brass cleaning

[thunderchild223]

im in the market for a brass cleaner. ive seen the typical crushed walnut shell vibrating type and hear there is an ultra sonic type that uses a liquid in an ultra sonic manner to do the work. word is that the ultra sonic system works better cause it gets in the primer pockets better. anybody have any experiance with either of these? which do you prefer?

[langenc]

Tumbler w/ corn cobs-not the pet store stuff. Sticks in 223 and have to dig it out. Primer pockets dont clean easily.

Have not used ultra sonics.

[Country101]

I think the concensus is that the untra sonics are over rated unless you just want pretty brass. I'm not a reloader, I have just seen a lot of the threads asking the same thing.

[76Highboy]

Sonic cleaner no. Tumbler yes. I have done both.

[todd51]

I have used this same old Tumbler for some where around 35 years or more. It has done a great job. I use crushed walnut hulls if I have real dirty brass but most of the time a few hours in corn cob media will provide nice shinny brass. The walnut media provides a more mat finish but if you want the shine just stick them in the corn cobs for a little longer and they are purdy. Primer pockets on my handgun brass I normally don't fool with unless I am trying to do something special. Rifle brass I just use one of the hand primer pocket cleaners, no big deal and doesn't take any time at all. Adding a bit of one of the many liquid polish additives seems to shorten the process and make for purdy brass but that purdy stuff doesn't shoot a bit better darn it.

[76Highboy]

Originally Posted by todd51

I have used this same old Tumbler for some where around 35 years or more. It has done a great job. I use crushed walnut hulls if I have real dirty brass but most of the time a few hours in corn cob media will provide nice shinny brass. The walnut media provides a more mat finish but if you want the shine just stick them in the corn cobs for a little longer and they are purdy. Primer pockets on my handgun brass I normally don't fool with unless I am trying to do something special. Rifle brass I just use one of the hand primer pocket cleaners, no big deal and doesn't take any time at all. Adding a bit of one of the many liquid polish additives seems to shorten the process and make for purdy brass but that purdy stuff doesn't shoot a bit better darn it.

Todd, 35 years ago that was the cream of the crop. That is what my father had when he began teaching me how to reload. It finally died around 1995 if I had to guess. We ran the heck out of it. I am here to say that is a great tool. Do they still make that?

[312shooter]

The Thumlers model B is STILL the cream of the crop. If you prefer to have brass come out factory new, including the primer pockets and inside the casing, fill a Thumblers with 5 lbs of stainless media, dawn dishsoap and water. Painless, chemical free and no walnut/corn media mess everywhere. Hands down the winner for cleaning brass. Critics cite the price is too expensive, consider no expendable media or chemical, nothing more to buy ever in a lifetime, suddenly it should clearly make sense.

[CampingJosh]

I have a vibratory cleaner from Hornady, and it works well enough for my purposes. I use walnut media without any kind of polish.

[willy3]

LANGENC is right. .223's clog up easily. I solved that by using a fine crushed walnut media. You can buy it from Harbor Freight. Comes in a 25 pound box for a fraction of the cost the dealers charge. Works good on any brass, too.

[muddober]

I must first say I learned a lot from the various post, like willy3's with Harbor Freight being a good source of small walnut shells.

I have a friend who use to put walnut shells and his brass in a pillow case and when his wife wasn't around he used the cloths dryer to tumble his brass until one day the pillow case broke. He has since divorced but he still finds walnut shells in his socks.

I use a large vibratory "sonic" and I have one of those Dillon hand cranked media remover that works pretty good to get all of the media from the brass and primer pockets. I also mix most rifle brass with pistol brass so long as one won't fit in the other. I do occasionally mix 45 auto with 25 auto when I load for it because they compliment one another in cleaning and they separate clean in the media remover. While I don't reload for 223 yet, I do reload for over 50 calibers including 222, 6mm PPC and 32-20, the Dillon media remover does a good job removing the media from all those cases.

Ron

[DixieLandMan]

I have a friend who use to put walnut shells and his brass in a pillow case and when his wife wasn't around he used the cloths dryer to tumble his brass until one day the pillow case broke. He has since divorced but he still finds walnut shells in his socks.

Ron[/QUOTE]

^^^ hahahaha

I use a vibratory cleaner with walnut and corn cob media. When I have a primer pocket get media in it, I use an unfolded paper clip to get it unstuck. Never had a problem with it.

[al45lc]

Vibratory polishers are still widely used in all kinds of industry, using all kinds of dry media.
Many reloaders don't vibrate de-primed brass for the reason stated, and cleaning a primer pocket EVERY time a hull is reloaded is unnecessary.
As an experiment years ago, I fired and vibratory cleaned unsized and still primered 5.56 several times without cleaning the pockets, no problems in function or in accuracy for 5 reloadings. I quit after that, the point was made.
Once cleaned and uniformed, depending on the use of the cartridge, primer pocket cleaning every time is a waste of time for the average shooter/reloader for just plinking or loading for cost effectiveness.
Long range precision is a different matter of course, but for my 'funnin' reloads that I and my kids shoot hundreds of each time at the range, why waste the time?

[Frogman812]

Originally Posted by 312shooter

The Thumlers model B is STILL the cream of the crop. If you prefer to have brass come out factory new, including the primer pockets and inside the casing, fill a Thumblers with 5 lbs of stainless media, dawn dishsoap and water. Painless, chemical free and no walnut/corn media mess everywhere. Hands down the winner for cleaning brass. Critics cite the price is too expensive, consider no expendable media or chemical, nothing more to buy ever in a lifetime, suddenly it should clearly make sense.

+1

[Appliancedude]

Originally Posted by Frogman812

+1

My father in law has one of those. Problem is finding a belt for the darned thing when it breaks. I think he finally found one online, but he sure was annoyed when he couldn't find one local

[Caneman]

Originally Posted by 312shooter

The Thumlers model B is STILL the cream of the crop. If you prefer to have brass come out factory new, including the primer pockets and inside the casing, fill a Thumblers with 5 lbs of stainless media, dawn dishsoap and water. Painless, chemical free and no walnut/corn media mess everywhere. Hands down the winner for cleaning brass. Critics cite the price is too expensive, consider no expendable media or chemical, nothing more to buy ever in a lifetime, suddenly it should clearly make sense.

word

[gdmoody]

I used the same tumbler as Todd for years. I bought a Lyman vibratory cleaner about 15 years ago. When the Lyman broke, I took out the Thumbler's and continued on until I replaced the base/motor on the Lyman. I gave the Thumbler's to my neighbor about 5 years ago and as far as I know, it is still going after close to 40 years.

As far as the media getting into the flash hole - to get rid of that problem, just vibrate BEFORE you resize/deprime!!

[Orin]

Try adding a small amount of Brasso to your cob-crumbs. It dissapears, creates no mess, lasts a long time & you get bright brass with no scratching.

I have tumbeled 223 and a lot of them. I never have a problem with them clogging.

Are you adding a liquid polish to the media then adding the cases?

If I need to add polish I add what I need then run the tumbler for 30 to 45 minutes before adding any brass to it.

[hunter29180]

harbor freight just had the thumbler on sale about 3 wks oag. they carry both the single drum and dual drum!

[RockinRiley]

I have the harbor freight ultrasonic with hornady ultrasonic cleaner and am a very happy camper. I just did quite a few the other day. I really like knowing that no lead will be in the air for my kids. I did inspection right after and if there were any yuck in the pockets it was easy to pick out without damaging the pocket at all. Very happy with ultrasonic. The harbor freight model only will run 8 minutes at a time though. When I do a large number of brass it usually takes about 3 times running each basket. So it does take a long time. I hear the more expensive ones will let you run for longer. The basket on HF model also does not really have handles.

This is what I bought. I got it for a lil over 50 bucks (it was on sale and the 20% coupon.)

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lite...ner-95563.html

Cleaner:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/711...n-32-oz-liquid


Oh, I tried the water/vinegar stuff on the internet before the hornady. The hornady is definitely worth the the money! I got corrosion in quite a few even with rinsing. Hornady not any corrosion and very clean!

oh, I only do 9mm.

Good luck with your decision.

[BobMcG]

Originally Posted by Orin

Try adding a small amount of Brasso to your cob-crumbs. It dissapears, creates no mess, lasts a long time & you get bright brass with no scratching.

Well, might not be such a good idea as Brasso contains ammonia which is a no-no for brass cartridge cases. Belt buckles etc. yes; cartridge cases, no. If you're going to use a polishing agent, you're better off going with one of the many safe types made for cartridges. (Thus the reason you won't find Brasso being promoted as a handloading accessory and sold by dealers of handloading supplies as such a product.)

I use a mix of Lyman polish and nufinish.

[Taroman]

I wash mine with with Bar Keepers Friend.
Contains a mild acid, no ammonia.
A couple tablespoons in very hot water.
Swish the cases around in it for a couple minutes.
Rinse well.
Doesn't make the cases shiney new, but clean enough for me:

[gdmoody]

Originally Posted by Taroman

I wash mine with with Bar Keepers Friend.
Contains a mild acid, no ammonia.
A couple tablespoons in very hot water.
Swish the cases around in it for a couple minutes.
Rinse well.

Welcome to TFF Taroman.
How do you dry them afterwards? Just let them set for a while and air dry or do you use a hair dryer?

[cycloneman]

probably sticks them in the oven for a little while on low heat