makes them nice and shiney
Cleans very quickly
Media lasts forever You never need to buy new media
Cons
Cases must dry before reloading (food dehydrate speeds that up alot)
Occasionally a SS pin might get stuck in flash hole. Only has happened to me 2 times
Initial cost is higher then a standard tumbler but similar to ultrasonic
- Location
- Hafford Sk.
Ihave all three: ultrasonic, tumbler and vibratory. Tumbler with stainless steel media gets the nod hands down. Brass comes out looking like virgin brass. Ultrasonic works well for cleaning brass and other metals but doesn't polish; vibratory polishes but doesn't clean especially. Hope this is useful
I've tried both and kept the u/s cleaner and passed along the tumbler.
I found that the tumbler made the outsides nice but didn't clean much of anything on the inside or in the flash holes and primer pockets. The u/s cleaner may not polish the outsides but for the most part it makes the outsides good enough as long as the cases are not a dark tarnished condition. But best of all the insides with the u/s cleaner are dull to shiny brass when they come out of the cleaner.
The ONLY downside to u/s cleaning is waiting for the brass to dry fully. But the rest of the stuff is a slam dunk winner for u/s cleaning in my books.
Now I've never tried the stainless pins for a media. But if this method cleans both inside and out then it could be pretty good.
I found that the tumbler made the outsides nice but didn't clean much of anything on the inside or in the flash holes and primer pockets. The u/s cleaner may not polish the outsides but for the most part it makes the outsides good enough as long as the cases are not a dark tarnished condition. But best of all the insides with the u/s cleaner are dull to shiny brass when they come out of the cleaner.
The ONLY downside to u/s cleaning is waiting for the brass to dry fully. But the rest of the stuff is a slam dunk winner for u/s cleaning in my books.
Now I've never tried the stainless pins for a media. But if this method cleans both inside and out then it could be pretty good.
I had an ultrasonic for carb parts and other things and have tried it with brass.
I usually take a q-tip to inside of the cases. They can be a bit sludgey.
Going to invest in a tumbler for brass but the u/s is good for the dies and parts.
I usually take a q-tip to inside of the cases. They can be a bit sludgey.
Going to invest in a tumbler for brass but the u/s is good for the dies and parts.
- Location
- West Quebec
Have to say the SS pins and tumbler make my brass in all calibers just like new, rarely have a stuck pin
hillbros_96
Regular
- Location
- Nowhere BC
Both for me, like the primer pocket and inside the case clean
^^^^^ This ^^^^^
I use pretty much the same SS set-up as Silverfox (thanks for the help SF!), a 3lb Thumler tumbler and have to say my brass comes out very clean, outside, inside and primer pockets. the only down side that have found is that smaller caliber brass, .243 etc will sometimes pack full of pins so I have to shake the heck out of them to remove the pins. I also routinely get brass with two pins stuck in the flash hole...easily removed with a pair of needle nose pliers.
- Location
- West Quebec
I switched out the Dawn soap for 1-2 teaspoons of Tide cold water laundry detergent and much less rinsing ...Thanks to SLAVEX "Life is good"
I just got a Frankford Arsenal Rotary tumbler kit and it is awesome (just used it this weekend for 200 ish 308 cases). I didnt have and lemishine so they are not sparkling but they sure are clean. I did have a few pins in some cases that I had to shake out just like above but it is awesome and a good deal.
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
I run ultrasonic and vibratory.
Size, then into the tank, spread them out on an old cookie sheet with some foil and an old towel on it and into the oven at the lowest temp setting for an hour or two. Toss them into the bowl with some treated corncob (I usually throw the switch before I leave for work,) and they're clean and shiny.
Size, then into the tank, spread them out on an old cookie sheet with some foil and an old towel on it and into the oven at the lowest temp setting for an hour or two. Toss them into the bowl with some treated corncob (I usually throw the switch before I leave for work,) and they're clean and shiny.
